Welcome!
We’re thrilled to have you here. If you’re preparing for an interview for an Administrative Officer role in the Civil Service, you’ve come to the right place! Today, we’ll be focusing on the behavior Seeing the Big Picture—one of the key behaviors assessed in many Civil Service interviews. This post will help you understand the behavior, the kinds of questions you can expect, and how to craft strong, clear answers using the B-STAR method.
Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!
Contents
What is Seeing the Big Picture?
Seeing the Big Picture is about understanding how your work fits into the larger goals and objectives of your department and the Civil Service as a whole. For an Administrative Officer (AO), this means being aware of how your day-to-day tasks contribute to the wider objectives of the organization, and why what you’re doing matters.
At the AO level, the focus of Seeing the Big Picture is on understanding your immediate environment. You’re expected to recognize how your role connects with the broader goals of your team, your department, and the Civil Service’s overall mission. Compared to more senior levels, where strategic decision-making is a bigger factor, the AO level emphasizes awareness and the ability to support the bigger picture through effective action.
Common Interview Questions for Seeing the Big Picture
Here are some questions you might be asked in an interview:
- Can you describe a time when you had to consider how your work impacted a wider team or department goal?
- How do you ensure your daily tasks align with your department’s objectives?
- Give an example of when you identified how your work contributes to a broader organizational goal.
- How do you keep informed about the wider goals of your department?
- See more…
How to Answer Using the B-STAR Method
The B-STAR method is a structured way to answer interview questions, ensuring your answers are both clear and detailed. Here’s how to use it:
B – Belief: Start by explaining what you believe about the situation. Why is Seeing the Big Picture important in this context?
S – Situation: Describe the context of your example. What was the scenario or challenge?
T – Task: Outline your specific role in the situation.
A – Action: What actions did you take to handle the situation?
R – Result: What was the outcome of your actions? How did it contribute to the bigger picture?
Sample B-STAR Answer
Question: Can you describe a time when you had to consider how your work impacted a wider team or department goal?
Answer:
B: I believe it’s important to understand how even the smallest task can impact the larger goals of a team or department. This helps me stay focused and motivated.
S: In my previous role, our team was responsible for processing applications for a government benefit program. The department was under pressure to reduce backlogs.
T: My specific role was to process applications quickly and accurately, but I realized the speed at which I worked directly impacted the overall backlog reduction target.
A: I took extra care to streamline my process by using tools that improved my efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. I also communicated regularly with my team leader to understand priority cases.
R: As a result, I consistently met my targets, which contributed to the team reducing the backlog by 20% in two months, helping the department meet its objectives.
Breaking Down the Example Answer
💡 Belief: Clearly stating why the behavior is important shows self-awareness and aligns with the Civil Service’s values.
🏗️ Situation: Give enough context to show you understood the broader challenge, but keep it concise.
🎯 Task: Highlight your specific role to show ownership and responsibility.
⚡ Action: Focus on the steps you took and why you chose them—this demonstrates your problem-solving skills.
🎉 Result: Quantify your success whenever possible! It’s important to show how your actions made a real impact.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Being too vague: Avoid generic answers. Be specific about your role and actions.
🚫 Focusing only on the small picture: Remember, the goal is to show how you connected your work to the bigger picture.
🚫 Skipping the result: Always include the outcome of your actions. Results are what demonstrate your effectiveness.
🚫 Overcomplicating your answer: Keep it clear and to the point. Focus on the most important details.
Key Takeaways
Seeing the Big Picture is crucial for Administrative Officers. It’s about understanding how your tasks contribute to wider goals and ensuring you’re working efficiently to support your department. At the AO level, this means being aware of your impact on your immediate team and how that ties into broader Civil Service objectives. When preparing for your interview, focus on demonstrating your awareness and contribution to larger goals, and make sure your answers are structured, specific, and results-driven.
