Welcome!
We’re so glad you’re here, and we’re ready to help you prepare for your upcoming Civil Service interview. In this post, we’ll focus on the behavior “Seeing the Big Picture” at the Grade 6 level. Whether you’re familiar with this behavior or just learning about it, we’re going to break it all down and give you the tools you need to succeed in your interview. You’ll find tips, questions, and a handy step-by-step guide.
Let’s get started!
Contents
What is “Seeing the Big Picture”?
Seeing the Big Picture means understanding how your work contributes to wider goals. It’s about looking beyond your immediate tasks and considering the bigger picture, whether that’s the team, department, or government objectives.
At the Grade 6 level, this behavior takes on a higher level of strategic importance. You’ll be expected to influence policy, guide decision-making, and anticipate long-term consequences. Compared to more junior roles, Grade 6 staff need to engage with complex issues, work across teams, and provide leadership that aligns with broader organizational goals.
Understanding how political, economic, and social factors affect your work is crucial at this level.
Common Interview Questions Related to “Seeing the Big Picture”
- Can you give an example of when you aligned your team’s objectives with wider departmental goals?
- How do you ensure that your decisions take into account the long-term impact on the organization or society?
- Tell us about a time you had to adapt to changes in policy or strategy. How did you handle it?
- Describe a situation where you influenced others to adopt a broader perspective.
- How do you stay informed about changes in government policy or external trends, and how do you apply that information in your work?
- See more…
How to Answer Using the B-STAR Method
When answering behavior-based questions, we recommend using the B-STAR method. This helps you structure your responses clearly and confidently.
B – Belief: Start by explaining your core belief that guides your approach. What values or principles do you hold that influence how you see the bigger picture?
S – Situation: Describe the context. What was happening around you? What was the problem or opportunity?
T – Task: Explain your role. What were you responsible for?
A – Action: What did you do to address the situation? This is the most detailed part of your answer, so walk the interviewer through your process.
R – Result: Share the outcome. What happened as a result of your actions? What impact did it have on the team, department, or wider organization?
Sample B-STAR Answer
Question: Can you give an example of when you aligned your team’s objectives with wider departmental goals?
Belief: I believe that aligning team objectives with broader organizational goals ensures we’re all pulling in the same direction, which increases efficiency and impact.
Situation: In my previous role, I was leading a project during a time when our department was shifting its priorities due to new government policies. We were asked to focus on sustainability initiatives.
Task: I was responsible for ensuring my team’s ongoing projects supported this new direction while still meeting our original deadlines.
Action: I reviewed the new sustainability policy in detail and organized a series of meetings with my team to realign our objectives. We discussed how we could incorporate the new policies into our work without losing momentum. I also communicated with senior management to confirm our alignment and sought feedback on our revised approach.
Result: As a result, our team successfully integrated the sustainability focus into our projects, which was recognized by leadership as a model for other teams. This alignment also contributed to the department’s success in meeting its broader sustainability targets.
Breakdown of the Sample Answer
✅ Belief: Shows personal values and commitment to the organization’s wider goals.
🔍 Situation: Clearly sets the context and gives the interviewer insight into the challenge faced.
🎯 Task: Highlights individual responsibility and leadership in managing both tasks and team alignment.
🏃 Action: Detailed steps showing practical actions taken to ensure alignment, including team coordination and communication with senior management.
🏆 Result: Demonstrates tangible success and positive impact on both the team and department, linking back to the bigger picture.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Vague answers: Avoid general statements. Be specific about what you did and how it helped the organization.
🚫 Skipping the “Belief”: Not explaining your core belief can make your answer feel mechanical. Show that you understand why the behavior matters.
🚫 Focusing too much on the problem: Spend more time on the actions you took and the results you achieved, rather than overexplaining the situation.
🚫 Not linking to wider goals: Make sure your answer clearly connects your actions to the bigger picture.
Key Takeaways
Seeing the Big Picture is critical at the Grade 6 level because it requires you to think strategically and influence wider policy and departmental objectives. Understanding how your work fits into the larger goals is essential for success at this level.
Always show how your actions support broader goals, demonstrate leadership, and use the B-STAR method to ensure your answers are structured, clear, and impactful.
Good luck!
