Welcome!
We’re glad you’re here, and we know you’re probably preparing for your Grade 7 Civil Service interview. This post is designed to help you better understand and excel at the behavior Working Together. If you’re not sure how to approach this behavior or you’re looking for sample questions and answers, you’ve come to the right place! You’ll learn how to structure your answers, avoid common mistakes, and showcase your strengths.
So, let’s dive in!
Contents
What is Working Together?
Working Together is about collaboration, teamwork, and building strong, effective relationships. At the Grade 7 level, it’s more about influencing others, leading by example, and working across teams, departments, or even outside the Civil Service. You will need to demonstrate that you can encourage collaboration, resolve conflicts, and contribute to a positive, productive work environment.
How is it different at Grade 7?
At lower levels, Working Together might focus more on being a supportive team player. At Grade 7, you’re expected to lead that collaboration. This means showing an ability to foster cooperation across different teams and ensuring everyone is working toward common goals, often in complex environments. You should be able to manage stakeholders and engage others to achieve outcomes, not just contribute individually.
Common Interview Questions for Working Together
- Tell us about a time when you had to collaborate with other teams or departments to achieve a goal.
- Describe a situation where you dealt with conflict within a team. How did you resolve it?
- Can you give an example of how you’ve fostered an inclusive team environment?
- How do you manage working with stakeholders who have differing priorities?
- See more…
How to Answer Using the B-STAR Method
To structure your answers effectively, use the B-STAR method, which stands for:
- B – Belief: Explain what you believe about teamwork and collaboration. Why is it important to you?
- S – Situation: Describe the situation where you demonstrated Working Together.
- T – Task: What task or challenge were you facing?
- A – Action: Detail the specific actions you took to work effectively with others.
- R – Result: Share the outcome of your actions, preferably with measurable results.
Sample B-STAR Answer
Question: “Tell us about a time when you collaborated with other teams to meet a challenging deadline.”
Answer:
Belief: I firmly believe that collaboration drives stronger, faster, and more innovative outcomes.
Situation: In my previous role, our team faced a tight deadline to deliver a complex project. We needed input from multiple departments to meet the client’s expectations.
Task: I was tasked with leading the project and ensuring that all teams communicated efficiently. There were conflicting priorities between departments, which caused delays in previous projects.
Action: I organized regular meetings to ensure transparency, listened to each department’s concerns, and worked with them to align our timelines. I also set up a shared platform to track progress, so everyone had visibility on tasks and deadlines.
Result: As a result, we met the deadline with all departments satisfied with their contributions. The client was pleased with the quality, and we received positive feedback from all teams involved.
Why This Answer Works
🔥 Belief: Starts with a clear statement of why collaboration matters, showing personal values and mindset.
💡 Situation: Provides a real, concrete example that sets the stage for the answer.
📋 Task: Clearly defines the challenge, making it relatable and understandable.
🤝 Action: Demonstrates leadership, organization, and communication, which are all key skills for Working Together at Grade 7.
🎯 Result: Shows the positive, measurable outcome, linking back to the importance of teamwork.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being vague: General answers don’t show your specific skills or actions.
- Focusing only on yourself: Remember, it’s about collaboration, not individual contribution.
- Skipping the “Result”: Always include the outcome, as it demonstrates the impact of your actions.
- Not addressing conflict: At Grade 7, you should show you can manage conflicts effectively.
- Forgetting your belief: Start with why collaboration matters to you. It shows personal commitment.
Key Takeaways
- Working Together at Grade 7 is about leadership in collaboration, not just participation.
- The B-STAR method will help you structure your answers logically and clearly.
- Show your ability to foster relationships across teams and manage stakeholders.
- Always include the result to highlight the effectiveness of your actions.
We hope this helps you feel more confident going into your interview!
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