Getting your foot in the door of Civil Service can sometimes feel like a daunting task, especially if you’re new to the job application game. But worry not! In this blog post, Agnes Beviz from DVLA’s Information Technology Services team cuts through the noise to deliver straightforward tips for acing your application. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie, these practical insights are a must-read. Don’t miss out on your chance to boost your application success – dive in!
Last November, Agnes Beviz had a whirlwind week leading up to the win at the Women in Tech Excellence Awards. Just the day before, Agnes was at Cardiff Metropolitan University for a Civil Service careers panel representing DVLA.
Here’s what Agnes had to say about their experience:
The event was a great opportunity to speak with students from Cardiff Met and to find out about their career aspirations and questions about getting into the Civil Service.
The panel included Nadine Davies, Rhys Morgan, Christopher Warner, Danielle Jordan and myself. All coming from varied sectors, we were able to give different perspectives on Civil Service careers.
It was also my first visit to Cardiff, with a bonus light display in Bute Park on my back ✨
Big thank you to Debbie Steele, the panel and audience, and I wish all the students the best in their future careers!
A focal point was the motivation of all of the speakers to give back to the communities they serve, as well as the wealth of learning, training, and career progression opportunities in the Civil Service.
As the panellist who joined the Civil Service most recently, I was able to answer questions the students had about the application process, including top tips for application success!
Top tips from the panel for those looking to apply for Civil Service jobs:
💡 Check the resources at Civil Service Jobs and How We Hire in the Department for Transport.
💡 Entry-level roles are typically grade AA/AO or EO. Setting up alerts on the Civil Service Jobs website for these grades in the area you’re looking to go into means you will be notified about openings.
💡 Look out for programmes where a cohort is recruited and trained – this increases your chances of success with multiple role openings and is a great way to start. ‘Software Engineering trainee track’ on the CoDE programme is an example of this.
💡 Check the job specification and any frameworks referenced such as Success Profiles. Framing your skills and experience (which do not have to come from employment) in terms of the skills highlighted in the job specification and the frameworks is key.
💡 If you’re questioning if you have the skills and experience for the role, look out for keywords such as ‘or equivalent’, and ‘desired’. Beyond the skills labelled as ‘essential’, there is often flexibility for alternative career paths and types of experience to qualify for roles.
And a few of the tips were more general and useful for applying to any sector:
⚡ Get in touch with the hiring manager or recruiter before applying. Not many people do this, and it’s a way to stand out and to receive advice for the application!
⚡ If there’s a pre-call or event for the job opening, make every effort to attend and if possible, have your camera on for online events. This is a great way to meet people from the organisation (who are likely part of the recruitment process), and to ask questions.
Stay Tuned for What’s Next!
Over the next few months, we’re continuing to share the year-in-industry students. We’ll detail their professional and personal journeys.
For now, check out the development opportunities on offer across DVLA’s Information Technology Service:
