Civil Service and Local Government Interview Guide (UK): Success Profiles, Behaviours and Strengths Questions

Civil Service and local government interviews follow a very specific format, and once you understand it you have a real advantage. Many applicants walk in without knowing the structure and lose marks they could easily have won.

The Civil Service Success Profiles

Most UK Civil Service roles recruit using Success Profiles. These combine behaviours, strengths, experience, abilities and technical skills. Your application often includes a personal statement, and the interview tests the same list of behaviours that appeared in the job advert. Read the advert and identify the behaviours that are named, because those are what will be scored.

Behaviour questions

Common behaviours include seeing the big picture, making effective decisions, communicating and influencing, working together, delivering at pace and managing a quality service. For each, prepare one real example using STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Make the action section about what you did, not what the team did, and finish with a clear result.

Strengths questions

Strengths questions are different. They ask things like what you enjoy doing, what energises you and what you find hard. Answer honestly and with energy. These questions are not looking for rehearsed stories, but for natural enthusiasm and self-awareness.

Civil Service values

Interviewers expect you to know the four core values: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. Civil servants serve the government of the day, whatever its politics, and you may be asked how you would keep your own opinions out of your work.

Local government

Council interviews focus on serving the community, working with limited budgets and following policy and law. For housing, planning, social services or customer-facing roles, be ready for scenarios involving vulnerable residents, confidentiality, data protection and handling complaints. Know the council's priorities and recent decisions. Read the council plan and look at the latest local news.

Online tests and assessment centres

For some grades you may sit online tests, such as verbal and numerical reasoning or a situational judgement test, before the interview. At higher grades you can expect an assessment centre, with a written exercise, a presentation and group tasks.

Common mistakes

• Not using the behaviour names from the advert.

• Giving vague stories with no clear result.

• Forgetting equality, diversity and inclusion, which is central to public sector work.

Quick answers

How long should an answer be? About two to three minutes, using STAR.

Does the Civil Service use fast stream interviews? The Fast Stream is a separate graduate programme with its own multi-stage process, and entry is highly competitive.

Our question bank includes civil service and local government roles with model answers, and every role has five questions free.

Practise for specific roles

Pick your role: Policy Adviser, Housing Officer, Planning Officer.