Public Sector Interview Questions & Answers

We were asked to use the STAR approach in order to explain some situations relevant to the questions. Unfortunately a group of us did not receive our candidate packs due to a fault with the system including myself and so had no idea about the STAR approach. Apart form this the questions were competency based on: making effective decisions, managing a quality service and delivering at pace. I was told that my examples were good but because I had not used the STAR approach I scored weakly.

I found proving that I make effective decisions quite difficult, but I think it was more about the nerves at the beginning of the interview.

HMRC proved themselves to be really unorganised this time, with people showing up who like me hadn't received some information, or any at all, and some people whose interview times had been changed or cancelled without them knowing. Just prepare really well and don't worry if you don't get it due to their lack of competency.

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Lack of information for candidates about what was required from them. Unable to get any help before assessment , could not get through to contact centre for days. Interview process appeared to be fair and professional but would not provide any feedback related to assessment centre performance and stated in their reply that they hoped this would assist me for further applications?

Group exercise , unclear what was required and what was being assessed and it quickly became a free for all with candidates talking over each other for the sake of speaking.

May be helpful if you have a relative already working there to actually discover what is required of you on the day. Plan time off work to allow you to get through to the recruitment team , possibly a week. Repeat yourself as much as possible in the group exercise.

Assessed by probation employees , are they trained in fair and thorough assessment? Staff were welcoming on the day.