Civil Service CV Example, Template, & How to Write

Ensure your CV format is structured to best highlight your unique experience and life situation.

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How to write a civil service CV

Before you begin writing, make sure you know how to write a CV in a way that best emphasises your strengths.

UK civil service jobs are varied, ranging from human resource management to medicine and the sciences. So if you’re looking for a job in the Civil Service, you’ll need to tailor your CV to the specific role you’re applying for.

Here are three tips on how to write a civil service CV that highlights your relevant skills and experience to get the recruiter’s attention:

1. Show your impact in your work experience section

Civil service employers look for candidates with a proven track record of success in their field. So give specific examples and hard numbers in your civil servant CV’s employment history to show what you can do.

Additionally, describing your specific achievements will help set you apart from other candidates who may only provide general information about their work experience.

Here’s an example of a civil service CV work experience entry with data and examples that show the applicant’s impact in their previous jobs:

It’s important to show evidence of your Civil Service Behaviours too — although they’re more likely to come up in the interview. And remember to use a straightforward CV template instead of a flashy one, as Civil Service roles are typically traditional.

2. Write an attention-grabbing personal statement

Writing a standout personal statement is a great way to get your civil service CV noticed. Your personal statement should include your most job-relevant skills and experience so that recruiters will want to read on and find out more about you.

Here are some tips for writing an attention-grabbing civil service CV personal statement:

• Include skills-based keywords from the job advert to show recruiters you’re qualified for their specific jobs
• Keep your language clear and concise, summarising your most relevant skills and experience in 3–5 sentences or bullet points
• Replace cliched language with strong CV action verbs (for instance, change ‘responsible for’ to ‘spearheaded’)

Below is an example of an attention-grabbing personal statement from a civil service CV:

Analytical and proactive Policy Officer with 6+ years of experience researching and analysing data for better decision-making in private and public sectors. Outstanding track record in influencing strategic change in government policy. Excellent communicator focused on building solid relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Committed to designing and proposing appropriate policies to achieve ministerial objectives and government priorities.

3. Emphasise your civil servant skills

UK civil service jobs cover all types of professions, from policymaking to corporate finance. But all civil servants need certain skills to get hired for government work.

Skills you learnt in school, through training, or on the job are your hard skills. Here are some hard skills that are good for civil servants to have:

• Policymaking expertise
• Technical knowledge
• Analytics
• Communication skills
• Teamwork
• Leadership skills
• Customer service skills
• Economics expertise
• Regional expertise
• Political knowledge
• Understanding of various cultures
• IT skills

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