Civil Service CV Example, Free Template, & How to Write

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

Civil Service CV Template (Text Format)

PERSONAL STATEMENT

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.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Policy Officer
EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL, Kilmarnock
August 2020–present

Conduct research and deliver policy recommendations across multiple projects
Assisted in the creation of the 2021 Whistleblowing policy, resulting in a recommendation for advancement and recovery of over £500,000 in stolen funds
Prepare briefing notes on UK/EU policy documents
Generate and present cost reports to senior officers to assist in decision-making on tax reform and other matters
Supervise 5 assistant policy officers in researching and documenting existing and upcoming policies

Assistant Policy Officer
MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL, Manchester
December 2018–July 2020

Researched and analysed policy issues as directed by senior officers
Liaised with internal and external stakeholders to develop high-quality policy enquiries and documentation
Provided extensive research to support the drafting of the 2019 Performance Management policy, resulting in a commendation by the Head of Policy
Supported internal meetings by booking rooms and appointments, drafting agendas, and taking minutes
Offered advice and guidance to senior government officials

Administrative Officer
TRAFFORD COUNCIL, Manchester
June 2016–November 2018

Managed and followed up on 40+ queries and complaints daily via email, telephone, and face-to-face interactions
Produced research reports for the development of future policies and delivered findings to senior staff
Undertook general administrative duties such as scanning, faxing, filing, and photocopying
Used spreadsheet software to prepare invoices and payments with 100% accuracy
Oversaw daily scheduling and responded to interdepartmental enquiries

EDUCATION

University of Bristol, Bristol
April 2012–January 2016
BSc (Hons) Politics and International Relations — upper second-class honours (II.i)
Dissertation Topic: Foreign Policy in the Digital Frontier

Clifton High School, Bristol
July 2009–February 2012
A-Levels: Economics (B), Business Studies (A), English Literature (B)
GCSEs: 10 A*–C, including English, Maths, and Economics

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

Proficient in using spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice)
Excellent problem-solving, organizational, analytical, and communication skills
Deep knowledge of methods used in policy development and implementation
Expertise in negotiation and project management
Strong experience in building productive relationships with people from different backgrounds
Ability to accomplish targets and deliver results within a team and independently

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

Solving puzzles | Volunteering | Reading political books

How to write a civil service CV

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 write a CV tailored to the specific role you’re applying for.

Need to make a name-blind civil service CV? Just use your job title in place of your name in your CV header, make an email address with your initials and job title (for example, am.analyst@gmail.com) and remove your LinkedIn profile.

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:

Three bullet points from a civil service CV — Adding hard numbers to your CV shows what results you can produce as a public servant.

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.

You can easily find free government CV templates online.

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.

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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: