Behaviours sit at the heart of most Civil Service applications. They are the observable actions that lead to effective performance, and there are nine of them in the official framework. The hard part is not understanding the behaviours; it is writing convincing, specific evidence that scores well against them. This guide shows you how.
The nine behaviours
Every Civil Service role draws on the same set of nine behaviours, though each advert selects only a few and sets the grade level expected.
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Structure each example with STAR
The clearest way to write a behaviour statement is the STAR structure: Situation, Task, Action and Result. Spend most of your word count on Action, because that is where the assessor sees what you personally did. Use I rather than we, and be specific about your contribution. Our STAR method guide covers the technique in detail and applies equally to written statements and interviews.
A worked example: Communicating and Influencing
Suppose the behaviour is Communicating and Influencing at a mid-level grade. A weak answer says you are a good communicator who gets on with everyone. A strong answer names a situation, for example a project where two teams disagreed on priorities; the task, to reach a shared plan by a deadline; the actions you took, such as preparing a one-page summary, running a short meeting and adapting your message for a sceptical stakeholder; and the result, a signed-off plan delivered on time. Concrete detail and a measurable outcome are what lift a statement from average to high-scoring.
Match the grade level
Each behaviour has level descriptors that scale with grade. A junior example might focus on managing your own workload, while a senior one shows you influencing across an organisation or shaping strategy. Read the level descriptors in the advert and pitch your example to match. If you are unsure where a role sits, our guide to Civil Service grades explains the structure from AO to senior levels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing the situation at length and rushing the action
- Writing in the plural when the assessor needs to see your individual contribution
- Choosing an example that does not actually demonstrate the named behaviour
- Forgetting the result, so the impact of your work is invisible
- Going over the word count, which can mean your statement is cut off
Build a small library of two or three strong examples for each behaviour you meet often, then tailor them to each advert. You can find roles that use these behaviours on our Civil Service jobs page, and if you are exploring government work more widely, browse all government jobs to compare requirements.
This guide offers general information on writing behaviour evidence and is not formal careers advice. Always follow the word limits and instructions in the specific advert you are applying to.