Guidance

Success Profiles: Technical

Updated 14 October 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-technical

The Civil Service recruits using Success Profiles. They help give us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. For each role we advertise, we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. 

Our Success Profiles are made of five elements:

  1. Ability - the aptitude or potential to perform to the required standard
  2. Technical - the actions and activities that people do which result in effective performance in a job
  3. Behaviours - the actions and activities that people do which result in effective performance in a job
  4. Strengths - the things we do regularly, do well and that motivate us
  5. Experience - the knowledge or mastery of an activity or subject gained through involvement in or exposure to it

Not all elements are relevant to every role. The makeup of the Success Profile should be different for different types of job. This helps to improve the chances of getting the best person for the job. 

Why we assess technical skills, knowledge and qualifications

There are more than 20 professions in the Civil Service. The professions offer a wide range of roles, including some specialised ones. 

The head of each Profession defines the specific skills, knowledge and qualifications we may ask you to demonstrate to be successful in these roles. 

For example, a specialised role in Government Finance may need candidates to have:

  • accountancy qualifications
  • knowledge of the way we manage finance within government

How we assess technical skills, knowledge and qualifications

Some professions have a professional framework. The frameworks are designed to assess the specific skills, qualifications and knowledge needed for that profession’s roles. 

The job advert will list any technical requirements you may need for the role. It will also explain which assessment methods we will use. Some of the assessment methods to assess your technical skills may include:

  • application form
  • CV
  • interview
  • technical presentations and exercises
  • technical test(s)
  • presentation
  • work sample(s)
  • in-tray exercise
  • job related simulation
  • oral briefing exercise
  • written analysis/exercise
  • assessment centre

If there is a need for a particular qualification or membership of a professional body, we may ask you to provide evidence of your qualification(s) or membership.

We may assess your technical/professional skills along with other elements of the Success Profile. This will help to get a more rounded picture of your suitability for the role. 

Reasonable adjustments 

The Civil Service is a diverse and inclusive workplace. We want to help you show your full potential whatever type of assessment we use.

 Examples of adjustments can include:

  • providing documents in large print or braille
  • allowing more time for a test or interview 
  • providing assistance at an assessment centre

If you need any reasonable adjustments, tell us when you submit your application that you need an adjustment and how it will help.

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