Are you looking to get a job with the Civil Service or other Government department and the job descriptions states that one of the core behaviors they will assess you on is Working Together?

So just what is the Working Together Civil Service behaviour and what does it mean?

In this article we analyse this behaviour in depth, we make it easy to understand and we give you some top pointers in terms of examples to use. We also give you a sample 250 statement answer using the STAR method.

About the Working Together Civil Service Behaviour

Working Together is one of the 9 Civil Service core behaviours or competencies. In almost all jobs you will be required to work with other people in order to complete tasks or projects or deliver goals.

The official definition of Working Together is:

Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.

Being able to work with others in a team is a skill that impacts all aspects of our lives. Whether it is working together with colleagues, friends or family, it is important to be able to work effectively in a group to achieve a set objective.

What Does the Working Together Behaviour Mean?

Put into simple terms, Working Together, or Teamwork as it is more commonly known, means:

• Being a team player, contributing, collaborating, offering support and help to colleagues where needed
• Sharing ideas, giving advice and input in order to get something done
• Building relationships within your own area and outside
• Being enthused about sharing knowledge, information and learning
• Additionally you should show genuine interest when listening to others
• It involves respecting others’ views, supporting colleagues, and fostering an inclusive, team-focused environment
• By communicating openly and valuing diverse contributions, you help create a positive workplace culture that delivers better outcomes for the organisation and the public

Working Together Competency Interview Questions

Here are a small selection of competency based interview questions related to Working Together taken from the InterviewGold online training system.

How would you answer?

• Describe a situation where teamwork was essential to achieving a goal. What role did you play, and how did you support others?
• Are you a team player and what role do you generally play in group situations?
• Describe a time when your teamworking skills made a difference. What did you do that was so successful?
• Describe a situation in which you were a member of a team and a conflict arose within the team. What approach did you take and how did you resolve it?
• Tell me about a time you worked with someone with a very different working style or perspective. How did you ensure effective collaboration?
• Can you give an example of when you had to resolve a disagreement within a team? How did you handle it?
• Share a time when you helped create an inclusive and supportive environment for colleagues. What actions did you take and why?

Discover the most likely Working Together questions they can ask and get brilliant answers TAILOR MADE for you by our powerful Answer Builder.

How to Answer Working Together Interview Questions

What is required is a strong and relevant example clearly showing that you possess this skill. We look at ways to demonstrate Working Together below however first here are some tips to help you formulate a winning answer.

• Show Strong Teamwork: Give a recent example ideally from your work or academic experience. Highlight communication, support, inclusivity, and teamwork. Show how your approach contributed to a positive outcome for the team or project.
• Use the STAR Formula: We recommend using the STAR or IPAR structure, being sure to lay out the situation or context and the action you took, as well as a result. This will help you successfully demonstrate your skills and experience.
• Show Correct Positive Behaviours: You must show the correct positive behaviours relevant to the role and your level. These will be scored accordingly as they are mentioned and include an ability to support others and to foster positive relationships by listening, being approachable, and treating others with fairness and respect.
• Relevant Civil Service Strengths: Refer to the Civil Service strengths dictionary too as they will listen and score you as they hear these being shown also. Strengths include being a negotiator, emotionally intelligent and inclusive among others.

How Can I Demonstrate Effective Working Together Skills?

On your application or in the interview you will be expected to show how you have worked successfully with others.

Here are some ways you can demonstrate effectiveness with Working Together. Use these ideas to help build your answers.

• You can demonstrate effective Working Together skills by showing how you collaborate with others to achieve shared goals.
• This includes actively listening, being respectful, and valuing different perspectives.
• Support your colleagues, share knowledge, and build strong relationships based on trust.
• Promote inclusivity and resolve conflicts constructively to maintain team harmony.
• Demonstrate adaptability, clear communication, and a willingness to compromise when needed.
• Actively contribute to a positive team culture, encourage open dialogue, and recognise the strengths others bring to the group.

Working Together Examples to Talk About

Even in roles where you predominantly work alone, there is usually an element of teamwork involved, whether it is with different departments, partners or external suppliers. It can be as simple as working with a colleague, accepting, offering support, sharing ideas, giving advice and help in order to get something done.

Working together can be demonstrated in many forms and here are some potential scenarios to help refresh your memory when choosing your examples.

Can you recall a time when you….

• Shared your ideas and knowledge in some way, perhaps with a new colleague or in a team.
• Were part of a team or group who led the implementation of a new process or system.
• Supported your colleagues when their workload expanded above usual levels; perhaps offering rather than being asked.
• Collaborated with colleagues across departments to streamline a process, improving service speed and reducing costs.

See how you can pass your Civil Service video and face to face interviews with ease with expert advice.

Working Together Sample STAR 250 Word Statement

Here is how you can write a sample 250 word statement for Working Together using the STAR formula.

Without those your answer will not score well.

How to get your target Civil Service job with InterviewGold

The InterviewGold online interview training platform covers Civil Service interviews, Success Profiles and behaviours in detail. It is designed to rapidly bring your interview skills up to date and help you answer brilliantly whether on an application, in an interview or during an assessment centre.

Here are just 3 ways in which InterviewGold will help you succeed:

• Our advanced Answer Builder will create answers TAILOR MADE for you to any question for application and interview.
• Use the expertly written and detailed STAR sample interview answer templates both 250 words and longer to guide you.
• Detailed personal statements and answers for behaviour and suitability statements.