Welcome to your guide on Developing Self and Others for the Civil Service interview at the Administrative Assistant (AA) level. This post is here to help you understand the behavior, give you tips on answering interview questions, and show you how to impress your interviewers.
Let’s dive in!
What Does Developing Self and Others Mean?
Developing Self and Others means taking responsibility for your own growth and helping others to improve their skills. At the AA level, it’s about being open to learning, seeking feedback, and supporting your colleagues to grow.
While more senior roles might focus on mentoring or formal training responsibilities, at AA level, it’s more about building a foundation—being proactive in your development and showing a willingness to help teammates with their growth.
How to Answer Using the B-STAR Method
To nail these interview questions, use the B-STAR method. This is a helpful structure that allows you to present your answers in a clear and impactful way:
- B (Belief): Start by sharing your thoughts or beliefs about developing yourself and others. What motivates you to grow and help others grow?
- S (Situation): Describe a situation where you needed to learn or help someone else develop.
- T (Task): Explain what your specific role or responsibility was in that situation.
- A (Action): Detail the steps you took to address the situation.
- R (Result): Finish by sharing the positive outcome, focusing on what you or others learned or how skills were improved.
Common Interview Questions for Developing Self and Others
💡 How do you seek feedback and act on it?
💡 Can you share a time when you helped a colleague improve their skills?
💡 What steps have you taken to develop your own skills recently?
💡 How do you support a team culture of learning and growth?
💡 Click this link to see more example questions...
What the Interviewer Wants to See
Interviewers are looking for specific traits and actions in your answers. Here’s a breakdown of what they’re after for each type of question:
How do you seek feedback and act on it?
They want to see that you’re proactive about your own development. They’ll be checking for your openness to feedback and your ability to apply what you learn.
Can you share a time when you helped a colleague improve their skills?
Here, they’re looking for teamwork and empathy. Show that you can support others in their learning, even if it's informal coaching or sharing knowledge.
What steps have you taken to develop your own skills recently?
They want evidence that you take ownership of your growth. Mention any training, reading, or tasks you’ve taken on to improve.
How do you support a team culture of learning and growth?
They’re looking for examples of you encouraging others and fostering a positive environment where learning is shared.
Scenario Ideas for Your Interview Answers
✏️ Helping a colleague: You noticed a coworker struggling with a task, offered help, and taught them how to complete it more efficiently.
✏️ Seeking feedback: After completing a project, you asked your manager for constructive criticism and used it to improve in future tasks.
✏️ Learning a new skill: You took the initiative to learn new software that helped improve your efficiency and later shared your knowledge with the team.
✏️ Encouraging team development: You suggested a "skills exchange" in the office where everyone could share something they were good at with others.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Vague answers: Don’t give general answers. Be specific with examples.
🚫 Focusing too much on others: Remember to show how you develop yourself, not just how you help others.
🚫 Lack of reflection: You need to demonstrate that you learn from experiences and actively seek ways to improve.
🚫 Forgetting the result: Always close your example with a positive outcome—what was the result of your actions?
Key Takeaways for Developing Self and Others at the AA Level
⭐ Developing Self and Others at the AA level is about showing a commitment to personal growth and helping colleagues when possible.
⭐ Interviewers want to see specific examples of how you seek feedback, improve your skills, and assist others.
⭐ Use the B-STAR method to structure your answers and show clear thought, action, and results.
Good luck—you’ve got this! 💪
Click here to continue learning more about the AA/AO interview...
