Hello and welcome! 😊 If you’re preparing for a Civil Service interview at the Administrative Assistant (AA) level, specifically around the behavior of Working Together, you’re in the right place. This article will help you feel confident when discussing this important behavior, giving you a clear guide on what it means, how to answer questions, and how to stand out in your interview.
What Does "Working Together" Mean for an AA Role?
Working Together focuses on how well you collaborate with others, build positive relationships, and contribute to a team. At the AA level, this behavior is all about supporting team goals, cooperating with others, and showing respect for different viewpoints. While more senior levels might focus on leading teams or managing conflicts, AA-level employees are expected to focus on helping their team achieve success, being reliable, and communicating clearly.
Teamwork here isn't about taking charge or delegating; it's about being a supportive team player who gets the job done efficiently. You'll be expected to follow directions, offer help where needed, and show empathy towards colleagues.
How to Answer "Working Together" Questions Using the B-STAR Method
A great way to structure your answers is the B-STAR method:
B: Belief – What are your core beliefs about teamwork?
S: Situation – Describe the context or background.
T: Task – Explain your specific role in the task.
A: Action – Detail what steps you took.
R: Result – Share the outcome and how it benefited the team.
Here's how it works in practice:
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Start with your belief: Express your core belief about why working together is important. For example, “I believe that strong collaboration is key to delivering high-quality work, as it allows everyone to contribute their strengths.”
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Move into the situation: Give a brief but clear description of a relevant situation you’ve experienced. For example, "In my previous role, our team was tasked with meeting a tight deadline on a project…"
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Describe the task: Clarify what your specific task was. “My role was to organize the data and ensure all team members had access to the latest version…”
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Explain your actions: Highlight what you did to support the team. For example, “I made sure to check in with my colleagues regularly to offer assistance and keep track of everyone's progress.”
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End with the result: Explain how your actions positively affected the team or the task outcome. “As a result, we completed the project ahead of schedule, and everyone felt supported throughout the process.”
Common Interview Questions on Working Together
Here are some of the most common questions you might encounter during your interview:
🌟 Can you give an example of when you worked as part of a team to achieve a goal?
🌟 How do you handle disagreements within a team?
🌟 Tell me about a time when you supported a team member who was struggling with a task.
🌟 Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with people from different departments.
🌟 Click this link to see more example questions... https://interviewdetectives.com/products/aa-ao-civil-service-behaviours-interview-questions-and-answers
What Are Interviewers Looking for in Your Answers?
Here’s what interviewers want to hear when they ask about Working Together at the AA level:
🌟 Team player mindset: Interviewers are keen to see if you enjoy working with others, understand the value of collaboration, and can contribute meaningfully to team goals.
🌟 Effective communication: They want to know that you can share information, listen actively, and keep everyone in the loop.
🌟 Reliability and support: Can they count on you to do your part and help others when needed? This includes stepping up when someone else is struggling or lending a hand without being asked.
🌟 Conflict resolution: Interviewers will be interested in how you handle differences of opinion or disagreements. Do you resolve conflicts diplomatically and keep the team moving forward?
🌟 Diversity awareness: Do you respect and value different viewpoints, backgrounds, and experiences? Demonstrating empathy and inclusivity is a big plus.
Scenario Ideas for Working Together Questions
If you’re stuck trying to come up with examples, here are a few scenarios you might draw from:
👉 Helping a team member who was behind on a deadline by redistributing tasks to balance the workload.
👉 Collaborating with colleagues from another department on a shared project.
👉 Resolving a misunderstanding within the team to ensure smooth communication.
👉 Organizing team meetings or ensuring that everyone has the latest updates on a project.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Answering "Working Together" Questions
🚫 Talking too much about your individual accomplishments: Remember, the focus is on teamwork, not just your personal achievements.
🚫 Ignoring conflicts: Don’t pretend like you’ve never experienced a team conflict. Instead, show how you dealt with it positively.
🚫 Lacking concrete examples: Vague answers won’t cut it. Be specific about the situation, your role, and the result.
🚫 Not showing empathy: Interviewers are looking for signs that you care about your team members, so make sure your answers reflect that.
Key Takeaways: Why Working Together Matters for AA Level
At the AA level, Working Together is all about being a reliable, supportive team player who contributes to the overall success of the group. It’s essential for building strong working relationships, ensuring projects run smoothly, and fostering a positive, collaborative atmosphere in the workplace.
By preparing thoughtful, well-structured answers using the B-STAR method and avoiding common mistakes, you'll be in a strong position to show interviewers that you’re a great fit for the role.
Good luck with your interview preparation! 😊
Click here to continue learning more about the AA/AO interview...
