Hello and welcome! 🎉 If you’ve landed here, chances are you’re preparing for a Civil Service interview for the Administrative Officer (AO) level, specifically focusing on the Working Together behavior. This post is designed to help you understand what this behavior means at the AO level, how to answer related questions, and how to ensure you shine in your interview. Let's get started!
What Does "Working Together" Mean for an Administrative Officer?
Working Together is all about collaboration, teamwork, and communication. At the AO level, it means working effectively with colleagues, building relationships across teams, and contributing to shared goals.
For an AO, this behavior requires you to be a strong team player—someone who supports others, works well in a diverse environment, and ensures that tasks are completed through collaboration. It’s important to recognize the difference between levels: at higher levels, like HEO or SEO, Working Together may involve leading teams and resolving conflicts. But at AO, you’ll be expected to focus more on contributing as a reliable member of the team rather than taking charge.
Answering Working Together Questions with the B-STAR Method
When you’re faced with an interview question about Working Together, you can use the B-STAR method to structure your answer. This ensures you provide a clear, relevant response. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
B = Belief 🌟
Start with your personal belief about teamwork. What drives you to collaborate effectively? For example, you might believe that a supportive team environment leads to better outcomes.
S = Situation 🎯
Describe the situation where you had to work with others. Be specific. Was it a project, a daily task, or an unexpected challenge?
T = Task 📝
Outline your role in the task. What were you responsible for? At the AO level, this might involve ensuring everyone had the information they needed or helping a colleague who was struggling.
A = Action 🚀
Detail the actions you took to collaborate effectively. How did you work with your team? Did you communicate well, support others, or resolve issues?
R = Result 🏆
Finally, explain the positive outcome. What was achieved because of your teamwork? Did the project succeed? Did a colleague improve their performance? Make sure the result is linked to how your contribution made a difference.
Common Working Together Interview Questions
Here are some typical questions you might encounter:
👉 Tell me about a time you worked in a team to complete a task.
👉 Describe a time when you had to deal with a conflict within a team.
👉 Give an example of how you supported a colleague in a difficult situation.
👉 How do you ensure effective communication in a team?
👉 Click this link to see more example questions...
What the Interviewer is Looking For
The interviewer will want to see specific qualities in your answers. Let’s break down what they’re after:
Effective Collaboration 👫: They want to know that you can work well with others and share responsibility. Are you open to ideas, supportive, and willing to help others succeed?
Communication Skills 🗣: Your answers should show that you can communicate clearly and respectfully with your colleagues. At the AO level, this could be about sharing information effectively or helping to solve misunderstandings.
Problem Solving 🧠: How do you handle issues within a team? They will be looking for examples where you helped resolve a challenge by bringing the team together.
Commitment to Team Success 🎯: Your answer should reflect your willingness to prioritize team goals over individual achievements. They want to see that you understand the bigger picture and work towards collective outcomes.
Ideas for Scenarios
Here are some real-life scenarios that might help you think about how to answer these questions:
💼 Helping a new colleague settle in: You helped onboard a new team member, making sure they understood processes and felt supported.
📊 Completing a group project under pressure: You worked with colleagues to complete a task on a tight deadline, ensuring everyone contributed.
👥 Resolving a misunderstanding: There was a miscommunication in your team, and you stepped in to ensure everyone was on the same page.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Being vague: Avoid general answers like "I work well in a team." Always back up your statements with clear examples.
🚫 Focusing too much on yourself: It’s easy to fall into the trap of highlighting only your individual contributions. Make sure to emphasize how you worked with others.
🚫 Blaming others: Don’t blame team failures on others. If you faced a difficult team situation, talk about how you helped resolve it, not just the problems.
🚫 Failing to show the result: Always finish your answer by explaining the outcome of your teamwork. What was achieved?
Key Takeaways: Why Working Together Matters for an AO
As an AO, Working Together is crucial to your role. It ensures that tasks are completed efficiently, and goals are met by leveraging the collective effort of the team. At this level, it’s about contributing to the team’s success, building strong working relationships, and helping others thrive. Focus on showing that you are a valuable, reliable team player who understands the importance of communication and collaboration.
Good luck in your interview! 🍀 You’ve got this!
Click here to continue learning more about the AA/AO interview...
