Welcome! If you’re here, you’re probably preparing for an interview for an Executive Officer (EO) role in the Civil Service.
This guide is here to help you understand the Working Together behavior and how to ace the interview questions for this specific level.
Let’s dive into what Working Together means and how to tackle questions about it using the B-STAR method!
What Is the Working Together Behavior?
Working Together is all about effective collaboration, building strong relationships, and achieving shared goals. At the EO level, this means you need to demonstrate an ability to work with colleagues across different teams and departments, helping drive collective success.
At higher levels, such as Higher Executive Officer (HEO) or Senior Executive Officer (SEO), the Working Together behavior may require managing larger, more complex teams or influencing senior stakeholders. But at the EO level, it's more focused on:
🔹 Supporting peers and subordinates
🔹 Communicating effectively with people at all levels
🔹 Contributing positively to team efforts
🔹 Sharing information and resources for collective benefit
Understanding these nuances will help you provide answers that are well-targeted to the EO role.
How to Answer Using the B-STAR Method
When answering Working Together questions, use the B-STAR method. Here's how it works:
B for Belief: Start by explaining your core belief about teamwork. Why is working together important to you? What principles guide how you collaborate with others?
S for Situation: Set the scene by describing a real-life scenario where you had to collaborate with others.
T for Task: Detail your role in the situation. What was your responsibility in making sure the team worked well together?
A for Action: Explain the steps you took to ensure effective collaboration. How did you communicate? How did you solve any problems?
R for Result: End with the outcome. What positive results came from your teamwork? Be specific about the benefits to the team or organization.
Common Interview Questions for Working Together Behavior
🤝 Can you give an example of a time when you had to work closely with someone with a different working style?
🤝 Tell us about a time when you resolved a conflict within your team.
🤝 Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with other departments or teams to achieve a goal.
🤝 Click this link to see more example questions...
What the Interviewer Wants to See
1. Your Belief in Teamwork
Interviewers want to understand why working together is important to you. Are you someone who values collaboration and believes it drives better results? They will be looking for genuine enthusiasm about teamwork.
2. How You Handle Differences
They want to see how well you adapt to working with people who have different approaches or personalities. It’s not just about agreeing with everyone but finding a way to work together even when it's challenging.
3. Problem-Solving in Teams
Can you recognize and resolve conflicts? The interviewer will want to see how you handle disagreements and still keep things productive.
4. Communication Skills
Being able to communicate clearly, especially when coordinating across teams, is vital. They’ll want to see that you can share ideas effectively and listen to others.
5. Positive Outcomes
Finally, the interviewer is looking for tangible results from your teamwork. Did your collaboration help achieve a team goal? Were relationships strengthened? Showing measurable outcomes will make your answer stronger.
Ideas for Scenarios
💼 Collaborating with a colleague to meet a tight deadline on a project.
💼 Helping resolve a misunderstanding between team members that was impacting work.
💼 Sharing resources and best practices with a new team to streamline their process.
💼 Coordinating with other departments to launch a new system or process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Focusing only on your achievements: It’s called Working Together for a reason! Be sure to emphasize the team effort, not just what you personally achieved.
🚫 Failing to acknowledge challenges: Working with others isn’t always easy. If you skip over challenges, it can seem like you’re not prepared to deal with real-world situations.
🚫 Not explaining your role: It’s important to make clear what you did within the team. Interviewers want to know exactly what you contributed.
🚫 Being vague about results: If your answer doesn’t include concrete outcomes, it might seem incomplete. Be specific about what was achieved as a result of the teamwork.
Key Takeaways for Working Together at EO Level
🌟 Working Together is a key behavior for Executive Officers, showing how well you collaborate to achieve team goals.
🌟 The B-STAR method will help you structure your answers clearly, making it easier for interviewers to see your strengths.
🌟 Demonstrating that you value teamwork, adapt to others, and drive positive outcomes will set you apart in the interview.
Good luck with your interview! You've got this! 🎉
