I am interviewing for a local government job on the Council as a Clerk, any advice?
Asked by drummergurly005
I have never interviewed for a government job before and I have an interview for the council as an entry level clerk. Anyone have any advice to prepare for the interview?

Best Answer:
In the UK, when you go for a job like this, you would already have a detailed description of what the job involves, and also a an employee specification, where they list the essential criteria for candidates who are successful. Good news is- they think you can do it! Otherwise they would not have invited you for interview. For the interview, look at all the information you've been sent, and also at the application you made. Think about what's most important in order to do this job well- it might be good office IT skills, attention to detail, an understanding of how confidential data should be handled, being able to concentrate on finishing a task to a high standard but also being able to met the deadline, being able to understand and follow specific instructions, ability to work as a team with colleagues,etc. Think carefully about how you can demonstrate you have these skills- for example, you can prove your ability to meet a deadline through your educational achievements( getting your work in on time etc) or previous jobs. As this is an entry level job, you don't have to appear like some kind of genius! It's also good to have an understanding of what your local government department does- local governments have many different departments specialising in handling different things, everything from collecting garbage to caring for children. You should also show a basic awareness of how your local government fits in with the country-wide political set-up. So in the UK, local government services are paid for both by local tax-payers and central government, and local people vote for Councillors to represent their views on how the money should be spent.This means your wages are paid through taxes and therefore you are accountable to the public. Find out as much as you can about what your local government department does, think about what examples you can give from your previous work and education to prove you're capable, and you'll be successful.