From Uni to Civil Service: How to Nail Your First Application
30 September 2025
Mared Jones
In this guest blog, Companies House provide graduates with invaluable advice, from within the Civil Service, on how to craft the best applications to their graduate schemes and jobs.
Starting Your Civil Service Journey: Let’s Make It Simple
We know the Civil Service can sound like a great place to start your career—and it really is – but one of the most common things we hear from graduates is:
“I’d love to apply, but the process seems complicated.”
And that’s a fair point. The application process can feel a bit daunting at first, especially if you’re new to it.
That’s why we’ve created this blog—to break it all down, share insider tips, and help you navigate each stage with confidence.
If you’re thinking about applying for a role at Companies House—or any Civil Service job—the best place to start is the Civil Service Jobs website: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/.
While we do share opportunities on social media and job boards, every application has to go through the Civil Service Jobs website. It’s your go-to hub for:
- Finding roles
- Understanding requirements
- Submitting your application
At Companies House, we’re committed to being as transparent as possible. That’s why our job adverts include everything you need to know—from what the role involves to how the application process works.
They might look a bit long at first glance, but trust us: taking the time to read through them will make things much clearer and help you feel more prepared.
So You’ve Found a Civil Service Job You Love… What’s Next?
First off—great news! 🎉 You’ve spotted a role that’s got your name written all over it. Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get cracking on your application, but don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
Step 1: Do a Bit of Sleuthing
Before you start typing away, take a moment to dig a little deeper. The job advert is your treasure map—it’s packed with clues! Look out for:
- Job description – this tells you what the role involves.
- Person specifications – this is what you need to have (it could be skills, experience, qualifications etc) to be able to apply for (and do!) the role. Haven’t got everything they’re asking for? Don’t worry, still apply!
- What are they assessing? – this could be Civil Service Behaviours, it could be the person specification, it could be technical skills, or the essential minimum criterion – whichever it is, the advert will tell you all you need to know.
- What are the non negotiables? – Got a word count for a personal statement? Great! Divide it up based on what you need to cover. That way, you won’t run out of space halfway through your evidence. What’s the deadline? Make sure you submit your application well ahead of time.
Step 2: Tell Your Story
This is your moment to shine. We want to hear about you in your application—not your team, not your manager, not your cat (unless your cat helped you demonstrate “Working Together”… then maybe 😄).
Be specific. If the behaviour is ‘Working Together,’ or one of the essential minimum criteria is ‘Team working skills’, then don’t just say “I worked in a team.” Tell us about that time you rallied your colleagues to hit a deadline, or solved a tricky problem together. Make it real, make it memorable and focus on your role in the task and remember to include the outcome. The STAR method (explaining the situation – task – action – result of each example you include) is a great way to get your evidence over clearly.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Keep up to date on all our roles by setting up an account on https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/ and switching on email alerts (you can always filter them to your salary, location, role preferences). That way, your next opportunity could land straight in your inbox—no detective work required!
