Selection will be by a written sift, followed by a face-to-face interview
The Civil Service uses a Success Profiles to assess candidates knowledge and skills. You will be assessed against your experience and Government Communications Service (GCS) technical skills.
Well assess both what candidates are good at, as well as previous achievements to help us measure candidates experience and their potential. The assessment process comprises of a written application and for shortlisted candidates, a scenario-based exercise and presentation and an interview.
Written application
Youll need to complete a CV and answer four questions when you apply. Your CV should set out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. Your CV will not be scored.
The four questions (250 words per question) will be assessed against the experience criteria set out on slide 6. The questions are set out on slide 9. You must include examples of your own work to be consider as part of your answer.
Interview Exercise
Candidates will be asked to prepare a 15-minute portfolio presentation, followed by 10 minutes of questions.
The presentation should include 4 to 5 examples of relevant work, showing how they developed creative ideas, used motion or visual storytelling, responded to a brief, and created content for campaign, social or video-led channels.
Candidates should be encouraged to talk through their thinking, not just show the final output. This should include the brief, the creative approach, tools used, any challenges, and how the final content was designed to engage the specific audience and what impact it was intended to have, and what evaluation showed it achieved.
Selection will be by a written sift, followed by a face-to-face interview.
Interview
A blended interview lasting around 45 minutes to 1 hour will test a mix of behaviours and GCS technical skills as detailed below The interview will be a mix of questions and presentation.
Well assess candidates against the following Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours www.gov.uk
at HEO level:
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Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
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Delivering at Pace
For this professional communications role, youll also be tested against the following Government Communications Service (GCS) technical skills at IO level
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Insight
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Ideas
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Implementation
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Impact
Youll also be assessed against three Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK relevant to the role. These arent defined by grade.
The interviews will be held in person in Sheffield.
Written Application
The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your answers to the following questions:
For each question, Please include a link to your online portfolio or relevant examples of work that demonstrate the skills and experience outlined in your responses.
Social Content and Impact
(Lead question)
Describe the development of a piece of motion, animation or video graphics work you created and explain how it improved the final communication or audience engagement.
Simplifying Complexity and Visual Storytelling
Can you give an example of how you used motion, pacing, kinetic typography, overlays or visual hooks to turn a complex, or real-life story into clear and accessible content for an audience?
Platform consideration and Audience Behaviour
Describe a time you developed creative content for a specific social platform and format, and how audience needs and platform conventions shaped the final output.
Innovation, Tools and Experimentation
Tell us about a time you used a new creative tool, workflow or technique including AI tools if relevant to improve how you developed ideas or delivered creative work while maintaining quality and strong creative judgement.
Please note If there are a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be undertaken based on the lead question. Candidates who pass the initial sift may progress to a full sift or may go straight to interview.
Selection and Feedback
We will notify all candidates as soon as possible. Feedback will only be provided following an interview.
A reserve list will be held for up to 6 months, which we may also use to fill future similar vacancies.
Candidates should not resign from their current job until all appropriate checks have been successfully completed.
If youre an existing civil servant and want to know more about transferring to another department, refer to your current departments guidance on transfers within the civil service.
If you have questions about the role, or the application process, please contact [email protected]
Important information
Please note
If there are a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be undertaken based on your answer to the lead question. Candidates who pass the initial sift may progress to a full sift or may go straight to interview.
DCS Criteria additional information
The benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may also be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.
Hybrid Working
This role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work.
If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office.
If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.
Visa Information
We strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.
Due to legal considerations in this area, if you have questions about visas, please contact the VISA Sponsorship Team for assistance at [email protected].
Sift and Interview Dates:
Our anticipated timetable - which may be subject to change - is as follows:
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Shortlisting will take place commencing 20/07/2026
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Interviews will commence W/C 03/08/2026
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Interviews will be held in person. Further details will be provided if you are successful and shortlisted.
- To apply for this post please follow the instructions in this candidate pack or the job advert on Civil Service Jobs.
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Please submit your application no later than 23:55 20/07/2026
If youre an existing Civil Servant and want to know more about transferring to another Department, refer to your current departments guidance on transfers within the Civil Service.
Candidates should not resign from their current job until all appropriate checks have been successfully completed.
If you have questions about the role, DWP or the application process, please contact [email protected]
Further Information
At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:
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If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
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If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.
Disability Confident Scheme
If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.
Reasonable Adjustments
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the Reasonable Adjustments section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Integrity, plagiarism and Civil Service Principles
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.
Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.
Examples of plagiarism can include:
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Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
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Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own
Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check will be carried out.
Important
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.
Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWPs Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.
Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.
Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.
Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may, however, be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at the Childcare Choices Website.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
