EO — Executive Officer
Everything you need to know about applying for EO roles in the Civil Service: what assessors expect, how behaviours are tested, and grade-specific examples.
What EO level involves
At EO level, you are expected to take ownership of your work, show initiative within your role, and understand how your tasks support the wider team. You should begin to show awareness of organisational priorities.
The 9 behaviours at EO level
Below are all nine Civil Service behaviours with typical word counts and links to grade-specific examples. Most departments ask for 250 words per behaviour at this level.
| Behaviour | Typical word count | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Seeing the Big Picture | 250 | Example |
| Changing and Improving | 250 | Example |
| Making Effective Decisions | 250 | Example |
| Leadership | 250 | Example |
| Communicating and Influencing | 250 | Example |
| Working Together | 250 | Example |
| Developing Self and Others | 250 | Example |
| Managing a Quality Service | 250 | Example |
| Delivering at Pace | 250 | Example |
Scoring expectations at EO
At sift, your behaviour statements are scored on a scale of 1–7 against the Success Profiles framework. To pass, you typically need to score at least 4 ("Achieved") on each behaviour required for the role.
The difference between a score of 4 and a score of 5 is often specificity. A statement that says "I improved the process" scores lower than one that says "I redesigned the filing system, reducing retrieval time by 75%." Use numbers wherever you can.
How to progress from EO
To progress from EO to HEO, you need to show that you can manage your own workload, support others, and make decisions without constant oversight. Seek opportunities to lead small projects or mentor new starters.