How to write a Seeing the Big Picture statement
A step-by-step guide to writing a strong Seeing the Big Picture behaviour statement using the STAR method. Follow these steps, avoid common mistakes, and use the checklist before you submit.
What Seeing the Big Picture means
Seeing the Big Picture means understanding how your role fits into the wider Civil Service and the public it serves. At every grade, assessors want to see that you think beyond your immediate tasks and consider the broader impact of your decisions.
What assessors look for: Evidence that you understand organisational priorities, consider wider stakeholders, and align your work with government objectives.
Step 1: Choose your example
Pick one specific situation from your work, volunteering, or education. The best examples for Seeing the Big Picture often involve:
- Retail team leader who noticed their store's customer complaints were part of a wider regional pattern and escalated the insight to head office.
- A situation where you had to think beyond your immediate responsibilities
- A challenge that required you to understanding how your work fits into the wider organisation and public purpose.
You do not need a dramatic story. A well-told ordinary example scores better than an extraordinary one told badly. Assessors look for clarity and evidence, not grandeur.
Step 2: Write the Situation (2 sentences)
Set the scene quickly. The assessor needs enough context to understand what was at stake, but not every detail.
For example: "I was working as a customer service supervisor in a retail chain when I noticed our store was receiving an unusually high number of complaints about a new returns policy."
Step 3: Write the Task (1 sentence)
State your specific responsibility. What did you need to achieve?
For example: "I needed to understand whether this was a local issue or part of a wider pattern, and ensure the feedback reached the right people."
Step 4: Write the Action (60% of your words)
This is the most important part. Describe what you did, step by step. Use "I" not "we". Be specific about your contribution.
For example: "I reviewed complaint logs from the past three months and cross-referenced them with two nearby stores in the same region. I found that all three stores showed a 40% increase in returns-related complai..."
Spending too long on Situation and not enough on Action. The assessor wants to know what you did, not every detail of the context.
Step 5: Write the Result (1–2 sentences)
End with a clear outcome. Include a number if you can — it makes your result concrete and memorable.
For example: "The regional manager presented the data at the quarterly review. The policy was revised within six weeks, and returns-related complaints across the re..."
Full example
Here is the complete example, annotated with STAR markers:
[S] I was working as a customer service supervisor in a retail chain when I noticed our store was receiving an unusually high number of complaints about a new returns policy.
[T] I needed to understand whether this was a local issue or part of a wider pattern, and ensure the feedback reached the right people.
[A] I reviewed complaint logs from the past three months and cross-referenced them with two nearby stores in the same region. I found that all three stores showed a 40% increase in returns-related complaints since the policy change. I compiled this data into a concise report, including customer verbatim quotes, and sent it to our regional manager with a recommendation to review the policy at the next quarterly meeting. I also briefed my team on how to handle returns empathetically in the meantime.
[R] The regional manager presented the data at the quarterly review. The policy was revised within six weeks, and returns-related complaints across the region dropped by 55% in the following quarter. My store manager commended me for spotting the wider issue rather than treating it as a local problem.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Focusing only on your own team or department without mentioning wider stakeholders.
- Using vague language like "I considered the bigger picture" without showing what you actually did.
- Confusing this behaviour with Leadership — it is about understanding context, not directing others.
Checklist before you submit
- Is the example specific and real?
- Do I use "I" not "we" in the Action section?
- Is the word count within the limit (check the job advert)?
- Does the Result include a number or measurable outcome?
- Have I adapted this example to focus on Seeing the Big Picture, not another behaviour?
- Have I removed filler words and phrases?
- Have I checked for spelling and grammar errors?