I applied online. I interviewed at Cabinet Office UK in May 2025
Interview
The interview process was pretty straightforward but the interviewers seemed a bit rigid and just read out the Qs. It did look like they were tired / bored. Also, there was no mention of a case study before the interview and yet I was given one so I was unprepared.
In total about 6 Qs were asked and a presentation where you had to look at an AI generated image showing an AI workflow / CKC where you had to suggest mitigating controls
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Can you describe a time when you led a team through a complex, fast-paced security incident? How you ensured everyone understood their roles
Tell us about a situation where you had to make a critical IR decision based on incomplete data.
How did you weigh the risks and implications, and how did you confidently make and justify your decision, even if details were unclear?A threat actor compromises a cloud service account to exfiltrate customer data. As you draft the post-incident report, what specific technical baselines or other sources will you use to formulate your remediation advice?
Yоu havе just dеtесtеd lаtеrаl mоvеmеnt linkеd tо аn еmеrging APT. Wаlk mе thrоugh thе sресifiс sоurсеs аnd tесhniсаl stерs yоu’d usе tо асquirе, vаlidаtе, аnd еnriсh intеlligеnсе оn this thrеаt. Hоw wоuld yоu аррly this dаtа tо infоrm yоur соntаinmеnt strаtеgy аnd dirесt yоur аnаlysts in dеvеlорing IOCs?
2 behaviour questions and 2 strength questions. 1 warm up question about motivations to apply for the role and chance to introduce yourself. Very positive experience. they are allowed to ask follow up questions for behaviour questions but not for strength questions
I applied online. The process took 5 months. I interviewed at Cabinet Office UK (London, England) in Dec 2024
Interview
Fairly standard, lot of strengths based questions based on Civil Service Fast Stream behaviours, took around 40 minutes. Over telephone rather than a zoom link, very low stress. Recruiter asked a couple of questions to ease you in, said they weren't assessed but notes were made so this is something to be aware of.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me a time you have responded well to feedback