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Interview advice for the DWP needed
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applecharlotte
Posts: 133 Forumite
I've sent my form off and i'm hoping for an interview for the DWP (JOBCENTRE PLUS)
It says on the form selection tests will be held this saturday. AAArrrggghhh (assuming i get that far)
Can anybody offer any advice for the interview. I've been a housewife for 12 years so everything is new to me!
I'm particularly worried about the final assessment. I've been reading on the csa website about roleplay situations and telephone roleplay. I'm certainly no actress and very nervous so i'm dreading this!
The csa website made me laugh. They have examples of literacy tests and numeracy tests but have made terrible mistakes themselves. If that's what i'm up against god help me!
By the way, i was looking at csa interview tests because i couldn't find any dwp ones. Maybe somebody can help there, although i assume they are all pretty much the same.
Any and all advice gratefully received.
Thanks
It says on the form selection tests will be held this saturday. AAArrrggghhh (assuming i get that far)
Can anybody offer any advice for the interview. I've been a housewife for 12 years so everything is new to me!
I'm particularly worried about the final assessment. I've been reading on the csa website about roleplay situations and telephone roleplay. I'm certainly no actress and very nervous so i'm dreading this!
The csa website made me laugh. They have examples of literacy tests and numeracy tests but have made terrible mistakes themselves. If that's what i'm up against god help me!
By the way, i was looking at csa interview tests because i couldn't find any dwp ones. Maybe somebody can help there, although i assume they are all pretty much the same.
Any and all advice gratefully received.
Thanks
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When I joined DWP (Pension Service) there was not an entrance exam, just the interview. That was held okay, but when i went for promotion, I had to be re-interviewed.
This interview was held at a local jobcentre (even though it was an internal application) and was run by two people even less informed than me. I basically told them what the job was that they where interviewing for.
One thing I would say though, jobcentre plus are going to loose at least 17% of staff to job cuts, so if your looking long term it may be there as a job. Most jobs today are casual (52 weeks contracts or so), these should okay for the next yr or so, but they can end your contract early if they decide to cut staff.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
Try to think of all the things you've done since you last worked - managing household, caring, mediating, etc. etc. which are all skills that you have been using also any hobbies you might have been doing or interests. Can't help with DWP interviews though. Role play is not as bad as it seems, they would presumably want to see how you might react on the phone to people. Read the job description carefully and see how your skills fit in.applecharlotte wrote:...............Can anybody offer any advice for the interview. I've been a housewife for 12 years so everything is new to meTorgwen..........
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There is bound to be an equal opportunities question! You need to know what is included in that broad term. Do a search for interviews on this thread as someone recently said what it covered and I might forget something. Think in advance about how the DWP should act to ensure it is being equal ops friendly.Signature removed for peace of mind0
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applecharlotte wrote:I've sent my form off and i'm hoping for an interview for the DWP (JOBCENTRE PLUS)
It says on the form selection tests will be held this saturday. AAArrrggghhh (assuming i get that far)
Can anybody offer any advice for the interview. I've been a housewife for 12 years so everything is new to me!
I'm particularly worried about the final assessment. I've been reading on the csa website about roleplay situations and telephone roleplay. I'm certainly no actress and very nervous so i'm dreading this!
The csa website made me laugh. They have examples of literacy tests and numeracy tests but have made terrible mistakes themselves. If that's what i'm up against god help me!
By the way, i was looking at csa interview tests because i couldn't find any dwp ones. Maybe somebody can help there, although i assume they are all pretty much the same.
Any and all advice gratefully received.
Thanks
From what I remember of the DWP then selection tests and interviews are two separate things. If you haven't got what they consider the relevant qualifications then they ask you to sit literacy and numeracy tests, (multiple choice thingies), and/or a situations exercise and possibly a skills test (keyboard for e.g.). If you pass these then you go forward to the interview stage, usually at a later date. The tests are really basic and nothing to worry about and if you pass you will be given a certificate which you will be able to use for any future applications.
That's how it was until fairly recently anyways!!!!♥♥♥ Genius - 1% inspiration and 99% doing what your mother told you. ♥♥♥0 -
Thanks for all your advice. Still dreading the role play thing though. Not at all worried about the literacy / numeracy tests. I have been warned that if i pass the tests the interviews are on the same day!
Any more info anybody? All suggestions greatfully received0 -
I wouldn't panic too much about the role play, TBH. Can you practice with anyone? the thing is, you can't be expected to KNOW anything for certain at interview, so what they'll be looking for is how you respond to other people, and what you say when you can't say anything, IYSWIM.
If you're role playing a phone conversation a) smile (even if no-one can see you they will hear if you are smiling!) and b) remember to ask for name and contact phone no. and write them down. If you can't answer a question in role play, apologise that you don't know the answer and say that you will find out and get back to them. But don't make excuses for yourself.Signature removed for peace of mind0 -
I BET the role play will involve either threats of violence, or someone losing their temper. Practice keeping your voice even and calm, reflecting back to people how they are feeling and the broken record technique (this is where you just keep repeating the same thing).
So for example
Customer: 'YOu keep jerking me about, you ^&*()%^&*()^%&*
You: 'I understand that this is very distressing for you, but you do need to pay this money.'
Customer '%^&*()$%^&()^&&*^&^&*('
You: 'I can see that you are upset, but we need to focus on how we can help you to pay this money'
(You will also score points for saying something like 'I am sorry, but I cannot talk to you if you swear at me')Ex board guide. Signature now changed (if you know, you know).0 -
I've just been practising role play with my daughter. But for some reason i do it in an american accent. Too much tv!!!!!!!!!
Threats of violence???????? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
More nervous now than before. But i've been shopping today and got my outfit sorted so that's one less worry. I just need the job now to pay it off.0 -
When I say 'threats of violence' I think it's more likely to be one of the following scenarios
- them trying to wind you up to see if you lose your temper when stressed by a client
- them seeing if you can maintain boundaries, and tell a client that their behaviour and/or language is unacceptable
- them seeing if you can avoid risk, which will probably be a question or role play where you think a client might be violent (and the answer is that you do NOT go into a private interview room with them. If you are in a private room and start getting worried, you always make sure that you are between them and the door/them and the alarm. And you don't go to see people you are worried about at their homes by yourself.) :eek:
What you are trying to demonstrate is that you are a person of sweet reason :A who can look after themselves by maintaining boundaries, de-escalating angry situations and not putting yourself at risk.
(I have never worked for DWP, but have worked in mental health for many years....
Ex board guide. Signature now changed (if you know, you know).0 -
I was beginning to think you may be a dwp assessor by your knowledge on the subject.llol. i suppose that would be too much too ask for. Some inside advice.
A person of sweet reason.....that i am not!
I get worked up very easily and try to avoid anything confrontational or i just blow my top! Perhaps this isn't the job for me! But i'm going for it anyway. I will be practising from now til then. One good point is that the centre i am applying for only deals with customers over the phone, so no chance of getting punched!
Hey ho, the things we do for money.
Seriously though, thanks very much, i'll be studying the advice people have given and trying it out on hubby and daughter!0
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