Job Interview with DWP

yasim_2

Hi Qadsey, I just wanted to know about the numeracy and literacy test as I've got one coming up next week - is the maths one hard?!! I've also got an interview with another company on thurs but if i go to the DWP one that means I cant go to the thurs one due to their locations...i dont know if its worth going to the DWP one as i've read a lot about their waiting list and it seems a lot of hassle....:o

qadsey

yasim wrote: »

Hi Qadsey, I just wanted to know about the numeracy and literacy test as I've got one coming up next week - is the maths one hard?!! I've also got an interview with another company on thurs but if i go to the DWP one that means I cant go to the thurs one due to their locations...i dont know if its worth going to the DWP one as i've read a lot about their waiting list and it seems a lot of hassle....:o

I think you should give it a try. There is a good chance you'll get through and you can easily prepare for the interview by looking at competencies they will have sent you.

English Test: The Literacy test is basically a letter wrote by a customer, it has 15 mistakes in it and you need to circle them. The pass rate is 9.

The mistakes are basically spelling mistakes and wrong use of a word for example their instead of there. As for tips watch out for the customers postcode at the top it should be capitalised and Yours Faithfully at the bottom of the letter also, both of these were on my test.

Maths Test:

These are multiple choice questions where you will have to:
Read data and cross reference several tables
Work out Ratios and percentages

They aint that hard and if you are running out of time or don't know guess them most important thing is answer them all.

qadsey

and if you get through those your interview questions I think will be based upon the following competencies but yours might be different.

You will need to show evidence of the following competencies:

• Analysing, Improving and Changing (29KB) ­– level 1
• Building Capability ­(27KB) ­– level 1
• Delivering a Customer Focused Service (23KB) ­­– level 1

They could ask you give an example of when you gave good customer servidelivering a customer focused service competency?

Think up some examples.


Give an example of when you improved your performance?

You can take notes into the interview also.

notthebest

farzana375 wrote: »

i got a phone call this morning and i have an interview on Tuesday. i am really nervous and if anyone can help me that would be great. The lady on the phone gaved me four subjects:

1. Delivering a Customer focused service

2. analysing, improving and changing

3. Building capabilities

4. Managing people performances.

Hey are you from Brighton by any chance? I got a call today as well and have interview on Tuesday in Worthing. By the way I asked a lady from Manpower to please email me all the information but she rudely replied that she don't have time as there's lots of people to call..oh boy..so basically she told me the competencies on the phone and I don't even know if it's level 1 or 2.. And I can't think of any examples whatsoever..Pleease anybody who had these competencies give us some tips/examples..Thank you

qadsey

notthebest wrote: »

farzana375 wrote: »

i got a phone call this morning and i have an interview on Tuesday. i am really nervous and if anyone can help me that would be great. The lady on the phone gaved me four subjects:

1. Delivering a Customer focused service

2. analysing, improving and changing

3. Building capabilities

4. Managing people performances.

Hey are you from Brighton by any chance? I got a call today as well and have interview on Tuesday in Worthing. By the way I asked a lady from Manpower to please email me all the information but she rudely replied that she don't have time as there's lots of people to call..oh boy..so basically she told me the competencies on the phone and I don't even know if it's level 1 or 2.. And I can't think of any examples whatsoever..Pleease anybody who had these competencies give us some tips/examples..Thank you

Ok this is for you both Farzana and thebest.In the interview you will have to provide examples of past experiences you have had in work or your personal life.

As there are four competencies they will normally just ask you four questions however for each competency if you don't answer the question fully they may prompt you.

They could ask you the following question for each so think of a time when you did this:

1. Delivered a customer focused service competency:

Give an example of a time when you gave good customer service?
Give an example of a time when you dealth with a customer complaint?

They may ask wither of these but they will only ask one question for each competency.

Competency 2

Give an example of when you improved your performance?

Competency 3

Give an example of when you developed your skills?

competency 4

Give an example of when you worked well within a team?

If you can think of examples for these questions you should be ok.

notthebest

Thank you gadsey..the thing is I read the competencies and it just seems so complicated..i tried to come up with few examples but everything just sound really silly..can anybody pls give an example they actually used in the interview or something similar..i just want to see if the examples i have are worth anything or not..i'm on the verge of giving up and not going to interview..feel really depressed as thought i was quite intelligent but now i just think am an idiot

qadsey

notthebest wrote: »

Thank you gadsey..the thing is I read the competencies and it just seems so complicated..i tried to come up with few examples but everything just sound really silly..can anybody pls give an example they actually used in the interview or something similar..i just want to see if the examples i have are worth anything or not..i'm on the verge of giving up and not going to interview..feel really depressed as thought i was quite intelligent but now i just think am an idiot

Hello I was like that also when I was going to go for the interview but with a bit of help I understood what I would have to say. I would definatley go if you can give examples for each competency youll be ok they'll also prompt you if they need to know more.

I went to an interview recently with the same questions and I followed the following format for each competency question.

What they are looking for is you to tell them four things...

S - Situation - what happened, what was the problem?
T - Task - what did you need to do?
A - Action - what did you do?
R - Result - what was the outcome of the action you took? What did you learn? What would you do differently?

If you apply STAR when answering the questions you should do just fine.

By the way i copied this from an earlier post!!

If you want to see a copy of my notes if you give me your e-mail address i'll send them to you.

notthebest

hey gadsey..thanks so much.how can i pm you?

shezada31

notthebest wrote: »

Thank you gadsey..the thing is I read the competencies and it just seems so complicated..i tried to come up with few examples but everything just sound really silly..can anybody pls give an example they actually used in the interview or something similar..i just want to see if the examples i have are worth anything or not..i'm on the verge of giving up and not going to interview..feel really depressed as thought i was quite intelligent but now i just think am an idiot

Hi, from my experience I had with dwp recently, there is no right or wrong answer. The questions are in a way that any situations you have experienced in life can be given as valid answer. (there are people I met at my interview who hadn't had interviews in last 10 years!). The first hour is spent anyway filling in forms and getting to know the other candidates, so that reduces any nerves which you may have. As long as you have covered the important bullet points (you dont need to cover all) you should be fine, try and bring in bullet points from some of the competency which may not be covered, that'll definitely impress them. What I did was used mixture of answers, 2 work, 1 university, 1 personal.

Confidence is the main issue, not blagging, and keep it sweet. My interview was like 10-15 minutes and when I came out I saw other people still in their interview. This really worried me, but now have got something :j. I gave my answers to the best I could, I knew what I was saying (answered the questions directly), not too much ''erm, err'' lol, straight to the point (the STAR situation is perfect, that way they wont ask you questions). Rehearse your answers till your confident in knowing what you'll expect to say, that way it'll be clear and concise manner at interview and come naturally. (the person will ask you if you want to use your notes at interview, I personally believe you shouldn't as it shows your lack of confidence, and can throw you way off track and delay things if trying to remember/looking for your key points, thus, doesn't look professional! but it's up to you). Have eye contact with the person asking you the questions at all time (you can give the occassional look to the person noting your answers, but I dont think they'll notice since they're busy writing your response lol).

At mine the lovely interviewers provided me glass of water which I was able to drink, but make sure you have bottle of water with you just in case. It amazes me that people I have spoken to where scared of drinking water at interviews as it really made them more nervous After my 2nd question and 3rd, I had drink, this shows that your confident and relaxed in being yourself in front of them and not shy (well, that's what I believe), plus your mouth can dry up .

All in all it's confidence, and showing you understand the competencies.

And ask questions at end, such as training, development, promotions, something about the role. Dont ask about salary, start date, the application process etc, question needs to be related to work you'll do and what to expect.

Do let know how it goes, it should be fine.

newbyteacher

Hi I had my interview in June, sat the tests then filled in CRB etc, ( actually the guy did this for me to speed process up). Then I had my interview I was really nervous but my 2 interviewers were lovely, the questions were based around delivering good customer service/dealing with difficult situations and deadlines. I have always worked in retail, but answered questions with things I had dealt with in my retail experience. I know it is easy for me to say, but try and relax a bit, they will try to put you at ease and they will ask more questions about the situations to see how you handle things. Good luck to everyone having these interviews.
Ps I start my AO training on 4th August! I am more nervous about that than my interview.:rotfl: