Job Interview with DWP

Lucias_mum

venus_in_furs wrote: »

I get so nervous that i'm worried i wont be able to concentrate, just worried it will make me feel worse if i do badly and don't get through. Is it all percentages and fractions? Haven't had a formal interview quite like this before, so it's a bit daunting! My family aren't very supportive so i have no one to reassure me really. I badly want to get this job though (like everyone i suppose!), lost my job in Feb and haven't had any luck what so ever since!

Thank you for your help btw, Hope you are sucessful!

Thanks! There were quite a lot of percentages but not fractions that I can remember - a lot of it was additions and subtractions if that helps? Don't worry about the interview - I was really nervous beforehand but the interviewers are so friendly it doesn't seem like an interview - mine was in a hotel bedroom!!!! They just ask you a question based on each competancy, eg what would you do if ....? or what would you do in a situation where ... ? They seem as if they really want you to be successful - they prompted me a lot Don't forget everyones in the same boat and once you come out you will feel really good as if you've achieved something.

PontyEnd

venus_in_furs wrote: »

I've got my interview in Liverpool at the Holiday Inn also. So worried about the numeracy now!! Just tried some numeracy tests online and got 3 out of 10 on one! Not good considering i got a B at GCSE!!! I think it sounds like there are loads of people having interviews so i probably don't stand a chance, dunno if there is any point going really

You have to go, you don't want to look back and regret not going. Whatever happens you have nothing to lose, only something to gain, if only the experience. If you got a B you should be able to work out fractions and percentages? I haven't done the test as mine was online but it was similar questions to those but worded differently.

I had my interview today. Like you I was really nervous, it was my first proper interview but now it's over I am thinking what was I so nervous about. If you're on this thread you'll know what to expect from the interview so you're halfway there. Don't read too much into what people have put. From reading posts on here I expected it to be a long process but I was seen to straight away, filled in a few forms and was interviewed for 25 mins if that, I answered all 4 questions and didn't really got promted for any thing not sure if that's a good or bad thing, in fact, I can't remember most of it, however, the person writing things down wrote four pages. The interviewer was really nice and asked me lots of things about myself.

Got told I would hear in 15 days. Whatever the outcome least I have had an interview which will help me in the future.

venus_in_furs

Lucias_mum wrote: »

Thanks! There were quite a lot of percentages but not fractions that I can remember - a lot of it was additions and subtractions if that helps? Don't worry about the interview - I was really nervous beforehand but the interviewers are so friendly it doesn't seem like an interview - mine was in a hotel bedroom!!!! They just ask you a question based on each competancy, eg what would you do if ....? or what would you do in a situation where ... ? They seem as if they really want you to be successful - they prompted me a lot Don't forget everyones in the same boat and once you come out you will feel really good as if you've achieved something.

A hotel room! That sounds well seedy! Haha! I'm hoping i will be okay if i make it to the interview. Just trying to study the sheets we got sent to us and trying to adapt it to what i have done in real life (it's actually quite difficult!). I have been brushing up on my percentages. Funny how much we forget from school. I only went to uiversity a couple of years ago and i feel like my brain has gone to mush since! In one ear and out the other! Hopefully the literacy will be okay, i am reasonably good at English (now that i have said that there is probably loads of mistakes in what i have just put lol) so fingers crossed for that!! Urrrgh! Just want it over and done with. The email said i could be there for hours if i get through the tests. The thought of having to wait around all day doesnt make me feel a whole lot better either! Anyway, you sound like you have done well to me, i have good vibes from you lol.

richyvezy

Had my interview today and like Ponty said it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. The worse part for me was filling out all the paperwork before the interview. But to be honest it helped as it took my mind of the worrying.
I had 2 people interviewing me, one asking the questions and the other writing as much and as quick as he could - how he does that all day I never know !! Anyway, it was really relaxing and didn't actually feel like an interview. I was just myself and joking and laughing with them. The time flew by and I left feeling glad I went and confident that I did my best.

For anyone who is worried and panicking etc just try to remember they are only people like you and I. Just take a deep breathe before you go in and be yourself. I would take some notes with you and some water......you will need it ;-)

As for the tests I only just managed to scrape through but a pass is a pass so again don't fret too much over it. What I will say is don't dwell too much on each numeracy question. Do the ones you can do and come back to the ones your not sure about - you only get 18 mins to answer 20 questions.

Venus, you seem like a warm, friendly and possitive person so just try and let that shine through and you won't go far wrong ;-)

venus_in_furs

richyvezy wrote: »

Had my interview today and like Ponty said it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. The worse part for me was filling out all the paperwork before the interview. But to be honest it helped as it took my mind of the worrying.
I had 2 people interviewing me, one asking the questions and the other writing as much and as quick as he could - how he does that all day I never know !! Anyway, it was really relaxing and didn't actually feel like an interview. I was just myself and joking and laughing with them. The time flew by and I left feeling glad I went and confident that I did my best.

For anyone who is worried and panicking etc just try to remember they are only people like you and I. Just take a deep breathe before you go in and be yourself. I would take some notes with you and some water......you will need it ;-)

As for the tests I only just managed to scrape through but a pass is a pass so again don't fret too much over it. What I will say is don't dwell too much on each numeracy question. Do the ones you can do and come back to the ones your not sure about - you only get 18 mins to answer 20 questions.

Venus, you seem like a warm, friendly and possitive person so just try and let that shine through and you won't go far wrong ;-)

Thank you! That is nice of you to say!

I hope i'm okay, i do tend to crack bad jokes when i'm nervous..well either that or faint lol! Hopefully that won't happen and they will both have a sense of humour as bad as mine! This all is making me feel a lot better. I'm more nervous over the tests to be honest, because if i mess that up then it's over! Maths! Urrrgggh! I wish they could just go off your GCSE's or Alevels!!!

Arghh, it's Wednesday today...only 2 days to gooooooooooo!!!

Haha, i joked to my dad about having a few drinks before i went in, i thought he would tell me off and look horrified, but instead he looked at me, deadly serious and said 'Make sure its something they can't smell' Hahahahaha. Such great parental advice!

Thanks for the advice PontyEnd, you would thin a B would make me good at Maths but i'm afraid my brain has corroded considerably since school!

I hope you both do well anyway, i am sure you will. Your interviews sound like they went well. Ponty, I think they didn't prompt you for more in your interview because you must have answered everything fully to their needs! Good stuff!

scratchin

The interview wasn't too bad at all, kinda flew by and I was in there about 20 minutes. A lot of people are saying the paperwork beforehand is the hardest and I think they're right. You need your addresses for the past five years and your doctors address. And tick "yes" to the question about contacting the courts.
Now the waiting game...

venus_in_furs

scratchin wrote: »

The interview wasn't too bad at all, kinda flew by and I was in there about 20 minutes. A lot of people are saying the paperwork beforehand is the hardest and I think they're right. You need your addresses for the past five years and your doctors address. And tick "yes" to the question about contacting the courts.
Now the waiting game...

Hey, good luck! Just wondering how you found the tests? I know i am probably driving everyone bonkers asking this over and over, but i know if i have an idea of whats to come, than i can handle it better. Thank you!

PontyEnd

Hi Venus, hope it was that, they don't give much away!

As for the tests, like I said I didn't do them but reading early on in the thread it seems the literacy test consists of having to pick out errors in a letter. So I would suggest the obvious like capital letters on postcodes, full stops, there/their, your/you're etc. If you've practiced your percentages and ratios I think you'll do well, plus you get a calculator and it's multiple choice, so like richyvezy said, do the ones you know first then even if you have no idea on a question, try to work out which choice it can not be so if you eliminate two choices you have a 50/50 chance anyway.

As for the interview, the best piece of advice I read on here was the STAR system. I would think of as many stories/scenarios as you can and jot down STAR, next to each letter write a couple of words about the story, for example:

S- where was it, what happened
T- what did you know you had to do
A- what did you do
R- outcomes and what you learnt etc

Hopefully you'll find after doing these you wont even need to refer to them because you'll have them in your memory.

Am I right in thinking that after your tests you get the interview straight away?

Jimisugly

I had my test for the EO role in Liverpool on friday, after the test it was straight into the administration to fill in all the forms and then whisked off to the interview. The tests aren't too bad but I would say read each word individually on the literacy letter, as you can read what it SHOULD say and not what it DOES say sometimes. Circle the ones you see are definitely wrong then go back over any others until you have 15. The maths wasn't too bad, it's multiple choice and you get a calculator. There were only 2 maybe 4 percentage questions and 1 or 2 ratio questions - the others are basic adding and subtracting. Again do the ones you know and go back to the others.

I struggled in the interview, but the 2 people who interviewed me were really helpful and calming. Just think of your scenarios on the new comptancy questions in the STAR format and you'll do fine.

I also had my AO interview on the monday after. As I passed the tests on friday I only needed to do the interview. This was a lot easier and I had prepared my scenarios and took notes in with me. I felt this went much better than the EO interview, but thats down to my own nerves.

I will keep you all up to date as/when/if I hear on these 2 roles so that you have an idea of timescales as this is the part that bothers me the most - I hate waiting round.

Best of luck everyone :-)

venus_in_furs

Yes, i have to wait for my results and then its interview time!!! Hope i pass the numeracy, that's my worst. Glad it is multiple answer!! Trying to read that sheet of competencies, but it is quite complex!!! I'm trying my best to adapt it to my past work and uni. Funny how you mind goes blank when its something important!