Job Interview with DWP

counterfeit

jessbob wrote: »

I have my feedback now from my failed EO interview.

Could someone who has passed these interviews give me some guidance, as I have another interview this Friday.

It states: Demonstrates understanding of customer focus and delivering upon their needs. Need to enhance answers by demonstrating how this was implementd by improved processes and organisation. answers to be enhanced by proving more concise responses.

Has anyone any advice - my mind's gone blank

It seems to me that you waffled a bit and didn't provide the proper backup to your original answer to the questions.

Just remember they have only 5 minutes per question so in that time you MUST outline the situation, give detail of how you reacted to it and what you did to improve/change the outcome. Also, you must give an outcome to give a complete answer.

It doesn't seem like you are far away. Just make sure you relate a proper story, ie. beginning, middle and end, all within 5 minutes.

jessbob

PontyEnd wrote: »

Hi Jess, have you heard anything on 60535? Not really sure what I'm waiting for next. Plus one of my references is on holiday for 3 weeks! Regarding the CRB, should this come to my address or be sent to DWP? Also, mine was a successful letter will I still be on a merit list and are these available?

Good luck with your next interview :T

Hi, Ponty

Not heard anything as yet on 60535. Rang my former employer last Friday and he hasn't received request for reference from them as yet. He is going to ring me as and when he does.

I think that the CRB Cert goes straight to DWP, cos the form we completed prior to the interview had DWP address on for the certificate to be forwarded to. They did give me a sheet of paper with an address on for me to sent the certificate to, should it be sent to me in error.

I think I will give them a ring early next week if I haven't heard anything, just for an update.

There was no waiting list on my letter either, but not sure whether this means we are not on one !!

Might even ring them tomorrow just to put our minds at rest. I will let you know the outcome, Ponty:D

Thanks for your good wishes regarding my next interview. Dreading it - really don't know where I am going wrong with them

jessbob

counterfeit wrote: »

It seems to me that you waffled a bit and didn't provide the proper backup to your original answer to the questions.

Just remember they have only 5 minutes per question so in that time you MUST outline the situation, give detail of how you reacted to it and what you did to improve/change the outcome. Also, you must give an outcome to give a complete answer.

It doesn't seem like you are far away. Just make sure you relate a proper story, ie. beginning, middle and end, all within 5 minutes.

Thanks for that.

Have scrapped my last lot of notes, and started again :rotfl:

Once I have had a look through the competencies again, might have to come back to you if that is ok;)

venus_in_furs

Urgh...i hate waiting. Meh.

jessbob

venus_in_furs wrote: »

Urgh...i hate waiting. Meh.

I wonder how much longer

venus_in_furs

jessbob wrote: »

I wonder how much longer

I'll probably get a call back in 10 years time with a start date! Well....i can only hope it comes that soon.

sammy65

venus_in_furs wrote: »

Hey, there is loads of info on this thread if you read it back...also load of info on other forums on the web. The tests are both quite basic...the most complex the maths got was a few percentage questions. The literacy was spotting spelling and grammar errors in a letter. The only thing i found difficult was the time limits on each. You only get 8 mins for the literacy and 15 mins (or maybe 18) for the numeracy. The key is not to panic and just skip the questions you are having trouble with and go back to them after doing the others first.

I dressed smart. Not business woman smart, but a black dress and a grey cardie, heels. Most of the other women were dressed similar. The majority of the men were in either suits or trousers and shirts. There was one woman wearing jeans, a lumberjack style shirt and timberland boots...so i dunno how strict the dress code is, but i would just go for smart casual, better to look professional i think.

Thanks for your reply.

Just one last question - I've filled in the EO application form that has to be sent in before 7/9/09 for the London area, and not sure of who to put for the "Personal Referees" bit? It says you can't put previous employers or relatives in that bit (They're the only people/friends I know), so who am I supposed to put there, or is there anyone else I can put there?

venus_in_furs

sammy65 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

Just one last question - I've filled in the EO application form that has to be sent in before 7/9/09 for the London area, and not sure of who to put for the "Personal Referees" bit? It says you can't put previous employers or relatives in that bit (They're the only people/friends I know), so who am I supposed to put there, or is there anyone else I can put there?

Haha, i had the same problem...the only people i have known longer than five years are friends or people i worked with!! I ended up putting family friends (parents friends) as i wouldn't classify them as my personal friends but they have known me longer than 5 years. I think that's was ok, i am having my checks done now i think, and am not sure if they have got to the references yet? Maybe neighbours or your doctor may be okay? You can always ring someone at the dwp and ask what is acceptable, if you want to make sure?

jessbob

sammy65 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

Just one last question - I've filled in the EO application form that has to be sent in before 7/9/09 for the London area, and not sure of who to put for the "Personal Referees" bit? It says you can't put previous employers or relatives in that bit (They're the only people/friends I know), so who am I supposed to put there, or is there anyone else I can put there?

I put colleagueI used to work with as one of my personal referees, and the other was director of a firm who I deal with for some time through work

counterfeit

jessbob wrote: »

Thanks for that.

Have scrapped my last lot of notes, and started again :rotfl:

Once I have had a look through the competencies again, might have to come back to you if that is ok;)

to be honest I have passed all my interviews and thought that none of them went particularly well. I thought I talked too long and wasn't concise enugh though I knew my answers covered all bases.

What I did was have the sheet of competencies in front of me and deliberately "fitted" scenarios into all the sub points. I made a few notes on the sheet and memorised them. In the interview I just looked at my sheet for the thing I was going to talk about and was able to remember all the other bits just from a trigger note.

Like I said though, I thought I went on far too long.