Job Interview with DWP

sportfan

They might never have seen your application and dont know you so might start with asking you - tell me about yourself as in what have you been doin in the past few years? what skills do you have? what can you bring to the company? - you can smash this questions! - its the chance to really sell yourself!

Competency based questions are normally 4 - and they may incldue the following:

Tell me a time when you delivered excellent customer service? OR been in a difficult situation/customer

Tell me a time when you worked in a team? How did you manage time/deadlines?

Tell me a time when you worked well with people?

Tell me a time when you reviewed your own performance and improved it? How did you do this?

Make sure youu answer clearly the questions otherwise if its not clear to them, they might probe you further

think of the above 4 answers and make sure you know them inside out and you'd b fine in interview!

It's only 4 questions they will ask probably for AO position - is that what you're going for?

Just stay calm and remember the following in your head everytime you answer a question (If you do this, you will pass)!! Remember STAR:

SITUATION
Give an example of a situation you were involved in that resulted in a positive outcome


TASK
Describe the tasks involved in that situation


ACTION
Talk about the various actions involved in the situation’s task


RESULT
What results directly followed because of your actions


Good luck - do let us know how you got on tomorrow and dont forget to take all your documents/ID with you

bungle82

I have an interview on Wednesday for an Administrative Officer post and it is the first interview I will ever have attended without seeing a job description first!! Can anyone tell me the kind of things AOs do? (The info on the ad and DWP website is extremely vague!)

Thank you.

dugdale_2

The four competences that I am to be questioned on are
Improving Performance,
Building Constructive Working Relationships,
Leading Through Change,
Engaging Effectively With Customers.

I have vast experience in "Making Best Use Of Resources" so am half hoping they ask me about that competence aswell

I have an A4 sheet full of bullet points for each of the four requested competences and am currently filling in another A4 sheet of possible questions that I may be asked. Tomorrow I'll fill in my answers to those questions.
On Wednesday I'm going to write down all the questions that I would like to ask at the interview.
My suit has been dry cleaned and my shoes polished plus on Saturday I bought a new shirt and tie.

If jobs were offered for hard work and preparation I'd be home and dry now:D

dugdale_2

Sigrid,
Could you peruse your diary for next week and book me in for an interview mid morning on any day except Monday or Friday please. If it looks like rain I'd be better off giving Tuesday a miss too.
If I send you my CV could you put it on the top of your "definately give this man a job" pile, you'll know which CV is mine due to the stunning cover letter.
I've got a few hours to spare tomorrow so will give you a call to ask the best place to park my car at the interview venue, second thoughts you might be able to tell me how much a taxi would cost. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

nicksta27

Thanks for everyones advice - the interview went well (I think). However there are about 70 jobs, but about 1000 people applied so don't hold out much hope!

Good luck to anyone else who is going.

Sues48

bungle82 wrote: »

I have an interview on Wednesday for an Administrative Officer post and it is the first interview I will ever have attended without seeing a job description first!! Can anyone tell me the kind of things AOs do? (The info on the ad and DWP website is extremely vague!)

Thank you.

If the job is in a jobcentre then it will proberbly be on the signing team(FJR,or fortnightly job review team),alternatively it could be admin support for one of the personal advisor teams which can be quite a varied job depending on the team. If it's in a benefit delivery centre you will be processing and paying benefits. Or it could be a contact centre position which is basically call centre work, taking claims for benefits over the phone.

nicksta27

Well

Just had my letter from the DWP to say I have been successfuly at interview - does anyone know how long the checks are likely to take before being offered an actual position?

downshifted

might you hear whether or not you have been successful? Mine was 3 weeks ago tomorrow and no news at all. I filled in the medical and criminal record declaration at the interview.

Thanks

downshifted (and maybe crawling back up again!)

nicksta27

My interview was a week ago and have just had the successful letter today. I now have to wait for all checks (CRB, etc) to be completed before I hear any further!

downshifted

Wow, Nick that was quick! Congratulations!

Can I ask where in the country you are? My interview was in Chelmsford - I phoned Warrington just now with the general query on how long it was taking to hear after interview and they said "up to 4 weeks!"