DWP employment waiting list

hannajks

tallnposh wrote: »

I have looked at this thread with great interest as I was once a DWP staff member and this post may seem bitter but I'm telling it how it was. Six years ago I was offered a job with the DWP, I gratefully accepted (as I thought that this would be a fab job, civil servant etc), only to be told I was on a waiting list with others. They kept us waiting for a year then gave us a 52 week contract with a view to being made permanent. They took us right up to the wire with this one and told us that they would have to finish us just before Christmas. I was a single parent with two small boys - this is not what I wanted to hear right before Christmas. We were informed at the eleventh hour that we were being kept on with a permanent contract, I could have cried with relief! I lasted three years in the job before I went off with work related stress (Jobcentre - well, you can imagine lol!) When I came back I was told I would be facing a decision maker interview as to whether I could keep my job or not. They kept me waiting for six months with that hanging over me then finally said that as I had taken no more sick days off they weren't going to take it any further. I worked for another year with no sickness but had to go in the end, I couldn't stand it any more. I left to work for the NHS for less money and have never looked back. There are lots of occasions and situations that I could mention but the moral of this story is RUN......save yourselves, every day the thumbscrews get tighter and I have seen excellent staff leave in their droves. It may seem like a good well paid job at first but all that glitters is not gold.

Sorry to hear about your experience, may I ask you as to what your position was, i.e, Admin Officer and what you found most stressful about the job, good that you have something you like now.

grey_eyes

d1o wrote: »

Even though the ad had been for west london, I reckon they looked at my address and when they called, they offered me something quite close to me in the east london area...a 30 minute bus ride actually.

No, it's a fixed term contract.

I wonder how easy it is to extend these or make them permanent....any ideas.

The advert I applied for 60227 was for City of London and was for a permanent job. Don't know what offices they classify as City of London and after reading these threads I very much doubt that I will be offered a permanent position. Will keep you posted.

From reading these threads it looks as though getting a fixed term contract made permanent depends on the turnover of staf in a given area. Fingers crossed for us all!

katie_kt

Im really surprised by your views, only ive worked at DWP before as an AO and loved it. There was a really relaxed atmosphere, everyone was really nice, apart from the odd customer of course. good hours, flexi time and not the best pay but by no means the worst and of course always the opportunity for promotion.
i was sad to have to leave as only had temporary contract and am really pleased that i have just got a fixed term AO role.
What got you down so much about the job?

d1o

grey_eyes wrote: »

The advert I applied for 60227 was for City of London and was for a permanent job. Don't know what offices they classify as City of London and after reading these threads I very much doubt that I will be offered a permanent position. Will keep you posted.

From reading these threads it looks as though getting a fixed term contract made permanent depends on the turnover of staf in a given area. Fingers crossed for us all!

are you sure the irc60227 was for a permanent position? That is the same irc I have been recruited for and if I remember correctly, it was for a fixed 12 month contract (don't remember for sure if it also said something about the possibility of extension or permanency), but I do recall clearly that it said fixed term contract.

matthewluck

Will they find out if you have been fired from a job in the last 5 years when they do the employment history check?

I didn't put it on my application form and I am on the 12 month waiting list:eek:

d1o

matthewluck wrote: »

Will they find out if you have been fired from a job in the last 5 years when they do the employment history check?

I didn't put it on my application form.:eek:

HMRC rings up the employers listed on your form on behalf of the DWP. So if they rang the guys who fired you, and the guy who takes the call remembers that they fired you and decides to pass that unrelevant piece of information, instead of just giving the start and end dates of your employment (which is actually all they ask for), then your guess is as good as mine.

matthewluck

Thanks, well I didn't do anything too bad lol, just in case you are wondering.

That particular job where I got dismissed was not on my application form. Although they may find it during their 'checks' with the HMRC.

voltron_2

d1o wrote: »

are you sure the irc60227 was for a permanent position? That is the same irc I have been recruited for and if I remember correctly, it was for a fixed 12 month contract (don't remember for sure if it also said something about the possibility of extension or permanency), but I do recall clearly that it said fixed term contract.

You're right , the IRC60227 is definately a fixed term contract with the possibility of permanency. I suspect you'lll be working in of the BDO in east london (Hack, Stratford .... ) .

voltron_2

venus_in_furs wrote: »

I appreciate your warnings, but as someone who lost their job just before Xmas also and has been unemployed since then (2 interviews in this time) i am desperate for employment, like quite a few people also hoping for a dwp job. The stress of having no job and no money to live or do anything to me is far greater than a crappy job i hate! I have yet to find a job i enjoy!

I have never considered this my dream job and certainly did not go to uni to be an AO, but i am more than grateful to get given a chance to work finally, and gain more experience and skills to maybe one day find a more enjoyable job. As at the moment i don't think anyone else would look at me twice!

Hopefully i one day will get a job to do with my degree, until then i am happy for any rubbish job to keep my head above water! Not saying this job will be rubbish...i havent started yet, but based on your comments

Hmmm.... interesting . But It should be mentioned that your experience like with most experience is a personal one . People have different breaking points hence what stresses you out may not affect others . So suggestion for people to "run" is too prescriptive.

And I can also tell you an unfortunate fact of modern working life , that the most stressful jobs are still the most sort after . Having worked in the financial sector for years , I see no shortage of bright young brains from Ivy league and oxbridge colleges wanting to enter the ultra stressful world of investment banking every year.

Stress is manageable , prolonged poverty without hope is .........

venus_in_furs

voltron wrote: »

Hmmm.... interesting . But It should be mentioned that your experience like with most experience is a personal one . People have different breaking points hence what stresses you out may not affect others . So suggestion for people to "run" is too prescriptive.

And I can also tell you an unfortunate fact of modern working life , that the most stressful jobs are still the most sort after . Having worked in the financial sector for years , I see no shortage of bright young brains from Ivy league and oxbridge colleges wanting to enter the ultra stressful world of investment banking every year.

Stress is manageable , prolonged poverty without hope is .........

Did you quote my comment by accident? I am not the one saying to run from this job!!! I am all for a bit of stress if it means i am earning a living!! Bring on the stress!