DWP employment waiting list

NorthLincs88

My experience was very similar to yours, freakyogre, except I had 5 minutes from finding out that I had passed the tests to having my interview...I didnt even get a chance to sit down! What area have you applied for?

Eddtr1

freakyogre wrote: »

Hi,

I had my tests on Saturday just gone and was also told the interview would be the same day, which it was. We all took the tests at the same time, they took them off to mark (very quickly!) and then returned and called 5/6 peoples names out. They left the room and the remaining people were told we'd passed and were given an interview time.
The first interviews were at 10am and were done in groups of about 7/8 people? so they only had 15 minutes beforehand. (I don't know if everyone after us was given an interview that day as we left the room).

Mine was at 10:45am, but in the time we were waiting we filled in some forms (medical stuff) and were given the CRB forms to complete at home. We then went and waited in death row, er, sorry, for the interview

I was called shortly afterwards and went into a room where two people interviewed. One asked 2 questions, the other asked the other 2.
I must admit, I was hoping for a bit more interviewing (if that makes sense?) as it was literally "Give me an example of such and such" 4 times and just felt a bit odd.

With regards to your ID, i'd check through the paperwork you were sent. I'd assume it was the same (mine said they needed proof of age, full name, signature, D.O.B and full permanent address) but double check what they have asked for. I took my passport and driving licence, but didn't have a photo (only had a days notice for the interview) but that didn't seem to cause a problem.

I asked at the end of the interview how many positions were available as knew they were recruiting across the region and they said they weren't sure, but probably about 50! Not a lot considering how many people turned up for our group, plus however many more there were that day aswell as the other areas.

Good luck and sorry for rambling!

Thanks for the heads up - i was hoping for a bit more time before my interview but will just have to prepare tomorrow. I applied for AO in Coventry but I would rather do the job in Liverpool where I am based, IF I get through does anyone know if there is any scope to say I would like to work in the North West - I have applied to Liverpool and Manchester but have heard nothing back!

allthegirls

Ive read these posts with interest. Im part of the DWP recruiting team and i could answer a few questions

1 - waiting lists
We decide how many vacancies we initially wish to fill. Say its ten. We take the top ten candidates and offer them a job straight away. Everyone else goes on a waiting list in order of merit and if the govt gives the go ahead to recruit more then we just continue to take from the waiting lists. We have to create waiting lists as the possibility of further recruitment is high and rather than carrying out another recruitment exercise we can just take from the lists. We keep the lists for between 6 months to a year and them scrap them and start again.

2 Perm or temp
There is ongoing confusion about this. Basically the bulk of the jobs are temp with a view to becoming permanent. We cannot say they will become perm as the recruitment is a direct result of the recession. If the economy improves then DWP will look to shed all the staff they have newly recruited. Essentailly the govt is hedging its bets, its a wait and see thing.

3 How long are the contracts for?
This is down to individual districts but the majority are expected to be for 18 months

4 Duplicate paperwork
Many of the problems experienced by applicants is a result of multiple applications for different recruitment exercisies. My experience is that candidates have applied for 10 different recruitment exercises and as each exercise is run at a District level and not a national level, then candidates find they are getting multiple letters. The reality is that often they relate to all the different execises that have been applied for

hope this helps

NorthLincs88

Eddtr1 wrote: »

Thanks for the heads up - i was hoping for a bit more time before my interview but will just have to prepare tomorrow. I applied for AO in Coventry but I would rather do the job in Liverpool where I am based, IF I get through does anyone know if there is any scope to say I would like to work in the North West - I have applied to Liverpool and Manchester but have heard nothing back!

Hi, after you have had your tests, you should be given a sheet of paper with all the various locations you could work within the area you are going to have your interview for. I have gone for North East and Humber area, and there was around 10 different job centre plus's you could tick to work in.....you cant put which 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice...but apparently they will try to assess which 1 is nearest to where you live and then offer you a job closest to you. Basically the more areas your willing to work, then the better.

Louise1521

How long does it take on average to hear the results of the interview? I was told two weeks, but still waiting, taking it as a bad sign lol.

allthegirls

there is no set time for interview results to be issued. Internal vacancies can take a long time as well as external vacancies. If you were told 2 weeks then it would be 2 weeks after they had finished all the interviews. A candidate cannot be given their results until all the interviews have been carried out and scored against each other. The cadidates are then ranked in order and a line is drawn at the number required. Only then can results be issued

allthegirls

Im not really sure what you mean, but i will agree there is a lot of misinformation out there and often people dont read what they have. Yes i too have had the scenario of a candidate asking me how long they will be on a 12 month waiting list. Its not easy

RMac

Hi guys!

Long time follower, first time poster here! :j


allthegirls > If you could be so kind, I've got a couple of questions which I would love to know the answer to?

1. In regards to the Compentency Interview: From what I have read it seems that the best solution would be to give a fairly sustinct, compact answer? How long, in terms of time, would the average person spend on each answer?
2. In regards to the Merit List: How is the list constructed? Are the interview score or the results from the tests deemed more important?

Many thanks, in advance x

allthegirls

The interview normally lasts 30-40 minutes. My experience is that we home in on an aspect of a comeptency and ask the candidate to expand on that. We have tried to cover each competency in 10mins each

The test scores and interview scores are weighted and added together. The aim would be to do well in both areas.

RMac

allthegirls wrote: »

The interview normally lasts 30-40 minutes. My experience is that we home in on an aspect of a comeptency and ask the candidate to expand on that. We have tried to cover each competency in 10mins each

The test scores and interview scores are weighted and added together. The aim would be to do well in both areas.

You are a star! Thanks very much x :beer: