DWP employment waiting list

Truegho

Hi Jaal.

Thanks for that update. It was much appreciated.

Regards
Truegho

JAAL wrote: »

Thanks all!

Truegho...
I may be totally wrong here( so correct me if I am!), but I think the recruitment freeze only/mainly applies to job centre roles within DWP rather than the few jobs available in the call centres and other areas such as roles within DLA centres.

So I would say that despite a few people being handed out start dates, as a whole, the recruitment freeze hasn’t been lifted unfortunately. I think somebody else in this thread said that they received an email from DWP, saying something like- "they will still recruit for specific areas where there are severe staffing shortages, but, as a whole, recruitment is currently frozen. "

Hope that helps!

desperado2

natomar wrote: »

Desperado :beer::beer::beer:
Absolutely BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!! You have given us great advice on this forum You deserve it all the very best:beer:

Thanks natomar

I am no "expert" on the workings of DWP - though I have a professional recruitment background and some of that is relevant in a generalist way.

I have found it apalling how DWP handle these processes. I fully understand the principles of equality and I think it is admirable that DWP wholeheartedly embrace them but equally a great pity that they choose to do it in such a cumbersome way that creates stress and anxiety.

Changing jobs is one of the top 5 greatest stresses we can expect in life even for someone in a job, changing is a time of uncertainty and destabilisation. For someone not working it is even more stressful - the seemingly endless waiting for information and reassurance can be devastating and I think DWP need to be aware of this and change their processes accordingly!

My comments and suggestions and advice have been based on my own experiences in applying for various DWP positions over the past 8 months combined with comments made by others involved in the process, and I hope in sharing them that nobody has been misled by any inaccuracies which may be there. My main hope has been to give othersan understanding of the processes they will have to go through, and a better understanding of how long they can take and what various communications mean in reality.

I have also had some feedback from kindly and generous folk within DWP (on here) who have shared information with me, and in some cases asked me how it works - quite gobsmacking to find even folk in DWP are as uninformed about the process as we all are..

I would like to say thanks to the many folk who are on here - it has been useful to know others are in the same situation, and I have garnered insight from those who have eventually got the call and it has made the wait more tolerable.

I would urge all of you to make your views known - either by writing to MP's and Ministers, or just making your thoughts and views known.. in the next few weeks your erstwhile and "couldn't care less" MP and their competitors will be knocking on your doors pleading for your vote.. now is a powerful time to get your message heard.. and they may be inclined to act more positively with a view to securing your vote.. particularly the many Labour MP's with dodgy expenses records, those candidates replacing the MP's standing down, and particularly those in marginal seats..;) Give them a hard time.. "I'm paying your mortgage, get me a flippin job" :rotfl:

I have also been in contact with a few folk by Private messages - I may be a cynic, but I don't think it does any harm to remain "anonymous" in open forums.. you never know who is looking and listening. So if anyone wants to ask a question that's better in private, I am more than happy to get PM's and will continue to respond to them as and when I can - either ones relating to DWP generally, or just basic "back to work" good practice. There are things everyone can and should be looking at to improve chances of being selected for interviews and even jobs and in my experience the Jobcentre lacks the skills and time to work with people to help in those areas - if I can help, gimme a shout.

And last of all, hard as it is to remain optimistic when you feel like you are being kicked in the B411s, every application, every interview every test is a new start.. try not to let your feelings cloud that opportunity.. take each one as it comes and be positive. Nothing guarantees you a job.. but equally, that means nobody else has a guarantee above you.. so just keep plugging away and try not to get too emotionally attached.. it will happen in the end!:D

HAPPY999_2

Thanks Desperado2,your words of wisdom have inspired me soo much.Stay blessed.

mbcomper

Good News!

I received a huge brown envelope from the DWP yesterday (Tuesday).

Enclosed are all the forms I need to fill in, prior to my final stage interview on Sunday 14th March. The interviews are to be held at the DWP building, Islington Row, Five Ways, Birmingham.

So much for mothers day, I'll have to give it a rain check this year, I just hope all the effort is worthwhile lol.

Fingers crossed, I'm hoping the last 8 months of unemployment will be classed as a career break and the DWP will put me into a role to enable me to get my life back on track.

Good Luck to any others who have interviews to attend!

mbcomper

I've just noticed I do not have a CRB Disclosure form in my interview pack. I've just rang the resources dept to request they send me one asap.

I also took the opportunity of asking what the pass mark was for the OCAT online test, I was told it was increased to 95% due to there being so many applicants (1800). The lady advised me that they are interviewing 128 people for 25 roles for this IRC65238.

The lady also mentioned that they were having to reschedule some of the interviews due to an interviewer not being able to attend, luckily my interview date still stands.

If anyone else has been lucky enough to get an interview, check that it has not been rescheduled by calling 0191 216 6159.

50Twuncle

I find it hard to believe that DWP are still interviewing potential employees after all that many of us have gone through - for what ?

desperado2

mbcomper wrote: »

Good News!

I received a huge brown envelope from the DWP yesterday (Tuesday).

Enclosed are all the forms I need to fill in, prior to my final stage interview on Sunday 14th March. The interviews are to be held at the DWP building, Islington Row, Five Ways, Birmingham.

So much for mothers day, I'll have to give it a rain check this year, I just hope all the effort is worthwhile lol.

Fingers crossed, I'm hoping the last 8 months of unemployment will be classed as a career break and the DWP will put me into a role to enable me to get my life back on track.

Good Luck to any others who have interviews to attend!

Firstly, "Well Done" on getting through the OCAT, knowing you are now one of 128 is far better odds than 1:1800!

Don't fret about your "career break". The DWP interviews do not assess why you are not working, just "are you suitable for the job". The interview process is equal opps, so every candidate must be asked the same questions in the same way - the only variance is if they ask for more detail on an answer really. They wont even ask why you left your last job.

Make sure you review your competencies - the essential ones for the role will have been in the original job advert and what level is required. Your interview questions will be compiled against each competency.

You are permitted to make notes, take them in with you, and refer to them during the interview, so do prepare beforehand!

And good luck!

desperado2

21Twinkle wrote: »

I find it hard to believe that DWP are still interviewing potential employees after all that many of us have gone through - for what ?

Sadly there is no "big picture" at DWP it seems.. they lack the resources - or the ability to use them to allow them to allocate previous applicants to upcoming roles - which to my mind would be the fair and equitable approach..

I have found recently the folk at Employee Services have become a lot more helpful, more open and transparent, and even approachable.. maybe it's because I am an old lag now but I suspect comment and complaint is filtering through, and work practices are slowly changing.. if that is the case, keep the pressure up folks, it wont affect things right here right now for you, but it may improve the sytem for the greater good of us all?

Fivefootsix

mbcomper wrote: »

Good News!

I received a huge brown envelope from the DWP yesterday (Tuesday).

Enclosed are all the forms I need to fill in, prior to my final stage interview on Sunday 14th March. The interviews are to be held at the DWP building, Islington Row, Five Ways, Birmingham.

So much for mothers day, I'll have to give it a rain check this year, I just hope all the effort is worthwhile lol.

Fingers crossed, I'm hoping the last 8 months of unemployment will be classed as a career break and the DWP will put me into a role to enable me to get my life back on track.

Good Luck to any others who have interviews to attend!

Good luck with your interview, so weird it's on a Sunday. Let us know how you get on.


Is anyone applying for the customer adviser job in Walsall (AO)? Just seen that one come on today. Also, are the online tests all the same for all grades, or are they easier the lower down the grade? I've only ever done one for the B'ham EO job, the vacancy before that was an old style one.

desperado2

Fivefootsix wrote: »

Is anyone applying for the customer adviser job in Walsall (AO)? Just seen that one come on today. Also, are the online tests all the same for all grades, or are they easier the lower down the grade?

I did the same OCAT for an EO and an AO grade within a couple of weeks, I presume that they only use one test, and amend the pass mark according to the skills required.