DWP employment waiting list

Truegho

I have just noticed on the DWP recruitment site that they have just started advertisng for AAs and AOs in Preston.

Can this be taken as a promising sign that they are slowly starting to recruit again?

desperado2

Truegho wrote: »

I have just noticed on the DWP recruitment site that they have just started advertisng for AAs and AOs in Preston.

Can this be taken as a promising sign that they are slowly starting to recruit again?

I woudn't...

Even in times of heavy cut backs there will always be "some" recruitment for areas that are massively under resourced or where there is a localised shortage that cant be covered by people acting up or transferring...

But, if there's jobs being advertised, the only way you can get them is to apply.. even if that process is as flawed and irritating as many here know it to be. Chin up.. you may just strike lucky this time.;)

Truegho

Thanks, I think I might apply.

Anybody know the train times from Liverpool Lime St to Preston during weekday mornings? I think it only takes around 54 mins to get to Preston from Liverpool, doesn't it?

desperado2 wrote: »

I woudn't...

Even in times of heavy cut backs there will always be "some" recruitment for areas that are massively under resourced or where there is a localised shortage that cant be covered by people acting up or transferring...

But, if there's jobs being advertised, the only way you can get them is to apply.. even if that process is as flawed and irritating as many here know it to be. Chin up.. you may just strike lucky this time.;)

desperado2

ontheheapagain wrote: »

As one of the "lucky ones" who was offered a position last year, I can tell you that all temp and fixed term contracts will not be extended or renewed.
Hence why I am "back on the heap again"

Im sure it is annoying and frustrating to say the least, but letting it get you down wont help. Hopefully the job gave you some added work experience, and will show to your next employer that you are employable reliable and all the other things they look for.. I know thats no consolation when you potentially face a long slog to get hired, but you are in a better position than some at least.. take hope from that and start plugging away at everything that comes up.:o;) you got one before, you will get another job.

Truegho

Have applied. Nothing ventrued, nothing gained. One thing I did notice though: they seem to have brought in this new online test procedure that lasts 75mins. Has anybody sat this online test? If so, how much does it differ from the previous Personality Questionnaires they used to send with the application form? Is it still a case of being given scenarios and you have to rate them one 1 to 5 (what is most like you, what is least like you?)?

desperado2 wrote: »

I woudn't...

Even in times of heavy cut backs there will always be "some" recruitment for areas that are massively under resourced or where there is a localised shortage that cant be covered by people acting up or transferring...

But, if there's jobs being advertised, the only way you can get them is to apply.. even if that process is as flawed and irritating as many here know it to be. Chin up.. you may just strike lucky this time.;)

desperado2

Truegho wrote: »

Thanks, I think I might apply.

Anybody know the train times from Liverpool Lime St to Preston during weekday mornings? I think it only takes around 54 mins to get to Preston from Liverpool, doesn't it?

Not sure, you probably have to go to Warrington and change - or something similar? dont forget to check how far the office is from Train Station too - if you have an 8am start, you might have to leave very early if you cant walk from station to the office.:o

desperado2

Truegho wrote: »

Have applied. Nothing ventrued, nothing gained. One thing I did notice though: they seem to have brought in this new online test procedure that lasts 75mins. Has anybody sat this online test? If so, how much does it differ from the previous Personality Questionnaires they used to send with the application form? Is it still a case of being given scenarios and you have to rate them one 1 to 5 (what is most like you, what is least like you?)?

This is probably the OCAT (online test) - seems to be used when a department is handling its own recruitment rather than farming it out to Manpower and Capita??

They seem to use the same one for AO and EO grade jobs, I presume the pass score is lower for the lower grades.

basically it is a combination of aptitude plus literacy and numeracy.

There are 35 questions and you have 75 mins to complete them (all in one go.. no logging on and off) That is more than adequate time to do it.. but make sure you have a calculator and lots of paper to hand!!

Each of the questions relates to a scenario - you read the situation outline, then you get a series of questions based on it (you can still see the scenario, you dont have to remember it!)

The questions ask you to rate given options on a scale from "positive beneficial outcome" to "Negative unhelpful outcome" with 3 options for each, and a Neutral one also. so for example you might have a scenario that describes a work situation with a colleague who is inattentive and sloppy with their work, and disrupts the other workers..

solution one could be "XXX is disrupting the work of their colleagues you call a team meeting and tell them to knuckle down and stop messing up everyone elses work" obviously this gets the message across, but it is disruptive, unnecessarily humiliating for the person concerned, and doesnt provide a constructive alternative.. so you woud rate that as -2 or -3

there are also some maths questions where you get a series of figures and have to work out a lot of percentages.. I really suggest you practice working out perecentages !

Even though the pass mark may be lower for lower grades, you do need to do as well as you can - they tend to interview 3 times as many people as there are positions.. so if there are 25 positions, they will aim to see 75 people.. if 550 pass the OCAT, only the top 75 get shortlisted the rest go on a waiting list...

Hope that helps!:o

platterfish

Truegho wrote: »

I have just noticed on the DWP recruitment site that they have just started advertisng for AAs and AOs in Preston.

Can this be taken as a promising sign that they are slowly starting to recruit again?

I applied for the AO positions in Preston last year, my interview was in June, received waiting list letter - I'm still waiting for the exact same position advertised! Last time i asked i was 78th on the waiting list about 2 months ago, prior to that i was 83rd! How can they be recruiting when theres still a waiting list? what a waste of time and effort..

buftymctufty

Because that waiting list will have normally expired 6-12 months after the letter - prob 31/03/2010

Truegho

Thank you for elucidating on the test. Do you know if they have now adopted this test as a permanent means of recruitment, as they used to have Capita organising the sift, didn't they? I mean, if they have, then the two passed certificates I got for passing the Eng and Maths tests will no longer be valid, will they? This is very disappointing, as it means basically that I will have to start all over again.

Oh, and now that the waiting list has expired with the end of March, I am still feeling very depressed, as I imagine most other successful applicants are who did not get "the call."

desperado2 wrote: »

This is probably the OCAT (online test) - seems to be used when a department is handling its own recruitment rather than farming it out to Manpower and Capita??

They seem to use the same one for AO and EO grade jobs, I presume the pass score is lower for the lower grades.

basically it is a combination of aptitude plus literacy and numeracy.

There are 35 questions and you have 75 mins to complete them (all in one go.. no logging on and off) That is more than adequate time to do it.. but make sure you have a calculator and lots of paper to hand!!

Each of the questions relates to a scenario - you read the situation outline, then you get a series of questions based on it (you can still see the scenario, you dont have to remember it!)

The questions ask you to rate given options on a scale from "positive beneficial outcome" to "Negative unhelpful outcome" with 3 options for each, and a Neutral one also. so for example you might have a scenario that describes a work situation with a colleague who is inattentive and sloppy with their work, and disrupts the other workers..

solution one could be "XXX is disrupting the work of their colleagues you call a team meeting and tell them to knuckle down and stop messing up everyone elses work" obviously this gets the message across, but it is disruptive, unnecessarily humiliating for the person concerned, and doesnt provide a constructive alternative.. so you woud rate that as -2 or -3

there are also some maths questions where you get a series of figures and have to work out a lot of percentages.. I really suggest you practice working out perecentages !

Even though the pass mark may be lower for lower grades, you do need to do as well as you can - they tend to interview 3 times as many people as there are positions.. so if there are 25 positions, they will aim to see 75 people.. if 550 pass the OCAT, only the top 75 get shortlisted the rest go on a waiting list...

Hope that helps!:o