DWP Recruiting Again - 2012

Dementor

MarkyMark87 wrote: »

Thank you. Derbyshire.

Good effort! :beer: Looks like you just pipped me to the post on that one! :rotfl:

MarkyMark87

daidai wrote: »

Well done on getting such a high score.

Still don't understand why they mark down for describing more than one example though, they could have just excluded any additional ones after the first or simply stated at the outset that only one was to be described and they would penalise any additional.

I'll be blunt again lol: if you have one good example then you'll find it extremely difficult to do Situation, Task, Action and Result in 200 words. How can you possibly do that with more than one example?

You need one solid example and say what YOU did. They won't read between the lines for you.

MarkyMark87

sherrilou wrote: »

Markymark

You done really good so obviously hit what they were looking for. Fingers crossed i only gave one example per competency and did the star template so hope ive achieved at least the required 4 although one of mine was a little weak i thought but i did use the method so just have to wait and see

Well done again

Sherrilou

Thanks - I'm sure much better people than me got rejected though. It's just a bit of a game in that you work out what they're looking for and see what you've done that fits. And if nothing fits just make up convincing lies

If you followed the STAR you'll be fine!

SilentHero

First post but have found the forum very useful.

I spoke to someone involved in the sifting process extensively on Monday and raised alot of questions from here.

Why is the test score so low?
Reason is because the test is heavily weighted towards the 12 questions where you have to select the most effective most ineffecitve response and grade them. The 24 numeracy/literacy questions are outweighted completely. The percentile you get is not a sign of your capabilities. For example

Candidate A
Numeracy/Literacy - 23/24
Action planning - 200/360
Percentile - 68%

Candidate B
Numeracy/Literacy - 20/24
Action Planning - 260/360
Percentile - 91%

To people on the forum, candidate B would seem more intelligent and appropriate for the job. Yet candidate B cant answer complex numeracy/literacy questions.

A large percentage of people who ranked above the 80% percentile scored lower than 23/24. Most of the candidates who scored 23 or 24/24 for numeracy/literacy are in the 60-70% percentile.

After that you are graded on compentencies each statement out of 9. This is only the case if more applicants have passed the test for interview slots. Interviews have only been sent out to places where there are less applicants per job.

If you score 3 or less its bad. Its not a fail. But if enough people pass this for interview slots you wont get aslot. If not enough slots are filled through compentency stage then you could get an interview. if you feel the grading is harsh then its the same for everyone in each district as a handful of people are doing the shifting per district. They will be harsher if the applicants are more for the district.

So a 6 in birmingham could be a 3 in black country due to more people applying in the black country. Sound weird yes but they have to find the right candidates.

The final point is the dwp wants hardworking, complex talented people and not robots who know how to get into a system by saying what you want to hear. This process has failed as the people become unmotivated quickly and think they are better and bigger than the job itself.

We have to see how this all plays out. I'm just pleased that there are people recognising that numeracy/literacy are key skills.

my score
numeracy/literacy - 24/24
action planning - 210/360
percentile - 71%

mazza1985

I dont want to post mine on here but I'll quite happily send them to someone for them to give me constructive feedback if they are willing!

C00kie1

MarkyMark87 wrote: »

I'm reluctant to post this because I don't want to sound like I think I'm the best person who ever lived based on one application, but if people have done worse than they thought they should have done they could post their examples and let others pull them apart? It might be depressing but help in the long term!

.

Wow you've aced it! My idea is you post, we cut and paste....ONLY JOKING !!!:D I am an honest bod and no single real example covered anything like the extent of the competency so I used several although I tried to use STAR. Alas, I think lack of 'imagination' shall we say, will be my downfall.....

devilot

C00kie1 wrote: »

.

Wow you've aced it! My idea is you post, we cut and paste....ONLY JOKING !!!:D I am an honest bod and no single real example covered anything like the extent of the competency so I used several although I tried to use STAR. Alas, I think lack of 'imagination' shall we say, will be my downfall.....

He's the king, huh? Let's all bow to his superior knowledge

For the record, I didn't know what STAR was, but now I do, my competencies did follow it and I've still flunked, so go figure. Single example for each: problem, why I solved it, how I solved it and the outcome. Still not good enough.:huh:

livilove

MarkyMark87 wrote: »

Hi all, first post.

I received my feedback yesterday and got 7,8,8,8,9. I'm pretty pleased with it.

To put it bluntly: if you talk about more than one example or just talk vaguely you'll struggle. That's just the way competency applications are. The STAR example that was in the information pack should have helped.

Good luck to everyone.

Well done Mark, surley you have secured an interview.

Did you stick to one examples and explained in each section. How many work examples did you write? Can you paste your one example with score 9 here on the board. Its just unbelievably Good.

MarkyMark87

devilot wrote: »

He's the king, huh? Let's all bow to his superior knowledge

For the record, I didn't know what STAR was, but now I do, my competencies did follow it and I've still flunked, so go figure. Single example for each: problem, why I solved it, how I solved it and the outcome. Still not good enough.:huh:

Maybe you simply missed the bullet points of the competency? I don't know, following STAR doesn't ensure success... Unless you're a Wise Man. You could post what you wrote? But I'd be reluctant to do that too.

MarkyMark87

livilove wrote: »

Well done Mark, surley you have secured an interview.

Did you stick to one examples and explained in each section. How many work examples did you write? Can you paste your one example with score 9 here on the board. Its just unbelievably Good.

The problem is that all my examples make it obvious where I work and I work for one of those places where you're not meant to say unless necessary..! I'll happily censor out all references when I'm home and post it though!