DWP Recruiting Again - 2012

mint25

WandaFish wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've been looking at this thread for weeks now and I've finally taken the plunge and registered lol.

Thanks to everyone who has posted really good advice and words of encouragement on here.

However I just think people should be cautious about going completely overboard on the 'system' and their poor marks. It's obviously frustrating when you don't get the marks you wanted to get but to imply that the system is flawed and that the best people aren't going to get the job is a little bit insulting to those of us who have done well. I personally scored relatively poorly on the online tests, only achieving 49% percentile, while others on here were getting 90+! And fair play to them.

But I feel I have redeemed myself with a score of 9,9,7,8,9 on the competencies which I am absolutely over the moon with. But I people saying things like 'hopefully they'll see what a poor system it was' is taking the shine off it a little bit. I scored highly on the maths online test and very poorly on the situational test. And to be honest I don't particularly think they should be used because it's not the same as being in the situation lol!

But while maybe I don't do well at the situational tests, people are saying "Well how was I meant to know to use STAR?". Well because the information was there. Maybe it could have been clearer but it was there and if you didn't know what it was you should have researched it like I did. People saying they're going to write to their MP's is crazy and could draw out this process even more for those expecting interviews. Of course different sifters will give different marks and it's rubbish. But interviewers will also ask different questions and some might be easier than others. That's the way life is.

Your name isn't Mark is it???!! Would you be so keen to join and share your scores if you had done so badly in the online tests AND the comps??

devilot

WandaFish wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've been looking at this thread for weeks now and I've finally taken the plunge and registered lol.

Thanks to everyone who has posted really good advice and words of encouragement on here.

However I just think people should be cautious about going completely overboard on the 'system' and their poor marks. It's obviously frustrating when you don't get the marks you wanted to get but to imply that the system is flawed and that the best people aren't going to get the job is a little bit insulting to those of us who have done well. I personally scored relatively poorly on the online tests, only achieving 49% percentile, while others on here were getting 90+! And fair play to them.

But I feel I have redeemed myself with a score of 9,9,7,8,9 on the competencies which I am absolutely over the moon with. But I people saying things like 'hopefully they'll see what a poor system it was' is taking the shine off it a little bit. I scored highly on the maths online test and very poorly on the situational test. And to be honest I don't particularly think they should be used because it's not the same as being in the situation lol!

But while maybe I don't do well at the situational tests, people are saying "Well how was I meant to know to use STAR?". Well because the information was there. Maybe it could have been clearer but it was there and if you didn't know what it was you should have researched it like I did. People saying they're going to write to their MP's is crazy and could draw out this process even more for those expecting interviews. Of course different sifters will give different marks and it's rubbish. But interviewers will also ask different questions and some might be easier than others. That's the way life is.

Firstly, congratulations on such high scores, no wonder you are over the moon.

However some people here HAVE used STAR, have had their examples looked at by line managers, JCP managers and in some instances, were doing the job until recently, and in some cases still are! Yet they have failed, why would this be the case if the system wasn't flawed? What I will say is that while some people have spoken of 'cheating' the test, at least there was a 'right or wrong' and a pass mark and it was marked by a computer. The competencies are completely subjective and subject to how the person who marked it felt on that particular day - certainly in mommarat's case, someone seems to have just wanted to get rid of her application as quickly as possible, how can someone who is doing the job right now score 1 for each competency? So in that sense, I would have to disagree with you that it IS flawed and should have been organised better.

All said, I do wish you well in your interview.

northerntake

mommarat wrote: »

Did you find the info I told you about. Let me know what happens

pm for you.

mommarat

mint25 wrote: »

Newbie also here but have been following for some time! Do you think your scores are maybe a system error? Seems really strange, especially to get the same marking on each one with no feedback.....

This is what I am banking on but until I see my other scores I don't know what to say. I have read my comps over and over and would put them round the 5/6 mark. But I won't just accept it that's for sure.

JessStar

WandaFish wrote: »

However I just think people should be cautious about going completely overboard on the 'system' and their poor marks. It's obviously frustrating when you don't get the marks you wanted to get but to imply that the system is flawed and that the best people aren't going to get the job is a little bit insulting to those of us who have done well.

This is all true.

To be honest, if you don't like the recruitment system, it may not be the place for you anyway: even for a level transfer, you still have to jump through these hoops, sometimes more.

15 times, I've applied for level and promotion, 15 times knocked back. Still continue to do work over and above the requirements of my current grade, just so I can use something else next time.

If you got the job, you'd be entering a company by the very process that you would be expected to adhere to from there on in. If you don't like it now....

Not to say that I don't think there's discrepancies, of course there are, and often, the people best for the role don't get placed in it. But that's a known quantity, and they still go ahead with it...

I don't think this comes across very articulately, (I've had a couple of beers...) but I'd be happy to clrify any points I've made if they make no sense.

Tomorrow though, might be best

Gael21

Wandafish - what area have you applied to?

With that combination of test and sift cores it will be interesting to see if you get an interview. You should - in all fairness, but there have been so many upsets, nothing would surprise me now.

Good luck anyway - and well done with the scores.

Panno

devilot wrote: »

Still nothing here for W Yorks and still no comments under S Yorks. Well done for your scores. See, your friends example is just proof its a lottery... I don't want to take away from anyone's success but seriously, how are they scoring these?:huh:

Exacty my thoughts about this process it really seems to be a lottery, but it needs to be fair and consistent. I appreciate Dwp need to select best people for the job - not sure if this process will achieve this.

WandaFish

mint25 wrote: »

Your name isn't Mark is it???!! Would you be so keen to join and share your scores if you had done so badly in the online tests AND the comps??

You mean if I'd failed and was completely out of the running lol? no i wouldnt care! In that respect I am being selfish. But also when I did do badly on the tests I accepted that it was because I didnt quite get what they were looking for. I didnt start saying the test was flawed and I would write to my MP lol

mommarat

WandaFish wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've been looking at this thread for weeks now and I've finally taken the plunge and registered lol.

Thanks to everyone who has posted really good advice and words of encouragement on here.

However I just think people should be cautious about going completely overboard on the 'system' and their poor marks. It's obviously frustrating when you don't get the marks you wanted to get but to imply that the system is flawed and that the best people aren't going to get the job is a little bit insulting to those of us who have done well. I personally scored relatively poorly on the online tests, only achieving 49% percentile, while others on here were getting 90+! And fair play to them.


But I feel I have redeemed myself with a score of 9,9,7,8,9 on the competencies which I am absolutely over the moon with. But I people saying things like 'hopefully they'll see what a poor system it was' is taking the shine off it a little bit. I scored highly on the maths online test and very poorly on the situational test. And to be honest I don't particularly think they should be used because it's not the same as being in the situation lol!

But while maybe I don't do well at the situational tests, people are saying "Well how was I meant to know to use STAR?". Well because the information was there. Maybe it could have been clearer but it was there and if you didn't know what it was you should have researched it like I did. People saying they're going to write to their MP's is crazy and could draw out this process even more for those expecting interviews. Of course different sifters will give different marks and it's rubbish. But interviewers will also ask different questions and some might be easier than others. That's the way life is.

Firstly well done they are excelent scores and I do hope you do well at interview. I have never had a go at anyones scores be they good or bad and let's face it they can't get worse than mine. I just find it hard to accept that someone could give me straight 1's fir my comps when I scored 93% in the test. Especially when I am doing the job.

devilot

WandaFish wrote: »

You mean if I'd failed and was completely out of the running lol? no i wouldnt care! In that respect I am being selfish. But also when I did do badly on the tests I accepted that it was because I didnt quite get what they were looking for. I didnt start saying the test was flawed and I would write to my MP lol

You're still missing the point though! If I took a maths test (for example) and only scored 1 out of 20, I could accept that's because I'm rubbish at maths. But if I asked someone to describe my personality and I felt they were all wrong, I would be right to challenge it because it's all subjective and only their opinion. Human beings are complex! Also the fact many of us aren't even getting reasoned feedback or even any feedback at all under or scores, is leading us to think they're not being looked at properly, or even at all (in some cases).

It's just because the competency part is so subjective, there is no right or wrong, so to speak.:)