DWP Recruiting Again - 2012

debbie_doo

Mechanical_music_machine wrote: »

Hi newbie here.

Anyway this forum has been of great help.

I had my interview today (Essex)

I was told there are 180 interviews for only 60 jobs so it's a case of 1 in 3 then. Seems there's not the 100 posts as initially advertised.

Good luck everybody and don't beat yourself up over the interviews you can only do your best.

Anyway im off for a well deserved drink.

Is it 60 jobs in each district? cos I was told the exact same thing in my interview?

Nana4u

drwho2011 wrote: »

I had my interview in East London.

I was right about how many panels were interviewing and it corresponded with the available slots you could book.

This will be my last post on this thread.

How did the interview go? Where your comp marked before the interview

MakemBill

Hi all. I'm happy for those of you managed to get through the test and sift. For those who have had an interview or are awaiting their appointments, good luck.
I know from my area that when people took their test there was pre-determined level under which you were immediately excluded. Nationally there were 54,000 initial test passes. In my area there were 1900 initially successful tests. Once the applications closed in my area, the test result was re-aligned and a new pass mark applied in order to cut down on the number of sifts required; the bar was raised to allow only those at 80% or more to progress to sift. I was very fortunate as in my initial sift I scored very well with 7-8-8-8-8. I am to be interviewed in a few days. I am not complacent and will need to research alternative examples before interview as all test and sift scores are reset before interview meaning it's all or nothing on the day.
Due to the volume of applicants, DWP are using their minimum ratio for interviewees: post which is 3:1. One word of warning though to those still to interview. While most people will be well intentioned and post legitimate helpful pointers, don’t take as gospel all of the suggestions of questions that have been posted. Better prepare well and take your time to consider what a question is asking. If you need it repeating, ask. It is regarded as a sign of strength if you’re able to show that you need to check, but not on every question.
Again good luck to anyone still to be interviewed or waiting initial sifts. Fingers crossed for those who have been interviewed.

LookingForNipsy

drwho2011 wrote: »

I had my interview in East London.

I was right about how many panels were interviewing and it corresponded with the available slots you could book.

This will be my last post on this thread.

I hope the interview went well! Thanks for all the info you've posted during this process, its been invaluable

(Any particular reason you won't be posting anymore?)

avacado23

Hi, I came across this forum a couple of hours ago. I was shocked to read about the competency scores that most of the guys seem to have got....I mean although they cover a range from 3-9, at least they cover a range. My scores are "1" in all 5 competencies. I applied for Birmingham & Solihull, Black Country as well as Shropshire. My feedback for Birmingham & Solihull is as below:

Building Capability - Behavioural Rating1Building Capability - Behavioural CommentAcceptable level of evidenceDelivering a Customer Focused Service - Behavioural Rating1Delivering a Customer Focused Service - Behavioural CommentStrong evidenceLeading - Behavioural Rating1Leading - Behavioural CommentAcceptable level of evidence displayedManaging People and Performance - Behavioural Rating1Managing People and Performance - Behavioural CommentAcceptable level of evidenceOperational Delivery - Delivering a Professional Service Rating1Operational Delivery - Delivering a Professional Service CommentAcceptable level of evidenceOverall rating:

There is no overall rating, my online test scores are 74%( percentile). I am so confused since all guys have had competencies scored. Also, I have my interview on 15th Mar for B&S. If I did not get an interview call, I would have thought I am out of the game but why is that even though my competency scores are acceptable in 4, strong in 1 yet my rating is 1 in all competencies. My BC sift feedback says refer to B&S feedback. My partner's feedback for B& S is even more strange than mine. Hers is:

Building Capability - Behavioural Rating1Building Capability - Behavioural CommentStrong evidenceDelivering a Customer Focused Service - Behavioural Rating1Delivering a Customer Focused Service - Behavioural CommentStrong evidenceLeading - Behavioural Rating1Leading - Behavioural CommentStrong evidenceManaging People and Performance - Behavioural Rating1Managing People and Performance - Behavioural CommentStrong evidenceOperational Delivery - Delivering a Professional Service Rating1Operational Delivery - Delivering a Professional Service CommentStrong evidenceOverall rating:

So even for her, no overall rating and in spite of strong evidence, v poor rating of 1. Can anyone explain this? Apologies if someone has already explained this, I have tried to read as much as possible but this forum is a very long read. Any help in interpreting the scores would be great. Thanks very much.

MakemBill

Avacado, having read through many of the posts tonight, there appears to be a problem with people being given 1,1,1,1,1 when the feedback suggests the evidence is strong.
I wonder if there is some technical problem that needs to be addressed or whether this problem is only happening to people who apply for more than one region. There may some transitional issues. I'd contact the helpline, if you can locate the number amongst the pages and seek advice, putting your case strongly.
For the record the sift feedback and interview feedback is generally broken down into three levels;
Scores 1 to 3 are insufficient evidence to meet the competency consistently at an acceptable level
Scores 4 to 6 Evidence shows acceptable to above average competency with most areas of the competency met
Scores 7 to 9 Evidence demonstrates good to excellent examples of competency which cover the areas of the competency in depth.

Do not accept a 1 for a strong or even acceptable level of competency.

Good luck

gettingready

drwho2011 wrote: »

I had my interview in East London.

I was right about how many panels were interviewing and it corresponded with the available slots you could book.

This will be my last post on this thread.

????????????

KeyserSoze888

mummybear1 wrote: »

Anyone heard anything from North West region (greater Manchester) yet?

Nope, nothing yet. Think someone said earlier in the thread that inputting sift information would be completed yesterday (Friday 2nd) and all interview invites sent-out by March 9th/10th.

vindallou

Had my interview yesterday.......

I was asked the dreaded question that I didnt want ' Can you give us another example? ' The reason being.... they ask you a specific question regarding the competence.... Customer Focus - Can you tell us a time when you did 'this' my Customer Focus answer didnt quite fit, so I had to adapt it all, so just prepare yourself and listen to the question and not just blurt out the competence.....

I asked questions

How many positions - less than originally thought, its about 60
When are jobs due to start - April 2012
When will we find out if successful or not - end of March
How do they match the candidate to the location - that will be discussed in the NEXT interview stage....

It was very difficult to tell how my interview went, however the 2 ladies interviewing me were very nice and kept my nerves at ease. Im not sure how I got on, they said, WOW thats alot of information, Im getting writers cramp writing it and giggled, they also told me they couldnt fit anything else in and had to squeeze it down the bottom. Im taking that as a good sign???? Or do you think they were insinuating that I was rambling?

Its just so different to any other interview I have experienced, fingers are still crossed!

1 in 3 chance is good odds....... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me get the job!!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

Lorac05

avacado23 wrote: »

Hi, I came across this forum a couple of hours ago. I was shocked to read about the competency scores that most of the guys seem to have got....I mean although they cover a range from 3-9, at least they cover a range. My scores are "1" in all 5 competencies. I applied for Birmingham & Solihull, Black Country as well as Shropshire. My feedback for Birmingham & Solihull is as below:

Building Capability - Behavioural Rating1Building Capability - Behavioural CommentAcceptable level of evidenceDelivering a Customer Focused Service - Behavioural Rating1Delivering a Customer Focused Service - Behavioural CommentStrong evidenceLeading - Behavioural Rating1Leading - Behavioural CommentAcceptable level of evidence displayedManaging People and Performance - Behavioural Rating1Managing People and Performance - Behavioural CommentAcceptable level of evidenceOperational Delivery - Delivering a Professional Service Rating1Operational Delivery - Delivering a Professional Service CommentAcceptable level of evidenceOverall rating:

There is no overall rating, my online test scores are 74%( percentile). I am so confused since all guys have had competencies scored. Also, I have my interview on 15th Mar for B&S. If I did not get an interview call, I would have thought I am out of the game but why is that even though my competency scores are acceptable in 4, strong in 1 yet my rating is 1 in all competencies. My BC sift feedback says refer to B&S feedback. My partner's feedback for B& S is even more strange than mine. Hers is:

Building Capability - Behavioural Rating1Building Capability - Behavioural CommentStrong evidenceDelivering a Customer Focused Service - Behavioural Rating1Delivering a Customer Focused Service - Behavioural CommentStrong evidenceLeading - Behavioural Rating1Leading - Behavioural CommentStrong evidenceManaging People and Performance - Behavioural Rating1Managing People and Performance - Behavioural CommentStrong evidenceOperational Delivery - Delivering a Professional Service Rating1Operational Delivery - Delivering a Professional Service CommentStrong evidenceOverall rating:

So even for her, no overall rating and in spite of strong evidence, v poor rating of 1. Can anyone explain this? Apologies if someone has already explained this, I have tried to read as much as possible but this forum is a very long read. Any help in interpreting the scores would be great. Thanks very much.

Which area is your 'home' area i.e which county do you live? My comp scores for B'ham were originally 7's and 6's with comments similar to yours - strong or acceptable evidence. Then they were suddenly set to 1 - leaving the same feedback of strong or acceptable. After speaking to the recruitment help line I was informed that Staffs/Shrops were considered my home area (and I do live in Staffs) and they would be scoring my comps. Last Saturday Staffs/Shrops input my scores - the same as were originally under B'ham - 7's and 6's - with comments to refer to B'ham feedback. I have subsequently been invited to interviews in both B'ham and Staffs/Shrops - taking up one in Stafford. My Black Country application has not changed at all from the initial 'situation test complete'.

I suspect this is what has happened to you - B'ham seemed to jump the gun on marking people and then had to back-track when it was decided that home areas would do the marking. Call the recruitment help line to get some clarification. I suspect you both originallly had scores higher than 1 under B'ham but never got to see them.