DWP Recruiting Again - 2012

sammyroser

Hi all,

Had anyone who had interviews for the Thames Valley area received their interview feedback yet? Been a week and I've heard nothing so far Can't remember how long the interviews went on for either.

Many Thanks

avacado23

Thanks very much for this info.

You said they tell you before asking questions on any competency. So do they say something like, "now I'll ask you questions on "managing people and performance". Is it this direct? I have many examples but I am so nervous about getting them all mixed up and giving inappropriate answers for all competencies.

I only have experience of an AO level interview in HMCTS and they are a breeze compared to these as they ask you very direct questions related to headings only so for example they said give us an example of when you have developed someone or yourself? ----for the competency "developing our people" so it was v easy. These competencies have so many sub headings I am i need a lot of preparation before I feel even slightly ready for the interview.

All the best to everyone awaiting interview calls, interview scores or competency scores!!!

vindallou

avacado23 wrote: »

Thanks very much for this info.

You said they tell you before asking questions on any competency. So do they say something like, "now I'll ask you questions on "managing people and performance". Is it this direct? I have many examples but I am so nervous about getting them all mixed up and giving inappropriate answers for all competencies.

I only have experience of an AO level interview in HMCTS and they are a breeze compared to these as they ask you very direct questions related to headings only so for example they said give us an example of when you have developed someone or yourself? ----for the competency "developing our people" so it was v easy. These competencies have so many sub headings I am i need a lot of preparation before I feel even slightly ready for the interview.

All the best to everyone awaiting interview calls, interview scores or competency scores!!!

Yeah, they keep it plain and simple by telling you which competence they are going to ask you about first. They wont trip you up. If you dont understand the question or need them to explain, then you should ask. They dont deduct marks for this. They are willing you to do well. They only ask you 1 question per competence. (eg tell me a time when you did....)

I too am an AO, but for us to get this far at interview stage, it means they believe you have what it takes. I used past jobs as well as my AO experience and deputising for management (Im 29 and only been a civil servant for 8years).

If you dont give them the right answer, they will rephrase the question. Dont stress yourself out about it, just know your stuff. When you come out, you will feel like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders and wonder why you panicked so much! :rotfl:

bitey

Can anybody who's already had their interview tell me if they were allowed to use and expand the competences they used as their written examples or if they were told to use brand new ones by the interviewers? I have my interview next week and not sure what to do as I dont think ill be able to remember so much information :-/ Thanks. x

vindallou

tsimehC wrote: »

Just got back from my interview, E.London. The questions were pretty tough (can't even remember them now) and I didn't expect them to be so specific but apparently I managed to answer them (I took the risk of asking that at the end) but I don't know if it was to an acceptable standard. I'm not holding out much hope tbh and I'll just continue on with other applications, just glad the interview is out of the way.

Few things I found out at the end (nothing new I suppose), these roles are all customer-facing (Personal Jobseeker Adviser) and the successful candidates will be working on the Youth Contract scheme.

How do you know this role is for Youth Contract? Did someone tell you?

vindallou

bitey wrote: »

Can anybody who's already had their interview tell me if they were allowed to use and expand the competences they used as their written examples or if they were told to use brand new ones by the interviewers? I have my interview next week and not sure what to do as I dont think ill be able to remember so much information :-/ Thanks. x

you can use your same examples, but make sure you can adapt your answer if required

MakemBill

Steven_Ward wrote: »

Good Afternoon

I have an interview this week and am now preparing. Just one thing about it that i havnt been able to find an answer. Of the Six competencies that there are i only had to complete five in the application process, will these be the same 5 that are covered at interview or could there be all 6?

Any other tips would be greatful aswell, just so i am not caught out!

Any help would be very much appreciated

Hi Steven and everyone else due to go;

I'm just back from my interview.

I went with secondary examples in all competencies but the panel explained that they had no foresight of the original competencies and no idea how you scored in them. They were taking things solely at face and assessing you on how you explained them verbally and there were absolutely NO surprises. I was asked if I was ready to go and once I said I was there were five questions; all of the original competencies, verbatim.

Interview lasted 50 mins.

Good luck all.

MakemBill

vindallou wrote: »

How do you know this role is for Youth Contract? Did someone tell you?

Hi Vindallou,

The press releases regarding Youth Contract were all about the influx of new money. Theses are mostly Job Centre Advisor jobs and will be primarily dealing with 16-24 year olds coming in as part of the Youth Contract Initative.

The announcement about Youth Contract was here:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/feb-2012/dwp014-12.shtml

and;
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/get-britain-working/

Internally the DWP said it needed to recruit p to 4000 new Personal Advisors to deal with the new programme.

MakemBill

sherrilou wrote: »

Yahoo Just checked my interview scores and i got 77778 am over the moon with these:j, and fingers crossed i get on a list of some sort.

Good luck to all those at interview or awaiting scores

Sherrilou

Well done Sherrilou. Nice scores in the bag...just the wait now. I was told today that letters were due to go out 21-03-2012 but that there may be a slight delay of a few days.

jamesc1987

For those who have been interviewed, have any of you been asked about how you managed finance? Because I am really struggling to answer that, as I have never been in a position to manager finance as such, and would really not know what to say!