DWP Recruiting Again - 2012

sammyroser

Thank you for letting me know, I guess I will have to give them a call tomorrow. Still not had any response from beds and herts either, says my application is awaiting review. I understand its a long process but the complete lack of communication in some areas is a bit unacceptable.

poiuyt

sammyroser wrote: »

Thank you for letting me know, I guess I will have to give them a call tomorrow. Still not had any response from beds and herts either, says my application is awaiting review. I understand its a long process but the complete lack of communication in some areas is a bit unacceptable.

if you've already had an interview in one area, your scores would be carried through to beds and herts once they have decided them.

TC54

gettingready wrote: »

Well, that is me sorted

Its great to hear you got a start date for the job you wanted, good luck and thanks for your contributions to this - lengthy - discussion. :beer:

TOADSFEET

Hi... Has anybody yet has an interview for B and S. Mine is next week and i was just wondering how it went??

ehazard2012

hi there,

could someone advise me as to how long you will have to answer each of the 5 questions,

and should you go into great depth with regard to your written examples that you gave, or should go only give a little more detail on what you wrote


thanks

avacado23

MakemBill wrote: »

How have those of you who have received your interview scores done in comparison to your initial sift?

I had a really good sift (88887) but I'm a tad nervous as I await my interview scores. One thing that was mentioned within a brief for this process which was distributed within DWP (I have friends who sent it to me), was that they would mark your 5 competencies and also your communication skills at interview.

So far I’ve only seen 5 scores and no mention of communication skills. I assume then, that they’re building communication skills into your answers to the 5 questions.

I’ve just been reading the last few pages of posts and would just point out that there are too many people getting hung up about this interview.

The interviewers are trained to find the best in you that you have to offer. They do this with open, leading questions while treating you with courtesy. If they think you’ve got more to add with the right question, they’ll lead you. They fully understand that people have nerves and don’t want to pass a perfectly fine candidate by who may have fumbled their words but in whom they saw a spark which an additional question might ignite. Some interviewers are deadpan, others are humorous. Don’t let their demeanour put you off.

The best advice I could give is take in brief notes about your examples, not War and Peace. Write just enough to jog your memory; maybe 10 key words per competency which can direct you in telling your story. Know your main examples inside out and be confident when you describe them. Take a second example for each competency in case, but don’t get hung up if you can’t find one; or if you think it’s weak. It’s not likely that you’ll need it as they do not know what your first examples were or how they were scored. They will encourage you to use your notes but do not read from them verbatim or keep checking them constantly.

Be relaxed. Drink the water on offer…it buys you time and more importantly calms you down. Maintain eye contact with the questioner but check the writer is managing to keep up occasionally. Not that you really care; it’s just nice to remember they’re there too.

Smile a lot, stay calm and do not ramble. Take breathers between points and allow your points to sink in. There’s plenty of time for crying later if you get rejected. However, even then, remember you did great to get this far.

Good luck everyone!

Thanks a ton. Even though I probably already knew most of this information...coming from someone else---- it makes me feel much better. I was such a bunch of nerves yesterday. Just hope I can keep my calm during the interview.

As for some of us believing that sharing exact questions would give people an edge....I am really not sure that is the case. In fact, I agree with what someone else mentioned about the fact that knowing exact questions may make you seem unnatural (& over prepared) and in case there was any change to what one was expecting, the person would be totally caught out. I am not trying to tell anyone to share the questions. My partner has worked in HR and says she's seen some very good candidates totally mess up in an interview and some poor candidates with minimal experience get the job since they come across like the dream candidate in an interview. So ultimately it is down to how you can perform in an interview. I have sleepless nights, stomach cramps and sweat like hell even on a cold day so interviews really don't get the best out of me. I do hope do this..hehe What would really help is if I had just 2 panel members instead of 3. I find it so much easier to maintain eye contact and stay focussed.

Did someone say we have 3 members for these interviews?????

I really like what you said at the end, "plenty of time to cry over a rejection" :T

Sweetsarah2012

avacado23 wrote: »

Thanks a ton. Even though I probably already knew most of this information...coming from someone else---- it makes me feel much better. I was such a bunch of nerves yesterday. Just hope I can keep my calm during the interview.

As for some of us believing that sharing exact questions would give people an edge....I am really not sure that is the case. In fact, I agree with what someone else mentioned about the fact that knowing exact questions may make you seem unnatural (& over prepared) and in case there was any change to what one was expecting, the person would be totally caught out. I am not trying to tell anyone to share the questions. My partner has worked in HR and says she's seen some very good candidates totally mess up in an interview and some poor candidates with minimal experience get the job since they come across like the dream candidate in an interview. So ultimately it is down to how you can perform in an interview. I have sleepless nights, stomach cramps and sweat like hell even on a cold day so interviews really don't get the best out of me. I do hope do this..hehe What would really help is if I had just 2 panel members instead of 3. I find it so much easier to maintain eye contact and stay focussed.

Did someone say we have 3 members for these interviews?????

I really like what you said at the end, "plenty of time to cry over a rejection" :T

I only had two interviewers in mine so I think it's a mix of two and three. They do make you feel really comfortable though and give you the heading of which competency they are going to Ask the question about so dot panic too much

sammyroser

Finally got through to them, got to say I wish they would have some call waiting music rather than just constant ringing and your call is important to us, after 20min it gets rather annoying .

Anyway he told me that he didn't know why I was told my scores would be uploaded straight away, checked the system, no scores so he will pass a message onto the board and they should hopefully get my scores on over the next couple of days.

I feel like a small child. I want to know now!!!!!!

avacado23

Thanks for the info sweetsarah2012!!! I wish I also have 2 interviewers

I know how you feel sammyroser, I would be exactly like that if I knew people have had their scores uploaded and I was waiting. I am still hoping I would get to see my scores for comptencies as B&S still says all 1's. Staff & Shrop and BC refers me to B&S.

greenberet1990

is the interview 45 mins just for asking questions or does it include the time for the paper work needed.

also do you need to be a passport sized photo even if you have a passport. i'm getting mixed replies.

thanks