DWP Recruiting Again - 2012

poker21

mummybear1 wrote: »

Thanks for this. Have quite a few STAR examples but none which fit all of the bullet points under each competency as some of the bullet points are quite diverse. Might have to use more than one example to for each competency to cover all the points. Would this be ok ?

Interviewers will only let you give one example for each competency, I know this as I tried to give a second example and they didn't want to hear it, but having said that each interviewer is different but don't rely on being able to give a second example.
Prepare 5 good examples using the 'STAR' technique and have another 5 as your back-ups. You will be able to adapt your example to answer the question that is put to you.
It is very important to use the star technique as I'm sure you'll lose points for not using it.
Don't lose eye contact when you're concentrating, as I did this and I'm sure I must have lost points for that.
You can ask them to re-phrase a question.
You can ask to come back to a question.

JEEC

mummybear1 wrote: »

Hi, this is a question for everyone who has had their interview but particularly for those in NW region. When the interviewers ask the competency related questions do they stick to the broad headings ie the descriptors on the first page of the competency sheet in the invite pack, or do they ask questions based on the more detailed bullet points on the 2nd and 3rd competency sheets in the invite pack. Also,do they ask more than one question on each competency? and finally has anyone had a question on analysing, improving and changing as this wasn't one of the competencies that we had to submit written comments for. Thanks.

I can't remember the actual questions I was asked (I forgot a couple halfway through answering them and had to ask for them to be repeated that's how bad my memory of the interview is), but I managed to use my original competencies so the questions mustn't have been too specific because I was worried beforehand if they singled out a specific bullet points I couldn't use my existing examples as they only covered some of the bullet points not all of them. So I would say my questions must have been quite broad.
The questions are pre-printed on forms they take notes on so I assume all candidates that day get the same questions.

I was only asked one question per competency. I wasn't even asked any follow up questions - even though they said at the start they might ask follow up questions.

I wasn't asked about Analysing, Changing and Improving, only the competencies on the application.

Good Luck for your interview!

mwddrwg

Esoog wrote: »

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/pensions/pensionscalculator.cfm

If you've got excel there's one there, just ignore the ranting and raving!

Hi, thanks for the tip. What I'm really after is the pension arrangements that will apply to me if I come back in to JCP after 6 years away. I was on the 'classic' scheme and my partner's payslip shows that she contributes 1.5% to that scheme. Would the percentage be diffrerent for me as a 'new' member of staff or would I be able to transfer my pension back onto the classic scheme and pay the same rate? I gather that JCP employee contributions are going up next month (not sure by how much) so I assume I'd start paying a higher percentage. So much for the strike on pensions....

Twenty_Twenty

Just got my scores and pretty chuffed.:j

7,8,9,9,7 = 40/45

Just a matter of waiting now.

Good Luck to all those who are waiting for their scores and those who have kept me entertained with this forum. I have got addicted to it and will miss it once the process is over.:(

Twenty_Twenty

quo-vadis wrote: »

Finally got my scores, 2 weeks after the interview.
I got 35 in total but I don't know if that's gonna be enough considering they interviewed 1200 people in E. London.
Now I'm setting up for yet another wait: the outcome!

Pleased to hear you have done well. Now to wait until the fat lady sings. Everything will be dependant on how high others have scored and hence, there is no certainty on whatever one has scored. All the best for the next stage. :T

poker21

quo-vadis wrote: »

Finally got my scores, 2 weeks after the interview.
I got 35 in total but I don't know if that's gonna be enough considering they interviewed 1200 people in E. London.
Now I'm setting up for yet another wait: the outcome!

well done!

I'm still waiting, interview was on 17th so hopefully by Saturday.

poker21

Twenty_Twenty wrote: »

Just got my scores and pretty chuffed.:j

7,8,9,9,7 = 40/45

Just a matter of waiting now.

Good Luck to all those who are waiting for their scores and those who have kept me entertained with this forum. I have got addicted to it and will miss it once the process is over.:(

Fabulous, well done you!

MsSongbird

mwddrwg wrote: »

Hi, thanks for the tip. What I'm really after is the pension arrangements that will apply to me if I come back in to JCP after 6 years away. I was on the 'classic' scheme and my partner's payslip shows that she contributes 1.5% to that scheme. Would the percentage be diffrerent for me as a 'new' member of staff or would I be able to transfer my pension back onto the classic scheme and pay the same rate? I gather that JCP employee contributions are going up next month (not sure by how much) so I assume I'd start paying a higher percentage. So much for the strike on pensions....

The classic pension percentage will increase from 1.5 to 2.7 from 01/04/2012

MakemBill

I got a little shirty (OK maybe a lot) yesterday and things got way to personal. I get really knarked when people build up a positive and supportive atmosphere only to have someone come on and try and seemingly upst the thread.

I appologise to anyone I insulted either directly or indeed it appears indirectly. I will not rise to the bait again. I will keep my gob (almost) shut.

I mean, I even tried to calm the choppy waters that developed a couple of weeks ago over "wor" Wanda's posts and now I've gone and helped bore her too. Things really aren't good.

So, I promise to try and stay level headed and supportive and not the loud mouth I was earlier this week.

MakemBill

Good luck to every one in interview this week and well done to those who've had good results.

You deserved them.