AQA successful applicants??

The_Gerbil

The Good news:

Just got back the results of my first review and I passed it (by the skin of my teeth) so I'm now a proper Researcher :j

The Bad news:

I made the mistake of suggesting they should dump the Yahoo group they use to communicate with each other (which is awful) and set up a proper Forum. I was told to **** off (well sort of) and all hell broke loose with people arguing about how to treat newbies etc.

I think I'll stick to MoneySavingExpert Forums. Much much friendlier.

Mike

bexifer

Hey Mike,

I've read all the hoo-haa caused by request for a forum. Don't worry, only a very small (but very vocal) minority are like that. Most of us are very welcoming (I hope) and the majority of people agree with you that a forum would be a much better way to communicate, vent or suggest things.

I raised it with my SR again last week, and was told that a forum simply isn't viable as to moderate a forum with 600-1500 members would be a full time job in itself, and would require a wage on its own.

I hope you continue to post on the Yahoo Group, and a belated welcome to AQA from me. Trust me, it really is one of the best jobs you can do, and the majority of people are really great.

Paul

BTB1_2

You would have thought that the forum would be pretty much self moderating.

Everyone on it would be an AQA employee and therefore would be risking their job by being abusive, spamming etc.

The_Gerbil

bexifer wrote: »

I hope you continue to post on the Yahoo Group, and a belated welcome to AQA from me. Trust me, it really is one of the best jobs you can do, and the majority of people are really great.

Paul

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm going to lay low for a bit (or is it lie low. I need to watch my SPG now!) No more controversial comments either so my lips are sealed about what I really think about Yahoo Groups

Err well if you insist. If I hadn't been shouted down I would have also suggested they go for a Wiki. It would be ideal for AQA IMHO.

I must also say that I have received some really nice personal emails so I'm sure its a good group really.

...and finally I did use some inflammatory words like "binned" and "proper forum" which probably were a bit much for the guy who complained as he is obviously proud of AQA.

Mike

pickles_pink

Hi All,

Does anyone here work for AQA as their full time job?

I'm just curious how sustainable and lucrative it is on this basis.

Thank you for your time.

:A

BTB1_2

Not full time but I've been off work the last couple of weeks so spent quite a while at it.

At the moment I would say it is neither sustainable or lucrative, but there are reasons for this and it should improve next month.

It is definately not easy money and requires a lot of effort

evilsheep

Like Calista, I just can't hold my tongue any longer...

Before I begin my rant, I'd like to wish all hopeful applicants the very best of luck.

And now for the rant:
I'm a bit baffled as to why some posters on this topic are treating their potential employer with such contempt! I don't believe it's stated anywhere in AQA's application pack that a response is guaranteed within a set time, so I really can't see why some posters are quite so indignant just because they haven't had their test results within a fortnight. It may well be that the Senior Researchers are ranking the test results in order of competence and are replying to the highest scoring applicants first. Then again, it may be completely random. However it works, impatience isn't really a desirable characteristic for an AQA researcher.

Interesting, relatively well-paid, extremely flexible work-from-home positions with a reputable company are extremely rare so I do think that applicants should have a little more respect for AQA!

To The Gerbil: In your introduction pack, it does request that all new researchers acquaint themselves with the relevant help files and archived questions. From your post it was very clear that you hadn't even performed a basic search - if you had, you wouldn't have needed to ask the question as you'd have seen it had been asked (and answered) many times before, and also that such questions shouldn't be directed to the entire workforce in the first place! So, if you look at it from others' point of view, your question did appear rather ignorant. Stating "I want this" and "I want that" to an established community of patient researchers, who've seen and heard it all before, isn't exactly the best way to endear yourself to your colleagues...

Apologies for being vague in the previous paragraph, but, like most jobs, discussing certain aspects of AQA is prohibited (as stated in the contract and guidelines), and all researchers should be extremely careful with the content of their posts here. Senior AQA persons keep tabs on the content of this forum particularly, so beware.

Finally (I can almost hear the collective sigh of relief!), like with any job, you'll get out of AQA what you put into it. Getting the job is the easy bit, maintaing AQA's high standards, and therefore keeping the job is somewhat harder.

Sorry to have harped on so much - this post was intended to be helpful and informative. Apologies if my tone has been misconstrued - I'm rubbish with knowing what smiley to put where!

:beer: :A :xmassign:

Rebel_Rebel

I was accepted last week and emailed my signed contract back last Thursday. However I've not had any reply yet. I know it says in the acceptance email to wait 5 days for the next set of documents but it doesn't specify if they mean working days?
I don't want to start harassing people about it if they're really busy just now!

The_Gerbil

evilsheep wrote: »

Sorry to have harped on so much - this post was intended to be helpful and informative. Apologies if my tone has been misconstrued - I'm rubbish with knowing what smiley to put where!

Helpful and informative. :rotfl:

You even said yourself "now for the rant"

In what way exactly was it helpful and informative.

I have an excellent understanding of when and how to use smilies :mad:

TIAL

I don't see how we are treating AQA with 'contempt'.

A few of us, me included, have sent follow up emails because of reports that AQA have had problems with the emails. If I hadnt read that I would not have sent it.
Secondly, I think most of the (possibly a little OTT) concern has been because others have done the test, sent off the email and done the first 30 questions all from the same email address as some who have been waiting for weeks.

Thankyou for clearing up the fact that it's actually the senior reaserchers who mark the test - but I'm sure you can sympathise with the frustration people must have when waiting for a reply for a job whilst everyone else on here is getting in from seemingly the same person. And what's wrong with writing your feelings about it on a completely separate forum?