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Civil Service VOA Telephone Interview
MasterDebator
Posts: 18 Forumite
Hello again. I'm 'good' with computers apparently (?!) so I have another query from a friend! I've had a good search through the forum but am not finding anything recent...
He applied for a job with the civil service valuation office in June, passed the written tests (better than 88% of respondents apparently!) and had a telephone interview at the beginning of August that went really well. They told him he'd hear within two weeks. He gave it four, then rang a number to leave a message... no response, tried again, same thing. We then found an email address for the VOA office and emailed, and a nice chap responded a few days later that he'd been told that my mate was currently still in the running and he'd hear 'soon', and to keep an eye on the civil service jobs website. November is now looming, and still nothing. The website hasn't updated from 'scheduled for telephone interview' in July. The nice gentleman we emailed again told us that they were still 'sorting things out' and he would hear 'soon'.
The issues are that the original job was advertised as a fixed term contract to March, and is now not even worth taking if offered considering his notice period etc. - do they just advertise jobs like that? He's also got a few interviews coming up elsewhere but really wants this specific VOA job. A colleague of mine who worked in the Civil Service years ago told me they slam everyone in a big pool and stick you where you're needed, and that advertised contract length doesn't mean anything...
Has anyone else been through this or is going through it now? Does he just wait? Could they suddenly just offer him a job? Chasing doesn't seem to do any good.
Cheers!
He applied for a job with the civil service valuation office in June, passed the written tests (better than 88% of respondents apparently!) and had a telephone interview at the beginning of August that went really well. They told him he'd hear within two weeks. He gave it four, then rang a number to leave a message... no response, tried again, same thing. We then found an email address for the VOA office and emailed, and a nice chap responded a few days later that he'd been told that my mate was currently still in the running and he'd hear 'soon', and to keep an eye on the civil service jobs website. November is now looming, and still nothing. The website hasn't updated from 'scheduled for telephone interview' in July. The nice gentleman we emailed again told us that they were still 'sorting things out' and he would hear 'soon'.
The issues are that the original job was advertised as a fixed term contract to March, and is now not even worth taking if offered considering his notice period etc. - do they just advertise jobs like that? He's also got a few interviews coming up elsewhere but really wants this specific VOA job. A colleague of mine who worked in the Civil Service years ago told me they slam everyone in a big pool and stick you where you're needed, and that advertised contract length doesn't mean anything...
Has anyone else been through this or is going through it now? Does he just wait? Could they suddenly just offer him a job? Chasing doesn't seem to do any good.
Cheers!
0
Comments
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Met a former VOA colleague 2 weeks ago who told me that even more offices are due to close shortly so maybe there is no longer the immediate requirement for extra staff. There is also a possibility the money to fund these additional posts has been withdrawn. If they want him, they will let him know in their own time.
Having worked for the VOA for 35 yrs I would suggest your friend explores other options.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0
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