Civil service – Assessment day notification

Elinore

Hi All,

I hope someone can give me a bit of insight into the civil service recruitment process.

I had three applications in all for the same role but within three different counties as I fell within the required catchment area for the roles (I’m on the border of all the counties in question) all have the same criteria and questions within the application form - the same closing date and the same assessment centre date.

Two were almost immediately declined – in feedback they advised I didn’t relate my experience to a very specific aspect required of the role. (It’s not what the application actually asked for, but you live and learn) I was very dejected as I really worked hard on the applications to tailor them to the success profiles and the questions asked.

I was expecting the third application to swiftly follow with a nope as it’s based around the same answers.

However remaining one (which has two vacancies) went to ‘being reviewed’ on the same day as the first two and has sat there since.

The set assessment day noted for the role on the application is now just under a week away.

My questions:

Has anyone had the application just not get updated and sail past the assessment day?

How late a notification has anyone had that they need to attend the assessment day?

Thank you for any insight you are able to offer as I don’t want to get my hopes up if an application is left in ‘review’ is the same as a ‘decline’ just without the formal notification.

[Deleted User]

Was there a contact named in the advert?

A lot of civil service roles have one listed at the bottom, you could try finding this and dropping an email to ask for an update?

Elinore

Hi Mark,


Thank you for replying

There is a name listed, and is the person that the two roles will be reporting into - So I didn’t want to put my head above the parapet unless I had to, no one likes a pushy candidate!

Especially if application held at the 'reviewing' stage beyond the possibility of attending an assessment centre is just a polite way of culling the numbers without a harsh 'you failed' email

[Deleted User]

From my experience they always tend to at least say if you have failed the shortlisting, so that's why I thought you might want to contact the named contact on the job advert.

Only other thing I can suggest is they are still actually reviewing and will update you soon but they are leaving it a bit late as the later they let people know they have an interview the more problems it can cause. Especially if already in a job and need time off to attend.

Elinore

Once again, thank you for the reply.


Luckily, I had the day booked off already for family event that was then rescheduled - so I have just left it live, just in case. (with my fingers crossed - I would love this job!)


I will leave it 'till two days before the assessment day and then call if the application remains at review, I think.

Elinore

I have just got the dreaded email. oh well.

Thank you anyway

[Deleted User]

Sorry to hear.

Did you have to respond to certain competencies?

Elinore

Yup, and I got a 1. the lowest mark you can get.

The three questions appeared to ask about a set number of competencies demonstrated in my current role.

However, they then noted in feedback for my answers for these three questions that I didn't mention a very specific skill needed for their role. which is infuriating as that was not asked for!

So I missed a trick as I very linearly just focused on the question and showing that I met the competencies they were measuring against fully within my current role, not with a view to tieing in the skill and requirements of the potential role itself (as this was not asked for). There was a skills section where this looked to be a more appropriate place to do this - where I mentioned my familiarity with the specific skill they mentioned.

So it looks like I just didn't appreciate how they wanted candidates to format a reply. Even though I read and digested the recommended reading for the success profiles and competency framework. I had the text checked out by three people before sending off so I thought it was rock solid.

Well, I've learned for next time though to be fair I doubt I'll be applying to the civil service again as the role was rather unique.

[Deleted User]

Yeah they do ask for specific responses to demonstrate what they want.

I’d still keep an eye out on vacancies though they pop up all the time.

TELLIT01

Sorry to hear about the outcome for you. To a degree it shows just how difficult it can be to get into the mindset of the Civil Service. You provided information in what you thought was the most logical place - your big mistake :-) I worked in the Civil Service for about 8 years and their logic never failed to leave completely bemused.