My wife attended first interview last Wednesday for a job as Executive Officer Grade 2 for the DWP. She had already passed the online assessment tests etc, and this was the final hurdle.
On a negative note she felt she had fluffed one of her 3 real life job situations questions asked of her, therefore she wondered if she gets a letter saying no, can she reapply again without having to do the tests all over again etc. At the end of the interview which lasted 30 mins or so she got the chance to talk to the interviewers 2 people who turned out to be from Capita, and they more or less said it does not matter what experience you have relevant to the job its just a case of feeding your answers into a Matrix chart or something and seeing from that what your strengths are etc. So overall she felt it was a new experience never had an interview like this before it certainly was not your traditional interview. She wore a suit as you would for an interview, but felt that even if you were dressed like a Elf provided you answered the 3 questions satisfactory you were in!

Also did anyone else go for interview with them and what were your experiences etc.

Its the norm for Civil Service.

As long as you tick the boxes and meet the criteria for the competencies then thats all they care about. They ar enot bothered in the slightest how you look when you go for an interview or about past experience. You could be 16 and tick all the boxes with no experience and get the job, yet someone with X years of experience will fail as they didnt say the right thing.

Having worked for the Civil Service in Human Resources dont expect to be offered a starting date for at least 6 months or so - there are numerous security checks etc they will do and then at the end of it they may not even by a job waiting for her as they may have filled the positions internally. If she is offered a position make sure she gets the start date in writing or they can change there mind and you will have no proof.

Hope that helps.

..........No longer a forum member

Thanks for the replies very helpful.
Having come from a corporate background have to say still find it strange that you can get a job like this without having to prove real success in your career to date.
Also will I be able to get my results back from the original test she took, just in case she re-applies.
Have to say will not hang around for them to make their minds up though.

If you go into a job centre it shows that they use silly recruitment procedures - there are 17 year olds on the desks interviewing job seekers which is rather demeaning for most people.

It depends on the department as to whether she can re-use the score.

When I worked for the CS it used to be that the score could be reused if applying within 6 months of taking the test. I very much doubt they will readvertise the same post within 6 months as they will probably have had in excess of 1000 applicants.

If you look on the Money Saving Expert forum there is a large thread about DWP jobs whihc should also give some more information.

If you want the contact number for the HR Service Centre for more info then let me know.

funny you should say that about the jobcentre staff, my wife as it happens comes from the Executive recruitment market been in it 25 years.
I believe the job as an Exectuive officer was working in the Jobcentres as and when needed in sheffield. She could do that job in her sleep.
Show you the wide gulf between Public and private sector does in not.

The interview is designed so as to ensure that external applicants get every oppurtunity to display the competencies that are relevant to the post that you are applying for. The competencies that I had been given were clearly designed to see if I would be useful as an EO in the Job centre plus contact centres. Because of this I was able to prepare in advance and think of examples where I offered good customer service and worked in contact centres before etc. I felt as prepared as I could do, and yesw you are right, the interviewer is simply looking to tick boxes and get on with interview. I felt that my interview went well though there are a few boxes that I am aware that I may not have ticked, but just have to hope that my final score will be competitive enough to get a post. If not I'm gonna apply again and just prepare better next time!

Thanks Dave, appreciate you input. Sounds like you had a similiar interview to me. Like you If I fail this time will probably try again.
Best of luck,

The problem is that they don't provide enough information to the applicant - A corporate company wouldn't invite you to an interview like that and not provide you with any information.

Not knocking the Civil Service - Its a great place to work, its just that the recruitment process is not the best and as a result of that many of the people that get through at interview stage are actually incompetent - again, this can be seen by looking at staff at most job centers who don't have a clue.

Totally agree with your last paragraph.

When I was told that I had progressed to the interview stage I was sent an e-mail with the required competencies with an attachment that stated what was required to demonstrate those competencies. Luckily I'm in a family of civil servants that know how 'the game' is played so I could use those competencies in my interview as well as I could. Its worth considering for next time that its literally just a tick boxing exercies and that you just need to demonstrate whats on each individual competency.

I was asked four questions in my interview..

I was asked four questions in my interview..

One main question per competency.

Anyone who posted replies had any feedback yet from the DWP. I understand it could take weeks before we hear a yes or no.

Not heard back - I was told around 10 days.

Anyone heard anything today? The suspense is killing me!

No, but I'll let you know if and when I do, and hope you do to! lol. I'm a bit more relaxed this week but I was checking emails/post like every five minutes last week!

is it not a phone call that we get?

Someone must have heard by now surely?

I went through the EO application process, still not heard, however I know people who went through the process in previous waves of recruitment and it took weeks for them to find out anything, and those who were successful have waited 3 - 4 months before being placed into work, so don't hold yer breath!

From what I understood though they were rushing this one through as they are desperate for front line staff - can't see many people accepting a job and then waiting so long to start - surely they'd have found something else by then!

I know what you mean, if I am offered another role in the meantime I will not hold out waiting for either a job offer, or a start date, most people could not afford to do that. One of the people I know knew he was going to be made redundant so began the application process in March of this year - his official start date is today! He went through the process for the EO jobcentre plus but because he performed well at interview has been given what I understand to be a better role, liaising with big companies who are losing lots of staff due to redundancy. His role is to run workshops and stuff with these staff and work with recruitment agencies and jobcentre plus to place them into work asap. Another of my friends applied for the admin vacancies for jobcentre plus, but has been allocated a role at Kings Court working in payroll admin. She applied in February time and already turned down one role as she could not manage it with childcare etc. - she started last week.

Good luck anyway lets hope we hear something soon either way.

How long was it after the interview that they got the nod?

6 - 8 weeks I reckon it was.

Can't see me waiting that long - if it hapens it happens!:|

6 - 8 weeks!?!?! I knows it a difficult time for employment but some folks are simply not gonna wait that long to hear if they've got a job. That really is horrendously ineffecient!

..... 6 - 8 weeks and then how ever long it is to get a placement. The 'credit crunch' will be over by then and they won't need the posts any longer! Does anyone have a contact in HR that we can badger?

there are some more dwp posts advertised on the website for this week only! some EO and some AO. They were put on on the 3rd and close on the 10th. Who knows when we will hear, I have been offered a role elsewhere today and can't afford to wait around.

edit: I'm sure yesterday these roles said South Yorkshire but they say West Yorkshire today!

Well Done Liz - I trust you're taking the role then?

..... 6 - 8 weeks and then how ever long it is to get a placement. The 'credit crunch' will be over by then and they won't need the posts any longer! Does anyone have a contact in HR that we can badger?

All I had was an e-mail contact for someone who administered the online tests from DWP's end. I emailed him and he informed me that he didnt work in that department any longer, and that he would forward my e-mail. Nearly two weeks later, no response!

Well Done Liz - I trust you're taking the role then?

Thanks fintious max, yes I will be taking the role :-)

I had my interview on 18th July and specifically asked what time scales they were working to. I was told to expect a written reply on the outcome in around two weeks one way or the other. I have still been checking my emails everyday since though! As for the starting date they were looking at speeding up the process with people starting as soon as September.

I totally agree about the interview though, but having worked for the CS before I knew sot of what to expect anyway.

Good Luck everyone who has applied

Was speaking to a neigbour the other day who got a job with DWP in Payroll section as Admin Officer. She told me she had to wait 4-5 weeks before she got a reply and job offer. I think she applied for this job when the did a big assessment day on Bramall lane suite.

Must admit the way I feel would be great to get the job offered, but I also wish their were more similiar jobs to apply for rathern than putting my eggs in one basket.

A lot of the best people will have found a different job by the time DWP get round to offering something. Doesn't seem a good way of getting the most suitable person for the job.

Was speaking to a neigbour the other day who got a job with DWP in Payroll section as Admin Officer. She told me she had to wait 4-5 weeks before she got a reply and job offer. I think she applied for this job when the did a big assessment day on Bramall lane suite.

Must admit the way I feel would be great to get the job offered, but I also wish their were more similiar jobs to apply for rathern than putting my eggs in one basket.

Thats exactly how I feel about the situation. I am looking for other jobs though this seams to be the most concrete oppurtunity, and its just a shame they cant pull their finger out in this process.

Though all it takes is one person in HR to be on holiday for two weeks and it will take forever for us to find out.

Having been in recruitment virtually all my career it does go against the grain to have to wait so long. I remember prior to the credit crunch clients were fighting over themselves to make offers to candidates in case they were pipped to the post etc. WOW how times have changed!

A lot of the best people will have found a different job by the time DWP get round to offering something. Doesn't seem a good way of getting the most suitable person for the job.

My sentiments exactly! People are not going to sit around hoping they get a call from DWP.