Civil Servants - what's the odds on being pulled off reserve list?

[Singingwiththepain]

I got told after 6 months of waiting on a job application today that I am on the reserve list. Role is Grade 7 level and there were 30 jobs.

Do reserve lists at that level ever actually get used? Or am I going to be disappointed?

I got my current role from a reserve list and I know several others who did too. You can ask what number you are on the list and check how long the list is running for as obs the longer the better. Mine ran for 12 months, got my role about 6 moths in. Think I was number 5 on the list originally.

Thanks! That's encouraging to hear :)

Yes, reserve lists work because, as pp said, the CS recruitment process is painful so we will always check reserve lists first. As another pp said, it might not be immediate. We always ask for a 12 month reserve list.

Another here who got in on reserve list!

Same!

You can ask where you are on the merit list. That should give you a better idea.

I got in on the reserve list, waited about two months.

We've used our reserve lists many times because the CS system is so bloody slow that the ones we offer too, usually get fed up of waiting and take another job.

Im also on a reserve list until January 2022, Im not holding out hope though 😫

Ah i really hope so but just trying to put it to the back of my mind!.

Another voice chiming in to say yes they definitely do get used. How quickly and whether you’re willing to wait is another matter - I have in the past spoken with people about one of my jobs who’ve been waiting 11 months to hear anything.

My HR team also have a habit of suddenly producing random reserve list candidates just as we think we’ve exhausted all other options and need to recruit externally.