Civil Service Reserve list- anyone get offered a job?

[BarbiesPinkShoes23]

I recently applied for AO role within the Civil Service. I was really pleased to get my first interview in ages. Due to circumstances- one of my DC was in hospital, I wasn't as prepared as I would have liked for the interview.

I haven't been offered a job but placed on the reserve list for 12months incase a vacancy becomes available. Given the circumstances and it's not the type of job I've ever done before I'm pleased to have even passed the interview.

I don't want to get my hopes up, so just wondering has anyone on the reserve list been offered a job at a later date? Thanks.

Anybody that got offered a job at sheffield home office after being on the reserve list. I am trying to be patient and wait been on the the list since January 2019.

I was placed on a reserve list when I first applied for the civil service, then again when I recently went for promotion. In both instances I was offered a job so keep your hopes up and good luck

Thank you very much.

3 months later and I’ve heard no more about the reserve list I got put onto.

Two tips:

Try to get some good quality feedback from the panel conducting your interview. This gives tangible pointers about improvements you can make. Maybe your examples to questions were too fluffy or vague. Maybe you didn't come across as sufficiently enthusiastic or motivated (which can be down to nerves).

Don't just sit there on the reserve list, reapply for other vacancies! Keep looking at the adverts jobs on the External CS job and submit a new CV with noticeable improvements made. I've seen some shockingly bad CVs which frustrated me because with a small investment of time on the web can give clear pointers to format and content of an eye-catching CV.

#1 CV error - waaaay too much descriptive text, like a role 'to do' list
#2 CV error - poor use of white space, headline grabbers for each role, Impact statements giving the "so what" for every key activity. Think - If you can't highlight your value-add, why should they consider selecting you.

You don't need to come off the reserve list, just keep proactively applying for roles and think about your lessons learned and how next time you can ace the interview from experience you gained.

We’ve just appointed two people from the reserve list for recruitment we did nine months ago, because we created new vacancies for the same post.

I was just reading the recruitment guidance yesterday and in our department we can only keep reserve lists for the exact same role as originally advertised, so we can’t offer a different job at the same grade. Most of our jobs are technical specialist roles though. Other departments might be different - I applied for a job in another dept recently and the reserve list was for posts at that grade in the whole govt dept rather than for a specific job role.

As daisychain said, don’t wait for the reserve list - in my experience roles are either offered very quickly (better scoring candidates drop out) or not for months.

Also, although CS recruiters can now ask for CVs, it’s still not common and I can’t see it becoming standard TBH. Most are still asking fo personal statements etc.

Incidentally, I think after three months the ship has sailed on getting detailed feedback, I would decline your request - not least because I can’t guarantee to remember anything useful that far back. That’s why the panel does its conferring and notes straight after each interview. You’re not necessarily entitled to the interview notes either, we decline to give them (our lawyers have confirmed we can do this!).

I've been on a (six month) reserve list since last May, which they've since extended twice by another three months.
I did get picked up for another role I applied for however, after a couple of months on that reserve list.
I've kind of stalled where CS applications go however, now that the new system is in. Nobody seems to have a clue how to approach it, in terms of what they want to see in the personal statement and internal guidance is, as yet, very sparse.

Yep everyone is making it up as they go along with success profiles!

Hello. I am on the reserve list at sheffield home office. I know it's a long time ago but did you finally get set on. Thank you.

Anybody on sheffield home office reserve list?

I applied for Admin Role last year August ,I got cleared this Month .Received my final offer letter in April 2019. Its a long process(I was on Reserve list for 3 months )…good luck

Thank you very much for your reply. I have been on reserve list since January 2019. Yes it's so ooo frustrating. The lady who interviewed me actually offered me the job in December 2018, then I received an email to say that I am on the reserve list!! I will jyst have to be patient. Thank you again I really appreciate it.

Hi All,

i had an interview with the home office for a HEO role about two weeks ago and got the following message from them;

"You’ve reached the required standard but we’re unable to offer you a job immediately.
We've placed you on a reserve list from which appointments may be made if a similar job becomes available."

has anyone been offered a HEO role from a reserves lift with home office?

I applied for the position of a Test Analyst with the FCO and I was asked if I have dual nationality which I answered yes. I was turned down because of my dual nationality even though I am SC cleared. I was told that the FCO only employs people with British citizenship i.e. born in the UK. Is this correct>