Hi... after reading all of your posts over the past weeks, I thought it might help if I share my DWP experience.
I passed the first assessment rounds and was invited to a virtual interview in December. It went ok. (Phew! It was worth all the prep then!)
Early January, I received an email asking me to upload my RTW docs followed by a virtual interview to show these docs in person. Thus second interview went well and, when I asked if this meant I was getting a job, the chap said: “Definitely. Yes, you should get an email shortly. Possibly even later today.” (Yay... but still not counting my chickens just yet!)
The next day, I received an email saying:
“**Congratulations, you've passed your interview. We've sent a job offer via email; please login to the Application Centre to accept. Thanks, Recruitment Team”
(Woop! Massive woop!)
Of course, I accepted the job offer straight away and started quietly planning the best way to travel to the 5 locations I’d put down.
The next day, I received this:
“ Thank you for accepting our provisional offer for the above position. As this offer of employment is provisional subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks, you should not resign from your present employment (if any) at this stage.”
“Provisional” twice! Okay...noted. A bit of a step back from the earlier “Congrats you’ve got the job” email and positive vibes after the RTW interview..? Still, security is important... so I filled in my forms immediately. (I’m Ms UK Average and have had security clearance before so, with no skeletons in the cupboard, I still felt quietly confident that the job offer would stand. After all, that’s what usually happens during recruitment processes, right..?
Next day I received another email:
“Thank you for attending the pre-recorded video interview. (Several emails back?) This vacancy attracted a number of highly qualified applicants and after careful consideration of all of the applications we are sorry to tell you that you have not been selected for appointment. However, as you were a strong candidate we would like to keep your name on a reserve list. This list will be valid for 3 months from the date of this correspondence and if another vacancy arises for the same position we will contact you. This email does not constitute a job offer.”
Eh..? Sorry...? What...?
I’m gobsmacked!
Did someone send me the earlier job offer in error then? A joke, maybe? An admin error???
I’ve asked for feedback. No response.
This is inconsistent, badly written and cruel messaging from DWP... it is just wrong to send people a “job offer” and then to dash them a few days later. Fair enough, if you don’t pass the tests or checks and withdraw your offer on the basis of unsuitability... but to clearly offer a job and then immediately retract this for a place on the “reserve list” is wrong. This shows an incompetent recruitment and retention processes - as well as very poor communications standards.
Reading posts on Mumsnet and Student Room, I can see that lots of other people have had a similar experience - but that doesn’t make it right. It’s entirely wrong.
It’s like BoJo’s ‘Go to work. Don’t go to work’ mixed messaging all over again. I’m so not impressed!
DWP are clearly just backfilling their recruitment pool. Fair enough, lots of local authorities do this too - the difference is they make it very clear where you stand throughout the process. This DWP recruitment process simply leaves a nasty taste.
Anyhoo, I’m interviewing elsewhere now and all’s fair in love and recruitment... clearly just not with the DWP.
Good luck to everyone here - it’s been so helpful reading all your DWP posts. I hope you all get the positive emails you deserve and the jobs your working hard to secure. Please just don’t be like me and count your chickens too soon... wait until your goose is well ‘n’ truly cooked... and in the bag! 😉 Lots of luck 🍀