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Original poster

Civil service - two week wait

64 replies

NoTvNoWifi · 21/06/2022 19:55

Hi all. I have been trawling online looking for answers - that probably don’t exist but I’ll try anyway! I had a CS interview two weeks ago tomorrow. It was the third stage (SEO) and I felt it went well - not like me as I’m hard on myself. I haven’t heard a peep and the wait is tortuous. They said they were interviewing for two more days after me and I would be informed by HR email. My question is … should I extinguish all hope? Realistically would they not have informed the successful candidates by now? There were a few posts but not more than five afaik. I’m trying to pretend I don’t care - even to myself - but I want to draw a line under it. Help please! I went for a HEO one in May and am second reserve so it has been a long couple of gruelling months.

OP posts:
Original poster
NoTvNoWifi · 24/06/2022 23:01

Update: I have word tonight that I was successful pending security checks so very happy and happy to update for anybody else waiting for days and days!

OP posts:
MarmiteCoriander · 24/06/2022 23:26

Congrats OP. Well done!!! Worth the wait Smile

RaininSummer · 25/06/2022 09:51

Ah well done!

Sewaccidentprone · 27/06/2022 11:45

Congratulations 😊

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 27/06/2022 14:41

Congratulations!

ChickenBurgers · 27/06/2022 14:44

I work for the probation service, so a different CS department. I worked for a CRC when I applied for an National Probation Service role (this was before they transitioned to being all one entity again, all a bit confusing!) and I had a phone call the same day from my new manager and assistant manager to let me know I had the job.

however, I don’t think this is the norm. The CS are notorious for being slow at basically everything. I wouldn’t lose hope!! It’s not over until it’s over 😊

ChickenBurgers · 27/06/2022 14:47

Oh I’ve just seen the update, I’m an idiot.

congratulations!!

Original poster
NoTvNoWifi · 27/06/2022 15:43

Thanks for all your congratulations. Now on a wait for security checks 😝

OP posts:
DPotter · 27/06/2022 15:47

congratulations!

Jennerbear · 11/08/2022 14:34

Hi, have you had your security checks yet? Have you had your official job offer?

Original poster
NoTvNoWifi · 12/08/2022 18:47

Sadly not through yet. I find the wait tortuous. They wanted me to begin pending completion of CTC which I declined. I am reluctant to give notice on my current job in case the CTC fails somehow. First batch of clearance took two weeks. Six weeks and waiting…would love any insight if anyone knows timescales!

OP posts:
MuthaHubbard · 12/08/2022 18:51

Slightly different field but my security checks took approx 6 weeks early in the year - fingers crossed yours will come through imminently.
And well done 🙂

Original poster
NoTvNoWifi · 12/08/2022 18:57

MuthaHubbard · 12/08/2022 18:51

Slightly different field but my security checks took approx 6 weeks early in the year - fingers crossed yours will come through imminently.
And well done 🙂

This gives me hope! Thank you

OP posts:
dandelionthistle · 12/08/2022 19:11

Ooh I recruited someone earlier this year and CTC took about 3 weeks to come through. I would have imagined they're going fairly quickly at the min due to recruitment freezes everywhere, but I suppose its also holiday season so could go either way. Fingers crossed for you.

Original poster
NoTvNoWifi · 12/08/2022 21:39

Hope it is soon as it makes me paranoid and can’t believe it will happen until it is approved.

OP posts:
MrsJackRackham · 12/08/2022 21:47

CTC took about 6 weeks for one of my team, that was HMRC a few months ago when I believe there was a backlog. He had continual residency issues and still passed. Another had family in NI so again took a bit longer but still passed. As long as you don't have a risk to blackmail or bribery you should be fine 🙂

resuwen · 12/08/2022 21:51

Three and a half weeks for me. Just wait until you start on the joy that is security checking! Job offered in April, I don't have a start date yet!

resuwen · 12/08/2022 21:52

Didn't RTFT. Blush Hope yours goes faster than mine have!

Flippettyflip · 12/08/2022 22:05

Took approx 6 months for me from offer to joining first time. Interview to offer was approx a month (promised 1 week), then checks/contract took ages.

Subsequent internal moves the interview to offer time was more like 6 weeks (time to offer at interview given as 1 week). Obviously I'd given up by then but I subsequently took the job. And it took a few months to get an actual contract for new job after I'd started. Very much depends on the department.

After all of that, no one seems to have asked my referees anything, either time. It's a massive risk.

I'm afraid for some places it's a "perfect storm" combo of terrible IT systems that are not fit for purpose, overworked people who are forced to use these terrible systems, massive backlog and fuzzy processes.

Everything take ages. Now I'm on the inside I'm amazed anything happens at all.

Good luck.

Original poster
NoTvNoWifi · 13/08/2022 00:04

Thanks all. I suppose I just have to be patient and what will be will be. Seriously April and no start date resuwen - that’s brutal!

OP posts:
applegrumbles · 13/08/2022 06:57

My CTC only took two weeks. I started my role two months after I got the offer.

Congrats OP!

Will just add that we do inform people as soon as possible. It’s just that what’s possible is very different in the CS!

dandelionthistle · 13/08/2022 08:03

I'm afraid for some places it's a "perfect storm" combo of terrible IT systems that are not fit for purpose, overworked people who are forced to use these terrible systems, massive backlog and fuzzy processes.

Agree with this. In my Department I have really found that being a squeaky wheel helps things progress though, so if you have a direct contact (the recruiting manager) it is helpful to keep in touch. There were points during the baseline checks for someone I was recruiting earlier this year where things just seemed to stop; I'd get in touch with the departmental Recruitment team and they'd go "oh yeah, the candidate needs to do xyz, she should have received an email..." - and predictably she had not received an email. Recruitment (who are v underresourced) would have happily left us waiting.
That was only baseline checks rather than CTC - but she started as soon as baseline checks were cleared, and went through CTC as a member of staff with her IT already set up and a direct line of comms to the departmental security and vetting team, which may have changed things. CTC was quite quick and didn't need any chasing.

It is really bad - much less stressful during subsequent moves, but the whole process functions as if successful candidates should have endless trust in their new employer. See also - the persistent culture of not issuing a contract until the starter is already in post! We must lose out on so much talent due to the way good candidates are left hanging around. And at the same time internally I do know how quickly managers move (we really want our people in!) and largely I see HR responding as quickly as possible too. This is the stuff which needs sorting to make us more efficient, presumably via investment, rather headline-grabbing redundancies. 🙄

Original poster
NoTvNoWifi · 13/08/2022 11:48

There are a few starting from same interview process and I’m the only one to request postponing starting until CTC is approved apparently. I just hope they don’t change their mind if it does drag on. I will be leaving a highly competitive job in a field that is very difficult to get into and have the horrors of giving it up and then being led out of my new job some weeks down the line because my CTC was declined. Yes I do have a fertile imagination - it actually fits in with the role thankfully! I do have a contact and she chased it up and was advised likely end of August so fingers and toes crossed. Thanks for all your supportive and informative comments. Much appreciated

OP posts:
applegrumbles · 13/08/2022 12:52

NoTvNoWifi · 13/08/2022 11:48

There are a few starting from same interview process and I’m the only one to request postponing starting until CTC is approved apparently. I just hope they don’t change their mind if it does drag on. I will be leaving a highly competitive job in a field that is very difficult to get into and have the horrors of giving it up and then being led out of my new job some weeks down the line because my CTC was declined. Yes I do have a fertile imagination - it actually fits in with the role thankfully! I do have a contact and she chased it up and was advised likely end of August so fingers and toes crossed. Thanks for all your supportive and informative comments. Much appreciated

That’s not usual in my experience. I didn’t resign until I passed my checks and this is how we advise all our new recruits - it’s understood that this means it can take a while for people to give notice and start.

dandelionthistle · 13/08/2022 13:21

applegrumbles · 13/08/2022 12:52

That’s not usual in my experience. I didn’t resign until I passed my checks and this is how we advise all our new recruits - it’s understood that this means it can take a while for people to give notice and start.

Show quote history

It varies a lot IME. Sweeping generalisation but I've known several fast streamers (or other recent grads) start before checks are completed. I wouldn't have risked it myself but plenty do. But then my first Department only required BPSS. When I moved from there to a Department requiring CTC, I moved before the CTC process even began, because I felt reasonably contractually secure (although not actually sure what would have happened if I'd then failed CTC? At that grade there were numerous openings for my profession across government though so I assume it would've been easy enough to find an alternative role).

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