Tell me about your lengthy waits to start a new role in the Civil Service...

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... to help stop me feeling it's just me.

Applied at the beginning of September. Interviewed at the beginning of October. Assigned department beginning of December. Was sent offer just before Christmas. Will have vetting appointment at the end of January.

I can't hand my notice in in my current job until I've got through the security checks.

This will be my first role in the Civil Service, I'm used to the private sector where I'd probably have been in post for 2 months by now. Is it always this slow?

Don’t worry!
I was interviewed in early November but didn’t start until the following March!
Depending on department/or role they do make a lot of background & in my case, family checks.
The wheels turn slowly these days.
Hey! Good luck in your new job.

Applied in April started in August. Vetting alone took 12 weeks!

I applied October, started the following May. Although 3mths of that was my notice period (I didn't hand my notice in until checks were complete).

I've not had too bad experience with CS recruitment, I got in at a completely normal pace (but was arm's length in charge of its own HR) my next transfer took 3 months from interview to bum on seat. If coming in on any kind of bulk recruitment the wait is dire from some of the stories I've heard. Honestly don't know how the CS manages to recruit at all with how long some of the waits are.

I applied in July, heard I got the job in October and started in March.

This was bulk recruitment though which takes a lot longer!

Applied in March, interview begin of April. Heard nothing until June. Actually started October 9th.

Yes, mine is bulk recruitment which I think has made things even slower than they usually would be. I found out I was successful at interview the next day, but then waited 8 weeks to be assigned a department.

I guess I'm lucky in that I have a job already so I'm not really losing earnings while I wait. They must lose a lot of people who need to start asap.

Mine took 6 months start to finish. Ive learnt very quickly that EVERYTHING takes an absolute age to do compared to the private sector!

Almost exactly this. Applied Feb, interviewed April, offer in May, started at the end of September.

I was interviewed mid October, vetting came through mid December and I started last week so I was pleasantly surprised!

Not civil service, but local government. Offered the job late Oct, pre employment checks still going on...

I got an interview a YEAR after i applied (was on some shortlist). By which time I'd started a new job six months prior!

That job (still there) was a 'sort of' civil service with the pension benefits etc but an independent company (still public sector) if that makes sense?

Anyone any further forward?

This thread gives me some hope as I have only been waiting 3 weeks since job offer, having applied in November and having an interview at the beginning of January. The information brochure I was given before interview stated that the start date was hopefully going to be early March, but that won't happen now.

It just seems to be such a slow process, and not knowing what is going on makes me a little worried. I have had my DBS certificate and cleared OH them nothing.

Yes - I have a start date!

The start date is 6 months exactly from when I applied.

Ah thats brilliant news 😁 ..... now get that noticed handed in 🤣🤣

Applied in January, came first on the panel so was offered a job immediately in May and started in November.

Applied in June, interview in September, found out I’d passed the interview in November (only after chasing), job offer a week later, DBS checks took a week and then I didn’t start until early Feb. Also a bulk recruitment campaign but having since switched internally, it still took a couple of months. ALB rather than main department. I’d almost given up and wasn’t working at the time, so if I’d had another offer from elsewhere I’d have taken it. It’s crazy and makes recruiting really difficult.

They must lose potential staff if long waits are the norm.

Not civil service and not me lol - but my sister had a firm job offer and contracts signed etc with the police. She started 14 months after her job offer (17 months after her initial application). They had to re-do all her medical tests because they'd expired and half the cohort no longer wanted the position so they were recruiting again as soon as she joined.

My countersignature has completed their part today so thats hopefully another step closer.

I applied in November, interviewed at the start of January and got a provisional offer by the end of Jan. My pre-employment checks have still not started, it stresses me out as my current employer has not extended my contract, so not working currently. Not sure how long it will take. :-(

This sounds like a similar timeline to mine, although my checks have started. It just seems to have stalled and its now been 4 weeks that I havent heard anything.

I hope you hear soon, sorry about your current situation. Its horrid.

I work for the Civil Service - my team of 16 is currently 4 staff short. We currently have 5 Agency staff filling permanent positions. Believe security checks are taking 4 months atm.

I have no idea why it takes so long, but as a seriously understaffed team just wish it was sorted - so frustrating for staff and for our customers.

Seeing the current situation, I believe the pre-employment checks team is understaffed as well.

Applied January. Various rounds of testing and interviews March and April. Got an offer in May, filled out the pre-employment check details immediately. Finally got the formal offer in August (cleared checks, allocated to a team) Then had to hand in my three month notice, so I started in November.