Civil service direct appointment scheme

[mumonthehill]

wondering if anyone has knowledge of the civil service direct appointment scheme. Ds went through the fast stream application process and was declined after final interview. At the beginning of May he was offered a role through the direct appointment scheme. Since then he has heard nothing. He chased it this week to be told that matching was still taking place and he would be informed when it had stopped. He desperately needs to sort out a job as he finishes his Masters in September. Does anyone know when or if he may receive an offer and when it may close. I feel for him as it has been such a long and difficult process and he was pleased to get this offer but now it has become very stressful .

Recruitment was affected by the election, also they will probably have been waiting for kings speech before committing to hiring resources in.

He basically just needs to ask them what's going on/timescales etc.

Thanks @shuffleofftobuffalo, i did wonder re election. He has asked and has not been given any further info.

It will probably be September/October.

That is my concern as he has to get a job by September.

If he really wants the Civil Service then why can't he get a temporary job until one comes through? I would advise at least this anyway, as I was once on a waiting list for 18 months and in the end nothing came up.
Is he looking for a specialist role (eg economist?).

Hopefully he'll hear something soon but as a back up he can just register with a temp agency for anything he's capable of if nothing has shown up in September, while keeping an eye out for other roles he might be interested in as a back up if the civil service job falls through.

But seeing as agencies often pay above NMW for dull but easy factory work and it will be preparation for Christmas season for a lot of food items at least he'll be able to earn money.

It sounds like there's a job for him, it just takes time, which is something he'll have to get used to if he's going to join the civil service.

thanks all. He went through the science and engineering pathway for the fast stream but as I understand it his cv is sent to all departments in the geographic area he has indicated. He is working 2 jobs now while doing his masters so when he moves as he plans I am sure he will pick up work. He is also applying for research jobs too but it is so competitive. I think as the process has been so long he is just frustrated at the lack of information.

When you say he was offered a role through DAS, did he have a chat with a recruitment manager or was he just sent the preferences form? If the former and they’re saying matching is on-going, the manager didn’t like him and placed him back in the bidding. If the latter, he was never offered a role and he would’ve been told there is no guaranteed role through DAS.

Plus bidding is on-going and will be for some time. If he is offered a post, he then has to go through checks which take anywhere from 2-months to 12-months depending on level. I’m in the process myself (as hiring manager) and will be hiring from DAS, the candidate will go through DBS and then NSV, I wouldn’t expect my new starter to start until November / December, if they’re lucky!

I’d advise he apply elsewhere and if offered a role, consider his options then.

If they're doing the matching then his CV will be sent to line managers that have sought a Direct entrance (assume it's the EO grade?)

I can't speak for all Departments, but ours only sends the CV to 1 line manager at a time (in order of business priority) so it does take a fair few weeks if line managers either have filled the vacancy or are checking if they have the headcount to take him.

Thanks everyone you have made it clearer. I think it is time for plan B!!! I was finding it hard to support as i did not fully understand the process but you have helped.

Can he not just get a job in shop/pub/warehouse for the time being and wait it out whilst also looking for other relevant roles?

A lot of civil service departments have recruitment pauses at the moment so it will be slow.

If he's on Reddit or student room there are fast stream threads there with DAS offered people talking about the process.

Is he looking for work in London or elsewhere? I have recruited staff through DAS in the past. I was sent a number of CVs, the standard was pretty high and all applicants were eventually offered a role (at that time).

There's lots of science vacancies within the civil service that are probably outside the route he's taking. I work for an arms length body that has nothing to do with the fast stream as far as I know.

If he looks on civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk, enters science as a keyword (might also work for engineering) and sets the filter to EO, HEO and SEO he'll see a wide range interesting vacancies. At entry level any science degree and general interest/aptitude is enough to get a foot in the door.