Civil service

[TheNationalExpress]

I interviewed for a civil service job on Tuesday. They said they would let me know by the end of the week. I've not heard yet - I know it's not quite the end of the week yet but it nearly is...I'm thinking if I'd got the job I would have heard by now? Although I know cs are notoriously slow.

Id expect to wait another week or so

I did find out on Friday afternoon after all! I was pleased to have received the results before the weekend. I didn't get the job but I was placed on a reserve list. I was offered verbal feedback and have arranged to have a chat with the panel chair next week.
Although no one can say for sure, I know, how realistic is it that I will be offered something from the reserve list? This may or may not be indicative but there are no other jobs (externally) advertised in CS right now that are at all similar to the one I applied for. I'm so keen to work at CS but need to find a job ASAP so I'm a bit gutted I didn't get this role as I fear the timing won't work out for me. I have pals who were recruited from reserve lists so I know it can happen. But I know there was only one role offered that I applied for, as opposed to multiple, and as I said there isn't anything else similar being advertised at all at the moment.

I shouldn't think you'll get a job off the reserve list quickly if there aren't multiple roles on offer, if at all.

Also CS recruitment moves glacially slow so if you need a job ASAP just be aware of that.

I'd been waiting for a particular CS role for some time and hadn't seen it advertised in the last 2 years. When it did recently, I applied, interview and too was placed on the reserve list. Within 4 days of being informed, I received an email to say they would like to offer me a position as one has come up. When you speak to them for feedback, I think it's a reasonable question. The managers that interviewed me said they expected some movement in the team soon so I'd been hopeful but didn't think it would be that soon!

You might be in with a chance if the chosen candidate doesn't accept the role or changes their mind before they start.

We've recently had a bit of a recruitment drive and I'd say around 30% of those offered positions either didn't accept them when they found out that all except the bottom point of the pay scale was merely for show, we couldn't offer 100% home working or they'd been offered something better elsewhere. Or they accepted the offer, but then later rescinded.

IME reserve lists are used up quite quickly so you may well get an offer soon.

Be prepared to discuss a job that isn't exactly what you applied for but with a reasonable match to your skills and experience, as the CS sometimes tries to use candidates on reserve lists who've already gone through the interview process. If however you have niche skills this probably won't happen.

You just never know. I've been on a waiting list that expired before an offer, and another where I was offered a slightly different role the week after I was told I was unsuccessful. Another colleague ended up with promotion from waiting list when the top candidate was actually internal/lateral transfer and he got offered the vacated role. Good luck!

Pretty similar circumstances for me last year.

I interviewed on 10th September. On reserve list and had a feedback call with the chair a few days later at her request.

About a week after that she introduced me to someone in an adjacent department who had a post. Had a meeting with them and was offered the post. Took about 4 weeks for the offer to go through HR to confirm it was suitably similar. All in I think I was on the reserve list for less than 2 weeks.

I was first on the reserve list. Chair said they list 3 reserves so may be worth checking with them where they placed you.

I accepted the formal offer and then had the lengthy wait for checks and vetting clearances. Started in May this year so even if an offer comes through it can take months especially if you need a high clearance level.

Good luck!

Hello! So a little delayed update to this thread. The Monday after I posted this I was offered the role! I couldn't believe it. However, they wouldn't offer it to me on a three day a week basis, which is what I had asked for. So I declined the offer, and they have kept me on the reserve list.
I understand this question is a bit like how long is a piece of string, but is the reserve list used by multiple departments? This was for a role in the cabinet office. Would other departments be able to recruit from the reserve list that I'm on - e.g. DEFRA / Ministry of Justice etc or would it just be other roles in the cabinet office?

It will likely just be Cabinet Office and even then some areas may prefer to run their own recruitment. Did you know the Cabinet Office has just launched a voluntary redundancy scheme to reduce numbers by circa 400 staff - reported online in Civil Service World if you want to read the article.

Reserve list is specific to a role type & employer but some govt employers are more flexible on hours than others so it's worth looking again & applying for other roles.

Well done for passing the interview etc. it's an odd process!