Civil Service Interview Outcome

[Luckystar32]

So, I interviewed for a role at DfT last week and was told that the final interview was this Monday, and I’d hear something after that. I came away feeling like the interview went well. Looking back, there were a couple of answers where I think I could have elaborated a bit more, but I always end up thinking that after interviews. It’s also a role where I have a lot of directly relevant experience, and the panel asked constructive follow-up questions, which I took as a positive sign.
I do think I was the first person interviewed, though. In previous roles, even when I’ve interviewed as an external candidate or from another department, I’ve usually had an informal phone call if I’d been successful before the formal paperwork came through.
Should I take the fact that I haven’t had a phone call as a sign that I didn’t get it? I’m feeling a bit gutted.

If memory serves you won't hear that quickly especially if it's an annual campaign. It's been a long time since I've been in that situation so maybe it's changed.

My last few departments haven’t done phone calls for either successful or unsuccessful candidates. We have to wait for HR to update the system, if the last interview was only Monday I’m not surprised you haven’t heard yet. Assuming it’s not a large campaign if you haven’t heard by Friday next week I would send a friendly chase.

I waited 6 weeks in a gvt role to find out if I was going to be offered the job. Last interview being 3 days go is nothing.

If I were you, I'd email with 'Thank you for the interview on X day. The role itself sounds exactly like the role I am looking for, and I'd be grateful if you could let me know next steps. Kindest Regards Lucky'

That’s really unnecessary as you’ll likely just be contacting HR; you won’t need the pretence! You can just outright ask them when the results will likely go out.

Good panelists would have told you at interview, but as I say it depends on the size of the campaign.

I think that sounds quite presumptuous really, I wouldn’t email that.

That’s good, I’m taking the lack of a call to be confirmation that I’m getting a thanks but no thanks but maybe too soon to tell

So they did say they were interviewing until this Monday and that I’d hear at some point after that but didn’t give exact timelines

Are you internal or external candidate?

They then might have to discuss scores, agree and then have the scores put in a system to send out. Unless you were on EOI, I wouldn't expect phone call, just email when the scores are agreed and put in a system. Maybe tomorrow or early next week. Depends on how many interviews and how close candidates were

This. There will be discussions then a merit list created. All candidates will be told the outcome at the same time - yes or no. You are unlikely to hear for another week or so.

I work for an Arm’s Reach organisation, I believe our recruitment model is very similar to the civil service proper. I’m an an experienced interviewer in my organisation.
I’d say it’s far too soon to tell.
You were the first candidate to be interviewed you think, anything might have happened since - other candidates or panel members may have had to reschedule for example (bearing in mind the precarious nature of school holiday childcare!). There may be two equally high scoring candidates; there may not be a full chain of command at work to make the formal offer; they may have made an offer and are waiting for that candidate to accept/decline the offer.

Good luck

It's summer. Things move slower. Definitely don't email. It's not the civil service way!

External to the department but currently in civil service but I was called when I got my first civil service role and when I switched departments. So that just has been my experience so far

You aren’t allowed to call candidates any more. The last time I got promoted I waited ages as another candidate was ill and they kept us all waiting for her to return, but didn’t tell us what was happening. Don’t give up hope.

I’d be amazed if you hear with three weeks.

Its summer, everything will be on go slow, and logging outcomes of interviews on the IT system takes an age.

I’ve just secured a managed move, it took two weeks to find out the outcome of a “informal chat”.

Civil Service are soooo slow.

Definitely don’t panic. Scores have to be agreed, then probably emailed to someone else to input into the system. Like others have said, there could be normal delays. Good Luck !

Scores have to be moderated only after all interviews are completed. Then merit list agreed and input onto system to then auto generate emails

All candidates have to find out at same time. We aren’t allowed to breath a word to internals even until emails are out

The only time we call is when someone is on a reserve list and gets the job.

You definitely won't hear anything until they've interviewed everyone, so no need to panic. Depending on how many interviewees/posts and whether things get stuck due to AL, if you've been successful, you might hear something next week but it could be longer.

Also, if you're the second/third choice, even not getting the job straight away might not be a definite no, because a high percentage either don't pass vetting, which is very strict now and can be failed for seemingly innocuous reasons such as living abroad or the first choice refuses the job because vetting takes months or when they find out that anything above the pay scale minimum is only for show and in most cases not actually achievable. In my department, less than half the first choices actually start the job for these reasons.

I’m CS and it can take ages. They will definitely let you know either way.