[Lee1]

Hey,

I've been away for a few days and see that there have been many comments regarding pay and pass marks.

Congrats to all those that pass and sorry for those that didn't.

I had my meeting with the Fast Stream Grade Manager and can say boy this scheme is going to be very very exciting. I am already a civil servant and know the system and the structure through relationships with present fast streamers.

With regards to pay - this has all been harmonised and there is I believe to be two standard rates for salaries for those based in London and those outside.

Regional salary - £25,000
London (with weighting) - £27,000

The salaries are banded - at this rate you are banded a C2 and that salary goes up to £36,500 which allows for bonus's etc...

After two years most should be regraded to C1 which is the £36,500/£37,000 for regional and approximately £40,000 for London, so I wouldn't panic about scrounging through.

Every fast streamer also has to spend a placement outside their nominated region. I am with the MoD so if i were to be based in London I would have to spend 12 months in another station maybe Bristol, High Wycombe or Portsmouth. You will move around.

Once your through it doesn't matter what score you get - there is no pecking order. Everyone is afforded the same opportunities - regardless of which department you are in. Some less known departments may regrade their fast streamers early; it has been known.

The FSAC scores are used to place candidates in their chosen preferences based on a ranking system.

Good Luck!!

[BrusselsorUK]

(Original post by rach2012)
Well after 99 long days since my fsac, finally got my results today...reserve
Does anybody know much about this? I know I'm not guaranteed a job but does anybody know the odds of getting one when put on the reserved list? Or where I could find more info on it?
I guess patience is a virtue

Hi Rach,
Would you mind sharing what scheme you were on and what score you got to be a reserve? Someone said that with 16.56 they failed, and someone else passed with 16.58 (both GFS CD I believe).

Did you get 16.57? I ask because I am trying to work out how many people might be on the reserve list. I have heard it said that occasionally other offers arise through the year and job offers might (big MIGHT) be offered to other candidates who missed the pass mark by a fraction.

I am not complaining about the FS methodology at all and understand the need for a clear cut off. Knowing what the cut off is for clear pass fail reserve could help other candidates, including in future years (hello class of 2013/14/15!)

If anyone else can shed any light on this as well I would be very curious.

[comeluckyapril]

(Original post by BrusselsorUK)
Hi Rach,
Would you mind sharing what scheme you were on and what score you got to be a reserve? Someone said that with 16.56 they failed, and someone else passed with 16.58 (both GFS CD I believe).

Did you get 16.57? I ask because I am trying to work out how many people might be on the reserve list. I have heard it said that occasionally other offers arise through the year and job offers might (big MIGHT) be offered to other candidates who missed the pass mark by a fraction.

I am not complaining about the FS methodology at all and understand the need for a clear cut off. Knowing what the cut off is for clear pass fail reserve could help other candidates, including in future years (hello class of 2013/14/15!)

If anyone else can shed any light on this as well I would be very curious.

I just had an email back from Parity. There is no reserve list for GFS this year. I also asked whether they could divulge how far away I was from the pass mark with 16.26 but no response. Hope this answers your questions!

[crazychick]

(Original post by nius)
Hi Crazy Chick,

Just found out I'm on the NI reserve list as well (3rd). I'm hopeful that something will work out as I saw some people on last years thread that managed to make it through after being on the reserve list. Fingers crossed!

Fingers crossed for us!!! What was your score at fsac? I tried to get more info out of parity ie how many people are on NI reserve list and what my chances were of getting a place but they wouldn't tell me any more! Do you think some NI depts havent released their places yet? Hopefully!!!

[ellie_flower]

(Original post by Lee1)
Hey,

I've been away for a few days and see that there have been many comments regarding pay and pass marks.

Congrats to all those that pass and sorry for those that didn't.

I had my meeting with the Fast Stream Grade Manager and can say boy this scheme is going to be very very exciting. I am already a civil servant and know the system and the structure through relationships with present fast streamers.

With regards to pay - this has all been harmonised and there is I believe to be two standard rates for salaries for those based in London and those outside.

Regional salary - £25,000
London (with weighting) - £27,000

The salaries are banded - at this rate you are banded a C2 and that salary goes up to £36,500 which allows for bonus's etc...

After two years most should be regraded to C1 which is the £36,500/£37,000 for regional and approximately £40,000 for London, so I wouldn't panic about scrounging through.

Every fast streamer also has to spend a placement outside their nominated region. I am with the MoD so if i were to be based in London I would have to spend 12 months in another station maybe Bristol, High Wycombe or Portsmouth. You will move around.

Once your through it doesn't matter what score you get - there is no pecking order. Everyone is afforded the same opportunities - regardless of which department you are in. Some less known departments may regrade their fast streamers early; it has been known.

The FSAC scores are used to place candidates in their chosen preferences based on a ranking system.

Good Luck!!

Every fast streamer has to spend a year outside their nominated area? Are you sure? What about people with kids who have settled them into schools or people who have family to look after? Also, just normal people who dont want to be living a nomadic lifestyle? This seems a bit insane. Interested if perhaps only for MoD?

[rob_o]

After a day of despair just found out I'm 1st on reserve list for NI fast stream. Not I'm not sure whether I should be kicking myself for being so close to getting accepted or if i should be thankful that I'm ok. Would anyone have any knowledge of how certain a person in this position would be of getting accepted? Cheers folks

[obamtl]

(Original post by rob_o)
After a day of despair just found out I'm 1st on reserve list for NI fast stream. Not I'm not sure whether I should be kicking myself for being so close to getting accepted or if i should be thankful that I'm ok. Would anyone have any knowledge of how certain a person in this position would be of getting accepted? Cheers folks

As someone stated earlier, that will come down to where you rank on the waiting list. If you're high up, the odds may be quite good. Someone 4th on the list got called up as early as April!

However, things "may" be different this year. I remember that last year, I could apply for the GFS and NI FS. This year, it appears that they've narrowed the applicant pool.

[obamtl]

Question: has anyone successful in the GFS also been invited to the TiB FSB?

[Lee1]

Yes I am pretty certain. There will be the obvious exceptions but if your with for exampe DIFID - they have a headquarter in Glasgow and one in London. If you were based in London then you would be expected to spend a placement most likely in the Glasgow Office. That is why they say that you must be flexible with your travel and job.

DWP have a headquarter in Sheffield and London. People on the DWP Fast Stream have had the responsibility of running a job centre in Leicester.

Ministry of Justice - if you read the profiles on the civil service website it gives an example of a fast streamer managing and running the Surrey Courts - magistrates and County.

It is not all centralised in London so their are responsibilities outside of London which Fast Streamers will be required to take up.

I don't make the rules. The Fast Stream however have a very good support function - if you were based in London but had to work in Bristol; they would pay for accommodation, travel, utilities, miscallaneous expenses. They cover basic mobility expenses.

[lm222]

From the Fast Stream website:

"Working outside London

A Fast Stream career does not have to mean London. Equally challenging opportunities are available in other parts of the country and offer a unique perspective which London-based Fast Streamers do not often see.

Even those in London are expected to be mobile and work wherever their departments need them. Remember, too, that in order to gain the all-important experience of operational delivery, you may well have to work in more than one location. Fast Streamers are increasingly being deployed to operational and corporate services work away from London headquarters."

So it does look as though it's highly likely you could be asked to go somewhere else at one stage. I'm not convinced it's compulsory, however - if your dept. needs you in London then they'll keep you there. Of the people I know on the Fast Stream its about 2/3:1/3 between those who have seen out the scheme in London only (with some short operational trips elsewhere, but no relocation), and those who have either asked for or been handed a post somewhere else [this is a relatively small sample so may not be representative, but seems to indicate some variation]. Suppose it just depends on individual departments and circumstances, but like Lee says, there is a requirement for a degree of flexibility on the part of the employee.

[Chiryu]

To be honest, with the proposed shake-up of the Fast Stream that Francis Maude (Minister for the Cabinet Office) is pushing for, placements and rotations looks to be the norm. This may impact people already on the fast stream, but will affect those of us who have applied for 2013 entry for certain.

http://network.civilservicelive.com/...ers-the-rapids

[richardp2020]

But surely if they are going to have you moving around so much, you'd have to be based in London? I actually quite like the idea of working in a few different departments and things being centrally managed, it removes the element of luck in the amount of training and mentoring you get. It also seems fairer to allow everyone to second elsewhere, rather than some been able to and some not.

[crazychick]

(Original post by rob_o)
After a day of despair just found out I'm 1st on reserve list for NI fast stream. Not I'm not sure whether I should be kicking myself for being so close to getting accepted or if i should be thankful that I'm ok. Would anyone have any knowledge of how certain a person in this position would be of getting accepted? Cheers folks

Congrats! What was your fsac score? Well another thing to think about is that they may not have given 5 definite successfuls yet? There may still be some solid positions up for grabs and your first on the list when a vacancy arises! Also, another way to look at it is that they are not going to offer reserve places for nothing, there is obviously a projected forecast done and they are offered because it is likely that the requirement will be there? Hmm maybe I'm thinking too positively lol but I hope it's good news for us on the bench!!

[nius]

(Original post by crazychick)
Fingers crossed for us!!! What was your score at fsac? I tried to get more info out of parity ie how many people are on NI reserve list and what my chances were of getting a place but they wouldn't tell me any more! Do you think some NI depts havent released their places yet? Hopefully!!!

I got a 16.18 on my FSAC. It was a really good report and I knew I had let myself down in a couple of areas so it was no great shock. What about yourself? Maybe we can find some way to have Parity take pity on us and get some more information...seems like wishful thinking! Oh well! When was your FSAC?

[crazychick]

(Original post by nius)
I got a 16.18 on my FSAC. It was a really good report and I knew I had let myself down in a couple of areas so it was no great shock. What about yourself? Maybe we can find some way to have Parity take pity on us and get some more information...seems like wishful thinking! Oh well! When was your FSAC?

I got 16.15 so there doesn't seem to be a great deal between the top 4 anyway. just goes to show how close we probably were lol!! fsac was on 5th march, the report was great but i hope i don't have to use it to prepare next year lol. pray pray pray!!! I wonder how long we will have to wait before we hear either way!?

[rach2012]

(Original post by BrusselsorUK)
Hi Rach,
Would you mind sharing what scheme you were on and what score you got to be a reserve? Someone said that with 16.56 they failed, and someone else passed with 16.58 (both GFS CD I believe).

Did you get 16.57? I ask because I am trying to work out how many people might be on the reserve list. I have heard it said that occasionally other offers arise through the year and job offers might (big MIGHT) be offered to other candidates who missed the pass mark by a fraction.

I am not complaining about the FS methodology at all and understand the need for a clear cut off. Knowing what the cut off is for clear pass fail reserve could help other candidates, including in future years (hello class of 2013/14/15!)

If anyone else can shed any light on this as well I would be very curious.

I'm on HR scheme and my score was just under 16 (can't access the report at the min) but I think HR is traditionally lower than CD. My report was quite good except the decision making (which I oddly thought was one of my best) but on that one I only got just over 2 (think it was 2.3) so very nearly got immediately unsuccessful due to that! My report was very tailored around how I'd fit with HR specifically which is good but I wasn't sure it would be as all the different schemes are mixed together at FSAC.

[kyrilpananovitch]

(Original post by monthen)
Has anyone on the EFS scheme had their placement yet? If so, in which department? And what documents have you been asked to provide?

Still waiting to hear back from the FCO FSB, so currently in limbo, and have no idea where I'm likely to be placed if unsuccessful for FCO. Any info from the advance guard would be much appreciated.

Ta

Hey, I'm waiting on EFS too, but I think that nobody will be placed until after all the FCO FSBs are over and they have completed the final sift. I spoke to Parity yesterday and they said they anticipate that all the results will be out by the end of next week...scary! But from what I've read, EFSers don't really have any choice about which department they're placed in as there are so few places, so I guess it's luck of the draw really!

[GenerationX]

(Original post by lm222)
but anyway, the FCO FSB seems less intense than the TiB

Hi

Any chance you can expand a bit on this?

I have the TiB FSB on Monday and from the guide it does not sound more intimidating than the FSAC as it mentions a briefing as well as being interviewed on the understanding of technology and how it can be used to affect business change on a large scale such as goverment.

The FSAC was quite fun although in the report areas where I previously was strong in and others where I was weaker reversed. I put this down to maybe holding myself back a bit on idea creation to not be seen as too out of the box, but work I have done on making sure I am perceived to be inclusive in group working has defnitely paid off. Overall I received a 17.31 whcih from what I have read seems not to bad.

Is anyone else going to be at the TiB FSB on Monday the 16th if so I'll look forward to meeting you there?

[lm222]

Yeah - I just meant that TiB FSB seems to include more tasks, and require knowledge of the subject area, whilst FCO FSB just has two short roleplays, for which no in-depth knowledge of anything FCO-related is really needed.

[obamtl]

(Original post by GenerationX)
Hi

Any chance you can expand a bit on this?

I have the TiB FSB on Monday and from the guide it does not sound more intimidating than the FSAC as it mentions a briefing as well as being interviewed on the understanding of technology and how it can be used to affect business change on a large scale such as goverment.

The FSAC was quite fun although in the report areas where I previously was strong in and others where I was weaker reversed. I put this down to maybe holding myself back a bit on idea creation to not be seen as too out of the box, but work I have done on making sure I am perceived to be inclusive in group working has defnitely paid off. Overall I received a 17.31 whcih from what I have read seems not to bad.

Is anyone else going to be at the TiB FSB on Monday the 16th if so I'll look forward to meeting you there?

Hey Gen-X, mr_maroon and I have ours the very next day. No one else has mentioned having an FSB on the 16th. I'll send you a PM anyway. It'd be nice to network with other prospective TiBers.

Funny I had the exact same experience with you in terms of strong and weak competences reversing between last year and now. I was really strong in decision-making and constructive thinking this year (which were my weakest last time around). Ironically, I was weak in Drive for Results and almost atrocious in Building Productive relationships. The group exercise tanked my scores. My attempt to 'drive' for results backfired. I was timekeeper and that put me in the precarious situation of needing to move things along (something that is very difficult to navigate when you're trying to defend your brief robustly). I did well enough overall to get through. I recovered on building productive relationships in the interview, and need to demonstrate that further in the FSB. But it does concern me because it is important to TiB and also because it wasn't a close representation of my natural preference to be "collaborative" in relationships. Oh well... I learned from it and moved on.

How are you preparing for the FSB? I've basically gone through the TiB-related posts on the fast stream website, which has in turn directed me towards some additional reading to better understand what ICT is all about in the civil service.

Did you apply solely for the TiB FS or the GFS as well? With 17+ you would have been immediately successful.

All the best!