Civil service fast stream 2014/2015

Best of luck to those waiting for etray results..I'm yet to do mine. Does anyone know if the practice one available is 2h30 like the real thing? Or is it a shorter version? (want to make sure i have enough time to do it!) Thanks!

same for me. Literally guessed all answers except one for the first part, wrote lots of good things for the second. Shame my second part probably won't even be read haha.

Good luck anyway!

My route and progression in the civil service has been rather unusual, so probably shouldn't be taken as the norm but hopefully I can provide some insight into the working of various department.

So I started in the cc in HMRC up in Glasgow, I started at AO level, so just short of the lowest grade you can go in at, and I applied after seeing an open ad in a newspaper. I done a couple of online tests (super easy for AO level, nothing compared to the FS tests!) and a VERY long time later, I had an interview, then another really long wait before being give a job. It was so long, I had given up hope and had 2 other jobs in the time between applying and being accepted. Upon starting, I was told I would have to be in the role for 2 years before moving to any other roles or departments.

...well this wasn't entirely true, because after 14 months I sought permission to apply on loan to the FCO. I still think they let me apply simply because they didn't think the little AO newbie from Glasgow would ever get the role AND make the move to London. Needless to say I did.

I absolutely loved the FCO and wouldn't have left if I had any choice but being on loan, I wasn't allowed to progress or transfer, so after my two years were up - I applied on permanent transfer to DFID.

I then moved onto DFID still a AO after just over 3 years of being a CC and my progression happened VERY quickly in DFID. In the three and a half years I have been in DFID I have been promoted twice and I am now the FS entry grade of B1 or HEO.

For those interested it's worth noting promotion and progression works quite differently between departments, here's how it works for the departments I have been in:

HMRC: You only got your 'progression ticket' when you line manager thought you were ready. It was then given on a 'use it or lose it basis', if you didn't secure a promotion within a year, it could be removed.

FCO: FCO are rather unique in that progression happens via an exam like system, you need to apply to do the exam, if you are accepted you then do an assessment centre type written test and then go to the 'board' where competencies are assessed then promotion is given or not.

In the FCO they keep a tight reign on the number of people at each grade and promotions are only open when these numbers need to be adjusted. It therefore means competition is fierce to get a place to apply for promotion, let alone to get the promotion - you really need to be the top of your game.

DFID: DFID has a policy of 'not holding anyone back' so you can apply on promotion at anytime as long as you can demonstrate you have the competencies being asked for...it's really simple. However, there are a lot of 'specialist cadres' in DFID so what I have described is for 'generalist' roles only.

Sorry if this is a lot of info but it gives a bit of insight into the various working of the departments. Also worth caveating this is my experience and things may have changed in HMRC since I was there. I am still friends will a lot of people in the FCO and promotion there remains stringent and tough.

Hope this helps

Am I right in thinking you go straight through if you're on the analytical FS?

Chances they'll have the automatic pass/fail up this week?

Have a feeling they're going to leave us in suspense!

Thanks for the information - what did you find so enjoyable at the FCO?

Any sign of etray results?

I sent a message and they replied me back:
Candidates will progressively be informed of their results once the "Immediately Successful" and "Immediate Unsuccessful" marks are set in late October. Those candidates in the mid-range will not receive their result until the final pass mark is set once most candidates have completed their e-Trays in December.

Haha, so they've just copy/pasted what was on the website :/

Try them, they will do the same thing! Hopefully, it gonna happened today, or tomorrow. I wish you to get your results today/tomorrow and I believe you would be successful if you get those today/tomorrow.

This wait is terrible.

Finally the e-tray results....


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Just did my ORAC, didn't go terribly thank god!

Did you revise for the analytical/problem solving tests? hope you recieve good news soon

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