Fast Stream 2012

On a different topic, does anyone know if it's a bad idea to put on the assignments form that you don't want to work in a particular department if your reason is just that everything they do sounds incredibly boring? I would obviously phrase it more politely on the form...

We've vaguely discussed this before, but DfID isn't the be all and end all for international placements/experience. UKBA staff are shared between the FCO and Home Office, and I think you have a much greater chance of getting in the Home Office than DfID

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmpubacc/1284/1284we04.htm

All those positions aren't fast stream ones, but it just gives a general idea of the potential you have for international experience/placements.

It's surprising that so many of the TiB FSB candidates are on here. All the candidates I met at my FSB visit this site.

I'm going to put down DFID as my first choice, despite the fact that there is a cat in hell's chance of getting that! I can't remember or access the rest of the list at the moment...I just emailed another person about feedback who says everyone will be getting it, but it may take up 6 weeks and they will be in touch in due course.

I imagine there's nothing to stop you doing the whole process externally again but as Prince Rhyus said, some kind of sideways entry/secondment might be possible after a couple of years. Equally, once we are off the scheme we can apply to any job advertised in any department so that could be a way in too.

HLS, I had mine on 17th. Make sure you don't do what I'm sure I did and overcompensate for your FSAC weaknesses!

I think the competency interviews are absolutely pointless. I said this at FSAC - you cannot assess somebody's competencies by what they tell you!

I certainly wouldn't disagree with that, but based more on other interviews I have had where I tend to think these competencies interviews are good for those who can describe and boast about what work they were supposed to do on a project, but maybe not so good for those who have to deliver more than average on a project while forgetting half the things they had to do because they ended up doing a lot of the work.

Well, put simply, the assessors have no way of verifying what it is you tell them! You can make up any old rubbish that makes you sound good and they can't verify it!

It is probably the least robust element of the whole selection procedure. Personally I think it is a complete waste of time.

Agreed they have no way of verifying what you tell them externally, but the level of detail at which my examples were scrutinized at the FSAC interview, if applied evenly across the board, would make it very difficult indeed to maintain a coherent lie. That said it is possible and therefore not totally impregnable as a means of assessment.

Err, for the departmental assignment form, do we have to put 3 locations or can we just put one down? And are people using the 7 preferred areas or just putting the minimum of 5?

Cheers!

Hi all

FCO FSBer waiting on results...

Those who have been notified, how were you told? Was it directly on 'my applications' page of your progress page?

Anyone from the first FSBs around too? 21 / 22 March? Results yet?

Cheers

For those who mention the central departments did you also apply to the GFS? As I only applied to the TiB FS its my understanding from the FAQ's thats its either pass the FSB or nothing as there is no fallback to the CD from anything other than GFS.