HMRC Tax Specialist Programme (TSP) 2018

an someone tell me how many people apply this scheme etc, and what the breakdowns are for each stage etc

At the AC they said over 15,000 people had applied and 624 made it to AC. There were other stats thrown at me but I was so nervous I didn't take them in!

I'm sure they said 14,400 applied, 2012 got to Video Interview and 624 got to Assessment Centre!

I just want to know now! I don't think I can stand much more waiting. Are you all feeling the same??

The issue is you have a large number of candidates in professional jobs who are bound by contracts where the time in which you need to hand your notice in is a key factor. Simply put, if I don't have my feedback by this Thursday I simply won't be able to get out of my current contract in time and I will decline the placement offer even if successful. If the HMRC are reading this (as they stated they would after the challenging Assessment Centre process) I have to say, I would have expected more.

Many candidates spent a considerable amount of money in loss of earnings through travelling to the Assessment center / loss of earnings. My place of work footed a bill of £250 to cover my absence. They are continually asking me if I've heard anything yet as they need to prepare the advertisement replacing my post. To have a fairly ambiguous statement like "end of March" is, quite simply... not acceptable imho. There should be a clear date for feedback.

Remember HMRC "Working at pace" "Meeting deadlines" "Clarity" are a key descriptor of the job ;-)

What would you do if you are successful but cannot be placed in your preferred location?

I only have one preferred location and sadly am rather inflexible in relation to where I would train.

Your final posting on completion of the post grad quali is dependent on how well you progress through the modules, right?

If I don't find that out until a later date then I need to withdraw from the programme completely.

Starting to feel like the whole process has been a waste of the HMRC and my time. Too many questions and if's and but's. :/

I'm not completely sure how the program works in terms of placing people after successful completion. I think it is up to the individual where they would like to be placed upon completion, or it may be that the last placement is where you will end up staying.

I'm not completely sure how the program works in terms of placing people after successful completion. I think it is up to the individual where they would like to be placed upon completion, or it may be that the last placement is where you will end up staying.

It's my understanding that the higher you grade during the modules, the more clout you have in relation to where you are posted and potentially the area you would like to work in. I know staff do move around from time to time.

The worry is if I've ticked "London" as my preferred area to train, that that is all it is... a preference. I could be offered a post in Edinburgh is what I'm reading into from previous comments. :-S At worst, even if I managed to get through the assessment centre successfully, I was hoping they'd see my preference of "London" and think.. oh... we only have spaces in Sheffield... we won't make him an offer.

Inverted commas used for ambiguity! :-D Not risking anything on here haha

It's my understanding that the higher you grade during the modules, the more clout you have in relation to where you are posted and potentially the area you would like to work in. I know staff do move around from time to time.

The issue is you have a large number of candidates in professional jobs who are bound by contracts where the time in which you need to hand your notice in is a key factor. Simply put, if I don't have my feedback by this Thursday I simply won't be able to get out of my current contract in time and I will decline the placement offer even if successful. If the HMRC are reading this (as they stated they would after the challenging Assessment Centre process) I have to say, I would have expected more.

Many candidates spent a considerable amount of money in loss of earnings through travelling to the Assessment center / loss of earnings. My place of work footed a bill of £250 to cover my absence. They are continually asking me if I've heard anything yet as they need to prepare the advertisement replacing my post. To have a fairly ambiguous statement like "end of March" is, quite simply... not acceptable imho. There should be a clear date for feedback.

Remember HMRC "Working at pace" "Meeting deadlines" "Clarity" are a key descriptor of the job ;-)