MOJ - 30 minute interview

[21TonyK]

I have an interview coming up with the Ministry of Justice for a non-ops middle management role.

Its scheduled for just 30 minutes!?

I could spend that and more asking them about the role let alone them asking me anything.

I am expecting a very rigid interview format, lots of boxes being ticked etc

Any experience of MOJ interviews?

[Countdown]

30 minutes does seem on the short side......

In my experience it will be based on the criteria listed in the Person Spec. In the various sections there will be “Essential” and “Desirable” requirements. You will need to demonstrate how well you meet these.

What I would suggest is writing up possible questions that YOU would ask if you wanted to find out somebody’s experience in relation to the PS and then practising those.

[MYOB]

Civil service jobs are competency based. In your application, you would have had to demonstrate how you met their requiste competencies.

The interview should follow a similar approach asking you to elaborate how you meet these competencies.

[xx99xx]

MYOB said:

Civil service jobs are competency based. In your application, you would have had to demonstrate how you met their requiste competencies.

The interview should follow a similar approach asking you to elaborate how you meet these competencies.

True, but still, 30 minutes? Seems rather short so can only assume there would be at least one other round of assessment after this one. Or it's temporary and they're not that fussy who they get in?

[21TonyK]

xx99xx said:

MYOB said:

Civil service jobs are competency based. In your application, you would have had to demonstrate how you met their requiste competencies.

The interview should follow a similar approach asking you to elaborate how you meet these competencies.

True, but still, 30 minutes? Seems rather short so can only assume there would be at least one other round of assessment after this one. Or it's temporary and they're not that fussy who they get in?

LOL lets hope so!!

I suspect there are at least another round after this one. I guess I'll spent this evening coming up with second and third answers to the competencies they spec'd in the written application.

Half an hour seems really tight although I guess seeing how you react under pressure is part of the test.

Thing is if I don;t have a clear idea of how they operate (and I have absolutely no experience or expectations) I'm not sure it would even be a role I would be that interested in.

We'll see I guess.

[George Smiley]

I worked for them for just over 3 years

at 30 minutes its either a requirement to interview (but already got an internal candidate pegged) or will be essentially does your face fit.

I would say that if you want to achieve anything, get job satisfaction and feel like you've made a positive difference then do not go for it. If however you are happy to ignore incompetence, blindly follow the blind, mismanage and deliver nothing whilst burying your head and hoping to make it through to retirement on some sort of a pension - its a great place to be.

Be under no illusions that as far as things go, its a terrible place to be. You will have to deal with inter office/departmental politics, as a new comer the amount of anti-snobbery will be unbelievable and you will end up likely to be involved with 3rd parties that have such poorly governed contracts you end up going in circles as the MoJ want the "intent of contract" delivered whilst the suppliers deliver what is written down.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[21TonyK]

As expected, very much competence based with a few technical questions and general talk around their situation.

Turns out the role is more senior than I thought which was interesting and as I had hoped pretty much autonomous (within a national framework).

See how it pans out.

[George Smiley]

Good luck

[21TonyK]

Thanks, it was definately a "face fit" interview. On paper the role is exactly what I do and have proven several times over just on a slightly
larger scale.

[George Smiley]

21TonyK said:

Thanks, it was definately a "face fit" interview. On paper the role is exactly what I do and have proven several times over just on a slightly
larger scale.

I meant if you got it

[21TonyK]

George Smiley said:

I meant if you got it

[silent ninja]

George Smiley said:

I worked for them for just over 3 years

at 30 minutes its either a requirement to interview (but already got an internal candidate pegged) or will be essentially does your face fit.

I would say that if you want to achieve anything, get job satisfaction and feel like you've made a positive difference then do not go for it. If however you are happy to ignore incompetence, blindly follow the blind, mismanage and deliver nothing whilst burying your head and hoping to make it through to retirement on some sort of a pension - its a great place to be.

Be under no illusions that as far as things go, its a terrible place to be. You will have to deal with inter office/departmental politics, as a new comer the amount of anti-snobbery will be unbelievable and you will end up likely to be involved with 3rd parties that have such poorly governed contracts you end up going in circles as the MoJ want the "intent of contract" delivered whilst the suppliers deliver what is written down.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

I've just started working on an assignment in the public sector. I find it odd how heavily siloed everyone is. Everyone seems to think following a process to the T is the equivalent of doing a good job. They're busy following the written formulas, whether it be a contract for £30m or £200k. They do like to hide and duck responsibility beyond their tiny little section.

The attitude is the opposite of entrepreneurial. Is there such a word? Low initiative, not the best calibre of staff. I think I want my next assignment in the private sector...

[Countdown]

silent ninja said:

I've just started working on an assignment in the public sector. I find it odd how heavily siloed everyone is. Everyone seems to think following a process to the T is the equivalent of doing a good job. They're busy following the written formulas, whether it be a contract for £30m or £200k. They do like to hide and duck responsibility beyond their tiny little section.

The attitude is the opposite of entrepreneurial. Is there such a word? Low initiative, not the best calibre of staff. I think I want my next assignment in the private sector...

“Risk averse”? You don’t get particularly incentivised for achieving targets or bringing in projects under budget. However if the Fit hits the Shan you will get hauled over the coals. As a result procedures have evolved over decades to remove any risk and to ensure no single person can be held to blame by ensuring all decisions are made by Committee.

“Lessons will be learnt” means more tick boxes will be introduced.