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Siftability Tests

Minnie_the_Minx

Minnie_the_Minx

someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
Anyone ever done them?

What a load of bollox

I've just done three Siftability exercises as part of my application for a full-time job.

They're hard. They're vague. They're stupid. :mad:
 
Yeah. Are you going for Govt jobs? They seem to all start with these tests. I made the mistake of asking myself what I would do, at first, and failed them.
 
harpo said:
I passed them eventually, by putting myself in their mindset. Depressing though that sometimes was.
Click to expand...


Hm, looks like they didn't like my answers.

I was unsuccessful in securing a place at the final selection process. :o

(There were 3,685 applications) :eek:
 
I left an AO job in the public sector 2 months ago and it was such a relief, the best thing I did! I have never met a more backward and reluctant and sneaky group of people in all my life. Systems were archaic, everyone knew each other's business and dramas, if you worked hard and fast they despised you for showing them up, and some people fully lacked any sort of ambition! The girl next to me had the ambition of working there 30 more years until she could collect her pension :eek:

People got promoted on the basis of how long they had been in post, not on ability hence a load of people in admin and some EO roles holding back, nay sabotaging, progress as opposed to promoting it (they were all frightened of change).

It was utterly depressing, boring, pointless, and slow. Yes I think there is a place for some types of people in the public service sector, but anyone who isn't that type and goes in at an adminy type level best be ready for a 'small-village-curtain-twitching-gossipy-vicars-wife' style mentality. Had I stayed any longer I would have probably been rendered unemployable.
 
Minnie_the_Minx said:
Anyone ever done them?

What a load of bollox
Click to expand...

Minnie_the_Minx said:
(There were 3,685 applications) :eek:
Click to expand...

Minnie - what kind of tests? and what questions are asked? If I was applying to join the civil service now I doubt if I'd stand a chance of landing a job - my Dept. seems only to be taking on fast-streamers :( We advertised recently and had thousands of applications for a small amount of posts available :(
 
Minnie_the_Minx said:
Hm, looks like they didn't like my answers.

I was unsuccessful in securing a place at the final selection process. :o

(There were 3,685 applications) :eek:
Click to expand...

Ahh...was it an AO post at Tsols, by any chance. I just got that email too. :(

Those Siftability tests are above and beyond customary Govt job sift tests for pure evilness. 'Siftability' is a specific test run by Capita. I think you haver to be an automaton to pass them. You probably made the mistake of showing a bit of independent thinking and character.
 
harpo said:
Ahh...was it an AO post at Tsols, by any chance. I just got that email too. :(

Those Siftability tests are above and beyond customary Govt job sift tests for pure evilness. 'Siftability' is a specific test run by Capita. I think you haver to be an automaton to pass them. You probably made the mistake of showing a bit of independent thinking and character.
Click to expand...

Or not being totally and utterly useless :D:p;)
 
but anyone who isn't that type and goes in at an adminy type level best be ready for a 'small-village-curtain-twitching-gossipy-vicars-wife' style mentality.
Click to expand...

You get this in any large organisation, not just the public sector. Indeed, it's a function of human behaviour whenever you get a bunch of humans together regularly over long periods of time.
 
kyser_soze said:
You get this in any large organisation, not just the public sector. Indeed, it's a function of human behaviour whenever you get a bunch of humans together regularly over long periods of time.
Click to expand...

This is true - when I joined the Civil Service my first post was a large office and most of us were admin grade and the people there were some of the best people I've ever worked with - if I worked somewhere like that described earlier I would have waited a reasonable time then used my experience to get a transfer to a different post / organisation. My experience has been, like any large organisation, good and bad people / interesting and boring work but at least you have the opportunity to move around - each post I have had has been totally different from previous posts. (as has the folk I've worked with :)).
 
I've worked for start-ups with less than 10 people all the way up to coporate head offices with 3 or 4,000 people in them, and no matter what size the organisation you get those who actively (and often maliciously) make it their business to know and pass on gossip, those who spend time endlessly passing judgement, those who stay well away from it all etc.
 
True, my experience in the public sector however has led to a determination not to go back, at admin level at least, and has resulted in me starting a post grad course. So some good came out of it. Also I developed a lot as a person and can handle situations a lot better than before.

I just found there was not enough to do in the job I had, most of the men spent all their time checking each other out, and some dressed really unprofessionally: I lost count of the people I saw dossing around in jeans and trainers. The fault lies with me though because I expected something that wasn't there: I expected people to feel proud and privledged they had a job that in many ways was 'representing the people'. Most, however, were just moany and complaining and untidy.

:(
 
As Kyser says - you will get that in any organisation - public or private sector. I don't really understand your points tbh - you've gone from 'curtain twitchers' to 'scruffy' - sounds like you just have a downer on the public sector - maybe understandably so, but you can't take your one experience as the sum total. By the way - I wear jeans and trainers (when not attending meetings) - do you think this makes me less professional? I am good at my job - have consistently had excellent annual reviews and about to be promoted from junior to middle management. (EO to HEO if you are familiar with the grades). My experience is the opposite of your but that does not make yours less valid - mine is perhaps just a happier one :)
 
I suppose. That was my first foray into the public sector and I just expected a bit more. If I had been there for years I may have thought differently. Congrats on your promotion btw. :cool:
 
Upchuck said:
I suppose. That was my first foray into the public sector and I just expected a bit more. If I had been there for years I may have thought differently. Congrats on your promotion btw. :cool:
Click to expand...

Thanks :D - I'm entering a completely new area and it's going to be very challenging but I'm really looking forward to it!
 
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