Advice needed (Civil Service jobs)

A question about : Advice needed (Civil Service jobs)

Hello everyone

I recently applied for a job with Civil Service for an AO role at DWP.
I was previously AO on FTA. I received an email confirming I was successful at the interview and now I'm being placed on a merit list. The email goes on to say they will be in touch when the opportunity becomes available.

Has anyone had experience of this merit list?

Last time I applied for AO I was put on a waiting list for 3 weeks before being contacted. I don't know if this list was a merit list at the time.

I don't have a contact for recruitment as the numbers that I had from previous are out of date.

All help received will be appreciated.

Best answers:

• Not unusual practice. The advert probably said how long the merit list would remain open for. It means that during that period, if a similar grade job comes up then you've already passed the Board (i.e. succeeded at interview) and they can offer the post to the people on the list in order of merit rather than going through the whole recruitment process again.
• I've had the same experience previously with HMRC, and I've known the same for positions with DWP & other Civil Service areas. The merit list is different than the "waiting period" you mentioned. I worked for DWP (also as an AO on FTA) from 2009 - 2011, applied for the position in Feb 2009 but wasn't given a start date until May 2009 (I had been successful and was not placed on a merit list).
  Depending on the area within the Civil Service, merit lists generally stay open for around 6 months (I've found). If there are applicants who are unable to take the job offer, quit after a short time or if the department realise they need more staff, they contact people on the merit list.
  I wouldn't rely on being given a start date, as I've known people who were put on a merit list & were then never contacted.
  With regards to a contact, if you were advised by email you were successful but on the merit list, there should be contact details included. Otherwise, you should refer back to the original job advertisement which should give you contact details.