I applied online. The process took 8 weeks. I interviewed at Environment Agency (Birmingham, England) in Jan 2024
Interview
60 minute interview, 5 questions from them mostly about previous experience delivering projects, facing challenges, dealing with people. Three people on the panel, one was the grade I was applying for, one was the grade above and the other the grade above them (project exec).
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
When have you had to overcome a challenge when delivering a project.
How and with what tools have you monitored the progress of an ongoing project.
I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at Environment Agency (London, England) in Sep 2020
Interview
Long detailed application form to complete and the interview was overly focussed on 'academic' knowledge - felt like a university exam question answer was needed with extensive quotes rather than appreciating practical experience and application.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How have you carried out impact assessments previously?
Worthing, West Sussex, South East England, England
No offer
Negative experience
Average interview
Application
I applied online. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at Environment Agency (Worthing, West Sussex, South East England, England) in Jul 2016
Interview
The interview itself was a good experience. However, everything else was a catalog of errors. Summary below of feedback I sent them.....
Prior to the interview, it was necessary to book a slot on your online platform. It said that interviews would be held in Reading and Worthing. The applicant wasn't informed of the location of the interview until they had actually booked a slot!! Therefore if one location was more convenient than the other, it was pot luck if that was where the interview was held. I got lucky!
Online platform referred to 'interview 1'. This implied to me that there would be a second round of interviews. Confirmed to not be the case once I queried what dates these would be held on.
There was misleading information in the confirmation message which could have resulted in an applicant going to the wrong location. This was acknowledged in a corrective message that was sent out. However, there were further errors in this message. It referred to a section of the message in blue that would indicate the correct location. None of the message was infact colour coded!
The point of contact for the interview was incorrectly shown as xxxxxxx. I was copied in on xxxxs email to you where he expresses his exasperation about getting so many emails about interviews that he was not involved with. He asked you to have his name removed from the website where it said he was the point of contact. You didnt do this.
The interview itself was conducted in a very pleasant and professional way. (5th July). During the interview I was told I would hear a result in 2 weeks.
After the interview, I emailed you on 25th July inquiring if any decisions had been made. - no response.
August 4th, I wrote to HR. They said 'We are struggling to find details surrounding the role in question.' And could I provide details of the role, and hiring manager. I provided these details. They said they were still waiting to hear back from the hiring manager.....they also noted that the point of contact as specified by me was incorrect, and that the details of the job said I should be contacting xxxxxx, and it may be worth my while contacting him for news - hence I know you didnt correct the website details as requested by xxxx.
I wrote back to HR to inform them that I thought the details on their website may be incorrect. - No reply.
Aug 10th, I emailed and left a voicemail for xxxxxx asking if he had any news on the role. He replied to me apologizing for the uncertainty and slow response. He copied you in on the email 'so that you could advise the position'. Again, no response from you to this email.
17th August. I noticed your phone number on one of your emails so gave you a ring. It is only now that you confirm that I had not been successful. If I had not chased, I do not think that I would have ever heard. You said you would get interview feedback for me, and asked me to send bank details for the expenses to be paid to, which I sent the same day.
September 7th, I emailed you asking if you had contacted the interviewers and also if there is an issue with the expenses. No response.
September 12th, I write to you again copying in HR. It is only now that I get a response, and a promise that you will follow up the outstanding points.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
To give specific examples of how difficult issues were dealt with