MINDEF DXO (All FAQ on it)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Please correct me if I am wrong. But from what I have read in the forum so far, people who did not clear Psychometric test would usually get an email pretty fast as it is computer generated. Is that the usual norm?

it seems like to, i think that will be for those who didn't meet their threshold.

from what i gathered earlier, it seems like once you passed the threshold, HR will pass your application to the hiring manager for review and it is up to them (hiring dept) to short and ask HR to contact those they want to interview. if HR never hear back then maybe they would put us to the 2nd or 3rd choice or just reject then (so maybe those are people who hear a lot later...)

so i think HR has some metrics for invitation to PT. Then PT is up to candidate to meet the threshold, and then there after its hiring manager.

Thank you all for the amazing contribution. It's time to give back to this community.

PT: 18 Sep 18
applied to several DXO roles in the meantime. never received any rejection.

HR called to manage my salary expectation. My expectation was high 4k which i already felt distraught when I indicate. This is not a salary thread so I won't dwell on this.

Waited weeks then followed up. HR assured me that the hiring manager likes my profile but not free.

IV: 3 months later
30 mins to answer the questions.
1.What is your weakness
2.Define the word obstacle

30 mins to memorize the real job description which is 50% different from website. Now, I quickly reorganize how to sell my profile and experience to bosses in the room. the description will be taken away.

Site: 5 weeks later
I received the good news from HR 2 weeks later but the site appointment made separately with the unit had to be much further.

There were 2 finalists incl me. The other person did not turn up so I had the opportunity to sales talk. My boss was sold. Straight away reply to HR.

I was briefed on the job scope n shown to my desk. I digged deeper n found out that expectation had changed and heavier.

We had a good chat (sales talk again) about my ideas in relation to my boss's vision n direction and we agreed on certain ideas.

Some people take the site for granted. My suggestion is, if the job is crucial for survival, cherish every event as an opportunity.

Site preview passed: 2 weeks later
HR called to congratulate and fixed appointment for medical.

I also acknowledged that clearance will begin.

I took the opportunity to email a courtesy and clarification letter, mentioned the demands discussed at the site was different from the interview as HR disregarded some things that my boss express interest in.

Medical/clearance: 1 week later

@CMPB 1-2+pm don't need to take leave just ask for time off or plan a day boss not around. No need to give blood, urine, test eyesight or fast. just protocol.

Dress professionally n walk straight to the supervisor and report. Under DXO scheme the supervisor will attend to you personally and jump all the queue. Or I was lucky?

2 days later HR informed me that the medical status is 'processing' . Also reverted with a new salary range for my acknowledgement prior to approval.

2 weeks later HR called to inform me that clearance is almost complete. Also informed me the final salary (revised again) .

I am happy, my bottomline is to be paid fairly for what you need from me. No doubt the actual job much would be 'CCA' for PB but 'CCA' is mostly is soft skills and voluntary in nature.

signed: 4 weeks later
First year probation, entitled all the monetary benefits n leave. Subsequent perm. Resign within 3 months required to pay back liquidated damages.

My profile
Relevant Masters, relevant professional certificates, pass Degree, 8 years relevant exp, NS, several testimonials of good service from bosses and clients.

I hope the Masters will speed up my promotion. I am pretty certain they disregarded my Masters in calculation of salary.

Public service don't count freelance as experience. Of my 8 years 2 years were freelance.

Thank you all for the amazing contribution. It's time to give back to this community.

PT: 18 Sep 18
applied to several DXO roles in the meantime. never received any rejection.

HR called to manage my salary expectation. My expectation was high 4k which i already felt distraught when I indicate. This is not a salary thread so I won't dwell on this.

Waited weeks then followed up. HR assured me that the hiring manager likes my profile but not free.

IV: 3 months later
30 mins to answer the questions.
1.What is your weakness
2.Define the word obstacle

30 mins to memorize the real job description which is 50% different from website. Now, I quickly reorganize how to sell my profile and experience to bosses in the room. the description will be taken away.

Site: 5 weeks later
received the good news from HR 2 weeks later but the site appointment made separately with the unit had to be much further.

There were 2 finalists incl me. The other person did not turn up so I had the opportunity to sales talk. My boss was sold. Straight away reply to HR.

I was briefed on the job scope n shown to my desk. I digged deeper n found out that expectation had changed and heavier.

We had a good chat (sales talk again) about my ideas in relation to my boss's vision n direction and we agreed on certain ideas.

Some people take the site for granted. My suggestion is, if the job is crucial for survival, cherish every event as an opportunity.

Site preview passed: 2 weeks later
HR called to congratulate and fixed appointment for medical.

I also acknowledged that clearance will begin.

I took the opportunity to email a courtesy and clarification letter, mentioned the demands discussed at the site was different from the interview as HR disregarded some things that my boss express interest in.

Medical/clearance: 1 week later

@CMPB 1-2+pm don't need to take leave just ask for time off or plan a day boss not around. No need to give blood, urine, test eyesight or fast. just protocol.

Dress professionally n walk straight to the supervisor and report. Under DXO scheme the supervisor will attend to you personally and jump all the queue. Or I was lucky?

2 days later HR informed me that the medical status is 'processing' . Also reverted with a new salary range for my acknowledgement prior to approval.

2 weeks later HR called to inform me that clearance is almost complete. Also informed me the final salary (revised again) .

I am happy, my bottomline is to be paid fairly for what you need from me. No doubt the actual job much would be 'CCA' for PB but 'CCA' is mostly is soft skills and voluntary in nature.

signed: 4 weeks later
First year probation, entitled all the monetary benefits n leave. Subsequent perm. Resign within 3 months required to pay back liquidated damages.

My profile
Relevant Masters, relevant professional certificates, pass Degree, 8 years relevant exp, NS, several testimonials of good service from bosses and clients.

I hope the Masters will speed up my promotion. I am pretty certain they disregarded my Masters in calculation of salary.

Public service don't count freelance as experience. Of my 8 years 2 years were freelance.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Please correct me if I am wrong. But from what I have read in the forum so far, people who did not clear Psychometric test would usually get an email pretty fast as it is computer generated. Is that the usual norm?

In my unit this is how it works.

My boss has two criteria for hiring. 1. Experienced hire 2.fresh hire. Naturally for most bosses experienced hire is preferred.

Fresh grads are almost always judged based on PT. Academic is not the best indicator of ability to perform. Therefore fresh grads almost always fail at PT stage unless perform well in important attributes, or salary is within range. It's really easy to just delete fresh grads asking for too much. There's no model answer for 'too much' unfortunately.

Experienced hire usually my boss skip the PT result as their proven ability outweigh a tool made to test speed and memory which naturally they are weak in. So.. If an experienced hire scores well in PT, my boss sure grab. Makes sense right.

PT rejection is not automatic. It's just really easy to glance and reject within days.

So, contrary to rumors, the first step after PT result, is actually hiring manager making an initial decision, then pass to HR to fix the interview. There is no artificial intelligence involved.

This is how it works in my unit, I doubt it varies much in others.

So, please put in the effort to score in psychometric tests. As you can see bosses can be overly reliant on such indicators.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

In my unit this is how it works.

My boss has two criteria for hiring. 1. Experienced hire 2.fresh hire. Naturally for most bosses experienced hire is preferred.

Fresh grads are almost always judged based on PT. Academic is not the best indicator of ability to perform. Therefore fresh grads almost always fail at PT stage unless perform well in important attributes, or salary is within range. It's really easy to just delete fresh grads asking for too much. There's no model answer for 'too much' unfortunately.

Experienced hire usually my boss skip the PT result as their proven ability outweigh a tool made to test speed and memory which naturally they are weak in. So.. If an experienced hire scores well in PT, my boss sure grab. Makes sense right.

PT rejection is not automatic. It's just really easy to glance and reject within days.

So, contrary to rumors, the first step after PT result, is actually hiring manager making an initial decision, then pass to HR to fix the interview. There is no artificial intelligence involved.

This is how it works in my unit, I doubt it varies much in others.

So, please put in the effort to score in psychometric tests. As you can see bosses can be overly reliant on such indicators.

Thanks for the insights. Just wondering, would there be a cut-off for PT by HR? Can you please clarify what is ‘fresh grad fail at PT’? Thanks!

Just wondering does MINDEF have a scale for fresh grad or do they absolutely short list by expected pay? I actually forgot how much salary i put. If like that is putting low expectation to score an interview the right way?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

In my unit this is how it works.

My boss has two criteria for hiring. 1. Experienced hire 2.fresh hire. Naturally for most bosses experienced hire is preferred.

Fresh grads are almost always judged based on PT. Academic is not the best indicator of ability to perform. Therefore fresh grads almost always fail at PT stage unless perform well in important attributes, or salary is within range. It's really easy to just delete fresh grads asking for too much. There's no model answer for 'too much' unfortunately.

Experienced hire usually my boss skip the PT result as their proven ability outweigh a tool made to test speed and memory which naturally they are weak in. So.. If an experienced hire scores well in PT, my boss sure grab. Makes sense right.

PT rejection is not automatic. It's just really easy to glance and reject within days.

So, contrary to rumors, the first step after PT result, is actually hiring manager making an initial decision, then pass to HR to fix the interview. There is no artificial intelligence involved.

This is how it works in my unit, I doubt it varies much in others.

So, please put in the effort to score in psychometric tests. As you can see bosses can be overly reliant on such indicators.

Thanks for the insights. So if one gets an interview, it means that their PT scores is within their expectation? It would be scary to be questioned about PT scores during the interview.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Just wondering does MINDEF have a scale for fresh grad or do they absolutely short list by expected pay? I actually forgot how much salary i put. If like that is putting low expectation to score an interview the right way?

It's OK, gahmen aim is not to lowball. However the range they offer seems to be not competitive now. Fueled by the beeline of applicants bah.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks for the insights. So if one gets an interview, it means that their PT scores is within their expectation? It would be scary to be questioned about PT scores during the interview.

The person who posted already mentioned, a bunch of things such as experience, PT, traits... Indicators depending on what the boss wants.

How to ask you? The PT is there to discover through indirect methods. It's like asking how u get FCH... Well I worked really hard lor.

Haiz the youngsters so fixated on model answers.

hello everyone, can anyone please shed some insights about the 1st round panel interview? how many interviewers would there be in a panel usually? thanks..