MINDEF DXO (All FAQ on it)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I posted that I tried for MINDEF DXO in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Am a male (NS, NUS 2:1) and currently working in a Ministry. I realized that I was rejected in both years because I applied for roles that are either highly competitive or where my qualifications would be highly irrelevant. Specifically, I applied for Defence Relations, Policy and Media Relations. Competitive positions.

I am trying again for DXO this year, submitted my application in April. This time round, I applied for positions that are a closer match to my job experiences, and are (hopefully) less competitive.

So my questions are:
1) Can there be more than 1 vacancy for each advertised position?

Actually applied for 1 position only. But HR replied and asked me to consider Position B too, and I applied accordingly. Realized that Position A was already advertised for a month before I applied.

2) Have not taken PT. Ever since HR emailed me to tell me to re-submit some documents, I have never heard back. Has CB resulted in new forms of selection processes?

3) What do you think were the factors that made you tick and got the job?

Being a DXO is a dream of mine. Would have signed on if I could haha. Thats why I am trying 3x in a row already, inclusive of this year's attempt.

Good job for applying for one less competitive and something more relevant to help you get to a foot into the door instead - thereafter, you just need to be on the job for 2 years before you can apply to post out to other roles.

My opinions to your question:

1. May have more than 1, but that depends on the job. Most of the roles are 1-1 replacement as estabs are fixed. Unless the unit is going through a reorg and opening rooms for more OR more than 1 person quit. Mostly, it's usually one - unless the generic role spans across different camp (e.g., medical ctr staffs etc) so you may meet different bosses at different camps.

2. Not sure if psychometric test is taken away due to CB, but as far as i know probably e-interview when possible. Since they didn't ask you to retake, probably your psychometric is ok - so don't worry about that.

3. Interest in the job and willingness to learn and contribute - i was a fresh grad with really no experience. Employers seem to always would have preference for a fresh grad with relevant academic qualification if the job is less critical (some bosses prefer fresh grads because they are 'mouldable', or some depts have preference for some work experience) and some bosses are quite fixated on academic qualifications for highly competitive roles, while some bosses look for people who can have synergies with the team etc. Honestly, for most 'critical' jobs, they would have already ring-fenced to the ex-Mil person, or they may have preference to take internal applicants due to the ease of doing clearance and handover, etc.

Perhaps, set your salary correctly so that your profile seem 'appealing' as a package, apply to something relevant to what you are doing and/or have experience, apply to something less competitive and generic and hope that your counterparts applying for the job is of the same as you.

During this period, i can imagine more people applying for DXO roles esp during the fresh grad employment periods.

Perhaps share with us whats your profile in other dept and post the kinds of role you are applying for, then we can better advise?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

yes, 6 yrs experience.

just apply!! i don't think it replaces a degree but you can always try.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

what position? haha

Logistic roles, why? You are waiting as well??

Originally Posted by Unregistered

just apply!! i don't think it replaces a degree but you can always try.

just applied for the executive role, hopefully not too competitive

Should be okay. executive is a diploma level position (dip level pay)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Good job for applying for one less competitive and something more relevant to help you get to a foot into the door instead - thereafter, you just need to be on the job for 2 years before you can apply to post out to other roles.

My opinions to your question:

1. May have more than 1, but that depends on the job. Most of the roles are 1-1 replacement as estabs are fixed. Unless the unit is going through a reorg and opening rooms for more OR more than 1 person quit. Mostly, it's usually one - unless the generic role spans across different camp (e.g., medical ctr staffs etc) so you may meet different bosses at different camps.

2. Not sure if psychometric test is taken away due to CB, but as far as i know probably e-interview when possible. Since they didn't ask you to retake, probably your psychometric is ok - so don't worry about that.

3. Interest in the job and willingness to learn and contribute - i was a fresh grad with really no experience. Employers seem to always would have preference for a fresh grad with relevant academic qualification if the job is less critical (some bosses prefer fresh grads because they are 'mouldable', or some depts have preference for some work experience) and some bosses are quite fixated on academic qualifications for highly competitive roles, while some bosses look for people who can have synergies with the team etc. Honestly, for most 'critical' jobs, they would have already ring-fenced to the ex-Mil person, or they may have preference to take internal applicants due to the ease of doing clearance and handover, etc.

Perhaps, set your salary correctly so that your profile seem 'appealing' as a package, apply to something relevant to what you are doing and/or have experience, apply to something less competitive and generic and hope that your counterparts applying for the job is of the same as you.

During this period, i can imagine more people applying for DXO roles esp during the fresh grad employment periods.

Perhaps share with us whats your profile in other dept and post the kinds of role you are applying for, then we can better advise?

Thank you for your reply! It really helps to placate my nerves regarding my application.

So in my current job in the Ministry, I am actually a bit of a generalist - my role straddles across policy-making, communicating policy positions to members of public/essentially customer service and contract management.

Having been in that role for about 2 years, I decided to apply for a similar DXO role - i.e. Case Management and Performance because the job scope sounds similar to what I am doing. But I was invited to also apply for another Position which is roughly similar to what I had applied initially.

I don't know whether I would be disadvantaged because I am no longer a fresh graduate. But an attempt was made when I graduated in 2018 lah hahah. And of course, willing to learn. I miss serving in MINDEF actually. Haha.

About PT ... the last time I took it was March 2019. Understand that the test results are valid for a year only? If so ... I should be asked to take now given that I submitted my application in the middle of April. But until now no news leh ... so i am guessing that it must be due to the CB.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

just applied for the executive role, hopefully not too competitive

good luck!!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thank you for your reply! It really helps to placate my nerves regarding my application.

So in my current job in the Ministry, I am actually a bit of a generalist - my role straddles across policy-making, communicating policy positions to members of public/essentially customer service and contract management.

Having been in that role for about 2 years, I decided to apply for a similar DXO role - i.e. Case Management and Performance because the job scope sounds similar to what I am doing. But I was invited to also apply for another Position which is roughly similar to what I had applied initially.

I don't know whether I would be disadvantaged because I am no longer a fresh graduate. But an attempt was made when I graduated in 2018 lah hahah. And of course, willing to learn. I miss serving in MINDEF actually. Haha.

About PT ... the last time I took it was March 2019. Understand that the test results are valid for a year only? If so ... I should be asked to take now given that I submitted my application in the middle of April. But until now no news leh ... so i am guessing that it must be due to the CB.

No worries bro, glad to help a fellow bro-in-arms.

Wow, i think your skills should fit well as a generalist. If HR invited you to apply for something, it means your profile is favourable to the organisation and the roles. Just do your best when you are invited to the interviews. Under three years is still widely considered 'freshie' across CS, so still fresh...., although there are fresher ones. Haha!

Our HR colleagues should be really busy this period. Be patient on the PT and/or interviews, this is a time that MINDEF is also dealing with. In most roles, there should be others covering it so unless it is critical or if the process has started, they may take it slower and spread it out during the period. Do also know that you potential employers may also be deployed out for all the things you read that MINDEF participated, so there are a lot of work to synchronise on the ground..., so please be patient.

Wishing you all the best in this journey. Keep us updated!

this thread currently seems to have the most sensible conversation among all the civil service threads...

is dxo selection easy? what kind of roles are there?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

this thread currently seems to have the most sensible conversation among all the civil service threads...

is dxo selection easy? what kind of roles are there?

Insensible post you have just made on this thread. If you don't even bother to check it out on publicly available website why the hell should people spoon-feed you? Are you someone who just graduated?