Civil Svc/ Statboard - Typical Timeline for making a Hiring Decision

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Would like to ask how long it usually takes to get approval to offer once selected after interview stage? Was told will need someone on top to approve the package and also security checks.
Thanks.

Do you mean if you passed the final interview but are waiting on an offer? 4 weeks.

If you mean you already accepted the offer and are waiting for approval, 5-7 working days.

This exact time depends on both the HR officer in charge of you, as well as the approving director, and how on the ball they are. Honestly, the approving director will sign off in around 5 minutes. Security checks can take less than a day, at most two. Unless you're applying to groups like CPIB and MFA, which can take up to a week or more. It usually takes longer only if there's a backlog.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Do you mean if you passed the final interview but are waiting on an offer? 4 weeks.

If you mean you already accepted the offer and are waiting for approval, 5-7 working days.

This exact time depends on both the HR officer in charge of you, as well as the approving director, and how on the ball they are. Honestly, the approving director will sign off in around 5 minutes. Security checks can take less than a day, at most two. Unless you're applying to groups like CPIB and MFA, which can take up to a week or more. It usually takes longer only if there's a backlog.

in the second case when one has already accepted the offer, how long would it take for one to sign and 'confirm' the contract then?

just curious, wouldnt the approval with approving director be already done even before the offer is extended to the candidate?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

in the second case when one has already accepted the offer, how long would it take for one to sign and 'confirm' the contract then?

just curious, wouldnt the approval with approving director be already done even before the offer is extended to the candidate?

Like I said, 5-7 working days.

No, they give us a job to post, and then the parameters to work with (ie. how much we can give depending on qualifications). Once everything is final, they then have to sign off. They may find our calculations pay too much or (rarely) too little, and question it, then we revise it and send it back, and then its usually approved. Rare for something to come back twice unless the HR is really looking forward to getting branded as "inept" and "wasting time".

Originally Posted by Unregistered

SB HR here. During the Dec to Feb period, things will get slower. Also, let me be blunt. If you went for a final interview, but did not receive callback for over 2 weeks, then we have a candidate more suitable who hasn't accepted our offer yet, and we will give them up to 4 weeks time. If they accept, we'll send you a rejection letter. If they do not accept, we will move on to the next most suitable candidate. The maximum we keep you waiting after your final interview is 4 weeks, at which point we will always send rejection letters.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Like I said, 5-7 working days.

No, they give us a job to post, and then the parameters to work with (ie. how much we can give depending on qualifications). Once everything is final, they then have to sign off. They may find our calculations pay too much or (rarely) too little, and question it, then we revise it and send it back, and then its usually approved. Rare for something to come back twice unless the HR is really looking forward to getting branded as "inept" and "wasting time".

For example, if during initial discussion with me, HR ok with my expected salary.
Go back to Director for approval, Director thinks too high...

Will HR come back to me and say need to lower expectations or
totally reject my application now that cannot meet my salary expectation?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Like I said, 5-7 working days.

No, they give us a job to post, and then the parameters to work with (ie. how much we can give depending on qualifications). Once everything is final, they then have to sign off. They may find our calculations pay too much or (rarely) too little, and question it, then we revise it and send it back, and then its usually approved. Rare for something to come back twice unless the HR is really looking forward to getting branded as "inept" and "wasting time".

Sure, thanks for responding! Clarifies a lot with the information given.

Well, it's now up to the individual candidate whether they are willing to accept 1/2 years contract role with the hope of converting to perm after that. This is especially true with newly formed teams within the ministry with potential to grow.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Like I said, 5-7 working days.

No, they give us a job to post, and then the parameters to work with (ie. how much we can give depending on qualifications). Once everything is final, they then have to sign off. They may find our calculations pay too much or (rarely) too little, and question it, then we revise it and send it back, and then its usually approved. Rare for something to come back twice unless the HR is really looking forward to getting branded as "inept" and "wasting time".

For example, if during initial discussion HR said ok to my expected salary.
Go back to Director for approval, Director says too high.

Will HR come back to me to further discussion on lowering salary expectations?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

For example, if during initial discussion HR said ok to my expected salary.
Go back to Director for approval, Director says too high.

Will HR come back to me to further discussion on lowering salary expectations?

We're not in the position to say "OK."

It doesn't go like "Can I have 3k a month?"

And me nodding and going "OK."

It's more like "What can I expect for renumeration?"

And then we'll go, "Judging from your qualifications, anywhere in the range of 2.8 to 3.2k a month."

Then when you pass the final interview, we go to the approving director, and hand him a sum - say, 3k a month with associated bonuses.

He takes a look, goes "Too much."

I lower it to 2.9k. He approves. AND THEN I call you going "We are prepared to offer you 2.9k a month..."

Then you accept or decline.

Thanks for explaining, does help that we get some info on the hiring process and the wait. Am still waiting for them to offer but with the process and the holidays i guess mine would take longer which i guess is kind of expected.

Yes, to all the Mins/SBs HR staff who has helped to clarify all our doubts, big THANK YOU for all your advice and words of encouragement...

it really helps with the waiting day in day out...

just want to ask the HR people around here how much i can expect if i am overseas pass degree holder who did well in my studies and CCA type activities but no honours or job experience except internship?