Garda Recruitment (Archived)

lilolil

My bro-in-law is in the states illegally.. Would that be looked at??

NeverHappy

Well I got a call on Sunday afternoon. Did my test on 15th.

Have my medical in about 10 days. Good luck to all who havent heard yet.

I have a few questions (mostly about money) about going forward, and as some of you seem to know quite a bit, you may be able to answer.

1. I have seen in the posts that some money for clothing has to be paid. Are there any other charges like this.
2. Do we have many required outgoings from the paltry weekly sum. ie do we pay for meals etc.

All info in this regard is welcome.

Thanks,
NH

8bi1ctzegfouva

dunno about the money for clothes, but as for food, its all free. well it was when i was on work experience in templemore, and i doubt they have changed it.

lil i doubt they'll know about your bro-in-law, and even if they do, its nothing to do with you really, so i shouldn't think it would be a problem.

lilolil

Just spoke to my local super and he told me that he has my background check all done so it's just a matter of waiting! He thought I was ringing to tell him I got in! He said it's the Civil Service who will contact us all about it... Seems strange that we all have conflicting information... Well - all I have to do is wait!

8bi1ctzegfouva

yeah they do further background checks though(i think) in the depot.
id ignore everything the PAS say and just listen to the garda appointments office.

FGR

I agree. Don't bother with the civil service as they seem to be two steps behind at the moment.

I wouldn't blame the staff themselves..just the poor organisation by the management and possibly the department.

Blub2k4

the detective wrote:

i think its just stuff like if you or anyone in your family have a criminal record and making sure none of them are part of a subversive group etc.

or whether or not you held prejudices against ethnic groups or were willing to take part in corrupt activities, such as being pulled into the force, but then it's about getting a job, not being honest, right.

FGR

Granted, Government recruitment in general revolves solely around 'pull' though to the very least extent with the Gardai.

Why do they outsource a company for the testing and interviewing? It's only to tackle the problem of Canvassing.

I work for a County Council at the moment..and it's unbelievable the amount of people up here who have fathers, brothers and sisters in the service.

I, myself, joined this Council through pure ability as the only person I seem to be related to lives 100 miles away..But being like that..I'm just surprised.

The Gardai though..A person in my hometown didn't make it and his father is the station sergeant; and has a brother who's in the criminal bureau.

Why? Because he couldn't get through the aptitude phase.

EDIT: Granted. I do not like it when someone completely unsuitable makes it in simply because their uncle is a Chief Superintendent.

lilolil

Anyone get any more phonecalls??

8bi1ctzegfouva

nope.
it's not looking good for me.

Blub2k4

the detective wrote:

nope.
it's not looking good for me.

Dont tell me you mentioned the travellers thing at the interview, doh!

8bi1ctzegfouva

Blub2k4 wrote:

Dont tell me you mentioned the travellers thing at the interview, doh!

sorry what exactly is your problem you sad tool?

lilolil

Detective - Ignore him! People like that have obviously little else to do....

8bi1ctzegfouva

will do lil.
when you rang up the garda appointments section, did they get your file to see if they had recieved the results? or just tell you to speak to the PAS?

lilolil

No - Just told me to ring PAS! Did they look for your results? BTW - If you want to PM me do - saves others interfering!

Blub2k4

the detective wrote:

sorry what exactly is your problem you sad tool?

all this country needs is another corrupt prejudiced cop

Blub2k4

lilolil wrote:

Detective - Ignore him! People like that have obviously little else to do....

except an honest days work perhaps

8bi1ctzegfouva

ok. i'll pm you now.

FGR

Ohh...Something going on here?

NeverHappy

Anyone have any ideas on the medical, ie how long it takes. Do I need a 1/2 or full day off work?

Thanks,
NH

FGR

I was told my medical will last from 9 until lunch time. Bearing in mind that it's in the Phoenix park you'd need to work fairly close to the depot in order to make a half day of it.

I booked the full day. If I didn't get the day I'd have had no choice but to call in sick or let them know that I've been accepted..One way or the other.

If I do well tomorrow I'll hand in my notice on Friday.

NeverHappy

make sure to update us on the process.

Thanks,
NH

dvoakes

i missed a phone call from a private number yesterday aswell as before when i got calls from the sargaent and the super. what does the medical entail does anyone know? and what's the maximum weight that someone can be or is it done in proportion? how does it work?

FGR

I'd say your general build is taken into account.

I'm well built - broad shoulders and 34 inch waist, 6'1 in height. I'd be very surprised if they hit me on weight, that is, unless I had a 34 inch waist and was only 5'2.

They'll hit you if you meet any of the unwanted criteria on the Garda website (Varicose Veins, poor eye sight and the like). There's also going to be blood/urine samples. Don't be afraid to take off your top, as you'll have no choice in the matter.

That said..Wear loose pants if you think your stomach will be buldging over your usual jeans.

oceallachain

LILOLIL - Dont worry about the illegal brother - not only is it nothing to do with you it's actually nothing to do with the Gardai either. If the Boston police Dept. don't worry about it then I assure you the Irish cops won't either.

EVERYONE - There's a lot of information on the medical in previous posts lads - check it out!!

Does anyone think it's strange to have such a high eyesight requirment. 6/9 6/12 unaided is the highest I've seen for any police force. So many people fail because of it it's cruel. I feel genuinely sorry for them coz it's so treatable. And they don't even check for glaucoma which is far more serious. I think it's nuts anyway???

8bi1ctzegfouva

a bit of good news for anyone who hasn't got a phone call yet.
was on to the garda appointments section again, and was told that the civil service still hasn't sent "loads" of applications on yet. but the interviews are finishing this week so we should have results from somone fairly soon.
also, he said that we could make the may 3rd class, depending on how long the detailed background checks take.

re the background checks, he said they were very in-depth, and looked into not only criminal records, but criminal intelegence also, so if you are suspected of say money laundering etc, but never been charged, or are currently being investigated. basically stuff which wouldn't show up on pulse when your local sergeant did the original checks.

sarahb

the detective wrote:

a bit of good news for anyone who hasn't got a phone call yet.
was on to the garda appointments section again, and was told that the civil service still hasn't sent "loads" of applications on yet. but the interviews are finishing this week so we should have results from somone fairly soon.
also, he said that we could make the may 3rd class, depending on how long the detailed background checks take.

re the background checks, he said they were very in-depth, and looked into not only criminal records, but criminal intelegence also, so if you are suspected of say money laundering etc, but never been charged, or are currently being investigated. basically stuff which wouldn't show up on pulse when your local sergeant did the original checks.

Detective

Did they say that the first batch of interviews are finishing this week(the 750)? already.... When is the next intake for templemore after 3rd May?

FGR

Late August/Early September according to the HQ Sergeant.

oceallachain

Sarah - Intakes are once every three months so I would imagine that February 7th - May 3rd - I would say first monday in August, or Tuesday if it falls on a bank holiday like Tuseday May 3rd.

Detective - Thanks!! I can relax now. I hope you here something soon.

FGR

I'm the same - You guys better get informed soon otherwise no one will understand what I'm on about if I mention Boards.ie in Templemore.

EDIT: Will we be given a physical date on the day of the Medical? Will we be even told if we passed the medical ? Surely..

oceallachain

ForegoneReality wrote:

Will we be given a physical date on the day of the Medical? Will we be even told if we passed the medical ? Surely..

You are told on the day of the medical if you passed it. Well, it's more that you're not told that you failed it if you get me. Nobody will come up and shake your hand and say you passed but if there were no complications then you can take it that you passed.

You are not given a date for the physical on the day of the medical but you will hear very soon from HR if you pass the medical. I was given a day to go to Templemore for an info day on the physical and then 1/2 week(s) later was the real thing. You ARE told on the day of the physical if you passed or not. Remember the PAS have nothing to do with you after you get your Stage 2 results. (Thank god I hear you say!!)

8bi1ctzegfouva

yeah sarah, the first 750 will have all been interviewed by the end of this week.

no problem oceallachain, glad i could help.

sarahb

Does anyone have a good example for the application form for the persuading others part........

lilolil

That's great news detective! PG I'll hear something soon... Keep us posted! I take it your results aren't back then the way you are talking..

8bi1ctzegfouva

nope, they said they still hadn't arrived.
I don't know who you spoke to when you rang up lil. but both times i have spoken to different people, and each time they have checked my file to see if it has arrived yet. and have been very helpful and friendly.
maybe you got somone who was having a bad day?

8bi1ctzegfouva

for the persuading others one,choose an example where you had to stick at it for a while, i.e. they didn't listen to you straight away, and it took time for you to convince them.

oceallachain

Persuading others and taking charge
If you have ever been in a supervisory role of any kind (eg. occupation) then this could be quite and easy question.
Have you ever done a group project in school/college?

Griffen

the detective wrote:

a bit of good news for anyone who hasn't got a phone call yet.
was on to the garda appointments section again, and was told that the civil service still hasn't sent "loads" of applications on yet. but the interviews are finishing this week so we should have results from somone fairly soon.
also, he said that we could make the may 3rd class, depending on how long the detailed background checks take.

Hopefully this applies to the rest of us who hasnt heard anything yet.

We might be succesful and called in for the next batch, which would be better in a way because you would be able to be organised, maybe get a bit on money together, holidays, travel etc. Im living on high hopes here. O the suspense is killing me!

Griffen

Just rang Garda HQ's, told me basically the same thing as the rest of u guys. He checked my file on computer and said that my results were not back as alot of others were not back either. Said that there going through the background checks and thats what the delays are, some checks are quicker than othes. Said that they were told that the results were going to be posted this week.

He gave me a number for the other shower of useless pricks in public appointments! Talked to some arogant guy just short answered me and said i shud hear within 2 weeks, la la la, same story as before, i rang them 2 weeks ago and they told me id hear within 3wks. im sure their sick of people ringing but they should be prepared for all those calls anyways.

Has anyone else heard anything??

8bi1ctzegfouva

nope i still havent heard.
my mate who sat the medical today passed, and is going for the physical next wednesday. they certainly move through the stages fairly quickly.

he told me he was talking to you foregone. hopefully you are not the guy who failed?

NeverHappy

did you get any details on the medical. And as for all these days off????

Medical / exams / interviews and now a physical. Have these people never heard of Saturdays. I thought the Garda hours were not 9-5 m-f. Painful.

In any event, May 3rd is unlikely for me as I have to give a months notice. Medical on the 15th, but all this rushing is a bit late............

Also, its sad that this board is the best place to get info, you think that between them all they could have some form of information service.

Keep up the good work and good luck to all.

lilolil

Details please Detective! Many there havin their medicals? How strict did they seem to be - what kind of things they checked for etc..

FGR

Arrived at HQ around 9am. I'd say there was around 20 of us in the waiting area which was a very small room. We all changed into garbs for the medical..Which involved everything barring a blood sample being taken from us.

I was the person who reckoned that someone failed due to his being completely quiet when changing and walking out..his expression was poorly. Shame..

---

Alright, the Medical:
After you fill out three quick forms, you'll be introduced to the head of HR in the HQ and he will explain the process to you.

After you fill in the form you change into your Garbs and you undergo the following:

(i) Urine Sample is taken
(ii) Blood Pressure is taken
(iii) Hearing test in conducted in a soundproof booth on the ground floor of the testing area. - Quite difficult as even your breathing is louder than some of the beeps. Don't worry though..when you think your mind plays tricks on you still hit that button as there's a 90% chance that it was a real tone.
(iv) Your height and weight are taken. You're deemed 'overweight' if you're over the maximum limit stated on the weight chart in front of the scales. Don't worry though..If you are over the limit the Doctor will check your BMI later.
(v) Doctor - You're garbed up and feel quite humiliated..Still. You enter the room where you'll first be asked a few simple questions about allergies and the like. Standard..He might go over some of your past (surgery etc.) though beyond that the tests start. First is the eye test in the little unit I mentioned earlier. It's difficult to explain apart from that you read numbers as well as a number of measurements allowed. Both eyes are assessed at once.

Breathing is checked..You're also asked to touch your toes (Get stretching people!) and after that is just a quick check on your bone structure and other parts of your body.

Finally..He checks your teeth. Very quick glance to see if they're real and not about to rot and fall out the day you enter Templemore.

---

I'd say a lot of people were caught out on the sight tests. It isn't the standard chart, just so you know..More like a unit that you look directly into.

I am pleased to inform you guys however that I've passed and made it into the slot for a physical next Wednesday. !

Just a word of advice to anyone else who may be attending the medical... Tell the Doctor (Albeit the one I had was quite ignorant) that you're quite healthy as there was a discrepency when the nurses measured my weight and blood pressure. After saying this he checked my weight, BMI and blood pressure..all of which were significantly lower than the first time around. I originally failed when weighed first..though the BMI scan showed otherwise. I wasn't surprised as I'm quite active. This also happened to a few others..so just make sure you get fairly treated.

You're right, Detective. I probably was talking to your friend. All of the lads there were dead sound so I couldn't isolate anyone individually. Still it was a worthwhile experience.

How in the name of God will I get another day off is an entirely different question...

Hopefully you lot will get some responses in the near future. The option to defer has only been given to our group apparently (This would, I assume, include the first group of female trainees as they attend on a seperate occasion) as the Commissioner has found that it's only fair being so close to the May 3rd intake. He also made it clear that our group may be the only one getting in on May 3rd. Anyone else could be August.

So hurry up and tell me that you've been been joking all along and have already passed your med/physical.

lilolil

Does anyone know any females called for the medical yet??

dvoakes

what's the acceptable BMI? does anyone know?

FGR

Apparently we were the first group, Lilolol and the next batch of male candidates will be on Friday..So perhaps tomorrow?

The acceptable BMI is 23-25% I believe.

NeverHappy

ForegoneReality wrote:

The acceptable BMI is 23-25% I believe.

From my conversations with them, they said that for a male of 5 ft 9" , an acceptable weight is 13 st 3lbs. Thats on the limit for a BMI of 27%, so it seems that that is the acceptable limit.

NH

FGR

It's only an assumption as I didn't ask right out. If it's 27% then that's very good news for some people.

lilolil

Anyone know any quick ways of losing weight?? I really don't want to risk it!

sarahb

its sounds so strict....Do they check your teeth aswell?