Civil Service - EO exams

pearcider

Surely its a no-brainer?

Not really. See, I quite like my current job. It's relatively secure, the people are sound and it's a nice atmosphere to work in. The commute and hours are comfortable. What's more my job is challenging but not too stressful and while the pay is 6k less than the EO job, there are significant bonuses available to top up my salary as well as the option to do overtime and the prospects for progressing into management are excellent. So....tough decision.

BurnsCarpenter

For people who have been called for interview:

How long passed between submitting the pre interview forms and the interview date? I'm hoping to get called before my planned holidays in September.

Also, did you receive a confirmation email after submitting the forms?
I sent mine in for the deadline last Thursday, but didn't hear anything back.

Thanks!

Cadet?

Hey Burns Carpenter,

Would it be cool if you could tell me what number you were on the order of merit?! Just wanna try and gauge when/if I'm gonna get an interview....

Cheers.

BurnsCarpenter

I was low twenties - that was for Cork only, though.

Cadet?

Ah janey!- Twill be a while yet then for me!!!!!!!

Good luck with it!

BurnsCarpenter

Cadet? wrote: »

Ah janey!- Twill be a while yet then for me!!!!!!!

Good luck with it!

Thanks Cadet.

I'll need it.

cee_jay

BurnsCarpenter wrote: »

For people who have been called for interview:

How long passed between submitting the pre interview forms and the interview date? I'm hoping to get called before my planned holidays in September.

Also, did you receive a confirmation email after submitting the forms?
I sent mine in for the deadline last Thursday, but didn't hear anything back.

Thanks!

Check your messages on public jobs - I just got a message today regarding my interview - its on 1st September - problem being I am holiday until 2nd - won't get back to Ireland until 11:30 pm that night
Here's hoping I can reschedule until after that!

Supercell

Got called for ICT interview and test on Sept 4th, anyone else here got called?
Wonder if the ICT test is much different from the regular EO one?

The_Conductor

Supercell wrote: »

Got called for ICT interview and test on Sept 4th, anyone else here got called?
Wonder if the ICT test is much different from the regular EO one?

Lots of maths problem solving (its more measuring your ability to logically analyse a system and come up with a coherent course of action, based on raw information. You're better off asking PAS though- as they have different testing (from time to time) particularly for the technical posts. Its possible that it may simply be the interview that differs (in which case it would focus on the technical aspects of the particular roles- rather than the soft aspects (aka people skills etc).

S.

Sean_mac

Hi Supercell, congrats on getting the interview.

Is the interview you have been called for Revenue? I thought we had until the 24th of Aug to return the application form.

BurnsCarpenter

cAr0l wrote: »

Check your messages on public jobs - I just got a message today regarding my interview - its on 1st September - problem being I am holiday until 2nd - won't get back to Ireland until 11:30 pm that night
Here's hoping I can reschedule until after that!

Aargh, I'm on the 2nd - due to fly out on holidays that morning.
Probably reschedule flights instead of requesting a change.

IrishPhoenix

Got called for interview on September 4th. Any advice for the interview, guys? Or any idea how long the interview and test take?

daveyt

Hi, Ive also been called for interview in September. Whilst im new to posting on this thread, I have been keeping an eye on it for a while, so thanks to many users, (smccarrick seems v helpful). I was just wondering how long after the interview would a person find out either way whether they were to be offered/declined a job. (days, weeks months?)

The_Conductor

daveyt wrote: »

Hi, Ive also been called for interview in September. Whilst im new to posting on this thread, I have been keeping an eye on it for a while, so thanks to many users, (smccarrick seems v helpful). I was just wondering how long after the interview would a person find out either way whether they were to be offered/declined a job. (days, weeks months?)

Initially a panel is constituted from those who come through the interview and the various other stages. Depending on where you are on the panel- you could get a job offer within a day or two- or it could be weeks or months or indeed they might never get around to you. For example- I came second in the EO ICT panel for Agriculture some time back- and got offered a job within 2 weeks or so. My wife, who came 6th, was over 2 months before she was offered a post.

If Revenue requested a batch of staff (which is entirely plausible) it could be that the first 20 people on the panel might all be offered posts within a week or two of the interviews en-mass.

If you're number is high enough- it might be very rapidly gotten to- but it depends on requests coming in to the PAS.

Keep in mind the 3% reduction in wage bills mandated for all government departments (effectively an 8% head count cut- as there is a natural increase of about 5% in the wage bill between wage agreements, and annual increments). That said- if they need people, and can justify taking them on- they most certainly will.

S.

gary the great

i got my contract in the post today. Couple of questions, I was told im going into DFSA in Clondlakin, but on my contract it says somewhere else...I wonder have they just changed my location? Would much prefer Clondlakin....

My contract doesnt mention holiday leave, I think I heard it 21 days? Am I correct?

Also salary starts at €31394, are we going to get the 2.5% in September? This will take it to €32000 which is cool beans.

Also my contract says "accept the offer of appointment as an established Clerical Officer" - i hope thats just the wrong sheet that got sent to me! It refers to EO all the way throughout though so i think thats probably just an error.

Anyway i'll give them a bell tomorrow to see what the craic is, but just though i'd update yis on my situation.

And 1 tip for the interview is to just keep talking, and totally believe and be confident in what you say. And make sure you have a tleast 2 examples of each competancy, I had 3 and after i'd give 1 or 2 I'd be like "would you like another example", I think they liked that.
They said after "fair play your well able to talk!", so it worked for me!

tricky@

Yeah starting EO salary will be €32,179 wef 01/09/08.

21 annual leave days rising to 22 after 5 years and 23 after 10 years. plus 2 additional privilidge days, one at Christmas,one at easter.

And that reference to an established CO has to be a typo I would say.

Nolanger

gary the great wrote: »

Couple of questions, I was told im going into DFSA in Clondlakin, but on my contract it says somewhere else...I wonder have they just changed my location? Would much prefer Clondlakin....

From a previous post I thought lamps was going there?

Mrbrianmolko

Nolanger wrote: »

From a previous post I thought lamps was going there?

Apparently they're taking on a few people over there....

Spore

Hi all,

Sorry to be a newbie to this thread... but any info on when the next recruitment drive / aptitude tests or advice in general about clerical officer or AO's would be much appreciated! Either as a PM or reply.

Thanks

The_Conductor

The last AO competition was in May- and it constituted a panel of over 200, so it'll probably be at least a year, possibly longer before there will be another one (though the confined competitions for accountants/IT staff, solicitors, tax specialists do come up more often).

Re: CO- there is a massive surplus of clerical staff in most locations- and with the mess over decentralisation- I'd hazard a guess that it'll be at very least a year possibly longer too......

Keep an eye on www.publicjobs.ie because they are up there for a few days before they're in the papers normally.

clg23

smccarrick wrote: »

The last AO competition was in May- and it constituted a panel of over 200, so it'll probably be at least a year, possibly longer before there will be another one (though the confined competitions for accountants/IT staff, solicitors, tax specialists do come up more often).

Re: CO- there is a massive surplus of clerical staff in most locations- and with the mess over decentralisation- I'd hazard a guess that it'll be at very least a year possibly longer too......

Keep an eye on www.publicjobs.ie because they are up there for a few days before they're in the papers normally.

With regards to the AO panel of 200, will all 200 get called to the next stage?

The_Conductor

clg23 wrote: »

With regards to the AO panel of 200, will all 200 get called to the next stage?

That is 200, including the confined competitions, who got through the various hoops and the interview (from an original 4,800 applicants). They would have been placed on various panels, and at least a number of them in technical positions offered posts other than those which they might originally have applied for (e.g. those who went for AO ICT may have been offered EO ICT immediately, or offered the opportunity to wait to see whether their position on the list was reached). The panel lapses after a set period of time- so irregardless of the fact that you made the panel, there is no guarantee that you will ever get a job offer from it (it depends on the different departments actually seeking to recruit from the panel).

S.

IrishPhoenix

Has anyone got any advice for the interview? Are you allowed leave between the time the interview ends and the tests begin?

clg23

IrishPhoenix wrote: »

Has anyone got any advice for the interview? Are you allowed leave between the time the interview ends and the tests begin?

Just have other good examples of the competencies that you put down on that sheet you sent back. Know all details around what you have on the sheet and know other examples inside out. Think of other possible questions around the competencies "If you could go back to this situation would you do anything differently?" etc.

You can leave after interview before the test just make sure you get back in plenty of time.

BurnsCarpenter

So, is the interview completely based around the competencies? As in, straight into it without any general questions ('tell me about yourself', etc.)
Thanks.

musicinmouth

Yes, there might be a few questions based on your application form, but they generally seem to be just to ease you into the interview... it's almost all based on the competencies...

I have never worked in the civil service before, so I am just wondering about salaries. When they list a salary scale such as the one below, does your salary get incremented after each year of service?

€31,394 €33,685 €35,449 €37,154 €38,854 €40,518 €42,199 €43,835 €45,520 €46,636 €48,224¹ €49,809²

¹ Long service increment after 3 years satisfactory service at the maximum.
² Long service increment after 6 years satisfactory service at the maximum.

So for example, if you start on €31,394, will you move up to €33,685 after one year?

The_Conductor

Depending on satisfactory service (as determined by your annual performance appraisal), it will be incremented annually on the date of your taking up the role.

musicinmouth

thanks smccarrick!

Kazd

Hi,

Just wondering has anyone got an idea of where they are (numbers wise)in terms of calling people for interviews in Dublin and Kildare for EO?

sinjin_smythe

If people who have recently been called for interview in all counties could say what county they applied for and where they came in the aptitude test that would be a real help for the rest of us who are still waiting. I contacted public jobs a while ago so don't want to be annoying them too much! Thanks!