Prison Officer

360ts

I was talking to a PO (friend of a friend) last week. Unfortunately, he said that he can't see any new recruits being taken on this year. He said to just wait, do something constructive in the meantime and when it does come around again they'll still use the current panel.

Sorry lads, we're all in the same boat! (I really, really, really hope that he's wrong though):D

tommy57

well then why d,ont they just tell people instead of all this bull***t

po candidate

it depends who you ask, ive spoken to people within the service and say they will, its hard to know but the very least you would think that the retirements would be replaced out of need,

whats the age limit anyway?

tommy57

age limits 35 man though i think if you have special skills you can get in .not to sure though

Scatman81

If you knew when the interview date or physical test date was then at least you could plan around it.Surely one of us knows someone in that area of recruitment who could give us some info.There are enough of us at the same stage?

tommy57

thats the thing scatman they d,ont seem to know themselves,we,re just gonna have to sit tight and hope it comes up in the next few years !:mad:
alot of rumours floating about ,but without this forum none of us would have a .clue what was going on. but you can see people are beginning to lose interest now,because of the big wait.

tommy57

also how long does or medical last for 6 months or a year ,alot of people for the guards have to redo theirs cause of the wait

po candidate

jesus d thought of waiting years, i knew it would be awhile alrite, like a year, a year and half at a push, from start to finish, im in 08 campaign, i'd be happy with the interview within 2009 and then waiting for next stage after that, atleast thats progress,very slow progress but still, and if it does'nt go ahead this year, will they keep the 0'7 and 0'8 panels? does anyone know?

tommy57

i,d imagine they would it would cost a few quid i,d say to run another campaign

Scatman81

Do they have to use the panels or can someone switch departments in the public service?Aren't they trying to increase efficency and change their jobs?

tommy57

you could,nt just transfer and be a prison officer and it would,nt be most peoples cup of tea

480905

here's one for the crowd. . . .I know of a man who applied for the Prison Service thru the normal channels and heard nothing. . . . . then he got an email asking him why he never turned up for his exam and asked him for feedback on his application process and that he could apply for the next competition when it came up. Anybody got any ideas on this?????

360ts

That sucks. He must be majorly pissed off. Did he reply and ask what the hell went wrong?

Kierei18

hey all

im just wondering about the recruitment campaign. I placed 301 in order of merit and just wondering is there any chance of getting interview this year. heard nothing back since i got the aptitude test feedback results. It seems to be very drawn out. Cheers.

portumna

Kierei18 wrote: »

hey all

im just wondering about the recruitment campaign. I placed 301 in order of merit and just wondering is there any chance of getting interview this year. heard nothing back since i got the aptitude test feedback results. It seems to be very drawn out. Cheers.

There are 5 or 6 on here including myself who placed in the top 60 and are in the first round but are still waiting to hear bout interviews. I rang PAS and they said that we'd hear within the first qaurter of the year. So i wouldn't hold out much hope for an interview in 09.

Was onto PAS again there and the lady there said that tho 07 campaign is closed and that no more people will be called for interview from that. So we know now why they ran a new campaign. She also said that they haven't heard from the prison service on when interviews will be held.

And the prison service know nothing about it and told me to contact PAS.

tommy57

it sounds to me like their just passing the book now and are fed up answering people over the recruitment. maybe if they told people what was going on they would,nt be ringing up "annoying" them !:D

po candidate

Hi lads

This is the email i recieved from irish prison service yesterday, after i asked bout getting an interview in 09,

email

I'm afraid that it is impossible to say whether the 2008 competition will be moving forward this year.
The competition is being run by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Irish Prison Service, and we would have no involvement in the competition until a candidate has passed their interview. At which point their details are sent over to us and we proceed with their application.
What I would say is that it would be unlikely that we will have anyone from the 2008 competition starting with us in 2009 as we still have a large group of candidates from the 2007 competition, waiting to start.
What I would recommend you do is contact the public appointment service and ask them whether you will be interviewed in 2009.
You can ring 01 858 7400 and ask for Prison Officer Recruitment.
Sorry I can't be more specific but I just don't have any more information.

Regards,
Irish Prison Service

tommy57

that says it all really ! AT least someone got a straight answer at last

po candidate

its a pain in the a**e, but hopefully you 2007 lads will be called this year to start training, and 2008 lads(like me) will be interviewed, was suprised i got an answer all be it a mixed one but still, i think publicjobs are the ones we should be chasing for those of us waiting for interview

And for anyone waiting for medical, physical or to start training, i can give you the guy's name who replyed to me, thru private message, was quick reply and chap was honest so mite be worth emailing with your specific info to see what the story is!

cheers

Sisu200

Hi,

Am new to boards.ie, some really useful information here, I have a relation who is a Prision Officer, I have been told that alot of PO's are been encouraged to take the retirement option this year, even more than other years, as it will leave them finacially in a better position than hanging on, this might be a ploy by the service to reduce the wage costs over time, which is more cost effective? Officers on a high wage or a bunch of recruits starting out,

Also a new remand center has opened in a prision in the Midlands and this has drawn in 40 Officers from other prisions so there is an ongoing need for new PO.

Have passed the first stage myself, and am knuckling down for a long wait!! for the next stage,

Also heard that there is a delay in getting the recruitment underway, the old story, the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing!! the usual problem with civil service, nobody to make a decision. A bit like B.Cowen:D

tommy57

hows it going man what stage have you passed if you d,ont mind me asking

Sisu200

tommy57 wrote: »

hows it going man what stage have you passed if you d,ont mind me asking

Not going too bad, got through the aptitude, came in the low 300's, was happy enough with that, had just came back from holidays the night before the exam, still a bit worse for wear! Hope that they do proceed with this campaign, because work is getting scarce, however with my placing I am expecting to wait between 1 1/2 and 2 years if they call me at all

dropsey

Garryd wrote: »

Hi all.
Done my physical fitness test for the prison officers recently. For those of you curious about it here are the details.
The first part of it consists of 7 x 15 meter shuttle runs ie running from one point to another and back again. This must be done in under 35 seconds. The next part is the weights/resistance training which is in 3 parts.Pushing pulling and pushing with your legs. On each you have 3 practise goes and then 5 measured ones and machine takes an average on each. The next part is the fire extingusher run. 2 x 15 meter shuttles with a 14kg fire extingusher in under 30 seconds. This is the easiest part.
Next is the riot shield hold test. Its about 6kgs and must be held above your head at a 45 degree angle with your hands away from the body for a minute.
Last part is 40 x 15 meter shuttle runs in under 3 min 30 seconds. Not easy this but pick a pace that suits you. Its roughly 9 seconds per shuttle to pass I think.
There is no execeptions on the times. They are strictly stuck too by the testers who are not affiliated to the prison service.
Hope this helps anyone going to do this fitness test.
best of luck.

thanks for post Garryd.
a few silly questions for you.
The shuttle runs 105 metre and 600 metre are they done in doors or on grass ?
The runs do you turn round and run back or do you actually run backward ?
Thanks for your post Garryd.

Garryd

Hey dropsey.
The physical test is carried out indoors and the running part of it is in a forward direction. Hope this helps you!!!

SETANTA05

dropsey wrote: »

thanks for post Garryd.
a few silly questions for you.
The shuttle runs 105 metre and 600 metre are they done in doors or on grass ?
The runs do you turn round and run back or do you actually run backward ?
Thanks for your post Garryd.

Train for the 600m run cos if you can do that then the others will be easy.
its 40 shuttles of 15 metres in 3min30 sec so it is something even people who are active should prepare for.
a friend of mine who passed the physical late last year used to practise by running from the penalty spot to the goal line and back on the local football pitch.(might be an option for some)
i joined a gym to train for it even though the physical probably wont be till next autumn, if this year at all.
buy a grip strengthener thingie like this
they're cheap enough with 2 for around €10 in any martial arts shop or fitness place or less online.

Garryd

Or just buy a tennis ball for like 50 cent and sqeeze that instead!!!!

recruit po

Anyone heard anything from the prison service or public jobs?

Scatman81

Well lads anyone doing the fitness test March 20th?Do you get the result pass or fail straight after?

360ts

Recruit po: I haven't heard a word, I'm going to send an email this week but chances are all I'll get back are the same as the other lads replies. Scatman81: You're in the 2007 panel?

tommy57

Scatman81 wrote: »

Well lads anyone doing the fitness test March 20th?Do you get the result pass or fail straight after?

no man,i c,ant even get cleared never mind a fitness test ,but to all that are doing it best of luck and let us know how you get on

Scatman81

360ts wrote: »

Recruit po: I haven't heard a word, I'm going to send an email this week but chances are all I'll get back are the same as the other lads replies. Scatman81: You're in the 2007 panel?

I think there is another wait after the physical test.I rang the PS and the woman in HR was very helpful but couldnt say how long.As for the 08 panel i havent a clue which are you on?

360ts

I'm on the 2008 panel, haven't even been called for an interview.

I'll probably be old, feeble and gray by the time I get called for a medical.:)

lavman

thinking of heading to oz for a bit with a bit of luck when i get back the interviews might be starting it's so hard not knowing what's going on and having to wait around and put things on hold knowing my luck if i book a flight i'll be called or probably the day i land there

Scatman81

Heading to Oz myself in May ill have everything passed then so at least ill have something to come back to however long the wait is then.Id say the 08 panel will their interviews in 09 they wouldnt have started the panel if there was no need for recruits hang in there:o

blanchlad88

hey all,i hav my pct on the 20th and was wondering if ther will be much of a wait at all after that??as thats the last thing i have yet to do.

Scatman81

blanchlad88 wrote: »

hey all,i hav my pct on the 20th and was wondering if ther will be much of a wait at all after that??as thats the last thing i have yet to do.

Same as myself lad id be hoping before the end of 2009?

cmc2009

hi lads new to this..I have my physical this friday coming,,starting to panic...does..so if i pass do i that it that i'm in...and how long do u hav to wait b4 u hear any thing back

Electrician

Hey all, anyone hear anything about interviews for the 08 competition yet?

Garryd

hey cmc2009,
Which campaign are you? 2007 or 2008?

cmc2009

I think its the 2007..i,ve had a long one when i did the medical. my bmi was over 30.so i had to go see a doctor in the prison service, to c if i was health enough to do the physical..so i was supposed to do a thing called a chester step fitness test. she asked me to come back in 3 months..after i got my self active.. which i did and came back wit a much lower bmi...didnt hav to do the chester step test...got a letter a few weeks later telling me to go and do the pct...so i've had it tough:):mad:

portumna

Got a letter from PAS today and it says "we are not making any specific arrangements for Stage II". So now we're no better informed but at least PAS have acknowledged that we are waiting on this and have kindly written to us to tell us to wait. They're great aren't they!

360ts

Got the same letter, I assume everyone did.

Well, that's that I suppose. This thread is going to be fairly quiet for awhile I think.

Leo Demidov

forgive my ignorance but whats a pct, i'm in 2008 campaign and obviously dont know as much as i thought i did.

TheNog

PCT = Physical Competency Test

Welcome to the boards.ie!!!!

Always nice to see new members

480905

TheNog wrote: »

PCT = Physical Competency Test

Welcome to the boards.ie!!!!

Always nice to see new members

MMMMMM the force is strong in this one obi wan . . . . . . . Good to see you back Nog.You've been very Quiet.

TheNog

480905 wrote: »

MMMMMM the force is strong in this one obi wan . . . . . . . Good to see you back Nog.You've been very Quiet.

keeping the head down ye know

blanchlad88

my pct is on the 20th,wonder if id be lucky to get in before the end of summer?with a lot ppl retiring early i was wondering if anybody has heard wat the craic is?any1 the same as me?

cmc2009

done my pct today turned out not to be as bad as i thought...few people failed it on the run at the end

SETANTA05

cmc2009 wrote: »

done my pct today turned out not to be as bad as i thought...few people failed it on the run at the end

congrats dude.
friend of mine passed it last november/december and is still waiting to be called up.

po candidate

congrats mate,

Jesus, waiting all that lent of time and then to fail it on the run is crazy, infact plain stupid, why wouldnt anyone prepare for this test? ITS THE LAST PART AND YOUR IN!

madness!

well done to all who passed.