Garda Recruitment - Stage 4

user0

timwynne wrote: »

From what I have read of my other halfs form, no competencies should be included on the interview form

It is merely for you to outline your education, skills and work experience


this is NOT 2006/7 - it is an entirely new way of doing things

it asks for you to outline experience relevant to garda role though? would that not be based on competencies?

timwynne

user0 wrote: »

it asks for you to outline experience relevant to garda role though? would that not be based on competencies?

In the last recruitment it was clearly outlined that they wanted a rundown of competencies. it was set out in a template

this year is not expected on your form this time around - it even states BEFORE THE INTERVIEW 'the interview form requires information including details of your educational qualifications/training and employments history'.

the competencies are outlined under the heading THE INTERVIEW

outlining competencies could be seen as jumping the gun and could serve to be counter productive to the clarity and simplicity of the interview form

King Ludvig

Earliest interview is May 1st. Not sure of the latest but I know of two people who have theirs on the 14th.

I agree, if they wanted examples of the competencies they would have put a section in the form for it. Right now they want to know what you've done with your life to date. At interview, you'll be asked for the examples of the competencies so have them ready for that. Speaking of the competencies, I'm unsure as to what exactly they mean by the competency "Personal Effectiveness"...thoughts anyone?

Rothmans

King Ludvig wrote: »

Earliest interview is May 1st. Not sure of the latest but I know of two people who have theirs on the 14th.

I agree, if they wanted examples of the competencies they would have put a section in the form for it. Right now they want to know what you've done with your life to date. At interview, you'll be asked for the examples of the competencies so have them ready for that. Speaking of the competencies, I'm unsure as to what exactly they mean by the competency "Personal Effectiveness"...thoughts anyone?

Yeah, that one threw me too. I would hazard a guess that it means how well you can get a task done, and how quickly you can do so?

ShodenMcClane

It's a very simple form with very simple instructions. I'll be answering the questions they are asking on it.

WilcoOut

ShodenMcClane wrote: »

It's a very simple form with very simple instructions. I'll be answering the questions they are asking on it.

Amen sister

Rothmans

Out of a matter of interest, how much are people filling in for the work experience boxes. Are you keeping it short and concise, or are ye elaborating a bit more?

Shield

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Scouser

that form is doing my head in - Its full of info but i reckon i am giving too much

higglepiggle

The form is scant on detail which makes it more difficult to fill out. Another issue is what if your a school leaver or unemployed for a long period of time?

Hank26

I know how you feel, completing it at the moment, trying to keep it short and to the point and then plan to elaborate at interview.

Does anyone know does immediate family include aunts, uncles and cousins or is it just parents brothers and sisters?

galalala123

Hank26 wrote: »

I know how you feel, completing it at the moment, trying to keep it short and to the point and then plan to elaborate at interview.

Does anyone know does immediate family include aunts, uncles and cousins or is it just parents brothers and sisters?

Where does it say about putting family down??

SonnyB

I reckon a word count of roughly 1,500 is ideal ? Any thoughts on this anyone ?

KERSPLAT!

Hank26 wrote: »

I know how you feel, completing it at the moment, trying to keep it short and to the point and then plan to elaborate at interview.

Does anyone know does immediate family include aunts, uncles and cousins or is it just parents brothers and sisters?

Immediate family would usually be parents, siblings and your children

Hank26

galalala123 wrote: »

Where does it say about putting family down??

It doesn't, but I'm trying to get information together if I'm successful at interview. The familiarisation material states that there will be a quick turnaround for stage 5.

galalala123

Hank26 wrote: »

It doesn't, but I'm trying to get information together if I'm successful at interview. The familiarisation material states that there will be a quick turnaround for stage 5.

Oh yeah i saw that. You gave me a mini heart attack i thought i was missing forms 😊

jamesr123

higglepiggle wrote: »

The form is scant on detail which makes it more difficult to fill out. Another issue is what if your a school leaver or unemployed for a long period of time?

I was unemployed but still attended fas, obair courses and worked in a shop at weekends so I'm sure if you were unemployed you'd have something to write down. Also nowadays I'm sure a lot of candidates have spent time unemployed ?

BRB

jamesr123 wrote: »

I was unemployed but still attended fas, obair courses and worked in a shop at weekends so I'm sure if you were unemployed you'd have something to write down. Also nowadays I'm sure a lot of candidates have spent time unemployed ?

Surely they are expecting that they will have unemployed candidates. It would be unrealistic I they didn't.

I'm more worried that being a student I've only held 2 "real" jobs. One being a nightclub rep which I wouldn't really count.

WilcoOut

Gaps in your CV shouldnt be a problem if they were used constructively

Lmklad

Hank26 wrote: »

I know how you feel, completing it at the moment, trying to keep it short and to the point and then plan to elaborate at interview.

Does anyone know does immediate family include aunts, uncles and cousins or is it just parents brothers and sisters?

Immediate family = parents, siblings, children (yours if any), aunts, uncles, first cousins. If there is a section for your partner it's the same.

Lmklad

BRB wrote: »

Surely they are expecting that they will have unemployed candidates. It would be unrealistic I they didn't.

I'm more worried that being a student I've only held 2 "real" jobs. One being a nightclub rep which I wouldn't really count.

Don't worry. The jobs bit isn't a test. If you've done fas/obair courses just put them in. If you've only had one or two jobs that's not necessarily a bad thing.

djor88

For the final piece, "Additional Relevant Information", are people listing information/achievements or writing a paragraph/personal statement.

As previous posts have said, it's quite vague and general, so I'm assuming it's fairly open to our own interpretation...

Chirper

djor88 wrote: »

For the final piece, "Additional Relevant Information", are people listing information/achievements or writing a paragraph/personal statement.

As previous posts have said, it's quite vague and general, so I'm assuming it's fairly open to our own interpretation...

Im not sure if they are going to want to read through a personal statement telling them how great i am. I would imagine the just want a simple list of achievments and they will then go into detail on these during the interview. I may be wrong on this though

galalala123

Chirper wrote: »

Im not sure if they are going to want to read through a personal statement telling them how great i am. I would imagine the just want a simple list of achievments and they will then go into detail on these during the interview. I may be wrong on this though

I'd tend to agree with you.

jamesr123

Lmklad wrote: »

Immediate family = parents, siblings, children (yours if any), aunts, uncles, first cousins. If there is a section for your partner it's the same.

I thought cousins didn't count ? Only uncles and aunts. I also heard many times that excluding your parents its unlikely family having convictions could effect you.

Carroller

Are people gonna print out this application form and bring it with them to the interview?

timwynne

Carroller wrote: »

Are people gonna print out this application form and bring it with them to the interview?

If it goes like my interview - they will disregard everything written down!

Rothmans

timwynne wrote: »

If it goes like my interview - they will disregard everything written down!

Uh oh. What happened exactly?

timwynne

Rothmans wrote: »

Uh oh. What happened exactly?

just a method of putting a candidate under pressure!

Rothmans

timwynne wrote: »

just a method of putting a candidate under pressure!

Out of interest. What curveballs did they throw at ya?

timwynne

Rothmans wrote: »

Out of interest. What curveballs did they throw at ya?

hard to remember specifics but I had lot of 'please outline ANOTHER example'

WilcoOut

For employment history - how many years/jobs should i provide?

How banal...

WilcoOut wrote: »

For employment history - how many years/jobs should i provide?

As per the Interview Form; "Ensure that you detail all relevant work experience."

Give a broad overview of all the related experience/jobs you have had, the ones that you will refer to during the interview to showcase the relevant skills. Keep it succinct but ensure to list all the jobs which you have gained valuable skills in - imagine harping on in the interview about a job not listed...wouldn't fancy that!

galalala123

It doesnt say you can edit the form though so id be careful. I wouldnt be adding in boxes without confirming it

How banal...

With the exception of the Career History section; "Continue with additional career history in the same format". I've added to that.

newmug

galalala123 wrote: »

It doesnt say you can edit the form though so id be careful. I wouldnt be adding in boxes without confirming it

You HAVE to be able to edit it! How can you type anything in it without clicking "Enable editing"?

galalala123

newmug wrote: »

You HAVE to be able to edit it! How can you type anything in it without clicking "Enable editing"?

Ya obviously but not adding in new sections and extra bits. i'd confirm it with PAS if i was anyway thats for sure.

BRB

timwynne wrote: »

hard to remember specifics but I had lot of 'please outline ANOTHER example'

If that continued for 40 minutes it will be one "interesting" interview!

Side note: My form is looking very...empty.

octigen

galalala123 wrote: »

Ya obviously but not adding in new sections and extra bits. i'd confirm it with PAS if i was anyway thats for sure.

I don't see the problem in adding in extra bits if this is the only way it allows you insert relevant information in a presentable fashion.

WilcoOut

BRB wrote: »

If that continued for 40 minutes it will be one "interesting" interview!

Side note: My form is looking very...empty.

Mines far from brimming with info but I have all boxes ticked so to speak

iv given them what they asked for

BRB

WilcoOut wrote: »

Mines far from brimming with info but I have all boxes ticked so to speak

iv given them what they asked for

Well there are two boxes I can't even complete due to the fact I'm still doing my degree, so thats number 3 incomplete and "Other training/courses" would that be the likes of lifesaving qualifications and ECDL? Because I've thrown those into section 6.

WilcoOut

BRB wrote: »

Well there are two boxes I can't even complete due to the fact I'm still doing my degree, so thats number 3 incomplete and "Other training/courses" would that be the likes of lifesaving qualifications and ECDL? Because I've thrown those into section 6.

I have them in section 4

section 6 i have other things that arnt training quals but more relevant experience

BRB

WilcoOut wrote: »

I have them in section 4

section 6 i have other things that arnt training quals but more relevant experience

Grand! I'll switch those round. Cheers

Lmklad

jamesr123 wrote: »

I thought cousins didn't count ? Only uncles and aunts. I also heard many times that excluding your parents its unlikely family having convictions could effect you.

Unfortunately regardless of what you've heard what I've said is what it means.

KERSPLAT!

If anyone is having issues understanding something on the application/form, please ring PAS. Don't take what you read here as gospel. Better to find out yourself from an official sorce than to mess it up

-KERSPLAT!

BRB

Lmklad wrote: »

Unfortunately regardless of what you've heard what I've said is what it means.

Cousins wouldn't be counted as an immediate family member.
It is, under normal circumstances, your mother/father/siblings. Extended family is then your cousins/aunts etc.

billie1b

BRB wrote: »

Cousins wouldn't be counted as an immediate family member.
It is, under normal circumstances, your mother/father/siblings. Extended family is then your cousins/aunts etc.

In the last Garda recruitment drives, for backround checks, you had to give names, addresses and PPS numbers of immediate family members, which included Parents, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

KERSPLAT!

billie1b wrote: »

In the last Garda recruitment drives, for backround checks, you had to give names, addresses and PPS numbers of immediate family members, which included Parents, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

I have 5 aunts and 5 uncles, not including their spouses, I have about 35-40 cousins... that would be a nightmare!!!

BRB

billie1b wrote: »

In the last Garda recruitment drives, for backround checks, you had to give names, addresses and PPS numbers of immediate family members, which included Parents, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

Well as Kersplat said, I'll be ringing PAS to clarify what they mean by immediate family as people seem to have different definitions.

galalala123

But we dont have to provide that info now do we??