Clerical Positions in the Civil and Public Service

treacyf3

Does anyone know of any websites apart from the Saville Consulting website to practice these types of questions? Just want to practice/be prepared!

Thinkingaboutit

treacyf3 wrote: »

Does anyone know of any websites apart from the Saville Consulting website to practice these types of questions? Just want to practice/be prepared!

I asked that too.

Three of the tests on the Public Jobs site (here) differ a little, but should be of help.

The_Conductor

The 'actual' tests used in the HEO were Saville Consulting- however, the questions were significantly harder than the test/trial questions on publicjobs. Presumably they'd use Saville Consulting for the CO and the upcoming EO exams too.

Eliza1

Have the EO posts been advertised yet?

The_Conductor

Eliza1 wrote: »

Have the EO posts been advertised yet?

They're not due to go ahead until after the CO competition, so realistically it could be the new year.

DoctorDre

The_Conductor wrote: »

They're not due to go ahead until after the CO competition, so realistically it could be the new year.

Are we likely to see another 28,000 people apply for this?

ruadh

Eliza1 wrote: »

Have the EO posts been advertised yet?

What is the situation with the EO competition? Do you have to be a current employee in the civil service?

starlit

Usually its around late Autumn and early Winter they Advertise the EO competition. Usually in November the EO competition starts.

The_Conductor

ruadh wrote: »

What is the situation with the EO competition? Do you have to be a current employee in the civil service?

No- its an open competition- anyone can go for it.
There may be certain streams- which are confined to people holding qualifications in pertinent areas (such as EO ICT- having to have IT experience and/or qualifications, or certain EO posts in Revenue- where financial experience and/or qualifications may be required).
Its an open competition though- it won't be confined to serving civil servants.

The_Conductor

DoctorDre wrote: »

Are we likely to see another 28,000 people apply for this?

Its entirely possible.
The salary scale is significantly better than that of the EO scale- and the role is classified as 'junior management' so it would definitely appeal to a far wider audience than the CO competition (though it would definitely be a good idea for people who went for the CO competition to use it as a dry-run and to apply for the EO too).
How many will apply? Its a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question- anyone who suggests a number is pulling it out of thin air.

Zipppy

The_Conductor wrote: »

No- its an open competition- anyone can go for it.
There may be certain streams- which are confined to people holding qualifications in pertinent areas (such as EO ICT- having to have IT experience and/or qualifications, or certain EO posts in Revenue- where financial experience and/or qualifications may be required).
Its an open competition though- it won't be confined to serving civil servants.

Surely people applying for certain ICT/Financial steams rather then just General Admin wouldn't have to enter into the whole 'tests' procedure and would be interviewed based upon their experience / qualifications similar to the AO (ICT and compliance) competitions in Revenue?

The_Conductor

Zipppy wrote: »

Surely people applying for certain ICT/Financial steams rather then just General Admin wouldn't have to enter into the whole 'tests' procedure and would be interviewed based upon their experience / qualifications similar to the AO (ICT and compliance) competitions in Revenue?

No.
Everyone does the tests.
After you get through the tests- you're streamed into the competitions you're eligible for (e.g. you might get both the general and the IT stream- as two separate bites at the cherry).
You still have to do the tests though.

Sometimes there may be specific competitions for EO ICT (or whatever)- in which case you have to hold the requisite qualification in order to enter the competition- but you still have to do the tests.........

Subacio

If you don't turn up for the Dublin tests, does that rule you out of the other 2 regions you selected? I got called for Friday afternoon, but now can't make it.

Zipppy

The_Conductor wrote: »

No.
Everyone does the tests.
After you get through the tests- you're streamed into the competitions you're eligible for (e.g. you might get both the general and the IT stream- as two separate bites at the cherry).
You still have to do the tests though.

Sometimes there may be specific competitions for EO ICT (or whatever)- in which case you have to hold the requisite qualification in order to enter the competition- but you still have to do the tests.........

But there were no tests for AO in revenue??

keowny8

There were no tests for CO in revenue either.... But all potential CO's have to test now...

The_Conductor

Zipppy wrote: »

But there were no tests for AO in revenue??

Since when? I've done them twice (so far).
Got to interview at both stages- and didn't get through the interview, unfortunately.

The_Conductor

Subacio wrote: »

If you don't turn up for the Dublin tests, does that rule you out of the other 2 regions you selected? I got called for Friday afternoon, but now can't make it.

Its one test. You do not have separate tests for each region. You only do one Stage 2 test- not multiple ones for each region.

dooey_01

Anybody have any experience of what to expect at the interview for CO should you make it that far?

Thinkingaboutit

The_Conductor wrote: »

The 'actual' tests used in the HEO were Saville Consulting- however, the questions were significantly harder than the test/trial questions on publicjobs. Presumably they'd use Saville Consulting for the CO and the upcoming EO exams too.

I thought the Publicjob tests were a decent match to the difficulty in the on-line test, while the Saville samples were a good bit easier. I hope it goes well for me.

Zipppy

The_Conductor wrote: »

Since when? I've done them twice (so far).
Got to interview at both stages- and didn't get through the interview, unfortunately.

Got to interview three times in last four years for AO (ICT) in revenue (had to opt out of this years competition pre interview because of personal stuff)
No tests in any case...just application then called for interview...

The_Conductor

Zipppy wrote: »

Got to interview three times in last four years for AO (ICT) in revenue (had to opt out of this years competition pre interview because of personal stuff)
No tests in any case...just application then called for interview...

Hmmm- were these separate competitions- or specialised streams of general competitions? The ones I went for- were the latter (went for Finance and ICT positions- ended up having to give a presentation on Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance measures- for an ICT post- which totally freaked me out- and probably sank me on that occasion).

Anyhow- this is offtopic- so I'd better stop.

ainecolumbus

has anyone applied for wexford waterford area? or kilkenny carlow area? any news??

eroc79

ainecolumbus wrote: »

has anyone applied for wexford waterford area? or kilkenny carlow area? any news??

Nothing from Waterford yet

Divisadero

Just be aware that there may only be a few or even no vacancies in some of the areas outside Dublin. The panels will be set up anyway in case vacancies come up in the future. I hope there will be some jobs but you may need to manage your expectations on this.

I am basing this on previous experience and the the fact that the PAS said so in the original handbook. They also re stated this in their email advising us of our results. I mean where they said we may be invited to the next stage only if vacancies arise in our area.

bnagrrl

I'm due to sit the test tomorrow at 9am. How long does the test go on for does anyone know?

gerbilgranny

Zipppy wrote: »

Got to interview three times in last four years for AO (ICT) in revenue (had to opt out of this years competition pre interview because of personal stuff)
No tests in any case...just application then called for interview...

Hmmm...I can't understand the logic of just an application and interview.

I know a successful applicant - and I think a test would have been useful.

butterly.john

bnagrrl wrote: »

I'm due to sit the test tomorrow at 9am. How long does the test go on for does anyone know?

It takes about 2 hours from when you get there until you leave, that's including the practice tests. I did it today and found the verbal tests easy, the error checking was ok but the maths part where you work out things based on the given scenario was difficult.

AshF22

butterly.john wrote: »

It takes about 2 hours from when you get there until you leave, that's including the practice tests. I did it today and found the verbal tests easy, the error checking was ok but the maths part where you work out things based on the given scenario was difficult.

Hopefully you've done well! Did you think it was harder or about the same difficulty as the unsupervised exam?

Divisadero

Were the supervised tests Saville tests (the same as the online ones in stage 1)?Or were they the PAS own tests? Tests similar to the examples on the Public Jobs website.

butterly.john

AshF22 wrote: »

Hopefully you've done well! Did you think it was harder or about the same difficulty as the unsupervised exam?

The maths was a bit harder, the verbal part ( true, false, cannot say) was easier, the error checking was about the same.