Technical agricultural officer

Ashtm

Has anyone any updates on offers?
I'm on the panel for wexford and recently received an email to say I am under consideration for Waterford posting, haven't heard anything since last Wednesday regarding it.

Massey3079

Any one offered kildare, was talking to a friend and he replied and had to send off more information to them

gav86

Massey3079 wrote: »

Any one offered kildare, was talking to a friend and he replied and had to send off more information to them

Just got another message about Cork, Cavan, Kildare, Meath, Tipp, Wexford and Waterford.. Do you know what information they were looking for Massey?

Massey3079

They were looking for audiogram, results and references and vaccine records and to get them back to them asap

Zlatam

Seen on public jobs that they've the started a new recruitment drive for TAO's.

timple23

Any tips for someone applying to this?

claas640

timple23 wrote: »

Any tips for someone applying to this?

Be willing to be very patient

Zlatam

Read the competencys in the description on public jobs, have a general idea of the schemes like BEEP S and TB eradication. Be sensible with what 2 counties you put down as preference, Sligo has no DVO or meat plant for example so TAO work there is minimal, Kildare for example has a DVO and also 2 or 3 meat plants so job opportunities are far higher in that county. Don t let the starting salary put you off, there are annual increments and with most TAO roles there does be expenses.

Carlow20

Any one know if you're already working in public service as a Clerical officer can you transfer to same point of scale for TAO? Just noticed payscale seems to be the same

Janedough

Anyone have any problems downloading the pdf application, I emailed them and they replied, so I did what they said to do but still getting the 'please wait" page

Zlatam

Carlow20 wrote: »

Any one know if you're already working in public service as a Clerical officer can you transfer to same point of scale for TAO? Just noticed payscale seems to be the same

Maybe you could move laterlly from internal transfers if you have the same qualifications, and you d stay on the same pay scale you're I d imagine

Cheeseplant

Carlow20 wrote: »

Any one know if you're already working in public service as a Clerical officer can you transfer to same point of scale for TAO? Just noticed payscale seems to be the same

yes, apply to this open comptetion and you would then start TAO on the same point you are currently on, or depnding where you are in your PMDS cycle, you might move up a point. If you have the quals, getting in at TAO would put you in good stead for the Ag Inspector stream if you so wished.

doc22

Cheeseplant wrote: »

yes, apply to this open comptetion and you would then start TAO on the same point you are currently on, or depnding where you are in your PMDS cycle, you might move up a point. If you have the quals, getting in at TAO would put you in good stead for the Ag Inspector stream if you so wished.

What difference does PMDS cycle make, are you sure on the above as CO and TAO are not equivalent grades?

Cheeseplant

doc22 wrote: »

What difference does PMDS cycle make, are you sure on the above as CO and TAO are not equivalent grades?

No, I'm wrong. Just checked there in the circular and lots of different scenarios depending on your salary and the new job starting salary.
Check it out here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/57443f-082019-starting-pay-on-promotion/

doc22

Cheeseplant wrote: »

No, I'm wrong. Just checked there in the circular and lots of different scenarios depending on your salary and the new job starting salary.
Check it out here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/circular/57443f-082019-starting-pay-on-promotion/

Moving to a TAO may be seen as a promotion as it has a slightly higher scale so you might not be to far off

StevenToast

Is it possible that a current TAO can give us an idea of what a standard day/week looks like?

Thanks

timple23

Where do you select the two counties on the application process? I can’t see it.

Zlatam

It varies what you d be at weekly, if you're doing inspections there d be a lot of out of office work. Most meat plants you d be there daily, often get day transfers to other plants to cover staff on holidays, good boost on wages. Over time is also available in meat plants, can be taken as time off or as extra money.

John Ryan 99

Zlatam wrote: »

It varies what you d be at weekly, if you're doing inspections there d be a lot of out of office work. Most meat plants you d be there daily, often get day transfers to other plants to cover staff on holidays, good boost on wages. Over time is also available in meat plants, can be taken as time off or as extra money.

Just wondering what sort of qualifications they are mainly looking for I have a forestry level 7 and land management level 8. Also is experience taken into account or is it entry level and experience is not required?

Catherine94

Hi, I just applied for the position of TAO for 2020 but did anyone download the information booklet in pdf version? If they did could they send me a message and send it to me? Some reason it didn't download properly for me Thanks a mill!!

Also one more question when do you choose what county you would like to work in? Is that in the next step because it didn't seem to be asked on the application form!

nicchick88

Has anyone heard from PAS about their application or the next stage?

John Ryan 99

nicchick88 wrote: »

Has anyone heard from PAS about their application or the next stage?

Ye I got a message on public jobs account about an aptitude test to be done online between 17th and 22nd of September

hillbillygirl

Has anyone received a message today to book a time slot for the Aptitude test?

Anyone take the Aptitude test yet?

Harder or easier than expected based on the practice few questions we recieved??

Was the Numerical section all ratio and percentage based??

Also can you pick which sections you sit first ie the verbal before the numerical or are you given no choice??

Many thanks for replies!!

Catherine94

Hi, This is probably a really stupid question but can we use a calculator in the numerical section of the aptitude test does anyone know?

nicchick88

hillbillygirl wrote: »

Has anyone received a message today to book a time slot for the Aptitude test?

Anyone take the Aptitude test yet?

Harder or easier than expected based on the practice few questions we recieved??

Was the Numerical section all ratio and percentage based??

Also can you pick which sections you sit first ie the verbal before the numerical or are you given no choice??

Many thanks for replies!!

You don't have to book a time to sit the test. The test will be a combination of different types of questions. I'm not sure if you can choose what you sit first, but you should check out the practice questions through the familiarisation booklet. Also go to the PAS test advice and select executive officer, they have practice questions in there too.

You can use a calculator for the exam.

hillbillygirl

nicchick88 wrote: »

You don't have to book a time to sit the test. The test will be a combination of different types of questions. I'm not sure if you can choose what you sit first, but you should check out the practice questions through the familiarisation booklet. Also go to the PAS test advice and select executive officer, they have practice questions in there too.

You can use a calculator for the exam.

Thanks a mil,

I'm a bit stumped as to where to find " PAS test advice and select executive officer" ??

When I click on my messages in the public jobs it leads me to a practice test where I give my full name and email, there are no options anywhere to select executive officer?

nicchick88

Sorry I should have explained a bit better lol

When you log into SOVA, there should be a box to click on that says practice assessment on it. There you have to agree to conditions which you then proceed with the practice exam.

Another way to practice, this time through PAS. On the home page of Public Jobs, select Info Hub, then Our Recruitment Process, then Test advice

timple23

For assessment three; accuracy assessment are you just given 15 questions where you have to match the code like the example given in the sample test?

John Ryan 99

timple23 wrote: »

For assessment three; accuracy assessment are you just given 15 questions where you have to match the code like the example given in the sample test?

Yes it’s the same as examples

Jbel

Cad88 wrote: »

What was the story with scanning the room with your laptop? My laptops display is dodgy at the best of times so afraid of having to move it a lot.

Also how did people find it? Was the verbal much the same as the practice and was there a lot of percentages and ratios in the numerical?

Thanks

How did people find it

Jbel

How did people find it

hillbillygirl

Maths section had me, the tables were fairly confusing and lots of information given, was a guessing game unfortunately for me, you'd never know with the english what you got!

I'd imagine there will be a higher rate of higher ranking people this year as the test isn't been verified in person and by the looks of it it was handy to sidestep the short recorded verified video recordings if you were that way inclined.

Jbel

hillbillygirl wrote: »

Maths section had me, the tables were fairly confusing and lots of information given, was a guessing game unfortunately for me, you'd never know with the english what you got!

I'd imagine there will be a higher rate of higher ranking people this year as the test isn't been verified in person and by the looks of it it was handy to sidestep the short recorded verified video recordings if you were that way inclined.

I agree, the maths was fairly overloaded,
Were you suppose to scan the room at the end of every test or just scan your face?

hillbillygirl

I'm not too sure but I went with scanning the room!!

What's the story with no section anywhere to mention your interest in specific counties?

Will they rank all of Ireland and offer you a job anywhere and if you decline, you'll probably get put to the back of the panel

It makes no sense that there has been no county selection section, sure the top people who get pulled for the interview and then get thru that all might want Kildare for example and that's wasting everyone's time!!

John Ryan 99

hillbillygirl wrote: »

I'm not too sure but I went with scanning the room!!

What's the story with no section anywhere to mention your interest in specific counties?

Will they rank all of Ireland and offer you a job anywhere and if you decline, you'll probably get put to the back of the panel

It makes no sense that there has been no county selection section, sure the top people who get pulled for the interview and then get thru that all might want Kildare for example and that's wasting everyone's time!!

At the start of the process when I filled out application and it said to put down two counties as preference but some people seem to have not got that option

hillbillygirl

John Ryan 99 wrote: »

At the start of the process when I filled out application and it said to put down two counties as preference but some people seem to have not got that option

@ JohnRyan99

Never even seen two county preference mentioned!!

Was it in the actual application form ? alongside the "Do you work well under pressure question"

Id say we are bound to hear by the 16th of October if we were ranked in a position suitable for interview.

WestLad97

Did anyone hear anything back about the Tao job?, thought they’d have something by now?

nicchick88

WestLad97 wrote: »

Did anyone hear anything back about the Tao job?, thought they’d have something by now?

I haven't yet either. Me too, I got my results for the EO panel last week and the assessments period were at the same time.

hillbillygirl

WestLad97 wrote: »

Did anyone hear anything back about the Tao job?, thought they’d have something by now?

No not a word yet, hoping its this side of xmas!

StevenToast

WestLad97 wrote: »

Did anyone hear anything back about the Tao job?, thought they’d have something by now?

Maybe fire them an email for an update?

chris__93

I've applied but I havent heard a peep from them. I emailed public jobs and they forwarded my message onto the department but no reply since.

Carlow20

Results are out

John Ryan 99

Carlow20 wrote: »

Results are out

How high on panel would you have to did Finish to have a chance of getting job

StevenToast

John Ryan 99 wrote: »

How high on panel would you have to did Finish to have a chance of getting job

How high did you finish?

John Ryan 99

StevenToast wrote: »

How high did you finish?

183

John Ryan 99

StevenToast wrote: »

How high did you finish?

Not great

hillbillygirl

Lads whats the story with my message?

"Further to your participation at Stage 1 of the selection process for the above mentioned competition, I am pleased to inform you that you have reached the qualifying standard and have been placed 22 on the order of merit. "

22 in Ireland or where as I said above I never picked counties??

John Ryan 99

hillbillygirl wrote: »

Lads whats the story with my message?

"Further to your participation at Stage 1 of the selection process for the above mentioned competition, I am pleased to inform you that you have reached the qualifying standard and have been placed 22 on the order of merit. "

22 in Ireland or where as I said above I never picked counties??

I think it’s for whole country

timple23

StevenToast wrote: »

I would imagine it is 22 in Ireland

Im in the 90's

Does this mean that 21 people will be considered for a position before this person is interviewed?

When will we be asked to pick our county choices?

hillbillygirl

timple23 wrote: »

Does this mean that 21 people will be considered for a position before this person is interviewed?

When will we be asked to pick our county choices?

I'd imagine that the first 50-100 or more will be called to interview and then they will be ranked in order again and then broken down into counties?