Administrative Officer 2017 Campaign

sjka2013

Me three, I'm 260 :eek:. Although I don't hold much hope to be honest

Halloween Jack

Anybody get offers this week?

pixieprincess

Halloween Jack wrote: »

Anybody get offers this week?

Not yet. I am jumping every time the phone rings.

Conqueror

I'd suggest phoning PAS, and ask to be put through to the clearance team. They'll tell you how far along the panel they are. If your number is close, they might be able to give you a timeline of when to expect an offer.

sureitsgrand

quad_red wrote: »

Really fantastic to hear such a positive experience.

I'm in my late 30's with a lot of experience and will (if I'm called) be taking a significant pay cut to take up an AO role. I've been private sector since graduating but always felt I wanted to work for the PS eventually in a policy area. The crash put that on ice for years but haven't been successful in getting in at AP level. Been to interview but I genuinely don't have the level of people management experience they're after.

My hope with the AO is that it will be a stepping stone (with a lot of hard work obviously. Not expecting anything automatic). And have heard some good news stories and some bad. But I'd leave my current role and salary because there is no more room for progression for something less well paid but with that potential for progression.

How specific are offers when they're made? Are you told the specific work area and department you're being offered? Maybe put out some feelers then to see what that section/dept is like?

I got told which Department by the PAS, and then when I got my offer letter from the Department it stated my assigned Division.

pixieprincess

Pas are moving through the panel again.

quad_red

pixieprincess wrote: »

Pas are moving through the panel again.

Any idea what number in the OOM they are on?

pixieprincess

quad_red wrote: »

Any idea what number in the OOM they are on?

They should be calling 26, 27 onwards from today on.

Chocolate Teapot

pixieprincess wrote: »

Pas are moving through the panel again.

Did you get a location you're happy with?

Halloween Jack

pixieprincess wrote: »

Pas are moving through the panel again.

Congrats and I hope you were placed somewhere agreeable to you.

ellipticwot

I would welcome some advice from those who may have been in a similar situation, or from those who have a bit more experience with the civil service.

I was successfully placed on the most recent AO panel, and while I have not yet received a call regarding clearance and placement, I would expect to receive one in the near future. However, I have also reached the final interview stage for the role of Third Sec. in the Dept. of Foreign Affairs & Trade. Since this campaign is separate to the AO campaign, I am wondering what sort of scope is available to 'stall' on accepting an AO role until the interview results and OOM from the Third Sec. campaign are announced, if indeed I get the AO call before the Third Sec. results are released?

Also, while this is putting the cart before the horse, any further general advice regarding a decision between AO and Third Sec. would also be welcome.

Thank you.

Halloween Jack

ellipticwot wrote: »

I would welcome some advice from those who may have been in a similar situation, or from those who have a bit more experience with the civil service.

I was successfully placed on the most recent AO panel, and while I have not yet received a call regarding clearance and placement, I would expect to receive one in the near future. However, I have also reached the final interview stage for the role of Third Sec. in the Dept. of Foreign Affairs & Trade. Since this campaign is separate to the AO campaign, I am wondering what sort of scope is available to 'stall' on accepting an AO role until the interview results and OOM from the Third Sec. campaign are announced, if indeed I get the AO call before the Third Sec. results are released?

Also, while this is putting the cart before the horse, any further general advice regarding a decision between AO and Third Sec. would also be welcome.

Thank you.

If you phone PAS they’ll tell you what your options are in relation to turning down an offer. You may be moved to the bottom of the OOM etc, but definitely call them.

PCX

They are separate open competitions. You can accept AO offer and even start the job without it affecting the 3rd sec competition. There is no reason to stall acceptance. Make the decision whether to move if and when you get an offer of appointment as a 3rd sec.

In fact any time you spend in the CS before you start as a 3rd sec will count towards service requirements for promotion etc so will be to your benefit. AO's and 3rd secs attend the same grad development program so can start that as an AO and continue if you are successful in the 3rd sec competition.

In my experience lots of people start civil service jobs and then leave almost immediately to another section or department as they are successful in another competition. Management are used to that happening and won't be too put out - most are happy to see people developing their career.

If you try to stall the AO job while you wait to hear about 3rd sec you could end up with neither.

Tarpedo

Just wondering when was the 3rd sec recruitment drive?

vicrox

I haven’t had mine yet!! Anyone had theirs? How did it go?

ellipticwot

@Halloween_Jack & @PCX: Thank you, much appreciated.

@Tarpedo: It's a continuation of last year's campaign, which opened in May 2017 if I recall correctly.

Halloween Jack

ellipticwot wrote: »

@Halloween_Jack & @PCX: Thank you, much appreciated.

@Tarpedo: It's a continuation of last year's campaign, which opened in May 2017 if I recall correctly.

Best of luck with both;)

Augme

PCX wrote: »

They are separate open competitions. You can accept AO offer and even start the job without it affecting the 3rd sec competition. There is no reason to stall acceptance. Make the decision whether to move if and when you get an offer of appointment as a 3rd sec.

In fact any time you spend in the CS before you start as a 3rd sec will count towards service requirements for promotion etc so will be to your benefit. AO's and 3rd secs attend the same grad development program so can start that as an AO and continue if you are successful in the 3rd sec competition.

In my experience lots of people start civil service jobs and then leave almost immediately to another section or department as they are successful in another competition. Management are used to that happening and won't be too put out - most are happy to see people developing their career.

If you try to stall the AO job while you wait to hear about 3rd sec you could end up with neither.

I think AO and Third Sec are considered to be on the same grade level, in which case you can't go from one to the other. In the Civil Service you can only leave your grade if you get a promotion. I'm not 100% sure on that but I think it is the case.

Riskymove

Augme wrote: »

I think AO and Third Sec are considered to be on the same grade level, in which case you can't go from one to the other. In the Civil Service you can only leave your grade if you get a promotion. I'm not 100% sure on that but I think it is the case.

If they are open competitions there is no problem moving between them

It's only confined competitions that restrict such movement

AGC

Augme wrote: »

I think AO and Third Sec are considered to be on the same grade level, in which case you can't go from one to the other. In the Civil Service you can only leave your grade if you get a promotion. I'm not 100% sure on that but I think it is the case.

Doesn’t matter what grade you are, you can leave for another grade if offered. Plenty of people have gone HEO to AO or AO to 3rd sec, 1st sec to AP etc...

quad_red

AGC wrote: »

Doesn’t matter what grade you are, you can leave for another grade if offered. Plenty of people have gone HEO to AO or AO to 3rd sec, 1st sec to AP etc...

So you’ve got to wait two years to apply internally for promotion, right.

But you can apply for full external competitions all ye like?

AGC

quad_red wrote: »

So you’ve got to wait two years to apply internally for promotion, right.

But you can apply for full external competitions all ye like?

Once your probabtion is complete is the norm for internal and once you have required qualifications for external

The_Conductor

AGC wrote: »

Once your probabtion is complete is the norm for internal and once you have required qualifications for external

Probation is now normally by way of a 1 year 'contract' on the elapse of which, subject to satisfactory performance, you are made permanent. You're not eligible to go for internal promotion- until you have served a further year in your substantive grade.

AGC

The_Conductor wrote: »

Probation is now normally by way of a 1 year 'contract' on the elapse of which, subject to satisfactory performance, you are made permanent. You're not eligible to go for internal promotion- until you have served a further year in your substantive grade.

Is this as a new entrant to the service? I know of people who were out of 1 year probabtion and promoted internally in their second year. They would have been existing civil servants prior to the probabtion - if that makes sense!

mockscraic

AGC wrote: »

Is this as a new entrant to the service? I know of people who were out of 1 year probabtion and promoted internally in their second year. They would have been existing civil servants prior to the probabtion - if that makes sense!

I would say that's the case, they look for two years of service (typically, not always!), not two years of service as a certain grade.

Tarpedo

Any idea where they are this week?

Otsuka

Mid 30's and got a Dublin offer this morning ...

irishguy2017

congrats, did you accept it or are you looking for a regional offer?

hardybuck

AGC wrote: »

Is this as a new entrant to the service? I know of people who were out of 1 year probabtion and promoted internally in their second year. They would have been existing civil servants prior to the probabtion - if that makes sense!

If you get promoted via an internal competition, you are also subject to a one year probation. However, it's slightly different that you get reverted to the grade you left if it doesn't work out.

I'm not sure what happens to internal candidates who are promoted via open competitions.

Otsuka

irishguy2017 wrote: »

congrats, did you accept it or are you looking for a regional offer?

Hoping for a regional offer but it doesn't look very promising.
I have not given a definite answer as yet..