Clerical Officer 2018

Laraghcon21

WillieHyena wrote: »

Laraghcon21 wrote: »

Can I ask what clearance is please....is that different to vetting?

Clearance is where the vetting , health and references etc are administered / this is the section that contacts you by phone as far as i know

Ah ok that’s great thank you.

Jipzy

Murzo wrote: »

What number are you in batch 2? I think they have appointed two from first batch and there is 10 in first batch

Im Number 3 in Batch 1.2.

Murzo

Jipzy wrote: »

Im Number 3 in Batch 1.2.

Have you spoken at all to PAS. Im close to you number wise for batch 2. Hoping it wont be long before we get a call.

uck51js9zml2yt

Kerry have taken on the first person. The ball is finally rolling.

podsull1

Calvin Angry Rigging wrote: »

Kerry have taken on the first person. The ball is finally rolling.

Where have they gone to

sallydolly40

anybody know if Clare will move before next year. How many did they even interview in batch 1 or any more interviews called?

I was told historic transfers will still be let from a list and then mobility and panel.
but not offically. im not sure how it works. seems silly to give people an oom for clare and no sign of a job off this panel.

like kerry above im hoping hear about first clare person from this panel placed but they have called alot for interview in kerry and not many to clare.

i didnt choose galway but that seems slow too and a bigger place than tipp/kerry is that cause people want to transfer.

sally

claregal1

sallydolly40 wrote: »

anybody know if Clare will move before next year. How many did they even interview in batch 1 or any more interviews called?

I was told historic transfers will still be let from a list and then mobility and panel.
but not offically. im not sure how it works. seems silly to give people an oom for clare and no sign of a job off this panel.

like kerry above im hoping hear about first clare person from this panel placed but they have called alot for interview in kerry and not many to clare.

i didnt choose galway but that seems slow too and a bigger place than tipp/kerry is that cause people want to transfer.

sally

Sally I worked in Clare as a TCO for 3 years, very rarely do they take permanent staff on in Revenue or Social Welfare as they fill these positions with transfers from limerick . The only place that I have heard of from the last panel 2016 of someone getting a position was in the Car tax place in Shannon

SB1982

sallydolly40 wrote: »

anybody know if Clare will move before next year. How many did they even interview in batch 1 or any more interviews called?

I was told historic transfers will still be let from a list and then mobility and panel.
but not offically. im not sure how it works. seems silly to give people an oom for clare and no sign of a job off this panel.

like kerry above im hoping hear about first clare person from this panel placed but they have called alot for interview in kerry and not many to clare.

i didnt choose galway but that seems slow too and a bigger place than tipp/kerry is that cause people want to transfer.

sally

Clare was my first choice and Limerick my second yet I was only called for interview for Limerick as scores transfer over. So even though there may not have been many interviewed specifically for Clare you need to take into account the people who weren’t interviewed for Clare but still have Clare as first or second choice and so are in the running along with those (if any) whohave been interviewedspecifically for Clare.

I’m top 5 in Clare but I’m lower down for Limerick and yet I have been assigned a position in Limerick even though I’m 10 places lower down the list than I am for Clare.

I was advised not to wait for Clare and if I was offered Limerick to just take it...about 1/4 of the amount of people were placed for Clare compared to Limerick for 2016 panel (at least that’s what I’ve read)

WillieHyena

The applications for TCO is just out as well ...this normally doesn't come out until end jan/feb....

There must be a lot of vacancies coming up overall around the country....that they're starting this early ...I know it doesn't effect those on the 2018 permanent panel....... but at the same time.....

dublingirlx

Just wondering if anyone, from experience, can advise which is a better sector to workin, Civil Service - Clerical Officer or HSE - Clerical Officer? I have applied for both and have an interview next week for the HSE campaign and haven't heard regarding stage 2 yet for the civil service DEPR! I'm just wondering if, in an ideal world, I was offered a job in both sectors, which would be a better job to take in terms of pay etc?

WillieHyena

dublingirlx wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone, from experience, can advise which is a better sector to workin, Civil Service - Clerical Officer or HSE - Clerical Officer? I have applied for both and have an interview next week for the HSE campaign and haven't heard regarding stage 2 yet for the civil service DEPR! I'm just wondering if, in an ideal world, I was offered a job in both sectors, which would be a better job to take in terms of pay etc?

With public sector I can only assume it's the same pay scales....

claregal1

WillieHyena wrote: »

With public sector I can only assume it's the same pay scales....

its not , pay is slightly higher with Civil Service but more holidays with HSE

jimjammy10

Just rang and the girl from PAS said no jobs have come up in the Donegal region yet

milkandsugar

What e mail are people using to contact PAS? Sent one to clearance last week and heard nothing back.

SB1982

milkandsugar wrote: »

What e mail are people using to contact PAS? Sent one to clearance last week and heard nothing back.

clerical2018@publicjobs.ie
If you want to talk to clearance just call PAS and ask for Clearance Dept. and they will put you through 😊

Islandgirl3378

I’m in permanent admin work for the last 3 years in NI, would it be worth giving it up to go TCO then try for the permanent next time? Currently 250+ OOM for Donegal on 2018 campaign.

podsull1

milkandsugar wrote: »

What e mail are people using to contact PAS? Sent one to clearance last week and heard nothing back.

Your better off calling them. You'd be waiting a week by email

lamb stew

Islandgirl3378 wrote: »

I’m in permanent admin work for the last 3 years in NI, would it be worth giving it up to go TCO then try for the permanent next time? Currently 250+ OOM for Donegal on 2018 campaign.

They're not really connected, however no harm going for the TCO, you don't know a very long contract might come up, it's all luck really. You might only get 2 or 3 months, but sometimes they're extended. It's hard to give up a permanent job for those kind of contracts. Personally I think TCO exoerience does count, as it might bring you up the 2020 panel, but you'd still have to do a great online assessment questionaire and supervised test and obvious interview. However i have read here a few people saying that they're TCO meant Jack Swat. My Advice is apply for TCO and see what comes out of it. Obviously Term Time cover is no good for you.

November Golf

Islandgirl3378 wrote: »

I’m in permanent admin work for the last 3 years in NI, would it be worth giving it up to go TCO then try for the permanent next time? Currently 250+ OOM for Donegal on 2018 campaign.

To be honest most TCO contracts are 8 to 10 weeks with the very odd 6 month contract to cover maternal leave here or there. It wouldnt be worth giving up a permanent job for a short TCO contract.

In saying that, it might be worth applying for the TCO competition just see what they eventually offer you. If its only a 10 weeks contract you could always turn it down.

It would also give you a trial run at the assessment questionaire as its basically the same as the permanent CO. In the new 2019 TCO will be a competition interview which i would hope will more closely resemble the permanent CO interview.

I do know a person who took 10/12 weeks unpaid leave from there current job to take up a TCO contract and went back after. They are now waiting to be called to interview in the CO 2018. If that was an option in your case, it might worth considering.

uck51js9zml2yt

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

To be honest most TCO contracts are 8 to 10 weeks with the very odd 6 month contract to cover maternal leave here or there. It wouldnt be worth giving up a permanent job for a short TCO contract.

In saying that, it might be worth applying for the TCO competition just see what they eventually offer you. If its only a 10 weeks contract you could always turn it down.

It would also give you a trial run at the assessment questionaire as its basically the same as the permanent CO. In the new 2019 TCO will be a competition interview which i would hope will more closely resemble the permanent CO interview.

I do know a person who took 10/12 weeks unpaid leave from there current job to take up a TCO contract and went back after. They are now waiting to be called to interview in the CO 2018. If that was an option in your case, it might worth considering.

We had a tco in my last dept. Hes there 18 months at least!

lamb stew

I'm in the top 20 permanent for Kerry, have interview next week. I'm still going to apply for TCO, but I'm wondering if (successful at inrerview) next week roughly how long I'd be waiting for a permanant Job, also as TCO is advertised early this year, and I generally do very good in OOM, I wonder when placement will start commencing for that. It's fine if Interview is in Tralee or Killarney but having to travel to Dublin again for interview is a major disencentive. I will know the result of Permanant interview before interview for Temporary Clerical.

November Golf

Calvin Angry Rigging wrote: »

We had a tco in my last dept. Hes there 18 months at least!

During the moratorium alot of departments did give TCO's extensions and some still do but they are less incline too now.

One example I came across recently a department/office had a TCO for 10 weeks during a busy period, despite the fact that the only other permanent CO was going on two weeks leave starting the monday after the TCO finished, they wouldn't extend their contract. They literally had to push a TCO from a different section with little or no experience to cover the permanent staff members annual leave.

Essentially, the guy in your case was the exception not the rule.

lamb stew

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

During the moratorium alot of departments did give TCO's extensions and some still do but they are less incline too now.

One example I came across recently a department/office had a TCO for 10 weeks during a busy period, despite the fact that the only other permanent CO was going on two weeks leave starting the monday after the TCO finished, they wouldn't extend their contract. They literally had to push a TCO from a different section with little or no experience to cover the permanent staff members annual leave.

Essentially, the guy in your case was the exception not the rule.

Ara depends, what dept. I'd disagree with it been an exception. Alot of TCOs I know were offered extensions, some indefinately. Yes Term Time is the worst to get, but extensions still happen, but at the end of the day, how much security is in it. The not knowing, living from contract to contract. Wanting to take on loans etc can be bothersome, but look everyone's circumstances are different.

Xenji

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

To be honest most TCO contracts are 8 to 10 weeks with the very odd 6 month contract to cover maternal leave here or there. It wouldnt be worth giving up a permanent job for a short TCO contract.

In saying that, it might be worth applying for the TCO competition just see what they eventually offer you. If its only a 10 weeks contract you could always turn it down.

It would also give you a trial run at the assessment questionaire as its basically the same as the permanent CO. In the new 2019 TCO will be a competition interview which i would hope will more closely resemble the permanent CO interview.

I do know a person who took 10/12 weeks unpaid leave from there current job to take up a TCO contract and went back after. They are now waiting to be called to interview in the CO 2018. If that was an option in your case, it might worth considering.

Sorry your wrong, for the last 4 years our department has always given out 6 month contracts and we give about 38 a campaign, outside Dublin especially in the West 6 months is the most common contract length.

The TCO campaign will not be competition based this year as it takes too long, plus the online aptitude test has been identical for the last two years, screenshot your answers from last year which after 2017 people were told here to do and you will easily be in the top 20 if you were in previous years.

It's very common for candidates to work multiple campaigns in the same department, candidates can finish one campaign and start again a few weeks in the same department with a new campaign.

November Golf

Xenji wrote: »

Sorry your wrong, for the last 4 years our department has always given out 6 month contracts and we give about 38 a campaign, outside Dublin especially in the West 6 months is the most common contract length.

Sorry but how am i wrong? It clearly states in the informational booklet:

"While temporary vacancies may arise at various times and for various reasons, many of the vacancies occur during the summer period. The terms and conditions, including the duration and period of temporary contracts offered will vary from post to post. Please note that a standard contract duration is for an eight- week period. "

This is consistent with my experience of TCOs outside dublin. I didnt say there arent contracts for 6 months, 9 months or even 12 month contracts, and of course it depends on the department/office and the project your working on, but its not common practise or at least not anymore.

Xenji wrote: »

It's very common for candidates to work multiple campaigns in the same department, candidates can finish one campaign and start again a few weeks in the same department with a new campaign.

Although i agree with you on this to a certain extent, it is clearly not an extension. In your own words they go through a new campaign and there is a break for a few weeks.

Advising someone to give up a permanent job (which is were this conversation started) to take up a "short TCO contract" (quoting my own words) in the hopes of an extension would be reckless and pretty dishonest, however as i clearly said they should apply and see what they are offered and decide then.

Gaffer78

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

During the moratorium alot of departments did give TCO's extensions and some still do but they are less incline too now.

One example I came across recently a department/office had a TCO for 10 weeks during a busy period, despite the fact that the only other permanent CO was going on two weeks leave starting the monday after the TCO finished, they wouldn't extend their contract. They literally had to push a TCO from a different section with little or no experience to cover the permanent staff members annual leave.

Essentially, the guy in your case was the exception not the rule.

TCOs are not brought in to cover annual leave absences

November Golf

Gaffer78 wrote: »

TCOs are not brought in to cover annual leave absences

He wasn't . There use to be two permanent staff in that office but one is gone through attrition, now they bring in a TCO over the summer months.

Paddy93

What sort of questions do they ask in the interview ?

Nynaeve

Paddy93 wrote: »

What sort of questions do they ask in the interview ?

During mine, they went through my application form and asked about employment gaps, why i had left jobs, college, my professional history basically.

Then they went through the competencies; "tell us of a time with an angry customer", "tell us of a time that you needed excellent attention to detail" etc. etc. (Have examples ready!) They also asked about how I continously improve myself.

They asked about hobbies and stuff at the end when it was winding down, it felt more like polite conversation.

It's very easy to prepare for, nothing very surprising at all. Good luck!

lamb stew

How could people fail do yee think. Is it not knowing competencies etc, or they just don't think you have exp, gaps in unemployment etc. A bit nervous now I am. Also how long is the wait to see if you passed. Thanks

SB1982

lamb stew wrote: »

How could people fail do yee think. Is it not knowing competencies etc, or they just don't think you have exp, gaps in unemployment etc. A bit nervous now I am. Also how long is the wait to see if you passed. Thanks

From what I’ve seen on 2016 and 2018 threads people rarely fail but I’d say it’s failure to do enough prep. No need to be nervous. Interviewers are lovely and one comes out and has a little chat with you before you go in to put you at ease. They’ll ask you a competency and tie it to a particular role e.g when you worked in “X” tell me about a time that you felt you gave good customer service.

The wait to see if you passed can vary. For me it was 2 weeks...but everyone hears on the same day so for people interviewed the week before me it was 3 weeks. Just arrive early, present yourself well, double and triple check that you have all your requested forms and ID with you, and know how the competencies tie back to each of your previous roles and you’ll sail through. The time will fly when you’re in the interview room.

Clairebear12

Besides the publicjobs.ie site is there anywhere else I can get good practice questions for the aptitude test please? Thanks

lamb stew

Clairebear12 wrote: »

Besides the publicjobs.ie site is there anywhere else I can get good practice questions for the aptitude test please? Thanks

Buy the online course on the careerservices. Ie, but the Public Appointment Service, suprised us with away harder questions than previous. Also google clerical officer aptitude tests, something might come up.

Clairebear12

Did anyone buy the course on careerservices.ie for €80 to practice aptitude test? Was it worth it? Thanks

lamb stew

Clairebear12 wrote: »

Did anyone buy the course on careerservices.ie for €80 to practice aptitude test? Was it worth it? Thanks

I did Clairebear. I felt after coming out of the real test that it was a waste of time, as the Public Appointment service changed it and introduced aload more of difficult numerical. Also they totally changed the verbal. The passages in the real one were twice as long, careerservices. Ie is based on previous campaigns, so it's not their fault it was changed. However in hindsight the careerservices. Ie tests probably stood to me with the easier questions in the verbal. As it thought me to always look out for the trick element of the Question. Such as let's say if a group of 5 went on holidays in either June or Sep, one part of the Question might say groups of 5 or more have a discount of 10%, and it's so easy to forget that part when you're under pressure answering a question. But just remember if you don't know what your doing just guess, there is no negative marking, so you have nothing to lose. I was shocked I passed.

SB1982

lamb stew wrote: »

Can some one please tell me, is there a categorising of information test. There is no mention of it in the familiarisation material, yet when you take the practice test it is there.Should i practice for the categorising of information. (time running out for that).Is error checkin the only one along with numerical and verbal

No there is just numerical, verbal reasoning and checking

SB1982

Clairebear12 wrote: »

Did anyone buy the course on careerservices.ie for €80 to practice aptitude test? Was it worth it? Thanks

Everyone is different but I didn't pay for any courses/tests was my first time in a clerical campaign and I came 1st in one county and 5th in the other after supervised tests. All I did was practise, practise, practise the sample tests provided to us by PAS. Every spare few minutes I had I would clock in and re-do them again and again. Each time I was building up my speed and this helped especially with the checking test and numerical (though I know in the actual tests the verbal and numerical were harder). its very important that if you are unsure of something don't dwell on it...just hazard a guess and move on.

Ernesto Guevara

When they ask questions relating to the competences in the interview, do they ask them in a job specific way - When working at _ give an example of ... It's just I can't think of examples for some competencies for certain roles. If they asked about an example from one role, could you answer it with an example from another? Also is it just one example per competency?

Rikand

Ernesto Guevara wrote: »

When they ask questions relating to the competences in the interview, do they ask them in a job specific way - When working at _ give an example of ... It's just I can't think of examples for some competencies for certain roles. If they asked about an example from one role, could you answer it with an example from another? Also is it just one example per competency?

I'd have 2 or 3 per competency prepared just in case.

And if you dont have something related to x job then simply say :: "hmm, I wouldnt really have had anything like that in x job, but in Y job I did this and that and that"

claregal1

Hi does anyone know what tests they are using ? is it Saville like they have used in previous years ?

Bailey25

Did anyone have an interview today and know when we should expect our results??

November Golf

claregal1 wrote: »

Hi does anyone know what tests they are using ? is it Saville like they have used in previous years ?

I did the CO in Customs about 3 weeks ago and it was Saville. I am going for this CO next week and the information booklets were identical but for the cover so i reckon its the same.

lamb stew

just wondering when does the PAS staff look at an application form. would they look at it when submitted last July or will they be only looking at it Tomorrow

milkandsugar

lamb stew wrote: »

just wondering when does the PAS staff look at an application form. would they look at it when submitted last July or will they be only looking at it Tomorrow

My interviewers had my application in front of them during the interview.

lamb stew

milkandsugar wrote: »

My interviewers had my application in front of them during the interview.

Oh I know they would sorry, but wondering are they looked at when we submit them

wexford awake

Hey guys, i have interview this week and i just looked at my application form for the first time last night since submitting it, and don't ask me how or why but there is info missing, on my education section. No leaving cert down or nothing, just college on. I also stupidly forgot to explain any gaps in work history, and they're are a few. I was aware of that one, didn't cop it until I submitted it, even though it is blatantly wrotten on the form, but I swear I thought I had Leaving Cert down. Am I goosed, or should I go anyway. Just wondering was there a booklet or something advising us where to start on education, because l wouldn't have let that out, I would have double checked it. Gutted now I am after coming this far. I'm seriously considering pulling out 😢

uck51js9zml2yt

wexford awake wrote: »

Hey guys, i have interview this week and i just looked at my application form for the first time last night since submitting it, and don't ask me how or why but there is info missing, on my education section. No leaving cert down or nothing, just college on. I also stupidly forgot to explain any gaps in work history, and they're are a few. I was aware of that one, didn't cop it until I submitted it, even though it is blatantly wrotten on the form, but I swear I thought I had Leaving Cert down. Am I goosed, or should I go anyway. Just wondering was there a booklet or something advising us where to start on education, because l wouldn't have let that out, I would have double checked it. Gutted now I am after coming this far. I'm seriously considering pulling out 😢

I left out all my education. Passed interview.
I was "horrified" at the oversight, explained my background and aced the competencies.

wexford awake

="tatranska;108792840"]I left out all my education. Passed interview.
I was "horrified" at the oversight, explained my background and aced the competencies.[/quotme]


Thanks 😊, did they say it to you, how come it's not down etc.

Rikand

I had my college degree down and my masters and they asked me in interview "and do you have a leaving cert?" I was stunned I had left it out. I had also left out some previous work experience too. I just filled in all the blanks during the interview after the leaving cert question.

wexford awake

Thanks, inTomorrow. Yee are after putting me at ease