2020 Executive Officer Civil Service

angeb

where is Section B on the application form? Am I right in thinking that Section A is previous jobs and Section C is Supplementary Information ?

hillbloom

No Section B.

Josuke

Would it be appropriate to put voluntary experience in employment history? I'm going to have big gaps otherwise it seems

Dublintigger

Josuke wrote: »

Would it be appropriate to put voluntary experience in employment history? I'm going to have big gaps otherwise it seems

It would be very appropriate to include your voluntary experience.

natc

Dublintigger wrote: »

It would be very appropriate to include your voluntary experience.

I second that! It’s definitely worth mentioning just to fill in gaps in your work history. It shows a lot of self motivation too I think.

I had 4 months of voluntary work between a contract finishing up and getting placed as a CO and the interview board were quite impressed to hear I kept on working with my previous employer voluntarily.

SFC1895

natc wrote: »

I second that! It’s definitely worth mentioning just to fill in gaps in your work history. It shows a lot of self motivation too I think.

I had 4 months of voluntary work between a contract finishing up and getting placed as a CO and the interview board were quite impressed to hear I kept on working with my previous employer voluntarily.

Agreed. Volunteer work can also demonstrate or back up the competencies they you may lack or struggle with in your work career. Eg- managing a team, delivering goals, handling a budget, etc.

allabella

Where to put competencies on application form? There seems to be only an option to enter previous/current work and education details. Do we put examples of competencies on the supplementary information part?

MFPM

allabella wrote: »

Where to put competencies on application form? There seems to be only an option to enter previous/current work and education details. Do we put examples of competencies on the supplementary information part?

The competencies are only something that will arise at the interview stage. At the interview they will ask you questions related to the competencies and they'll ask you to give example from your work experience; what you did, how you did it etc.

In the application form, outline your work history, outline key duties you had in each employment.

In the supplementary info box, perhaps outline a few achievements from your work life or education etc...

hillbloom

Now that its near the closing date is almost here. Next is the STAGE 1 on-line assessment. We will receive communication before the 10th August. What does that contain? Can the on-line assessment be done anytime once its before 17th August or has it to be done on the 17th.August. I gave a look at the sample questions & they need practice. Its not explained at all in the Booklet.(I cant find it anyway)

Rikand

hillbloom wrote: »

Now that its near the closing date is almost here. Next is the STAGE 1 on-line assessment. We will receive communication before the 10th August. What does that contain? Can the on-line assessment be done anytime once its before 17th August or has it to be done on the 17th.August. I gave a look at the sample questions & they need practice. Its not explained at all in the Booklet.(I cant find it anyway)

Normally anytime in that week

Radio5

Is anyone else having a problem submitting the application?

I tried to update my email address a few days ago, says it's still pending but got no email to validate the change.

I completed all steps to submit form 1 and 2 but I don't know if I have successfully done so- nothing new appears on my message Board or under ' My Applications '.

My account doesn't seem to be working correctly as I can't go from one menu item to another without being asked to constantly Log In.

gestappo

Radio5 wrote: »

Is anyone else having a problem submitting the application?

I tried to update my email address a few days ago, says it's still pending but got no email to validate the change.

I completed all steps to submit form 1 and 2 but I don't know if I have successfully done so- nothing new appears on my message Board or under ' My Applications '.

My account doesn't seem to be working correctly as I can't go from one menu item to another without being asked to constantly Log In.

What type of device are you logging in from? Any type of mobile device, even iPad seem to have that issue.

FutureGuy

How are people logging career breaks/periods of unemployment in the application?

Are you adding them as entries in themselves in the Employment section?

MFPM

FutureGuy wrote: »

How are people logging career breaks/periods of unemployment in the application?

Are you adding them as entries in themselves in the Employment section?

It's probably best to do that, otherwise you've gaps that will need explanation at an interview so take them out of the equation by documenting them.

Anonire

FutureGuy wrote: »

How are people logging career breaks/periods of unemployment in the application?

Are you adding them as entries in themselves in the Employment section?

I just added them in as the reason for leaving previous employment.

Rikand

FutureGuy wrote: »

How are people logging career breaks/periods of unemployment in the application?

Are you adding them as entries in themselves in the Employment section?

I think its best to mark it as a period of employment ::

Job title :: unemployed
6 months - January to June
Description of role :: unemployed.
reason for leaving :: got a job

Ollie321

Can anyone tell me what the take home pay is for an EO? Or what the pension contribution is to work it out?

hillbloom

Is it hard to pass the on-line assessment. I had a look at the sample questions & they are NOT easy. Such an amount of questions. I am getting worried already.

hillbloom

The GROSS pay is €30,278. I dont know about pension.

MFPM

hillbloom wrote: »

Is it hard to pass the on-line assessment. I had a look at the sample questions & they are NOT easy. Such an amount of questions. I am getting worried already.

Just keep practising, the numerical isn't taken into account so you just need to pass, try do as well as you can on the verbal reasoning to boost your OOM. They aren't easy and because they are timed it's tougher.

honerbright

Radio5 wrote: »

Is anyone else having a problem submitting the application?

I tried to update my email address a few days ago, says it's still pending but got no email to validate the change.

I completed all steps to submit form 1 and 2 but I don't know if I have successfully done so- nothing new appears on my message Board or under ' My Applications '.

My account doesn't seem to be working correctly as I can't go from one menu item to another without being asked to constantly Log In.

Same is happening with my husband, every time he tries to submit the form he's suddenly logged out.. over and over again. It's incredibly frustrating.

Josuke

SFC1895 wrote: »

Agreed. Volunteer work can also demonstrate or back up the competencies they you may lack or struggle with in your work career. Eg- managing a team, delivering goals, handling a budget, etc.

Thanks everyone for the advice! My application looks a lot better now with the volunteering listed rather than having many months unaccounted for. I learned a lot from volunteering even if I didn't get paid, so including it was the right choice I think

job seeker

Josuke wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the advice! My application looks a lot better now with the volunteering listed rather than having many months unaccounted for. I learned a lot from volunteering even if I didn't get paid, so including it was the right choice I think

Volunteering is a fantastic addition to any application IMO. I am with a voluntary Ambulance corp myself, which I included in the application too..

nb74

Quick question - does 2 years service with a Local Authority count for the 2 years service as a Civil Servant?

gestappo

nb74 wrote: »

Quick question - does 2 years service with a Local Authority count for the 2 years service as a Civil Servant?

I don't think it does, although I could be open to correction?

Daz_

Will it be ok to put down a county where you don’t currently live But will be moving to next year ?

Dublintigger

hillbloom wrote: »

Is it hard to pass the on-line assessment. I had a look at the sample questions & they are NOT easy. Such an amount of questions. I am getting worried already.

Hi folks,

Where are the online test samples that we can practice with??

Lynnington3

I clicked interdepartmental as well as open by accident. Can you change this after you’ve submitted?!!

gestappo

Lynnington3 wrote: »

I clicked interdepartmental as well as open by accident. Can you change this after you’ve submitted?!!

Yes - Log into publicjobs and go to 'my applications', click on 'update' and you can edit it.

MFPM

Daz_ wrote: »

Will it be ok to put down a county where you don’t currently live But will be moving to next year ?

Yes, you can put down any two counties you wish as long as you're prepared to take a position in either if it's offered to you.

MFPM

Dublintigger wrote: »

Hi folks,

Where are the online test samples that we can practice with??

Follow the link. http://www.quickstart360.co.uk/runtesteo.aspx

Dublintigger

MFPM wrote: »

Follow the link. http://www.quickstart360.co.uk/runtesteo.aspx

Thanks a mill

UpBack1234

anplaya27 wrote: »

Link for pdf application doesnt seem to work

This is why I always recommend not leaving things to the last minute lol - Make sure you're not using Chrome or a mobile device and I hope you can get it done in the next hour or so mate!

floorpie

anplaya27 wrote: »

Link for pdf application doesnt seem to work

Download it and don't try to open in a browser

Mikefitzs

Application done. Good luck everyone.

Mikefitzs

UpBack1234 wrote: »

This is why I always recommend not leaving things to the last minute lol - Make sure you're not using Chrome or a mobile device and I hope you can get it done in the next hour or so mate!

Right click on the downloaded file and open with Adobe Reader.

Gus Ivey

MFPM wrote: »

Just keep practising, the numerical isn't taken into account so you just need to pass, try do as well as you can on the verbal reasoning to boost your OOM. They aren't easy and because they are timed it's tougher.

Are you saying that numerical is just pass or fail ? If you scrape a pass or get 100% it doesn't matter?

Verbal only counts for your Order of Merit?

What about the 3rd test, the situational one? Does that count towards your OOM or just pass or fail?

Where did you get this information by the way?

Kamu

Gus Ivey wrote: »

Are you saying that numerical is just pass or fail ? If you scrape a pass or get 100% it doesn't matter?

Verbal only counts for your Order of Merit?

What about the 3rd test, the situational one? Does that count towards your OOM or just pass or fail?

Where did you get this information by the way?

Numerical is a pass/fail thing, only thing that matters is getting over the passing rate.
Your order of merit is based on verbal and situational.

When the tests are released, it'll be in the information booklet.

November Golf

Stage 1- Online Test Link

A link to the actual online test will be sent to candidates’ Messageboards in advance of the test-taking window. It is anticipated that candidates will receive a link to their Stage 1 online test by 10th August 2020.If you do not receive communication to your message board by 10th August 2020 you should email Largevolumerecruitment5@publicjobs.ie

Candidates who have not completed the online test before the deadline will be deemed to be no longer interested in this competition and their application will receive no further consideration.

Green farmer

Kamu wrote: »

Numerical is a pass/fail thing, only thing that matters is getting over the passing rate.
Your order of merit is based on verbal and situational.

When the tests are released, it'll be in the information booklet.

Will you have to do all three tests without break ? Or can you do one one day, save it and another the next day ?

November Golf

Green farmer wrote: »

Will you have to do all three tests without break ? Or can you do one one day, save it and another the next day ?

You can do each test separtately as long as all are completed before the deadline.

In saying that, as with EO 2019, i would imagine the next stage is just the assessment questionaire on its own.

Green farmer

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

You can do each test separtately as long as all are completed before the deadline.

In saying that, as with EO 2019, i would imagine the next stage is just the assessment questionaire on its own.

Fair enough, we'll know either way soon anyway

Clare122445

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

Stage 1- Online Test Link

A link to the actual online test will be sent to candidates’ Messageboards in advance of the test-taking window. It is anticipated that candidates will receive a link to their Stage 1 online test by 10th August 2020.If you do not receive communication to your message board by 10th August 2020 you should email Largevolumerecruitment5@publicjobs.ie

Candidates who have not completed the online test before the deadline will be deemed to be no longer interested in this competition and their application will receive no further consideration.

Has there been any indication to when the deadline is. How long do you normally get to do them?
Which tests are Stage 1 ?

TIA

Gus Ivey

Clare122445 wrote: »

Has there been any indication to when the deadline is. How long do you normally get to do them?
Which tests are Stage 1 ?

TIA

3 tests:

Numerical
Verbal
Situational

Roughly 30mins for each one

Sligo198r

gestappo wrote: »

Yes - Log into publicjobs and go to 'my applications', click on 'update' and you can edit it.

I ticked both also and didn't get to change it. Is that an issue?

Clare122445

Gus Ivey wrote: »

3 tests:

Numerical
Verbal
Situational

Roughly 30mins for each one

Oh I got it into my head they were stage two and the scenarios & like me, not like me where next
F***

thanks though

delishdoughnut

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

You can do each test separtately as long as all are completed before the deadline.

In saying that, as with EO 2019, i would imagine the next stage is just the assessment questionaire on its own.

Is the assessment questionaire not the 3 tests ie. stage 1?

sallydolly40

Gus Ivey wrote: »

3 tests:

Numerical
Verbal
Situational

Roughly 30mins for each one

This is not the way the most recent eo comp was done. Is situational not for CO?

Anyway last comp was questionaire stage 1.

Stage 2 they called groups of people based on location and oom in stage 1 for supervised tests. They had got rid of the online test because you had to verify these results being supervised anyway.

Stage 2 was verbal and numerical about 12 mins each.

Then you sat the E-tray on same day timed for 90 mins i think it was.

Stage 3 would then be interview depending on OOM from stage 2.

Whether that changes with Covid back to online I dont know but the above is wrong for how they run these. Online test would need to be verified with supervision. Its possible they will just do them with web cam. This can be monitored on the other end.

Samuel T. Cogley

Clare122445 wrote: »

Oh I got it into my head they were stage two and the scenarios & like me, not like me where next
F***

thanks though

Stage 1: Scenario tests
Stage 2: The numerical, reading comprehension yoke, and the 'e-tray' job simulation.
Stage 3: Interview

Each stage will alter your order of merit but not change the batch you're in which will come from stage 1.

Clare122445

Thanks guys that's brilliant news