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Dublin Fire service recruitment? Anyone know??

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 59 ✭✭Iceomatrix


    if DFB does do something about those who failed is it likely to hold up the campaign until they get to resit the supervised exams?



  • Registered Users Posts: 37 SAXA999


    Unions want the supervised exams null and void and bring everybody who was asked to sit them thru to interview instead



  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Tardis


    That will never happen



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    Do you think they havnt met the quota then in terms of how many they are bringing for interview? Its so poorly handled but not DFB's fault. Staffline have some serious questions to answer regarding this whole debacle. Please keep sharing updates, no official response yet from DCC



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    Do we know how many have been called for interview so far? Any insight on the numbers? By the tike they discount people with endorsed licenses ect..it makes sense to bring a large number forward



  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Tardis


    People who passed the exams at home but weren't brought forward to the supervised round are now being brought forward to make up numbers. DCC did the same thing in 2021 bringing people who didn't make the interview in 2019 through to interviews a couple of years later. Previous competitions haven't been much different to this one, with different questions at the supervised stage. I can see complaints being acknowledged, but nothing more being done regarding those who were not brought forward.



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    Right okay, so they are making up the numbers with people who scored (for want of a better term) below par. There's no recognition about the marking scheme issue then? If you scored 99 in round one but didnt do the same or above in round 2 your discounted. 99 is bloody tough to get twice in a row..if you score 89 in round 2 (still an amazing score) your not entertained coz you dropped below your original marker of 99 or 96, whatever it may be. If anything it shows you can grasp information, follow command, communicate information back ect..why would they opt to take ppl who score lower than acknowledge the issue that the marking scheme is biased against the high scorers



  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Tardis


    Supervised exams have a certain percentage of leeway. You're not automatically unverified for scoring a mark less than you did at home. I've also heard people say they found the supervised exams easier than at home. A lot of people feel hard done by cause they're disappointed. But this competition isn't doing anything drastically different to previous years. Previous years actually had more exams at supervised stage than at home. But the IT glitch hasn't caused anyone to be shafted. All the previous competitions have had different questions at the supervised stage. Otherwise all you have to do is watch someone do the exam at home for you and make note of the answers. They want to know you can do the arithmetic. The majority of people feeling screwed over are people applying for this job first time, with no prior experience.



  • Registered Users Posts: 7 dd106


    I totally disagree with this , in previous campaigns you were ranked in order of merit so essentially you were scored on the exam you weren’t simply just verifying it.

    So your two scores from the unsupervised test and supervised test would be averaged out and the top scores would proceed to the next stage.

    In this campaign we were told that this supervised exam was simply a like for like exam to quote we were told it was just a shortened version of the unsupervised exam

    However this was not the case as there was many differences between the two. They weren’t similar and of much more difficulty.

    So how could you verify an exam score when the two exams were not alike.

    Either the exams should have been like for like to verify them or they should have simply just been scored like was seen in the previous recruitment



  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Tardis


    But this is a different company to previous recruitment's and it's the way they do it.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 37 SAXA999


    Your missing the point. If somebody scored 96 unsupervised then 85 supervised your deemed as unverified but if you scored 52 unsupervised and 47 supervised your deemed verified and brought forward. That's completely ridiculous if you are looking for the best candidates.

    I should clarify my earlier comment. Unions want anybody who passed the supervised exam regardless of their previous score to get an interview. If you straight out failed your supervised exam you gone.



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    I find the entire thing hard to accept. They aren't being transparent at all. I do not accept that my opportunity will be taken away because this company could not align a 2nd exam that was comparable to the 1st for fair comparison. I agree with SAXA999 and dd106, it's was nit the same exam, it was a completely different format and it will result in the best candidates being omitted form competition. It's unjust , it's can't be explained away as 'just the way it is'

    We care and are passionate enough to want this, some of us have waited years for the opportunity to open up again. I'm not accepting this error on Stafflines part as my opportunity being taken from me.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,387 ✭✭✭5500


    There was no pass or fail so to speak with the verified exams, ie there wasn't a set % that had to be achieved, so I don't know how the union will swing that one, as it goes back to the verified/unverified issue, and if they are saying everyone who did the supervised test deserves an interview regardless then that opens a whole other can of worms.

    As Tardis said though there usually is a lot of disspointment and feelings of hard done by with this campaign, it does tend to be fairly cut throat especially if its something you've never applied for previously.

    It seems to be DCC are just ploughing ahead either ways, staff sitting on interviews have been notified ect, they have enough numbers but no-one is guaranteed to pass an interview either, so could be more numbers pulled again for testing if that happens.



  • Registered Users Posts: 11 tonym8986


    You are right it is cut throat but TARDIS is comparing the 2019 competition which is like comparing chalk and cheese. The 2019 tests was run with a firefighter screening test if you passed that you were brought forward to sit a supervised test in public jobs offices to sit a verbal reasoning test and numerical reasoning test also an observation test . This year candidates sat a verbal reasoning test numerical reasoning and mechanical reasoning test and firefighter screening test all at home if you passed all of these you are brought forward for a verified test. So the verified test started the 13th of December at 9am candidates began there tests AFTER they started technical issues began tests were cancelled. One bloke had exceptional circumstances and was allowed complete the test which he was capable of doing as the server could deal with a single test being completed. I may added the same style and test he would of took at home. I will move forward to the verified tests in January these tests were changed so the server wouldn't act up again i.e test was changed. I'm not a betting man but if I was I'd say it's more a mess up on stafflines behalf than upset candidates. 1). No union will put pen to paper without having the proper evidence to show there was an issue. 2). 3 or 4 people having a moan you can chalk up to being bitter. Having a large percentage of people singing the same song points to there was an issue with the verified test simple way to see who's telling the truth you compare the test on the 13th of December to January you have your answer UNLESS there is a refusal to do so from someone.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,387 ✭✭✭5500


    I know they were two different styles of exam, compared to what was previously always used with Public Jobs, and If you look back through threads you'll see posts complaining about test format/questions/orders of merit ect ect so there always does tend to be people feeling hard done by.

    My understanding without too much detail on questions, is let's take mechanical reasoning for example, the actual questions database is say 200 questions of a similar difficulty, which you are randomly allocated 20 to answer in a set amount of time. Different candidates will get different questions so it rules out an element of cheating if say 2 people try do the tests after one another.

    Same applies to the other types of test, the questions may be of different type, structure or format, but the database is set at the same 200 questions of equal difficulties.

    So is part of the issue here people are not happy that they didn't get the exact same questions as they got when the first sat the test at home? Thus questions/format may have seemed harder and led to a lower score giving the unverified result?



  • Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭big.left90


    DELETED



  • Registered Users Posts: 37 SAXA999


    You had to be within 10% of your unverified exam to your verified (pass/fail)

    You had to score over 40% to pass

    (Pass/fail)


    So unions are saying, anybody who scored below 40% in the verified, they can be cut, no issues there. We all know they more than likely had home assistant.


    Be anybody who passed, but was outside their 10% tolerance should be brought forward to interview due to discrepancies


    As I said before, you are loosing people who scored in the 90s then 80s but interviewing people who scored in the 50s then 40s.



  • Registered Users Posts: 11 tonym8986


    The mechanical reasoning tests were supposedly the same as they are a single question with 3 possible answers and different questions one after another straight forward.

    The verbal reasoning online test would be similar to public jobs a paragraph 4 questions following each paragraph. The verified test was loaded in situation where a candidate would be caught out by the restructuring of it with paragraphs all over the place.

    The numerical reasoning online test again would follow a similar structure of public jobs with a difficulty level of higher level leaving cert maths. The verified test again structure was changed and supposedly the difficulty was at a higher level.

    How can a process test a candidate for consistency if it itself is inconsistent from what is said the number of official complaints is around 160 people.

    I have a feeling this will go back and forward so I'll ask you one question.

    Do you think the unions would get involved in this for no reason or is it they know something isn't right honestly ?



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    Is the figure of 160 accurate? This is mote than a few people feeling hard done by tbh, all worded well above regarding the marking scheme and percentage error. You not getting the best candidates for the role. In a high pressure and fast environment you need to be able to understand and follow a command, communicate information back ect on any situation.

    I'm glad so many have complained. The qnd round was not a shorter version of the 1st as was supposed to be. It was a different format of exam, it's simple!! Therfore it cannot be used for comparison purposes or to verify the 1st exam. Staffline aren't accepting any responsibility or acknowledgement of this which is infuriating!! I'm delighted the union are pushing for top marking candidates to be brought forward to at least be offered an interview. You just want a fair hearing



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  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Tardis


    Dollydoodle, you're really starting to stamp your foot on the ground now. In no previous campaigns have the supervised exams been question for question, like for like to the tests done at home.



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    That's not at all what I said. The format was different , cannot be used for comparative or verification purposes. Listen it's all been said before by others too. We'll just have to await an outcome, no point going into semantics here I guess



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12 First Responder


    Hopefully, the union will get a positive outcome.

    I believe the application closes on the 23rd of January on the DCC website if not successful in the previous stage.

    So fingers crossed.



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Jamesfarrell507




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12 First Responder


    Firefighter recruitment 2022. The online application is closed.But when you logged onto your account on the on career.dublincitycouncil it'll say status in progress and closing date 23rd.



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    I'm not sure if that date on the your account actually means much, you can't reapply but thanks for sharing



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  • Registered Users Posts: 11 tonym8986


    Just off the phone there with DCC. Alot of complaints have gone in. There's an obvious issue with the testing. The request for a comparison of the test on the 13th of December to compare to the test issued the start of January has being sent to DCC and awaiting a reply. As far as DCC management are saying they are standing by staffline on this .



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    Thanks for the update , who has requested the comparison?



  • Registered Users Posts: 11 tonym8986


    Candidates themselves are requesting it as it is meant to be a fair transparent competition there should be no problem in this and would finally put the situation to rest. DCC management have said there decision is final there will be no appeals. So it may come down to having to get Dublin councilor's to request them. Transparency is key here and DCC need to step to were staffline won't.



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Jamesfarrell507


    I am requesting my exam mark for the in person for comparison



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12 First Responder


    So I'm I , extremely disheartened

    from the DCC email last night was so much effort and work put in this campaign , hopefully there's a pos9 outcome.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 11 tonym8986


    What I will say to you be prepared to be stone walled the first time it's common thing for them to do but if they are standing by staffline on this matter there should be no issues with showing a comparison of the verified tests



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    I did already. Staffline won't budge on it, I mentioned SARS and FOI they say they have no obligation as they are exempt from FOI requests

    Very disappointing



  • Registered Users Posts: 11 tonym8986


    Don't go near staffline go directly to DCC. Staffline want this buried so they can get payed and move on but DCC need to be shown that the test was ran correctly and fairly and a comparison of the tests in December and in January to the test taking online will clearly show this. But if there is a refusal to do this then there's an obvious why



  • Registered Users Posts: 25 Wowthatscrazy


    What’s the likelihood of some of those who got “unverified” results from the supervised testing


    who scored V high at home


    had a bit of help from family members/relatives who are fairly clued up on aptitude tests. I’ve heard a few examples of this thinking it wouldn’t backfire as it has.

    I know I’d rather be crewed up with an honest “dope” who’s trustworthy than a dishonest “genius” who can’t be trusted to do a test on their Tod.

    what Staffline has done is a spanner in the works for all the 🐍, but definitely a possibility some great candidates got shafted



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    I hear what your saying, obviously the purpose of the 2nd round was to verify that you can pass the test of your own accord I understand the requirement for that but unfortunately some genuine people have been shafted in this. Which is why I think a few of us find it hard to just accept the 'not verified' result. I know my strengths and weaknesses, I'm far from perfect nobody is but I can't fathom how I could have dropped from 99th percentile so badly to not get through. My grasp of the language is sound and my ability to understand it, interpret it , follow command and communicate. I sat the 1st round exam at my kitchen table in the house on my own with no help or assistance from anyone but unfortunately there is nothing I can do. No doubt they caught out some dishonest people, but I didn't play that game. I went into this honestly, there is no other approach as far as I'm concerned. Anyway it's done now but they have potentially lost some seriously dedicated and committed candidates off the back of this. They could easily call those effected for a new 2nd round test which is actually formatted like the 1st round as was supposed to be the case and put this to bed but still no proper acceptance or admittance of the issue. They just want to bury the issue and move forward, Staffline want their payday

    It's a shame but good luck to all as you's progress👍🏻



  • Registered Users Posts: 25 Wowthatscrazy


    I hear ya @Dollydoodle


    and it’s the ones who genuinely smashed it @ home but dropped by a margin in person are getting punished as a results of the “treat all negative variance as proof of cheating” because of the many that did bend the rules.


    be interested to see if you get your hands on the supervised results & protest the ruling.


    seems v unfair in your case mate



  • Registered Users Posts: 3 orl915


    Female candidate here, effected the very same. Did the 1st round on my own, no cheating, scored top marks round 1 and eliminated for verbal reasoning round 2 as 'not verified'

    Have been onto Staffline, they say they are exempt from FOI requests when I asked for copies of my round 1&2 test and sought a mark for round 2. I asked them to show me where on their website it sates they are expemt from FOI requests and guess what...they didn't respond. Tge fact they aren't engaging and being transparent must raise eyebrows surley!

    DCC have clearly been given assurances by Staffline that all was in proper order so DCC have based a decision on that but you'd have to argue it isn't an informed decision. I highly doubt Staffline have been transparent with them either. DCC seem to be sticking to their guns on this unfortunately but as stated above a few genuinely individuals have been screwed over ny Staflfines c*ck up. Round 2 exam was a different format altogether, not like for like, but here we are. Missed opportunity and no answers

    For a public jobs campaign transparency must be paramount! How they are getting away with this is beyond me and it certainly does not reflect well for Staffline at all!



  • Registered Users Posts: 35 Rob_1990


    I'm one of the unlucky ones who's test was not verified and its a hard pill to swallow.

    I do find it strange that they won't give candidates their results/score.

    It's also strange that it seems like it's only the verbal reasoning test that people are getting "not verified" in!?

    I haven't seen/read anyone failing in the mechanical or numerical!?

    Best of luck to all who get an interview and hopefully I'll join you one day



  • Registered Users Posts: 3 orl915


    Sorry to hear that @Rob_1990

    Agree, from what I've been reading here the past week or so it's a specific group that were effected only. All verbal reasoning, all those who scored relatively high in round 1 too. The lack of transparency is shocking to be honest, the exam was different, different difficulty level and format. I think some people will read this and think you's need to get over the fact you didn't get through but I don't think it's as black and white. I'll keep going till I get my test scripts and result score. Staffline won't give DCC a copy of our 2nd round score either, how DCC aren'tlooking into this furthergiven the obviousamount ofcomplaints is asstounding for a public jobs campaign

    Staffline messed up on a grand scale here, it's obvious! Mistakes happen, but what about the likes of us who have to bear the consequences? It's not on



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,387 ✭✭✭5500


    Tbh I don't think it was a case of catching out people cheating with the majority of unverifieds, you'd want a photographic memory to be inputting the exact same answers to multiple questions ect a few weeks later having previously had help, and they likely wouldn't be complaining and putting eyes on themselves either if they did cheat, regardless there's always ways and means that these tests can be manipulated.

    Additional tests were ran yesterdsy, results due today, so more invite to applications out next week. I don't know what format questions were used in the tests yesterday but interesting to see if they were the same as the last lot or first time out in December.

    Make no mistake that this thread is well viewed by staffline and dcc so I can't elaborate too much, but there's a whole other heap of complaints in relation to the competition going on, fingers are in ears and everyone appears to be getting brushed off, no proper complaints procedure in place with DCC which is a bit of a joke aswell



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  • Registered Users Posts: 3 orl915


    Thanks for the insight there @5500, informative 👍🏻

    As you said those that did cheat wouldn't be drawing attention to themselves by complaining.

    Nobody is looking for the campaign to be halted, that's not going to help anyone, least of all the service itself and the lads and ladies currently in the job. We just want a fair inclusion in the process. There's a number of us that have put a lot of preparation into this in anticipation of when the opportunity to apply opened with preparation courses and other things

    If I was a hiring manager I'd be delighted to have such interested and passionate people who know their strenghts and what we can offer to the role and are clearly passionate about it to the extend of trying to push past an error not of our own doing.

    If they have run a 2nd round/ intake of tests this week as you say, seems like that's game over for the likes of us, our concenrs and appels wont be heard.

    4000 or so applied so the likes of us can be just put to the side, they have many more to pick from but it doesn't change the fact it has been unfair to some of us. I hope the right eyes are on this thread and are taking note, we can't all be wrong. The chances of us all underperforming to the extent Staffline claim on the 1 exam also..its not realistic, the lack of transparency should be raising eyebrows within DCC also. I'd love for that to be acknowledged or to be given our opportunity to proceed to next stage. A gesture of acknowledgement, put it to bed and move forward. If we fail at interview or fitness that's on us and we accept that but to be out of the competition not of our own doing it extremely harsh.

    You can see by how people express themselves even on this thread. Ive been watching the past 2 weeks, the language they use to convey their opinions and concerns, how they articulate their message, there is no question regarding our level of verbal ability and comprehension of the language and communication which should make for an easy and smooth training programme as we'd be on the ball from the get go, easing the pressure for trainers ect

    I'll await a response from Staffline still I guess. Its a terrible waste of time for the team behind the scene at DCC as well. Not their issue or fault and they have to navigate around all of this, spending their time dealing with all the additional complaints.

    Good luck to all that progressed to the next stage. I still have hope🤞🏻



  • Registered Users Posts: 11 tonym8986


    100% agree with you on this I have done a few test through staffline done them at home test and the supervised test it's a waste of time cheating but staffline messed up this one and the genuine people that did well in the test got screwed. There cork test was once you scored over 50% on all tests you were verified I scored in the 90s at home then 80s at supervised if it was scored the same as Dublin I would of being fu*ked out but you got the scores of both tests back . The tests were structured the same as at home but questions would be different to what you answered at home but checked it was you there's definitely something not right. People took the test as instructed genuinely and got put out over stafflines negligence.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,387 ✭✭✭5500


    Tbh it's not worth your while arguing with staffline at this stage, if anyone wants to send me a pm I might be able to give you a better avenue to go down with your complaint



  • Registered Users Posts: 11 tonym8986


    I went straight to the executives in DCC I explained in detail of what happened. The fact I had even seen the test in December before the technical issue. I also requested a comparison of the test in January to the test in December and would clear it all up but they won't reply. So it really shows they just want it buried.

    They said about shl software being protected. You can purchase the shl software for the tests for £78 for 3 months access they have being caught in a web of lies.

    I can screenshot the test preparation from career services I done and it shows the exact structure of the tests we done at home and what was on the screen the day of the technical issue . These test preparation companies put the stuff together for you to study because they know them inside out they aren't going to mark important study if it's not the correct format.

    It's a point I'm making now with them and why I won't be letting it go. Working 5:30am to 6pm home sorting out my kids studying till 12 at night while there asleep making sacrifice's like most other candidates only to be wrote off from the competition because of stafflines inability to run a test correctly .



  • Registered Users Posts: 18 Dollydoodle


    They've an obligation to ensure the process is fair and just

    The situation is that if we went back and scored lower originally then we would be moving forward. That is not a fair process and it essentially suggests that we overachieved which has prevented us moving forward in the campaign. On that basis the process has been unfairly run.

    The lack of an official appeals process is negligible too!

    As a gesture of goodwill as mentioned above for the blunder we should be brought forward to the next stage which would appease both sides and give a mutual solution on both sides. It needs to be addressed, the approach of doing nothing so far has not been satisfactory and isn't giving either side a resolution.



  • Registered Users Posts: 1 Viennaoxford1


    Search for the SHL Technical Manual as it deals with this issue



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Jamesfarrell507


    Has any one heard how the candidates that sat the exam last Saturday found the tests structure and how many were verified ?



  • Registered Users Posts: 15 JTabuena


    Hi,

    has anybody heard anything about as to when they will start scheduling interviews for those who were asked to complete the application form? Thanks.



  • Registered Users Posts: 58 ✭✭big.left90


    I think we will hear something this week! As far as I know they schedule interviews by the order in which applications are received. Not 100% sure how many they are interviewing in this batch given that so many unverified in the last round, we'll see though!

    Best of luck :)



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  • Registered Users Posts: 15 JTabuena


    Thanks for the info! And I hope they sort something out about the verification issues so it will be fair for everybody. Best of luck to all!



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