Administrative Officer (Specialist Streams) 2023

The radio silence is getting kind of ridiculous. Had anyone heard anything yet?

Anyone heard anything back from the Climate stream? I submitted transcript early May but nothing since.

I'm waiting on the HR panel. I got a request from my internal HR to send a questionnaire from PAS to my manager for a reference a month ago today. Haven't heard anything yet, I emailed PAS last week and they said they had no new information for me. I feel like I am stuck in limbo in my current role waiting to hear about it.

I’m the same, I’d have to move to Dublin so the more information they provide regarding a start date would give me time to find a place

Nothing on my end. I sent them an email just to see if they could give a rough timeline on when offers might be made, but they just told me that being on the panel isn’t a guarantee of employment.

I hope we hear something soon

i just got an email for the same department. Congrats

Mine didn’t, but I think some people said that theirs let them know that they were contacted.

Congrats Bitty. I found out where I'm going. No start date yet.

Can anyone recommend someone for interview coaching thanks

Thank you @HellsBellsxx

Hi @countyireland12345 I'm not sure what the actual cost is. I haven't used them myself, my manager used them and recommended them to me. I just checked their website and there is no information regarding cost.

Hi,

I see above some people are making important life decisions on whether to leave a current role to take a role in Finance. I would just like to give my personal experience as a former employee of the department.

Avoid the department. Management is shocking. It would really shock you if I say what went on in Finance but I left to the private sector last year from bullying. Very hard to prove as this person was like a snake and threatened witholding increment etc while I was doing all the world. Knit picking words in policy papers and making redundant changes to claim full credit while defaming me and so on. Worst experience of my life. I regret joining the department as I could have gotten easily promoted by now in my previous job.

Everyone gets higher allowance except HEO/AO and lower (talk about RTE!) yet the same if not more work and enthusiasm is needed to be seen. If your manager takes a dislike towards you you’re basically over. Basic HR codes of conduct don’t exist. HR does not engage with the union. I could go on. The culture is disgusting. But what you really need to know is how many AOs have left the department. It is extremely high. The only ones who have stayed are in the easy jobs where other team members do the work while they pal up with management. You have a right to ask the department how many left in the last year and how many positions overall. Make sure you ask for career breaks, mobility, resignations and sick leave in the role. This will show you the true culture and how they treat AOs. People are running out of the department, I left to the private sector. Glad I did.

Has anyone who got placed gotten their contract yet?

I was the same. They finally sent it to me yesterday but it literally took weeks to get it.

It was someone from the department. I was mainly in contact with one person who was organising start dates etc.

Hi all,

I came to know that I passed the interview for Health policy analyst couple of weeks ago. I had my qualifications check last week and haven't heard back since. Any updates from batch 3?

As a counterpoint, I think if you're joining the CS as a specialist AO, or any AO really, Forsa doesn't reflect your priorities. I regularly work alongside HEOs who do exactly the same job, for the same pay, while being paid €20,000 more and with 5 extra days holidays. As far as I'm aware, Forsa negotiated and accepted this deal.

Also, I have attended meetings with the Forsa rep for AOs and they promise great things but over a year later they've failed to deliver.

I reckon save your few hundred quid a year on membership fees.

I note you are posting on multiple forums… which is your right… however you are only giving one perspective on working in the CS… and it is completely skewed by what you PERCEIVE to be the unfair treatment you got and the ALLEGED bullying you were subject to. Did you raise these matters with HR? With the Union? Did you go to the EAS? I have been in CS 20+ years and also worked in private industry. Some of the hardest working, most dedicated people I have ever worked with are in the CS. There are always a few underperformers but no more so than any other workplace.

Hi Everyone

I have been called for interview next week for the Finance stream. I am terrible at interviews and presentations so I am not looking forward to it whatsoever.

Could any one share some examples of questions they where asked?

I am curious as to what level of detail they require when answering questions regarding your specialist stream.

Thank you

Dan

Hi, just wondering if there is any update on the panel for the specialist stream "Climate"? I am Batch 5 OOM 12. I emailed Clearance last week and they informed me that there were 14 candidates ahead of me. Does anyone have any idea when I should expect an email for clearance or will I receive an email for clearance that they have reached my place on the panel? Thanks!

I contacted them last week on Thursday and they said there was 10 ahead of me at that stage. Have you emailed them recently to get an update on where they are? Really hoping it moves fast!