NEW 2022 Assistant Principal Competition - Open and Interdepartmental

@OnwardsandUpwards from other discussions that were had on this thread, it doesn’t sound like they do. Rather, you are assigned whatever position is available when you complete clearance. Would be great to hear if anyone else here has expressed an interested to PAS in a department/area and was successful?

I expressed preference for my own department but on the Interdepartmental was offered a different one, now at the same time my local HR had not requested to keep me or had a vacancy so wasn't just PAS, local HR told me they do now have upcoming AP vacancy and did request to PAS to keep me if I am called on Open. But I will still wait and see what happens if this occurs.

But for anyone who's not looking to stay in an existing Department or is joining from the open as new to the civil service then I don't think they take any preferences into account. It is a flaw in the system particularly as they are at other levels looking more at skills and preferences.

Unfortunately not and I had to turn my offer down as it was completely different to my skill set. The make you go through clearance etc before they give you the offer which means when you refuse you get removed from the panel. Very frustrating.

@markyp1988 any idea where PAS are on the panel? Or anyone else have any latest insights? TIA.

hi in my experience it is 2 sometimes 3 questions per competency and then the panel will typically probe your answers. The question you mention is too basic and I doubt would be asked at AP level in that format. In my experience a typical question could be along the lines of

Can you tell us about a time when you were leading on a strategic project or policy, what were the challenges and how did you go about getting buy in from your team.

Or

can you tell us about a time when you had to prioritize tasks taking into consideration available skills and resources, how did you prioritise, what were the challenges and how did you address them

or

Tell us about a time you felt you were right but the person making the decision did not agree with you how did you go about explaining your position and what was the outcome..,

hopefully that gives you a steer.

Also to those turning down (or considering turning down positions) it’s worth bearing in mind after 2 years in role you can apply for mobility and have a decent chance of moving into a preferred Dept and role where you get to actually see the role descriptions in advance and of course requesting an internal transfer is also an option to seek out .

I'm waiting to be called for preclearance. I have no real preference for dept only that I really need a hybrid role, 3 days remote, 2 days in. Could I email PAS to request a hybrid role rather than a full time office role before you're called for clearance? Or is that not the done thing/pointless?

No harm however in my experience PAS won't know the specific business needs & blended working arrangements of the team you're assigned to.

Anyone from batch 3.3 for Dublin open been called yet? Seems to be moving at a snails pace at the moment.

Can anyone tell me at what stage do they tell you what dept they are offering you? Is it when you are called for preclearance or after preclearance?

Hi there I think 45 mins approx. I'm pretty sure it was 10 mins presentation, 10 min Q&A and then the interview. A little over an hour for me in total. Best of luck

Hi Markyp1988, have you had a recent update from PAS on the open panel? thanks Tony

How long, after your interviews did you get your result? 😁

Any how can you tell which batch you are in?

The interviews are actually finished this week but not sure about the results

I was called for preclearance yesterday and have been provisionally offered a role in the Dept of Justice. Really happy with that, Id say it will be interesting. Does anyone know what the hybrid working policy in that dept is?

Hi Onion87 long timer in DoJ here. The hybrid working policy in Dept depends on where you are working. I'm in office 2 days a week and 3 days wfh. Talk to HR and find out what location you will be based in and the policy there.

Congratulations @Onion87 🙂 that's fantastic news! Best of luck!

Anyone else been called for clearance yet or had a recent update from PAS?

Wouldn't it be great if your position dynamically updated in a portal somewhere while you wait 😁

Hi all, I am in the same batch and 9 and 13 on the panels so hoping that I will be placed before the panel expires. Was there a typical timeframe for those who placed previously, it seems to a a couple of months looking back through the thread. Happy to share any info or help for any further batches re Stage 3 interview

Hi Ritournelle thank you for the offer of help. Could I ask you and anyone else that has been called forward for interview recently what your OOM was on the original testing done to give me an indication of whether there's any hope of being called before the panel expires. My original OOM on the inter-d was 1281 and on Open 1787. Many thanks

Senna2804 would you mind indicating your original OOM so I can tell if I'm going to be called by 31st Oct 24?

Hi, mine was 904 interd and 1228 on open on the Stage 1, the Stage 2 shortlisting I received in February then.

is that your OOM after interview or aptitude tests? Sorry not being nosey. Just trying to figure out this process!