Deemed ineligible when applying for civil service job

I'm guessing you are referring to the below requirement. If you don't have it, I don't see the point in appealing unfortunately.

"a first or second class primary honours degree (minimum Level 8 on the National Framework
of Qualifications) having taken Business, Economics, Accounting or another financial discipline
as a major subject in the final degree examination"

Link

assuming this is the info booklet?

I’ve no skin in the game here but I don’t think your masters in Food Business Strategy would qualify, but if you want to argue that with them, let us know how you get on.

I actually know somebody with that masters and afaik it’s usually added to agri/science type degrees and most of the course is very heavily food specific. I wish you well, but I can see why they don’t believe that to be sufficient to meet their requirement

it’s quite strange you got an interview considering this was an essential requirement - if it’s essential then why waste time interviewing? It wasted your time as well as theirs

What's your primary degree in?

I know people who have applied for both internal and open competitions and have been told that their degrees are not eligible (Revenue seem to be very strict on this).

It happens fairly regularly and unfortunately it's always towards the end of the process that qualifications are checked.

Good luck with your appeal.

Just going to throw in some advice for people in this campaign and the same one next year that haven't got assigned. I know a decent amount of people have been excluded at the very final stage after getting through the 3 aptitude tests, interview and presentation and garda vetting, based on their degree modules not the degree itself. None of which was stated at any stage in the campaign application booklet or at any stage afterward.

My brother was excluded from the HR campaign at the assignment stage after they decided he didn't have enough HR modules in his final year to qualify as a specialisation. He had 35 to 40% HR modules and they wanted over 50% HR modules.

It was never stated in the information booklet or when he asked them at the beginning and he had his transcripts in 7 months ago. This information was only revealed after he pushed for a formal review. He was in the top 10 in the campaign.

It's a very poor way to treat people but not unsurprising. From what I gather this is happening more and more particularly on the AO specialist streams so just so people are aware, nothing is guaranteed until they assign you and they can and will refuse people on conditions not previously outlined at any point. You don't have much recourse either barring a couple of reviews they themselves look at.

It's always frustrating to go through the process and not get the job in the end. They state the eligibility in the competition booklets and advise it is on the candidates to ensure they are eligible. What is your brother's degree in? The HR stream requires a degree or master's in human resource management. Does he have this? Or did he just major in HR, which might be relevant, but it doesn't meet the requirement. I think the issue is also people applying without reeading the competiton booklets in full.

I think PAS are aware of the issue and that they are missing out on fine candidates as a result so I would not be surprised to see them lower the tresholds (e.g. acceping a major in HR rather than a full HR degree) in time.