First Secretary 2024

I'm wondering about the missions abroad, It says regularly but how often would you be travelling? I doubt I have much chance of getting far in the competition anyways but might still apply on the off chance.

Are there definitely going to be standardised testing? There was talk that there might not be.

The hardship allowances for last year^^

Got this through an FOI because I was curious haha

Revenue always had it that when you were going for AP level it was 2 interviews and never a test so not that unusual when you get to the higher grades.

Guess the shortlisting results should be out this week. Maybe Friday?

Have you worked in other areas of the civil service since? If so, how did the workload compare between departments?

I have heard that the Department of Foreign Affairs asks a lot of its staff, especially those in the diplomatic stream.

Doesn't seem to lighten the competition for those roles though!

No word yet so most likely Monday at this point?

That's a very tight turnaround for interviews and offers etc. if majority of us need to give one month's notice for the internal competition.

What exactly is the one month notice for?

Is the internal competition seperate to the inter-departmental?

Just landed in my public jobs messages:

"Due to the high volume of applications submitted for this role, Stage 1 - Shortlisting is currently still ongoing. This has impacted on the original indicative timeline provided in the information booklet for this competition, and therefore it is not envisaged that Stage 2 – Main Interview will take place before mid-August."

PAS running a month and a half late after just stage 1.

They have to run Third Sec as well. I think they're short on manpower in the PAS because of the CO and EO competition ongoing. Not to mention a ton of other small competitions.

Not really an excuse though, since they know what's coming. It's just typical of most PAS-run campaigns.

The consequence is losing out on good, private sector applicants who can't comprehend waiting six months or more to hear on a job application and often get better offers in the meantime.

I reckon PAS is on desperate need of some competition.

I disagree. Any PAS competition I have been involved with has been lengthy and ran beyond its original deadline. Furthermore, the starting date for the very first person on the eventual panel always seems to be 6 months, at the earliest, from the competition's application deadline. These timelines just would not, and do not, fly in the private sector and should not be acceptable in the civil service either.

But regardless, I guess it's this one that matters right now and it is certainly delayed.

DFA dictates when a first sec comp is run to suit their needs, not the other way round. Sure with the third sec etc., they run like clock work but not the promotion grades.

I think just because PAS doesn't operate to a timeline that you deem appropriate doesn't mean they aren't fit for purpose.

Results are out for Stage 1- shortlisting. Unfortunately missed out on one of the competencies. Gutted is an understatement! I felt like it was a strong example as well. Ah well. This new capability framework has me perplexed. I’ll have to keep my eye out for the next Assistant Principal competition (hopefully later this year!). Anyway, best of luck to all that were shortlisted!

As ever, shortlisting is a blunt process and tough going. I heard that when people inside DFA go for first sec in internal competitions they get interview preparation and training, so this probably helps them with the writing the forms and competencies for open competitions.

Congratulations to anyone who got through. Here is hoping there are more batches in the future.