Getting into Civil Service/ County councils

Maxthedog02

Im looking to get into the civil service or co/ council. I have a cert in Software development and a yrs work experience. (I want to get away from computers (I made a mistake after the L.C. and shud have done business.)).

Anyway i`d like to try and get into something like the civil service/councils and maybe do night college in something else to help work my way up or to help me get into more specific areas within these departments.

Anyway my question is would a cert in computers and my work experience be enough to get me in in the first place. Like even to get called for the interviews, for clerical workers, ect... or would I need a more business course to my name. I know a girl in the health board dept, and as far as i know she didntt go to college as such,but im not sure what VEC or similar course she did Does the VEC offer a 1 yr business course, i could do.

I`d appreciate any help/advice. Im 20, 21 in a few months. Dont really want to return to college full time but a yrs course maybe wouldnt be too bad whilst applying for those interviews and waiting to be called, if called. I could be doing that in the meantime.

MrNuked

they run aptitude tests in colleges sometimes. You don't have to have a business qualification. Not sure whether you need a degree.
I did the tests in my final year: Came in the bottom 10% for the on-job situations test, where you describe how you would act in hypothetical situations at work. Based on the answers I selected, I think they are looking for answers showing the least initiative, slavish obedience to your superiors, and no care whatsoever for the attititudes or esteem of your peers or inferiors. Although obviously I'm biased.

Maxthedog02

Does anyone else have any opinions/advice/help regarding this topic.
I dont believe you do need a degree. You can work with them in the various departments, and do internal exams. Like if i could get into dept of planning/agriculture or something, and do exams with them. I`m interested in all that sort of stuff. Being a culchie and all.

Its getting in that im trying to find out about. I know a girl that is working in the health board dept, as i said already, but i havent seen her in yonks and dont really be talking to her. Dont really know anyone else I could ask.

My situation is as follows, was interested in computers and business when doing the leaving. Was also thinking of doing insurance bk then too, you do your training with the insurance brokers your based in. I was thinking along the lines of loss adjusters.

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Anyway, i regrettably chose computers. I was debating between 2 comp. courses, Applications+support and software development. While i knew the programming would be hard to me, i picked software for a challenge and out of interest. I was struggling in 1st yr, and thought about switching courses but was scared of all that, and decided to work extra hard at it. I passed and went into 2nd yr. Had lost interest and knew i didnt want to work at software, or even computers at this stage. Anyway i failed 3 subjects at end of 2nd yr, so was forced to take a yr out as didnt get the 55 avgerage to go straight into 3rd yr. So i worked on a building site with Groundworkers for the summer. Then repeated the exams and passed them. THen on the yr out i got work experience in tech support and bit of networking, ect... I returned to college for the 3rd yr in Sept there this yr, and within 2 weeks knew i didnt want to continue this path. I just went bk to see if i`d get back into it, or always be wondering.....

ANyway, i left and here I am. Im debating what to do. I dont really wish to start another college course full time as im nearly 21 and it doesnt seem right to be starting college again. So im trying to get into something i can work my way up in, (And have the interest in) . Thats why im thinking along the lines of Co.councils/civil service. I dont really want to take the insurance route I was thinking of after doing the leaving as 1 of my friends done it and he was sort of pushed into doing the accounting side of it and i dont like accounting.

I should have changed courses when i was in 1st yr or even last yr instead of working. I cant help thinking i messed up 2yrs and am torturing myself with not having changed earlier. At least i have a cert and a yrs work experience. Its not as if i just dropped out and done nothing. (I know couple ppl that did that).
Im not sure myself if this thread should be in the personal probs or work. This is really annoying me, im scared and worried what to do. I got 400 points in the L.C. and reckon i`d have done well at a business course. Cant help feeling i fooked up (which I did). I suppose i can just go forward now, im a good worker, and have a good L.C. so am hoping to get into something i can work up, or do internal exams aswell. Am i too hard on myself?

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MrNuked

Yes you are being too hard on yourself.
hindsight is 20-20 and lots of people make bad choices during and before college, mainly because they're young.
The economy is bad at the moment. If I could afford it I'd like to go to college again in the hope that the jobs market has improved in a couple of years. I can't afford it though.
You're going to find it hard to get a decent job at the moment. That's bad luck, not something to beat yourself up about.

henbane

Keep an eye on publicjobs.ie

Look at this clerical vacancy - unfortunately it's closed now - you need nothing other than a leaving cert.

If you do apply for a position, there will be a suitable aptitude test and a structured interview and you will be given a place on a panel. Don't depend on the job to come up immediately if you do get a spot as it can be more than a year from the time of doing the test and getting a job. Also, you don't have any choice really on what department you're sent to. Just Dublin or not Dublin really.

There are competitions run regularly - you should check it every so often and check what qualifications are necessary for the position. Both CO/EO positions need only the leaving certificate. Other positions are similar.

As far as I know, local authorities and councils advertise in the papers but have a similar recruiting process depending on the job in question.

Cork

Check out:

www.publicjobs.ie

&

http://www.localgovernmentjobs.ie/

Otherwise, send them in a CV looking for temporary work.

County Councils encourage people to do IPA courses:

Check out:

www.ipa.ie

I might have a few more ideas on this one - I'll keep ye posted.

luckat

The civil service has two classes: those who enter with a degree and those who enter without one. Promotion is a killing field for the degreeless; much, much easier if you have a degree.

With a degree, too, you normally enter at "officer" level - HEO or AP (higher executive officer or assistant principal) - with much better pay than entry at non-degree level. And your work is going to be more interesting.

You can always get a non-civil-service job while studying for a business degree (the civil service loves those) at night, and then enter when you have it.

Maxthedog02

Would it have to be a business degree to get in though. I was thinking of doing an Arts degree maybe, but not too sure. The arts degree seems to point you in the direction of taching, which is not what im really interested in. What other jobs would an arts degree get you into. Teaching, civil service, ?????????????? What other options are there.

I know it depends too on the subjects you pick. I`d be interested in Geography, economics and maybe Sociology/Psychology/Philosophy. Could i get into the planning dept and such lke thru th geograpy aspect. It seem a very general degree.

Can anyone out there thats doing an Arts degree give me some info on the subjects and the detail they go into.

Cork

I think you could get into the County Council/Civil Service & Let them fund your courses.

Or you could do full time courses:

There are courses specificly in Public Administration (www.ul.ie).

But these are very specific - If you charge your mind about the public service 3 years into the course.

But - you already have a cert in computers - Could you do a diploma in business?
I know, a few who transfered into the national diploma in Business in a local IT. They got on fine. They had certs in science and degrees in stats.

Alternatively, You could get into a county council as a Clerical Officer and get them to pay for courses: Civil Service/County Councils like IPA courses - www.ipa.ie