Should i take the CO job?

Lamps

Im currently working as a CO in an governemnt body and tbh I love it. Went in as a temp 2months ago after a real high pressure job and love that its much more laid back, I find the work area intresting, its only a 35 hour week and the people are a great laugh.


But the pay is crap. After 3 interviews ive been offered a permenent job (220applications and 30 people interviewed for 5 jobs) but dont know if ill take it as:

Its not on my carrer path/what i did in college (although that area is extremley hard to get into at the moment and tbh im not totally sure if I actually like it)

The money is crap - 24k a year, although I could live on that, im 24 btw and 2 years outta college

I actually like the area im in with this job (its insurance/legal)

But dont know whether to take it. A gov job would be good at the mo given the current job climate etc plus 35 hours and flexi are great.

Also I know i have to do 2 years at least before going for EO exams, but how hard is to go from a CO to a EO, do many people get it and how many years does it usually take??

Any advice would be great as I dont know what to do!

pow wow

What about taking it until you figure out what you do wanna do?

On the CO to EO jump it might differ from department to department but I worked in Revenue for a wee while and it was FULL (an I do mean full, believe me) of frustrated COs trying and failing to be promoted be EOs....who had been there years.

Nolanger

Lamps wrote: »

Also I know i have to do 2 years at least before going for EO exams, but how hard is to go from a CO to a EO, do many people get it and how many years does it usually take??

If you were in college and have a degree(?) than you should apply for the next open EO competition on www.publicjobs.ie.

The two-year rule is for:

• internal EO competitions in your Department
• open EO competitions for existing Civil Servants without college degrees

It's usually graduates your age that get the open EO and not existing Civil Servants who have been COs for years.

Rael

If you work hard at your job and practice for the open exams you will get promoted. It took me nine months to go from CO to EO and 12 months to go from EO to AO.

You already have a degree so that will automatically give you an advantage over most COs and if you don't like it pack it in after 12 months and go back to private industry.

Lamps

I have got a degree but in a completley different field...

The EO exams are coming up and ive applied and will do them, but if I take the CO job does that mean i cant actually take the EO job if I do get offered it, as i'll already be employed at CO level?

How does the actual progression work, if im a CO for the next 2 years how do i actually move to SO or Eo, what do i actually have to do? An exam, interview, just a regular promotion after hard work?

So if I have a degree, getting an internal promotion to SO or EO should be a lot easier than for a CO without a degree?

Thanks for the information by the way and keep it coming, i just dont know what to do....

Lamps

I though I heard that if you were employed as a CO you could not go for external EO exams? I’m only temping as a CO at the moment though so it’s grand. As I said I went for the interviews for this job, 300 people applied for a job as a CO in this department which means these CO jobs must be quite sought after. The money is crap enough but Flexi and a 35 hour week is great. The only thing I’m worried about is the lack of promotion opportunities, plus as I have a degree I feel I’m under valuing myself a bit by staying in this position…..

Precociousg

I too would be interested to know whether or not you can get a job through the EO competition if you are already employed as a CO? I only got the job of CO recently, but I still plan on taking the EO exam.

Nolanger

Yes, you can go for the open EO if already working as a CO.
Should have plenty to talk about if you get called for interview.

MAKE MY DAY

Yes if you are eligible you can go for the EO competitions you might also be eligible for the AO competitions if you have a degree. Agree with previous poster if you are a serving CO you will have hands on experience of procedures and systems within government departments. IMO its an advantage.