Civil Service Job Panel

Glowing

Hi, just a quick question.

How far up a Civil Service job panel do you realistically need to be before getting an offer of a position? I guess it depends on the nature of the position and how often they come around?

Thanks!

She Devil

I am on the interview panel ... i rang public jobs the other day and they said it will be the summer before i'll hear anything!

Mr. Presentable

It depends on how many vacancies they have. Also, which winds me up, people go for the positions with no intention of ever taking them, and if they are successful the list is not extended to account for positions not taken. That is, a list of 50 stays at 50 even if five of them don't take the offer.

jd83

Is this about the CO exam a few months ago, did anyone get an interview yet or anything except exam results.

She Devil

Yeah .. the one in august! I was told that i will be called for an interview .. and got a place number! Did you??

jd83

Yh it just i was 51 and on an order of merit and that if my place was reached i would be called. Did yours say you would definetly be called

She Devil

WOW 51 is excellent, my number was slightly higher than that
You will definately get called. Ring public jobs and ask them how when you might be called.

jd83

thanks, the first 50 got an application form for interview to fill out so i dont know. Ill give them a ring anyway. If i hear anything ill post it up here

Kingp35

Quick question for you guys, where was the CO exam process advertised? Was it on publicjobs.ie?

Just wondering if all I have to do is keep my eye out on that website or do i have to keep looking in the newspapers etc as well for advertisements?

Thanks

jd83

Kingp35 wrote: »

Quick question for you guys, where was the CO exam process advertised? Was it on publicjobs.ie?

Just wondering if all I have to do is keep my eye out on that website or do i have to keep looking in the newspapers etc as well for advertisements?

Thanks

Just register with public jobs and they will email you when clerical roles appear

jd83

I emailed them and they siad it would be after christmas for the interview stage.

Alessandra

Would having an interview sheduled be a pretty good indication that there are jobs to be filled? Am a little sceptical with the current situation.

She Devil

Oh yeah they won't do interviews unless they have positions for them. Apparently they are trying to put people in before there is a freeze on them hiring.

bills

anyone have any advice for these interviews? all tips welcome

jd83

anyone had to fill out the interview form yet or did you all just get a place number in the exam?

The_Conductor

She Devil wrote: »

Oh yeah they won't do interviews unless they have positions for them. Apparently they are trying to put people in before there is a freeze on them hiring.

Not entirely true.
People are interviewed to fill the places on panels (they may fill possibly as many as 200-250 places, or even more- it depends on the particular panel). As jobs become available- people are then allocated from the panels (note: in most cases they will have long since done the interviews).

Panels when compiled have a set lifespan, normally 18 to 24 months, but for technical roles often shorter.

There is no official hiring freeze, and its unlikely that there will be. There are however severe cuts in the "Pay Element" of Department's annual budgets. Department's budgets are subdivided into different categories- such as Pay, Non-Pay, Superannuation, Capital etc- and Departments cannot move funds between the different subheads (any surplus is supposed to be returned to the exchequer at years end). If my memory serves me right there was a 6% cut in the pay element (along with cuts in all the other headings). So- while there is not a formal "freeze" in place, its extremely difficult to find the money to recruit new staff.

This is not to say that there are not vacancies- some sections are doubtlessly hopelessly overstretched and focusing on core tasks only- while the inverse is also most probably true- some sections probably did there damndest to recruit staff when they saw the writing on the walls concerning budget cuts- and may now have new staff- but no funds to train them.....

People are retiring the whole time, and many are also taking early retirement- so inevitably people will be recruited sooner or later to replace "natural wastage". Keep in mind the demographics of the civil service- 68% female and 72% over the age of 50........ posts will come up- just keep waiting......

The current focus is on reducing contract staff numbers- as soon as the wage bill is brought under control- limited recruitment of replacement staff will be ongoing again........

Its a waiting game.

She Devil

smccarrick wrote: »

Not entirely true.
People are interviewed to fill the places on panels (they may fill possibly as many as 200-250 places, or even more- it depends on the particular panel). As jobs become available- people are then allocated from the panels (note: in most cases they will have long since done the interviews).

Panels when compiled have a set lifespan, normally 18 to 24 months, but for technical roles often shorter.

That is true, sorry!!

Vanbis

She Devil wrote: »

Oh yeah they won't do interviews unless they have positions for them. Apparently they are trying to put people in before there is a freeze on them hiring.

I wouldnt be to sure on that She Devil. I had my interview a couple of months ago and was told a week later that i passed and they would call me once they had a position available, i am still waiting for the call.

jd83

Vanbis wrote: »

I wouldnt be to sure on that She Devil. I had my interview a couple of months ago and was told a week later that i passed and they would call me once they had a position available, i am still waiting for the call.

when did you sit the exam for the co if you dont mind me asking

She Devil

I know Vanbis sorry, i was just going on one of my best friends who had an interview one week and two weeks later got his position, but talking to him earlier regarding this thread he reminded me of another mate of ours who had almost given up hope she didnt get called for six months after her interview.

Vanbis

Chapter House abbey street, upper.

jd83

yh but what month was your exam, was it in august this year

Vanbis

She Devil wrote: »

another mate of ours who had almost given up hope she didnt get called for six months after her interview.

Did the friend get a letter after the interview to confirm she was successful? I also think it depends on the position you applied for.

Vanbis

jd83 wrote: »

yh but what month was your exam, was it in august this year

I did the Aptitude last October 2007 and received a Merit and then i got an application form to send around June i think and after that i got called for a interview and received a letter a week later confirming that i was successful and passed and i would be called for a position once they had one available.

burkemg

Hi I'm on the panel for temporary clerical officer relief work but haven't heard anything. i asked for location in Galway, perhaps there are no temporary positions available? Does anyone know how long my name would be kept on the temporary panel. I was added in December 2015