Central Bank Grad Recruitment Programme 2010

suckslikeafox

http://www.centralbank.ie/frame_main.asp?pg=joboppor.asp

Just noticed the above is now open and looking for advice from anyone in the know/people who've been through it before.

I've a BA Finance and Accounting and have been working in big4 audit for a year. Do people think this is a strong enough backround to apply with? (I know they say all degrees, etc welcome on the website but I'm wondering what the actual expectations arE)

machintoshlover

Hey

I can't really answer your question but you may as well apply anyway. I was talking to someone from the CB at a careers fair and she told me to apply as early as possible. A few things you might not see in the brochure are:

1) The starting salary is around 30k

2) They are taking on 5 people - I though I may have misheard this but apparently it is true.

I have applied myself but don't expect to get in - Have commerce degree majoring in economics and currently completing my Masters in economics but it won't do you any harm in applying. There is a long enough selection process after you submit your application so if you can get past that initial stage your qualifications shouldn't matter as you will then have to show your actual ability through aptitude/interview.

I know I didn't answer the question but apply anyway and see what happens!

Flamed Diving

I have heard they are taking on four people.

I have also heard they are taking on ten.

:rolleyes:

machintoshlover

Sorry Flamed I should have clarified - the woman at the Central banks stand at the careers fair told me 5 people.

suckslikeafox

Thanks for the replies folks!

@machintoshlover: No harm in applying for sure, definitely plan to. My only worry would be that they'll look at the application alongside x amount of people applying with a masters in economics and throw it in the bin. Thinking of giving up the current job to go for the masters but everyones telling me I need me head examined for giving up a secure job!


Anyone else have an opinion?

Économiste Monétaire

Why do you want to work for a CB?

suckslikeafox

Économiste Monétaire wrote: »

Why do you want to work for a CB?

I've a pretty strong interest in economics, do plan to get my masters at some stage (only 21 now). Working for a CB seems like a pretty good route into that, don't you think?

I'm not expecting it to be glamorous forecasting or anything, my view is that I work in a sh*t office job (I don't like audit at all) now so why not work in one that might get me somewhere I really want to be in the future

machintoshlover

Regards the application I really don't know what criteria they are setting out - I should probably have asked that!

Regards your situation: It's whatever you want to do. If you want to look at it objectively - you have one year of your accountancy contract done - by the time you would start a masters you would have 2 years done and only have one year left on your contract. So if it was me I would probably finish my training as an accountant - then consider doing a masters in economics if thats what you really want to do.

It's easy to look at this with an outside perspective but if I was in the situation I could act totally differently.

If you left your accountancy and went for economics then decided you didn't like economics then you would be pretty screwed. This way you are still a qualified accountant - and will have loads of options to avail of. The big thing for me is that by the time you start the masters you would be so close to becoming qualified it would be a shame not to finish it and then decide what you want to do!

MrMatisse

machintoshlover wrote: »

Regards the application I really don't know what criteria they are setting out - I should probably have asked that!

Regards your situation: It's whatever you want to do. If you want to look at it objectively - you have one year of your accountancy contract done - by the time you would start a masters you would have 2 years done and only have one year left on your contract. So if it was me I would probably finish my training as an accountant - then consider doing a masters in economics if thats what you really want to do.

It's easy to look at this with an outside perspective but if I was in the situation I could act totally differently.

If you left your accountancy and went for economics then decided you didn't like economics then you would be pretty screwed. This way you are still a qualified accountant - and will have loads of options to avail of. The big thing for me is that by the time you start the masters you would be so close to becoming qualified it would be a shame not to finish it and then decide what you want to do!

Said by someone who has never worked in audit:D

Its soul destroyingly boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!

suckslikeafox

Sorry for not replying, was away for a week

Really-Stressed wrote: »

Said by someone who has never worked in audit:D

Its soul destroyingly boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly, its killing me on the inside and thats no exaggeration!

machintoshlover wrote: »

Regards the application I really don't know what criteria they are setting out - I should probably have asked that!

Regards your situation: It's whatever you want to do. If you want to look at it objectively - you have one year of your accountancy contract done - by the time you would start a masters you would have 2 years done and only have one year left on your contract. So if it was me I would probably finish my training as an accountant - then consider doing a masters in economics if thats what you really want to do.

It's easy to look at this with an outside perspective but if I was in the situation I could act totally differently.

If you left your accountancy and went for economics then decided you didn't like economics then you would be pretty screwed. This way you are still a qualified accountant - and will have loads of options to avail of. The big thing for me is that by the time you start the masters you would be so close to becoming qualified it would be a shame not to finish it and then decide what you want to do!

Thanks for the advice, it does seem to be the consensus among friends, family, etc. My own view is that I want to save my headspace/sanity and just cut the chord but that would require balls!



Anyone else got views on the CB programme in general? Don't want to turn this into a personal advice thread

Assets Model

I've applied for it too. I have a masters in economics and a year in a fairly crappy research job. I applied for hte bank executive job there in summer 2008 and got to the interview stage. I remember them being agonisingly slow coming to a decision and giving useless feedback.

marytmon

I just got an email yesterday saying that I'm invited to do the online tests for them. I got another email today telling me how to go about it! Delighted!!:)

BostonB

Always looks better to finish something you have started.

Player_86

Anyone else do the online tests and find them pretty tough?

suckslikeafox

Player_86 wrote: »

Anyone else do the online tests and find them pretty tough?

I wish mate, didn't make it that far

Time for me to seriously have a think, best of luck to all still in the running though

ED 209

Seems to be a good opportunity. I suppose the long term goal is getting into the ECB in Frankfurt. German classes a must. Better quality beer.

Seriously, do you think they will recruit more grads given the increased workload at the Irish Central Bank these days?

scarface22

I had an interview with them last week and they are taking on more people than originally planned (5)...

Flamed Diving

They had 700 applicants and called 60 of them, from what I heard.

scarface22

It was 850 applicants and 50-60 are currently interviewing

Typically 15 or so get to second round interviews/assessment centre

hevvs

It seems like an interesting programme. Pity I was too late in applying! Next year perhaps!
Are the interviews supposed to be tough does anyone know? Probably are if they're trying to filter the best candidates out of that many applicants. What would the difference be between the first and second interview?

scarface22

So how did everybody get on with the interviews? I didn't think it was tooooo bad.

@hevvs: 2nd round interviews are asessment centre style so your gonna get grilled..big shtyle

hevvs

Oh right. It would probably focus more on your technical knowledge and experience I suppose.

Well Done on your interview. Was it tough?

TEMPLAR KNIGHT

Well lads sorry for digging up an old thread, Just looking to see did anybody actually end up getting a job with the CB? and looking for a bit advice what would be the best things I can do while still in college to help my chances when I graduate (besides the obvious stuff of getting a masters and a 1.1 degree)?