2,200 people apply for 18 jobs with Cork City Fire Brigade

phoenix999

Must be soul destroying having to compete with so many for a job:

http://www.eveningecho.ie/2012/11/28/2200-apply-for-18-recruit-posts-with-city-fire-service/

road_high

That's just over 100 people per job...I'd say that's par for the course these days. Especially anything in the Public Service as vacancies never come up due to the embargo.

repsol

mfitzy wrote: »

That's just over 100 people per job...I'd say that's par for the course these days. Especially anything in the Public Service as vacancies never come up due to the embargo.

Could be a lot worse than that.I have no personal experience of CFB but certain other large fire brigades are beyond a joke when it comes to nepotism.The amount of sons,brothers,nephews,daughters etc is outrageous.

phoenix999

repsol wrote: »

Could be a lot worse than that.I have no personal experience of CFB but certain other large fire brigades are beyond a joke when it comes to nepotism.The amount of sons,brothers,nephews,daughters etc is outrageous.

Know what you mean. I have three first cousins (brothers) and all are now Gardai. Their father works in Customs.

repsol

phoenix999 wrote: »

Know what you mean. I have three first cousins (brothers) and all are now Gardai. Their father works in Customs.

That is not as bad because there are loads more Gardai in the country than there are firemen.It doesn't just stop at recruitment either.Promotion,courses,transfers the list goes on.If the unsuccessful applicants only knew what goes on ,there would be murder!

Procrastastudy

repsol wrote: »

That is not as bad because there are loads more Gardai in the country than there are firemen.It doesn't just stop at recruitment either.Promotion,courses,transfers the list goes on.If the unsuccessful applicants only knew what goes on ,there would be murder!

I thought everyone did...

road_high

repsol wrote: »

Could be a lot worse than that.I have no personal experience of CFB but certain other large fire brigades are beyond a joke when it comes to nepotism.The amount of sons,brothers,nephews,daughters etc is outrageous.

They are at an immediate advantage as they usually have the inside track as well as potential influence. Reckon it's even worse nowadays with everyone doing all they can to "get in".

Tintin8

I've heard of that before alright lads. Nepotism has definitely happened.. You can still get the job if you really want it & a bit of luck I suppose. Just do good courses, licences & voluntary work.
Work towards it and be ready for when they recruit next.
And prepare like mad for psychometric tests

moneymad

Isn't this story a bit late? I thought they recruited already since last march and have chosen 9 from the last 18 or something?

repsol

mfitzy wrote: »

They are at an immediate advantage as they usually have the inside track as well as potential influence. Reckon it's even worse nowadays with everyone doing all they can to "get in".

Officer X interviews Officer Y's son for the job and he gets him in.

Then 6 months later Officer X's son who is already in the job goes for promotion and is interviewed by Officer Y who returns the "favour".Guys will not retire until they get the last son in.(3 in some cases)

matrim

What was the application rate during the good times.?

I know of 3 people who have applied around 2005/6 and out of them only 1 got in. AFAIK even ignoring nepotism the recruitment process is fairly tough with tough physical requirements and possibly a preference for people who have a decent education background (i.e. preferably college degree), or at least that is what I was told by my friends at the time

the_syco

I wonder how many of the 2200 people could lift people out of a burning house?

StillWaters

the_syco wrote: »

I wonder how many of the 2200 people could lift people out of a burning house?

I imagine there is a fitness test as part of the selection process. With regard to nepotism, all public sector recruitment is done as part of a panel, so unless you were related to/able to influence a HR Manager, Fire Chief and external person knowing someone already in the service won't get you far, well no further than anyone else who does decent research about what the job entails.

repsol

StillWaters wrote: »

I imagine there is a fitness test as part of the selection process. With regard to nepotism, all public sector recruitment is done as part of a panel, so unless you were related to/able to influence a HR Manager, Fire Chief and external person knowing someone already in the service won't get you far, well no further than anyone else who does decent research about what the job entails.

So unless someone is related to a Chief,Assistant Chief,Third Officer,District Officer or any of about 50 people in the Council hierarchy they have no chance of gaining an advantage! That is a lot of relatives.If you think these recruitments are done fairly you are mistaken!

road_high

StillWaters wrote: »

I imagine there is a fitness test as part of the selection process. With regard to nepotism, all public sector recruitment is done as part of a panel, so unless you were related to/able to influence a HR Manager, Fire Chief and external person knowing someone already in the service won't get you far, well no further than anyone else who does decent research about what the job entails.

You're living in a bubble if you think that....this is Ireland. It pays to know people!!
May be an "impartial" panel, but believe me, it's behind the scenes and gaining the inside track is where things are won/lost!

repsol

Tintin8 wrote: »

You had to pass three psychometric tests for cork so knowing people was no advantage. Then we had a fitness test. This also was done with a set pass level so knowing someone was no advantage again. Why do you all think this nepotism is so common? I'm from Kildare !.? It used to be. Cork were in a bit of trouble years ago because of this that's why most of the recruitment is taking over by public jobs now. Then the interviews had chief from Kildare and some hr lads. The practical tests were pass or fail aswell. !

I assume that due to the jobs scarcity they will receive applications from all 32 counties.If as you say,its all done fairly, out of 18 candidates it would be unlikely that more than say 2 max would be from Cork.I suspect that a lot more than 2 from Cork will be in that class when it is chosen.Time will tell.I find your innocence very refreshing by the way.Have you sent off your letter to Santa yet?:D

repsol

Tintin8 wrote: »

repsol wrote: »

I assume that due to the jobs scarcity they will receive applications from all 32 counties.If as you say,its all done fairly, out of 18 candidates it would be unlikely that more than say 2 max would be from Cork.I suspect that a lot more than 2 from Cork will be in that class when it is chosen.Time will tell.I find your innocence very refreshing by the way.Have you sent off your letter to Santa yet?:

I'm sure been from cork is an advantage. I never said it wasn't. I'm just proof that you don't need to know someone inside. That's all. Ill let you know who's from where when I start. I was messaging lads on boards and I know for a fact that 2 from limerick, myself(Kildare), 2 from Dublin & I know two lads from waterford retained got in too because a friend of mine is in waterford city.
That makes 7 lads not from cork who got in. That's not far off half the recruits & there could be more than 7.
Call it unfair if you want but 7 is not bad.

Your comment about Santa is hilarious! There is no need to be a smart.
I guess it shows your innocence because there is no Santa ;-)

Do you want to be a firefighter?

I am a firefighter and have been for a long time.I am speaking from years of experience doing the job.Fair enough if Cork are doing things fairly(this time).I can assure you if you applied a bit closer to home you would have found it a lot different.Best of luck in your new career.O yeah and you better learn what sarcasm is or you will be eaten alive on the watch:D