Mediator/Adjudicator with PRTB

jos28

Just wondering if anyone else here applied for this and did the exam. I'm curious to know how many applications were received. I did the exam in Croke Park today and couldn't believe how many were there.

angelfire9

I did it at 9am 7 "centres" about 40-50 people in each and that was only the morning session
Croke park looks good from the premium seats

jos28

I did it at 2pm. Have to agree about the Premium view, it was pretty nice up there.

LFC Murphy

where do such position get advertised?

jos28

On Publicjobs.ie LFC. You can register with them and set yourself up for email alerts.

http://publicjobs.ie/publicjobs/

iverjohnston

yeah, was at the noon exam session. about 250 present. did you get all answered, and how did you find the wording of the questions?

jos28

Got them all finished. I thought the wording of the case scenarios was confusing to say the least. There were a lot of questions that I had to keep re-reading to figure out what they were looking for. The ones like 'what is NOT included'......they threw me a bit. Chances of getting through to the next round are slim all the same

iverjohnston

yeah I found the case scenario about the merchant banker and the apartment rental a bit disjointed all right. Interesting the number of people there who had the appearance of Estate Agents ..

jos28

I spotted the 'Estate Agents' alright along with several people carrying Law Society bags !

Prof234

It was a tough paper. I understand 900 people applied to sit but there were a no. of no-shows at the 12 Noon session. I've always wanted to compete at Croke Park but this wasn't what I had been dreaming of all these years! Someone remarked that the PRTB's existing panel of adjudicators all had to re-apply and sit this exam. If so, the paper was heavily weighted in their favour.

jos28

Prof234 wrote: »

It was a tough paper. I understand 900 people applied to sit but there were a no. of no-shows at the 12 Noon session. I've always wanted to compete at Croke Park but this wasn't what I had been dreaming of all these years! Someone remarked that the PRTB's existing panel of adjudicators all had to re-apply and sit this exam. If so, the paper was heavily weighted in their favour.

A total of 900 - that's not as many as I thought there would be. Interesting about the existing panel, although not surprising. Don't think I need to send the suit to the dry cleaners yet !

iverjohnston

Must admit, I thought I had read the instructions emailed to me clearly, but was still surprised when the entire Act was given to each person for use during the exam. Handy when had finished all the more straight forward questions, and was going back over the ones I had left.

Pitch looked lovely, as close as I will ever get to a run out on it!

iverjohnston

Someone remarked that the PRTB's existing panel of adjudicators all had to re-apply and sit this exam. If so, the paper was heavily weighted in their favour.[/QUOTE]

If they don't get a good enough score, are they out?

iverjohnston

Anyone get any feedback on this exam?

jos28

Nothing yet, I thought we would have heard by now. Maybe they are contacting all the unsuccessful candidates first

iverjohnston

Rang their office this evening, The lady told me that they are working on the papers currently, and results/notifications will be posted on each applicants noticeboard on PublicJobs by the end of next week.

jos28

Thanks Iver, I 'll keep an eye out

angelfire9

I assume no one has heard anything on this yet?

ScaliaJ

angelfire9 wrote: »

I assume no one has heard anything on this yet?

Not personally. It seems to be taking rather long for an exam corrected by computer.

iverjohnston

just got a text to tell me "new message" on my notice board.

"Further to your participation at the selection tests for Stage 1 of the above campaign, I would like to inform you that you that you have been placed 144 on the order of merit for Athlone.

All subsequent stages of this campaign will be managed by the PRTB. The PRTB are expecting to invite a total of 60 candidates overall to the next stage of the process. This group of 60 will comprise top ranking candidates from across the 7 location centres. Should you be in this group, you will be contacted in December 2013. "



Hope some of you guys do better.....

angelfire9

I got 75th for limerick 86th for Galway
Seems to be only 60 positions nationwide so I'm out

jos28

I'm out too

I would like to inform you that you that you have been placed 324 on the order of merit for PRTB HQ Dublin.

No need to send the suit to the dry cleaners now :(

iverjohnston

Did you guys apply for several locations?
Were there other exam locations or days, than Croke park on the Saturday?
If 900 people did the exam, and there are 7 locations where staff are required, how do these result positions add up?

jos28

I would say that a lot more than 900 did the exam. There were well in excess of 3000 applications according to my contact in Public jobs. There were 2 Dublin centres afaik, Croke Park and Tallaght. The top scorers from each venue will go through to interview stage. 60 are going through so if there were 12 centres then the top 5 from each one makes it to the next round. That's my understanding of it. Maybe I'm wrong ??

kkelliher

This is possibly the most shambolic waste of public money and peoples time i have ever seen. No sifting of applications or qualifications before the hiring and staffing of venues for an unlimited number of exams. FAS would be proud of this mess

ScaliaJ

kkelliher wrote: »

This is possibly the most shambolic waste of public money and peoples time i have ever seen. No sifting of applications or qualifications before the hiring and staffing of venues for an unlimited number of exams. FAS would be proud of this mess

To be fair, and I haven't made it to the next round, I think the system they adopted was quite fair. Knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act is a crucial aspect of the role, the MCQs gave everyone an equal opportunity.

kkelliher

ScaliaJ wrote: »

To be fair, and I haven't made it to the next round, I think the system they adopted was quite fair. Knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act is a crucial aspect of the role, the MCQs gave everyone an equal opportunity.

My point is 100% valid in terms of the waste of public money in running this assessment. You may believe it to be fair but surly the quality of adjudicator is more important than how they perform in a rapid fire test which in no way relates to reality. The prtb is completely failing in how it is dealing with disputes and the timeframe in respect to same and i cannot be suprised when they cartblanch invite anyone and everyone to take part in the application process irrespective of qualification or experience.

BPW

iverjohnston wrote: »

Someone remarked that the PRTB's existing panel of adjudicators all had to re-apply and sit this exam. If so, the paper was heavily weighted in their favour.

If they don't get a good enough score, are they out?[/QUOTE]

Yes they are treated the same as all of the other applicants.

BPW

jos28 wrote: »

I would say that a lot more than 900 did the exam. There were well in excess of 3000 applications according to my contact in Public jobs. There were 2 Dublin centres afaik, Croke Park and Tallaght. The top scorers from each venue will go through to interview stage. 60 are going through so if there were 12 centres then the top 5 from each one makes it to the next round. That's my understanding of it. Maybe I'm wrong ??

Around 700 sat the exam. One exam centre, 3 sessions on 02/11 - Croke Park. PRTB HQ requires far more adjudicators than any other venue. The number of people appointed for each venue varies and reflects demand in that particular area.

BPW

ScaliaJ wrote: »

To be fair, and I haven't made it to the next round, I think the system they adopted was quite fair. Knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act is a crucial aspect of the role, the MCQs gave everyone an equal opportunity.

It is overly fair if anything but you are correct in relation to knowledge about the RTA 2004 - it is crucial for the role. If you don't know the law to begin with then how can you be expected to apply it?

BPW

kkelliher wrote: »

but surly the quality of adjudicator is more important than how they perform in a rapid fire test which in no way relates to reality. .....irrespective of qualification or experience.

Knowledge of the 2004 Act does reflect reality. The purpose of the exam was to test legal knowledge in a pressurised environment and with the clock ticking. You wouldn't finish top of the pile unless you know your stuff and can operate under pressure. If inexperienced people get through stage 1, notwithstanding that they know the Act inside out then they will be found wanting in the interview and in the role play exercise. Therefore, both knowledge and practical assessments are being carried out.

iverjohnston

BPW wrote: »

If they don't get a good enough score, are they out?

Yes they are treated the same as all of the other applicants.[/QUOTE]


So BPW, are there any new positions being created at all? or will the number of adjudicators remain the same?
Regards, iver.

BPW

So BPW, are there any new positions being created at all? or will the number of adjudicators remain the same?
Regards, iver.[/QUOTE]

Hi Iver,

Yes a completely new panel is being formed when the existing Adjudicators' contracts expire in 2014. Some of these people reapplied and sat the exam just like everyone else. The top ranking candidates in the exam get called for stage 2 - you would imagine therefore that the new panel will include both new and old blood. Existing Adjudicators have to finish in the top ranks to get called to the stage 2 interview and role play assessment.

I don't know how many positions will be available on the new panel, I assume it will be comparable to the number in the current panel which is approximately 38. I see that they are calling 60 people up for stage 2.

kkelliher

BPW wrote: »

You wouldn't finish top of the pile unless you know your stuff and can operate under pressure.

There are very many professionals who passed their college exams with flying colours and are found wanting in the real world..... I am unaware of any other recruitment process that operates in this way and find it hard to believe that the public purse and indeed the adjudication process is best served by this type of process. That said I dont apply for state positions so I could be wrong but this is clearly an area that needs a review in terms of the costs involved in such a process.

I am sure the majority would prefer to see the monies directed at real needed services than spent holding wide ranging exams of this nature. I would love to find out the cost of this process.

iverjohnston

Thanks BPW

KKelliher, why not submit a Freedom of Information request?

Regards, Iver.

kkelliher

iverjohnston wrote: »

Thanks BPW

KKelliher, why not submit a Freedom of Information request?

Regards, Iver.

never taught of that one......

jos28

kkelliher wrote: »

I would love to find out the cost of this process.

Public jobs held a similar one last year for Usher in the Houses of the Oireachtas. Same set up with venues throughout the country, thousands of applicants for a total of 8 positions !

kkelliher

jos28 wrote: »

Public jobs held a similar one last year for Usher in the Houses of the Oireachtas. Same set up with venues throughout the country, thousands of applicants for a total of 8 positions !

this is madness

iverjohnston

kkelliher wrote: »

That said I dont apply for state positions so I could be wrong .

Kkelliher, your civic mindedness is an example to us all!

kkelliher

iverjohnston wrote: »

Kkelliher, your civic mindedness is an example to us all!

only so many hours in a day and given the prequalification requirements on most positions and then seeing who gets appointed has always prevented me from seeing how I would have any chance given I am not politically connected.