ICT Specialists (Executive Officer level) in Civil Service

The_Conductor

schmillson2 wrote: »

Can anyone clarify if the order of merit is based solely on the test results or is your original application form also taken into account as well?

Your order of merit is determined independently at each stage of the competition.

You have done the first stage- and the first 2000 are being invited to stage 2 (or whatever number). You are assigned a place in this 2000.

When you do the supervised test- your placing at stage 1 is discarded- and you have a new, revised placing, based on your stage 2 results.

X number of people from stage 2 are then invited to the interview stage- where based on their performance at interview- they are determined to be of an acceptable standard- and placed on the panel, for a post- as they arise.

Your application form has no bearing on your place on the panel- it is a tool for you and the interview panel to use- during the interview- to sell yourself- nothing more, nothing less.

fguinan

I have been given an interview date for the 23rd....

jpk1986

Placed 47th on panel, was delighted, interview on 23rd, would love if anyone could give me advice for interview, really nervous, especially since the interview is competitive.

fguinan

I sat this interview this morning, starting the two week wait now!
Just wanted to thank the_Conductor for his/her help and Zipppy because I would have missed the application deadline if he hadn't posted it here!

rostalof

fguinan wrote: »

I sat this interview this morning, starting the two week wait now!
Just wanted to thank the_Conductor for his/her help and Zipppy because I would have missed the application deadline if he hadn't posted it here!

Good luck, keep us posted!

JonT

I sat the interview for this yesterday morning. The process was very clearly explained, very well handled by PAS from start to finish. Two weeks to wait for the results now! Good luck to everyone who's interviewing.

Ch0pp3r

Also had interview yesterday, as JonT said, very well presented and organised.
I have been very impressed with PAS who ust be under a lot of pressure running concurrent vacancy streams.
I feel I did not perform to my best but time will tell.
Does anyone know are the interviews finished yet?
The panel did not mention a wait time to me?
Thanks to all posters!

schmillson2

Hi FGuinan,Chopp3r and JonT,
Can you give a basic outline of the interview format by any chance? Did PAS do it themselves or were they IT professionals from within the civil service? How many on the interview panel and how long did it take? Thanks in advance....Schmillson

Yenwod

JonT wrote: »

I sat the interview for this yesterday morning. The process was very clearly explained, very well handled by PAS from start to finish. Two weeks to wait for the results now! Good luck to everyone who's interviewing.

Were you told by the panel/PAS that's when the results would issue? I never asked.

Ch0pp3r

schmillson2 wrote: »

Hi FGuinan,Chopp3r and JonT,
Can you give a basic outline of the interview format by any chance? Did PAS do it themselves or were they IT professionals from within the civil service? How many on the interview panel and how long did it take? Thanks in advance....Schmillson

Hi Scmillson2, I don't think it fair on others who have sat the interview to go into any detail with regards to the interview itself but in mine were three representatives from different civil service departments and one from PAS whose only role was taking minutes from the 'meeting'. I was in the interview for around 40 minutes, I think that is average, although I'm sure I bombed!

fguinan

rostalof wrote: »

Good luck, keep us posted!

Passed the interview and placed on the panel "under consideration awaiting clearance".

JonT

Well done fguinan.

I heard back from them too, and placed on the panel thankfully!

'Consideration subject to clearance' just means if you've a clear Garda Vetting form, you will be fine.

jpk1986

Got my results 2 but sadly no luck, best of luck to all who passed

Yenwod

I passed too thankfully. I was more nervous opening the message than going into the interview I think.

Ch0pp3r

Well done everyone!
As expected no luck here
Let us know where the positions are being allocated?
I think mostly Dublin, but maybe some around copuntry too?

Thanks again to all posters here!

fguinan

Has anyone heard anything since? I posted in the Garda vetting last week.

JonT

I called them yesterday, the vetting forms have been sent off to the Gardai for clearance. I was told it will be "a number of weeks" before we're notified of placements.

rostalof

JonT wrote: »

I called them yesterday, the vetting forms have been sent off to the Gardai for clearance. I was told it will be "a number of weeks" before we're notified of placements.

After being informed I hadn't made the next stage (about 20 outside the cutoff), I have just received a message informing me I have been called for an interview. Great news, if not a little daunting. Can anybody give me any pointers?

Zipppy

rostalof wrote: »

After being informed I hadn't made the next stage (number 88), I have just received a message informing me I have been called for an interview. Great news, if not a little daunting. Can anybody give me any pointers?

great news for you ... and possibly a few more....can any one recall how many were initially called?

Moocifer

Just got word I ve been called for interview on the 28th. I was 122 on the panel so they're moving through it fairly quickly

fguinan

rostalof wrote: »

After being informed I hadn't made the next stage (number 88), I have just received a message informing me I have been called for an interview. Great news, if not a little daunting. Can anybody give me any pointers?

Its a competency based interview. The competencies are detailed in the job description, someone posted a link to it earlier in this thread.
You need to have two examples for each of the competencies.

The interview itself simply went through the list of competencies, it took about 45 minutes.
It was very well organised.

Best of luck!

fxotoole

Zipppy wrote: »

great news for you ... and possibly a few more....can any one recall how many were initially called?

There were sixty something initially called.

@rostalof - what place were you on the panel?

rostalof

fguinan wrote: »

Its a competency based interview. The competencies are detailed in the job description, someone posted a link to it earlier in this thread.
You need to have two examples for each of the competencies.

The interview itself simply went through the list of competencies, it took about 45 minutes.
It was very well organised.

Best of luck!

Is that this section?

"THE PERSON WE ARE LOOKING FOR
This position requires appointees to take a thorough and structured approach to organising tasks and solving problems. To be effective they must prioritise steps to be taken and monitor progress in order to ensure that the task is completed or the problem solved within the required timeframe.

Establishing and maintaining good relations with others, ascertaining their needs and being receptive and responsive to their queries is critical. They need to communicate confidently and persuasively, in a structured and concise manner within a coaching / demonstration context. This includes breaking down complex information into a simpler form. To be effective the individual must demonstrate a willingness to learn and to acquire new skills on a continual basis, and must take the initiative in keeping abreast of new developments and in applying new skills in order to enhance performance on the job."

Moocifer

Just off the phone to the PAS and I asked them about the interview. I was told it will just be about my qualifications and experience.

For those of you who are familiar with the structured interview where there are loads of scenarios to be prepared before hand, that's not going to apply here apparently.

Zipppy

Moocifer wrote: »

Just got word I ve been called for interview on the 28th. I was 122 on the panel so they're moving through it fairly quickly

Yikes I'm only a few behind ya

Fingers crossed I gets a call...

How did you get word?


oh and best of luck

fxotoole

rostalof wrote: »

Is that this section?

No. There's an appendix with 6 headings (people management, delivery of results, specialist knowledge & expertise, etc, etc, etc).

You will be tested on each of these competencies in the interview.

You will have provided 6 examples on your application form - one for each competency - and they will probe you on these examples in the interview.

You will need a backup example for each heading, in case the interviewers go "off script" and ask you for another example.

EDIT: Well, that's the way competency based interviews are done in the civil service, but after reading Moocifer's post (#295), it sounds like they're not going to use this format at all...

Zipppy

Moocifer wrote: »

Just off the phone to the PAS and I asked them about the interview. I was told it will just be about my qualifications and experience.

For those of you who are familiar with the structured interview where there are loads of scenarios to be prepared before hand, that's not going to apply here apparently.

fxotoole wrote: »

EDIT: Well, that's the way competency based interviews are done in the civil service, but after reading Moocifer's post (#295), it sounds like they're not going to use this format at all...

Strange one that ..... normally always competency based in PS

rostalof

fxotoole wrote: »

No. There's an appendix with 6 headings (people management, delivery of results, specialist knowledge & expertise, etc, etc, etc).

You will be tested on each of these competencies in the interview.

You will have provided 6 examples on your application form - one for each competency - and they will probe you on these examples in the interview.

You will need a backup example for each heading, in case the interviewers go "off script" and ask you for another example.

EDIT: Well, that's the way competency based interviews are done in the civil service, but after reading Moocifer's post (#295), it sounds like they're not going to use this format at all...

Ok, now I'm confused. I didn't provide any competency examples on my application, I just rechecked it there. Moocifer has been told they won't play any part in it and fguinan who already had his interview said it was competence based?

Zipppy

rostalof wrote: »

Ok, now I'm confused. I didn't provide any competency examples on my application, I just rechecked it there. Moocifer has been told they won't play any part in it and fguinan who already had his interview said it was competence based?

Welcome to the Public Service :D

schmillson2

fxotoole wrote: »

You will have provided 6 examples on your application form - one for each competency - and they will probe you on these examples in the interview.

er.....no.....I didn't provide these. And I've an interview too.....