ICT Specialists (Executive Officer level) in Civil Service

fxotoole

Also rang PAS this morning and was told that they would tell us on the day.

Maximus_1

Was in this test yesterday also and it was asked as a direct question. She answered it by saying they cannot say either way. Leaves it trickier, for me means it maybe in use so I went on that basis and didn't start guessing to save time or answer something I wasn't sure of. Overall the test isn't hard, what is hard is the time frame. Had 2 questions left on the verbal and 7 on the numerical so I'm probably out of the running on that basis but it was a learning experience, never did something like that before against the clock.

Moocifer

Maximus never say never it doesn't matter that you didn't get it finished. There is usually a base line where you have to have x amount correct and if you don't meet that then your out. It's not the full total of questions.

If it depended on me getting finished I would never have become a civil servant in the first place.

fxotoole

Funny thing is though, as a civil servant, you will never actually be in a position where you have to extract and interpret data from graphs/charts or written passages and make calculations under such tight deadlines.

The_Conductor

fxotoole wrote: »

Funny thing is though, as a civil servant, you will never actually be in a position where you have to extract and interpret data from graphs/charts or written passages and make calculations under such tight deadlines.

Don't bet on it.
It depends entirely on what section you're working in- and what capacity you're dealing with figures. Its not out of the ordinary though.......

Nucular Arms

I thought it was ridiculously easy actually.

I mean the vast majority were percentage questions. That's junior cert maths level!

Zipppy

Maximus_1 wrote: »

Was in this test yesterday also and it was asked as a direct question. She answered it by saying they cannot say either way. Leaves it trickier, for me means it maybe in use so I went on that basis and didn't start guessing to save time or answer something I wasn't sure of. Overall the test isn't hard, what is hard is the time frame. Had 2 questions left on the verbal and 7 on the numerical so I'm probably out of the running on that basis but it was a learning experience, never did something like that before against the clock.

Test does state that it is expected that candidates wont finish all questions so have faith...maybe you did really well...I just about got verbal done and had 4/5 left in numerical (that I best guessed over last 2 mins)

As for negative marking I've been reading up on it and it may not be that bad..
Any question best guessed or not entirely sure of would have at least 25%-33% chance of being right anyhow (depending on either 3 or 4 answers options) and even allowing for in-corrects deducting marks from you some theorists believe answering all questions (even best guessing some) can be of benefit in a negative marking situation. http://iasexamportal.com/civilservices/tips/Negative_Marking

It is the lap of the gods...

I do think it's bad form that candidates aren't informed of negative marking if it is employed...and will certainly be seeking a breakdown of my scores should I fail to progress...

Best of luck everyone..

Maximus_1

Moocifer wrote: »

Maximus never say never it doesn't matter that you didn't get it finished. There is usually a base line where you have to have x amount correct and if you don't meet that then your out. It's not the full total of questions.

If it depended on me getting finished I would never have become a civil servant in the first place.

Yeah cheers you never know, most of what I answered I know were right but underestimated the time factor. My thinking is though out of 600 around 100 will get pretty much all of nailed (like Nuclear Arms there!). I'm out of school over 15 years so I think the younger crew who'd have recently done exams/Maths in Leaving Cert/college exams would have an advantage in the speed stakes. I got an A in JC maths but its 20 years ago and so I wasn't as quick on the draw as I once was! On the other hand I have much more experience on my CV in real world ICT employment so swings and roundabouts!

fxotoole

Just out of my test there.

Found it challenging for sure, won't go into details but it deffo was a case of skipping over questions you're not sure about and coming back to them if you have time at the end.

Nucular Arms

Yeah I was definitely a little tight for time towards the end of the numeracy one.

Good luck all round anyway!

bennyineire

My test is due on Tuesday 10th but I just got offered a job 20 mins from my house in the midlands and in exactly the area of IT I want to specialise.
So I'm not going to bother with the test, that's 1 of your list so guys, best of luck to the boardies who are going for these roles

fguinan

Just sat the tests this morning. They were similar to the practice tests and pretty straight forward.

Zipppy

bennyineire wrote: »

My test is due on Tuesday 10th but I just got offered a job 20 mins from my house in the midlands and in exactly the area of IT I want to specialise.
So I'm not going to bother with the test, that's 1 of your list so guys, best of luck to the boardies who are going for these roles

So more tests next week? :eek:

That could double amount we reckoned were sitting tests.....


Best of luck with the new job...

fxotoole

Zipppy wrote: »

So more tests next week? :eek:

That could double amount we reckoned were sitting tests.....

Plus the test administrator told my group to expect results at the end of this month. So potentially there could be 3 weeks of testing going on.

Zipppy

fxotoole wrote:

Plus the test administrator told my group to expect results at the end of this month. So potentially there could be 3 weeks of testing going on.

That could be do do with pressure from all the different competitions running concurrently...
hopefully

The_Conductor

Zipppy wrote: »

That could be do do with pressure from all the different competitions running concurrently...
hopefully

There are several others that PAS are being pressurised to hold ASAP too....... They are under incredible pressure..........

Zipppy

The_Conductor wrote:

There are several others that PAS are being pressurised to hold ASAP too....... They are under incredible pressure..........

Anything interesting coming up?

The_Conductor

Zipppy wrote: »

Anything interesting coming up?

External and Interdepartmental HEO?
Apparently its been longfingered for the last few months- the internal competitions held in early 2014 are all exhausted, and vacancies are mounting.
CPSU (as opposed to the PSEU) seem to be running with this (why- as its not a representative grade- I'm not sure).

Anyway- its a case of watch this space- more stuff is coming up- when they get around to it- I do not know........

Zipppy

Any indications that tests are completed yet?

westmeath11

Zipppy wrote: »

Any indications that tests are completed yet?

I'd say they must be, didn't someone say further back that there are about 800 to sit the test. They have about 30 in that room, probably 3 times a day, so 9 days tests should do it. If tests began Monday last week they should be over today.

boardzz

This may have been answered before but does anybody know what the salary is for this position?

fxotoole

boardzz wrote: »

This may have been answered before but does anybody know what the salary is for this position?

€27,464 rising to €44,967 with 3 long service increments at the top of the scale after a certain amount of years' service

The_Conductor

fxotoole wrote: »

€27,464 rising to €44,967 with 3 long service increments at the top of the scale after a certain amount of years' service

Once you reach the top of the scale- each LSI is awarded after a 3 year period. Aka it takes you 6 years to move from the top of the scale to LSI 2.

from little acorns

fxotoole wrote: »

€27,464 rising to €44,967 with 3 long service increments at the top of the scale after a certain amount of years' service

So how long does it take to move up the scale once you start?

kippy

from little acorns wrote: »

So how long does it take to move up the scale once you start?

Scale (or close to it) outlined here:
http://www.impact.ie/your-sector/public-sector/civil-service/civil-service-salary-scales/
You move up a point in the scale on an annual basis subject to satisfactory performance on the anniversary of your starting work until you reach the first LSI, as outlined above.
That's generally how it works. Not sure what impact if haddington road will have for new starts to be honest but it may mean the first couple increments are paid every 15 months as opposed to 12 but Im not sure on that.
Basicilly 11 years till you get to the first LSI point.

from little acorns

And am I right in saying that, if I start off in an EO role and in a couple of years I apply for an AO role (if they become available), say if I'm midway up the scale by then, I wouldn't lose any money by moving to the AO role, i.e. I wouldn't have to go back to the bottom of the AO scale?

Also, we'll say for example an AO competition opens in 2016. (I know no one really knows when it'll next happen, but for arguments sake.) How much would it increase my chances of getting it if I were working in the civil service in an EO role already, as opposed to working in the private sector? (The reason I ask is because I didn't apply for the AO roles, I wasn't aware of them at the time. I would almost certainly leave my current job for an AO role as I'd only have to take a small paycut, however I'm undecided about whether I'd leave it IF I get offered an EO role. But if taking the EO role would greatly increase my chances of getting an AO role next time they come up, it's something I'd take into consideration.)

kippy

from little acorns wrote: »

And am I right in saying that, if I start off in an EO role and in a couple of years I apply for an AO role (if they become available), say if I'm midway up the scale by then, I wouldn't lose any money by moving to the AO role, i.e. I wouldn't have to go back to the bottom of the AO scale?

Also, we'll say for example an AO competition opens in 2016. (I know no one really knows when it'll next happen, but for arguments sake.) How much would it increase my chances of getting it if I were working in the civil service in an EO role already, as opposed to working in the private sector? (The reason I ask is because I didn't apply for the AO roles, I wasn't aware of them at the time. I would almost certainly leave my current job for an AO role as I'd only have to take a small paycut, however I'm undecided about whether I'd leave it IF I get offered an EO role. But if taking the EO role would greatly increase my chances of getting an AO role next time they come up, it's something I'd take into consideration.)

First paragraph answer is generally yes.
second paragraph.....it depends on the type of competition and who it is open to but generally if you are in the service you will be eligible to apply for more roles primarily as a result of the eligibility for closed competitions.

The_Conductor

If you are a pre-existing civil servant- you are entitled to go for open competitions (e.g. EO to AO) in the same manner that any member of the public is. Your starting salary- if you're successful in the open competition- is the point nearest your current salary point- such that you do not have a cut in pay (aka you would most probably have a very small pay rise- perhaps a couple of hundred per year- at the outset).

Getting a post in an open competition for a serving civil servant- is not like in the private sector- where you'd expect a decent pay hike- you do however get put on the new salary scale- which obviously will cap out a lot higher than your pre-existing scale.

Point of note- for pension purposes- all new posts at open competition are at career average salary levels- i.e. if you start as a CO- and end up (many years later) when you come to retire as a PO- your pension is not based on your final salary- the dates you were in the various grades are put into a spreadsheet and your average salary throughout the course of your career is calculated. Your pension is then your lumpsum (1.5 times career average salary) alongside an annual pension of 40/80ths of your career average salary- paid forthnightly in arrears.

On the brightside- the government have advised the wind down of FEMPI is to be negotiated from the second week in April (after the 1st quarter returns are in).

Zipppy

The_Conductor wrote:

Point of note- for pension purposes- all new posts at open competition are at career average salary levels- i.e..

I assume this doesnt apply to existing public servants who are successful via open competition?

The_Conductor

Zipppy wrote: »

I assume this doesnt apply to existing public servants who are successful via open competition?

No- the terms of the original pension plan they are a member of- and the terms associated with it- apply. Keep in mind- there have been 4 major revisions since 2000 (never mind the pre-1995 brigade)- so people need to know what applies to them- you can't simply assume that they're all the same- because they're not.