Local Authority V’s Civil Service

Gra11

Ive been placed on a panel in both local Authority, as a library assistant and Civil Service for a clerical officer role. Does anyone know which would be better to work for with regards to benefits and flexi time?

uck51js9zml2yt

I was similar with grade 4.
I chose the CS having worked in both previously.
Local authorities have been filling grades and are smaller therefore future opportunities are limited.
CS has 29k employees and a load of opportunities. 20% will have retired in the next few years making lists of space for moving up.

You also get 1.5 days Flexi per month as opposed to 1 in the PS.
Holidays are generally better in public service.ihad 27 in DCC and 22 in CS.

For grade 4 it was 30v 23 but 2k more in salary in CS.
The extra money when it came to pension was important.

Which local authority are you offered?

Library is also shift work and Saturday and Flexi may not be available.

Just be careful regards library . It may be an analogous grade and not a full CO grade.

Samsgirl

Gra11 wrote: »

Ive been placed on a panel in both local Authority, as a library assistant and Civil Service for a clerical officer role. Does anyone know which would be better to work for with regards to benefits and flexi time?

I work in a library for a LA. We don't have flexi time but the rest of the LA do. We also work one late night every second week and every second Saturday.

My current work shift is 6 days on Mon - Sat, Sun off and 4 days on Mon - Thur. The 6 day weeks can be hard!!

Promotion can take longer in the Library as jobs don't come up as often. There is also only so far you can go without doing the Library exams - grade 5 as far as I know.

Saying that it's a great job most of the time. You are a sitting duck for the general public and can encounter some unpleasantness but most people are nice and the work is great. No two days are the same!!

Gra11

Kason Ripe Skeptic wrote: »

I was similar with grade 4.
I chose the CS having worked in both previously.
Local authorities have been filling grades and are smaller therefore future opportunities are limited.
CS has 29k employees and a load of opportunities. 20% will have retired in the next few years making lists of space for moving up.

You also get 1.5 days Flexi per month as opposed to 1 in the PS.
Holidays are generally better in public service.ihad 27 in DCC and 22 in CS.

For grade 4 it was 30v 23 but 2k more in salary in CS.
The extra money when it came to pension was important.

Which local authority are you offered?

Library is also shift work and Saturday and Flexi may not be available.

Just be careful regards library . It may be an analogous grade and not a full CO grade.

Thanks for the reply Kason Ripe Skeptic.

It’s Fingal... I also have an interview coming up for CO in CC Offices. The library panel is moving at snails pace. I may not even be placed before the panel expires.
I expect it will probably be December before they reach my number in civil service.
The library is every second Saturday and two late nights I believe but obviously I would prefer Monday to Friday as would be the case in civil service.

Gra11

Samsgirl wrote: »

I work in a library for a LA. We don't have flexi time but the rest of the LA do. We also work one late night every second week and every second Saturday.

My current work shift is 6 days on Mon - Sat, Sun off and 4 days on Mon - Thur. The 6 day weeks can be hard!!

Promotion can take longer in the Library as jobs don't come up as often. There is also only so far you can go without doing the Library exams - grade 5 as far as I know.

Saying that it's a great job most of the time. You are a sitting duck for the general public and can encounter some unpleasantness but most people are nice and the work is great. No two days are the same!!

Wow, 6 days is not great. I was told if I work a Saturday, we have Friday off so I don’t think Id have to work 6 days in a row. I was also heard that after a year I can transfer to council offices but I don’t know for sure.

Thank you, you have given me something to think about

uck51js9zml2yt

Gra11 wrote: »

Wow, 6 days is not great. I was told if I work a Saturday, we have Friday off so I don’t think Id have to work 6 days in a row. I was also heard that after a year I can transfer to council offices but I don’t know for sure.

Thank you, you have given me something to think about

LA's in my local are analogous grades and had to apply to become CO's.
Most of them failed the aptitude test!

HugoMyBoss

Samsgirl wrote: »

I work in a library for a LA. We don't have flexi time but the rest of the LA do. We also work one late night every second week and every second Saturday.

My current work shift is 6 days on Mon - Sat, Sun off and 4 days on Mon - Thur. The 6 day weeks can be hard!!

Promotion can take longer in the Library as jobs don't come up as often. There is also only so far you can go without doing the Library exams - grade 5 as far as I know.

Saying that it's a great job most of the time. You are a sitting duck for the general public and can encounter some unpleasantness but most people are nice and the work is great. No two days are the same!!

Really !!! :P

Samsgirl

HugoMyBoss wrote: »

Really !!! :P

?????

HugoMyBoss

Samsgirl wrote: »

?????

I've never heard of someone having to sit a library exam, what do you have to study?

Riskymove

HugoMyBoss wrote: »

I've never heard of someone having to sit a library exam, what do you have to study?

You need a degree in "Library and Information Studies"

example
https://www.dbs.ie/course/postgraduate/msc-information-library-management

PawneeRanger

Gra11 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply tatranska.

It’s Fingal... I also have an interview coming up for CO in CC Offices. The library panel is moving at snails pace. I may not even be placed before the panel expires.
I expect it will probably be December before they reach my number in civil service.
The library is every second Saturday and two late nights I believe but obviously I would prefer Monday to Friday as would be the case in civil service.

I worked in Fingal as a library assistant for a long time and, unless you have some burning desire to work in public libraries and intend to complete the library qualification, I would advise you to avoid it.

I won't go into detail here but feel free to PM me if you'd like more information.

PawneeRanger

HugoMyBoss wrote: »

I've never heard of someone having to sit a library exam, what do you have to study?

A large amount of staff in libraries are qualified to Masters level in Information and Library Studies. Both UCD and DBS have courses, as do Wales and Scotland.

It's a requirement to be a librarian (Grade 5 and up)
Without the qualification, you can go as far as what they call 'Grade 5 admin'.

gainford

Gra11 wrote: »

Ive been placed on a panel in both local Authority, as a library assistant and Civil Service for a clerical officer role. Does anyone know which would be better to work for with regards to benefits and flexi time?

Hi Gra11, I have also applied for the library assistant role with Fingal CC. Just wondering how long it took for you to move to interview stage and if they gave you a timeline on how long things might take?

I only just submitted the application before the deadline this week.

Gra11

gainford wrote: »

Hi Gra11, I have also applied for the library assistant role with Fingal CC. Just wondering how long it took for you to move to interview stage and if they gave you a timeline on how long things might take?

I only just submitted the application before the deadline this week.

I think the role this week was for library attendant. I interviewed for library assistant. I applied last November for it and for clerical officer. I had my interview for library assistant in January and I just had my interview for CO last Tuesday.
You will be put on a panel if successful. And then if a position comes up and they reach your number you get the call. The panel is only valid for a year and then it expires.