Apprentice ICT specialists Civil Service - 2 year programme

AndrewJRenko

New apprenticeship programme aimed at school leavers - 2 year apprenticeship leading to Level 6 qualification - 6 months in college followed by 18 months work experience supplemented by further college work - two streams: software development and infrastructure/operations

https://www.publicjobs.ie/en/index.php?option=com_jobsearch&view=jobdetails&Itemid=263&cid=101956


Don't hang around if you're interested - closing in less than 2 weeks

speckled_park

Would that mainly be aimed at school leavers? Can anyone apply? Contemplating careers change 😅

AndrewJRenko

speckled_park wrote: »

Would that mainly be aimed at school leavers? Can anyone apply? Contemplating careers change ��

I'm not directly involved, but public competitions run strictly along the lines published in the job spec. If you meet the requirements in the job spec, then you can apply.


Check the salary - it's low for anyone already working, though for the scenario you mention of a career change, it's better than going back to college full time on zero salary.

bobbysands81

Don’t ever recall seeing apprenticeships before in the CS.

AndrewJRenko

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Don’t ever recall seeing apprenticeships before in the CS.

Certainly a first for office-based roles - there might have been trade-based roles in OPW in the past.

Pronto63

Don't see a thread for this so here goes.

I haven't applied myself but my son has.

Online test to be completed by tomorrow, Friday 1st March.

Anyone else?

Slydice

This might be the thread for it: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057954346

Pronto63

Slydice wrote: »

This might be the thread for it: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057954346

Spot on.
Cheers

hawkeyethenoo

I applied and completed the tests, they were handy enough. I'm pushing 30 though so they'll probably take on younger people is my guess

rostalof

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Don’t ever recall seeing apprenticeships before in the CS.

It's part of this strategy, P.23

https://ictstrategy.per.gov.ie/ictstrategy/files/Civil%20Service%20ICT%20Professionalisation%20Strategy%20-%20January%202018.pdf

runawaybishop

hawkeyethenoo wrote: »

I applied and completed the tests, they were handy enough. I'm pushing 30 though so they'll probably take on younger people is my guess

30 is young for the civil service

About the wages, you move to EO after 2 years which is 30kish so that's not bad.

Pronto63

My son did aptitude test about a week ago.
Got word today that he is 21 in order of merit for next stage. He's thrilled.

AndrewJRenko

hawkeyethenoo wrote: »

I'm pushing 30 though so they'll probably take on younger people is my guess

In general, the public service is a very diverse employer, and cares little about age, gender, sexual orientation, nationality etc - so you've probably got the same chance as anyone else based on the criteria for the job.

Franz Von Peppercorn

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

In general, the public service is a very diverse employer, and cares little about age, gender, sexual orientation, nationality etc - so you've probably got the same chance as anyone else based on the criteria for the job.

Diverse my arse. It’s 99% white Irish.

AndrewJRenko

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

Diverse my arse. It’s 99% white Irish.

I'm sure the Asian, African Eastern European and Middle Eastern people that I work with will be interested to hear this. I don't suppose you've any source for your claim?

The issue in question here is ageism, of course.

Franz Von Peppercorn

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

I'm sure the Asian, African Eastern European and Middle Eastern people that I work with will be interested to hear this. I don't suppose you've any source for your claim?

The issue in question here is ageism, of course.

In the absence of official facts on this, no. Maybe I’ll request an FOI.

If you are trying to convince me that the average civil service office isn’t white Irish you will have a lot of work to do.

AndrewJRenko

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

In the absence of official facts on this, no. Maybe I’ll request an FOI.

If you are trying to convince me that the average civil service office isn’t white Irish you will have a lot of work to do.

I'm not involved in this area, but to the best of my knowledge, data on ethnicity or nationality isn't tracked, so I don't think an FOI would give you anything, but sure give it a shot if you like.


I'm not trying to convince you of anything. I'm just saying that I work people who appear to be Chinese, Middle-eastern, African and Eastern European. In my experience, it wouldn't be quite as diverse as the Facebooks and Googles of this world, but more diverse then than the average Irish business.


How many employers do you see posting job ads in Polish?


https://www.facebook.com/naszglosd/posts/949702201900396?__tn__=C-R

runawaybishop

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

In the absence of official facts on this, no. Maybe I’ll request an FOI.

If you are trying to convince me that the average civil service office isn’t white Irish you will have a lot of work to do.

Every average office is mainly white Irish, because the country is mainly white Irish. The civil service, however, don't discriminate.

Pronto63

Anyone hear anything about supervised.

I believe they're on this Thurs and Fri.

l_uuuke

Still yet to hear anything about the next stage. I imagine it'll be tomorrow (Tuesday). Does anyone know roughly how many places are available on the course/s?

hawkeyethenoo

it is intended to call those candidates placed up to and including 294 on the order of merit to the next stage of the selection process. i'm in the 360s on the oom so looks like thats me finished.

Pronto63

hawkeyethenoo wrote: »

it is intended to call those candidates placed up to and including 294 on the order of merit to the next stage of the selection process. i'm in the 360s on the oom so looks like thats me finished.

I wouldn't lose all hope.

Some people may fail and some may get a better offer, decide it's not for them etc, etc.

Happens in all other CS competitions, don't see why this should be any different.

Seriusbizness

I was 27th in order of merit but received an email there that I was not successful for shortlisting.

I believe it may have been because I only included my highest educational transcript, instead of original leaving certificate results from 15 years ago. The application form clearly stated that it wasnt required to submit any certification despite the web form asking for it.

Is there any point in requesting a review or feedback on the decision?

Kamu

Seriusbizness wrote: »

I was 27th in order of merit but received an email there that I was not successful for shortlisting.

I believe it may have been because I only included my highest educational transcript, instead of original leaving certificate results from 15 years ago. The application form clearly stated that it wasnt required to submit any certification despite the web form asking for it.

Is there any point in requesting a review or feedback on the decision?

I would request a review; I missed the deadline to submit the application form, I emailed them and they sent me out the form to fill in and submit the next day.

Worth a shot anyway.

I am still waiting to hear if I am shortlisted for the tests this week or not.

Seriusbizness

Kamu wrote: »

I would request a review; I missed the deadline to submit the application form, I emailed them and they sent me out the form to fill in and submit the next day.

Worth a shot anyway.

I am still waiting to hear if I am shortlisted for the tests this week or not.

Sent in the request there for review. Hopefully will hear something back.

Had a family member steal a large amount of money and destroy some personal property and some of my educational transcripts were among what I lost. It was fairly short notice so couldn't replace them in time.

I asked people who had been through the competition process before and they said it was fine just to include your highest award along with details for the others.

Can't think of anything else it could be. Unless I ****ed up the dates on jobs 10+ years ago. Questioning myself now as I havent included the info on a CV in years.

Kamu

Seriusbizness wrote: »

Sent in the request there for review. Hopefully will hear something back.

Had a family member steal a large amount of money and destroy some personal property and some of my educational transcripts were among what I lost. It was fairly short notice so couldn't replace them in time.

I asked people who had been through the competition process before and they said it was fine just to include your highest award along with details for the others.

Can't think of anything else it could be. Unless I ****ed up the dates on jobs 10+ years ago. Questioning myself now as I havent included the info on a CV in years.

Good luck, I hope you hear something back.

I assume that must be the reason since they can't filter through age or experience once the person meets the education criteria.

Seriusbizness

Kamu wrote: »

Good luck, I hope you hear something back.

I assume that must be the reason since they can't filter through age or experience once the person meets the education criteria.

Thanks. Even if I can just get some feedback on what the issue was I'll be happy.

Thinking about it, even if I somehow made an error with dates, the companies I have listed outside the last 6 years don't exist anymore.

Unless they deemed me unsuitable as I'm a qualified mature applicant? I did see something about that under general competition advice. Not familiar enough with civil service recruitment to really tell if I'm honest.

Bit of a blow as the placement was the only bit of good news I've had recently.

PJKileen

Anyone know when interview results will be out? Or how many they're taking?

AndrewJRenko

Seriusbizness wrote: »

Unless they deemed me unsuitable as I'm a qualified mature applicant? I did see something about that under general competition advice. Not familiar enough with civil service recruitment to really tell if I'm honest.

This is a fairly different competition to any other civil service recruitment. All the criteria will have been set out in the booklet.


What exactly did they say with your rejection?

IxMan

Has anyone heard word back from interviews at this point?

Pronto63

IxMan wrote: »

Has anyone heard word back from interviews at this point?

Nothing yet.

Sullie

Did anyone hear anything on this, anyone know how many they're taking?

Tweezer

Sullie wrote: »

Did anyone hear anything on this, anyone know how many they're taking?

Yep heard back alright and 20 places in each stream.

Kimbot

runawaybishop wrote: »

you move to EO after 2 years which is 30kish so that's not bad.

IS that not done away with these days?

Sullie

So oom in the 70s not a hope?

Pronto63

My son got 85 in OOM

Sullie

Have they any chance if only 20 places

Pronto63

Tweezer wrote: »

Yep heard back alright and 20 places in each stream.

Is this confirmed by PAS?

How long is panel open for?

I think this intake is for an immediate start do they plan another intake in Sept?

Tweezer

Pronto63 wrote: »

Is this confirmed by PAS?

How long is panel open for?

I think this intake is for an immediate start do they plan another intake in Sept?

I can’t post links but if you look for the press release on google from dept. of expenditure and reform dated 8 Feb it states the intake numbers.

No mention of any further intakes and if the panel will remain open beyond this intake in that. But PAS haven’t really been forthcoming regarding information for certain regarding numbers and the panel that is true.

Especially considering the mention of a “big” recruitment campaign in the advertisements, the fact there were only 40 places kind of contradicts that especially if they just drop the current panel.

irishbigfoot

Tweezer wrote: »

I can’t post links but if you look for the press release on google from dept. of expenditure and reform dated 8 Feb it states the intake numbers.

No mention of any further intakes and if the panel will remain open beyond this intake in that. But PAS haven’t really been forthcoming regarding information for certain regarding numbers and the panel that is true.

Especially considering the mention of a “big” recruitment campaign in the advertisements, the fact there were only 40 places kind of contradicts that especially if they just drop the current panel.

Link to the article https://www.per.gov.ie/en/government-leads-the-way-on-ict-apprenticeship-donohoe/

PJKileen

Do ye think there's a chance of getting it if on both streams in low thirties. Presumably panels are more or less same people? And they're taking 40.
Anyone successful on one stream but much lower ranked on other stream?

Jesus Wept

Pronto63 wrote: »

My son got 85 in OOM

Hello number neighbour.

PJKileen wrote: »

Do ye think there's a chance of getting it if on both streams in low thirties. Presumably panels are more or less same people? And they're taking 40.
Anyone successful on one stream but much lower ranked on other stream?

This was possible??
Thought it was just one application. Or I ticked that I was interested in both, can't recall.

rattles2

Anyone else feel that 20 per stream (40 total) is not nearly enough.

IxMan

Not nearly enough if you've placed over the magical 20! I asked in the interview, they said they didn't have a definite number

Tweezer

Some updated info, they are still confirming the number of vacancies and the panel has no closing date. So still some hope for the future if you aren’t part of the first intake.

Pronto63

Tweezer wrote: »

Some updated info, they are still confirming the number of vacancies and the panel has no closing date. So still some hope for the future if you aren’t part of the first intake.

Reassuring to hear.

Keep us updated.

Jesus Wept

Anyone else get two msgs within quick succession the day they came? My number dropped 12 places within 10 mins. Exciting stuff, it's like Top of the pops.

Pronto63

Jesus Wept wrote: »

Anyone else get two msgs within quick succession the day they came? My number dropped 12 places within 10 mins. Exciting stuff, it's like Top of the pops.

Maybe you got different numbers for different streams?

Jesus Wept

Pronto63 wrote: »

Maybe you got different numbers for different streams?

Correct, thanks, and a weaker ranking in the one I had a preference towards.

neevobeevo

Just wondering if anyone placed on either streams for this panel has been given a date to begin training and if so where were you placed on panel? Would appreciate any info as PAS aren't very forthcoming with info!

martinnolan88

Reply from Public Jobs:

"Thank you for your email. The ICT Apprentice is due to begin at the end of April. We have assigned 17 candidates on both streams – Infrastructure and Software.
 
We do not plan on assigning more as there is a limited number of placements. However should any of the assigned candidates withdraw their application, we will then look to the panel for a replacement."


Yet they are on about hundreds of participants on the FIT website brochure. (Can't link it because I'm new)