Disqualified from civil service competition in error?

twentysomething

Hi,
I recently applied for a communications specialist panel (HEO level) with the civil service. I got an email yesterday saying my application couldn’t be considered because I did not have the necessary qualifications. They looked for a level 8 in journalism, communications/media, marketing or PR. I have a level 9 in digital marketing, but it’s through the digital marketing institute and accredited by the Scottish accreditation board. I put the awarding body as the digital marketing institute on the form though. I’ve emailed appealing it. Does anyone know what the chances are of the appeal being successful?

Augme

I'm assuming since they didn't ask for a digital marketing qualification it's going to be hard to see you get back in.

Jim2007

twentysomething wrote: »

Hi,
I recently applied for a communications specialist panel (HEO level) with the civil service. I got an email yesterday saying my application couldn’t be considered because I did not have the necessary qualifications. They looked for a level 8 in journalism, communications/media, marketing or PR. I have a level 9 in digital marketing, but it’s through the digital marketing institute and accredited by the Scottish accreditation board. I put the awarding body as the digital marketing institute on the form though. I’ve emailed appealing it. Does anyone know what the chances are of the appeal being successful?

Well I'd expect that it will very much depend on you being able to show that the most of your time was spent studying journalism related subjects, rather than just the course title and institute granting it.

caviardreams

Digitmal marketing would not cut it imo - these roles (from what I read in the spec) will include things like press releases, managing press relations, and other traditional media/comms channels - not just social media and digital stuff.

twentysomething

caviardreams wrote: »

Digitmal marketing would not cut it imo - these roles (from what I read in the spec) will include things like press releases, managing press relations, and other traditional media/comms channels - not just social media and digital stuff.

My postgrad is in digital marketing, but I’ve been working in communications since 2013.

twentysomething

Augme wrote: »

I'm assuming since they didn't ask for a digital marketing qualification it's going to be hard to see you get back in.

But it’s just a form of marketing...they looked for marketing.

twentysomething

Jim2007 wrote: »

Well I'd expect that it will very much depend on you being able to show that the most of your time was spent studying journalism related subjects, rather than just the course title and institute granting it.

The subjects I covered were more marketing based, search, social, e-commerce, etc. I also covered a lot of strategy and planning and the job description looked for someone to create digital and social strategies.
I've been doing all of the traditional comms stuff in my day-to-day jobs for the last 6 years.

Augme

twentysomething wrote: »

Augme wrote: »

I'm assuming since they didn't ask for a digital marketing qualification it's going to be hard to see you get back in.

But it’s just a form of marketing...they looked for marketing.

That's the problem I think, it's a form of marketing, not full marketing. A digital marketing course won't cover all the topics in marketing which is probably what they want.

twentysomething

Augme wrote: »

That's the problem I think, it's a form of marketing, not full marketing. A digital marketing course won't cover all the topics in marketing which is probably what they want.

Thanks Augme.
Really bloody frustrating so - I have all of the required competencies and triple the on-the-job experience they're looking for. They've looked for demonstrable experience in 2 out of 7 areas and I have all 7 and I also have some of the desirable experience they're looking for. This complete dependence on a specific piece of paper and not looking at any other areas beyond it are why I left the public service a few years ago in the first place

Slydice

I don't see any harm in asking.

If they say yes, then ye're onwards..

If they say no, you could ask what level / type of qualification they consider yours to be, then you know for the future

November Golf

twentysomething wrote: »

Hi,
I recently applied for a communications specialist panel (HEO level) with the civil service. I got an email yesterday saying my application couldn’t be considered because I did not have the necessary qualifications. They looked for a level 8 in journalism, communications/media, marketing or PR. I have a level 9 in digital marketing, but it’s through the digital marketing institute and accredited by the Scottish accreditation board. I put the awarding body as the digital marketing institute on the form though. I’ve emailed appealing it. Does anyone know what the chances are of the appeal being successful?

It depend on your subjects studied, of course, but you should be able to appeal this... Journalism is not marketing or PR - Its the writing skill base they are focusing in on.

I am assuming you studied english, communications or creative writing as part of your course but given its at a higher level than they asked for - digital marketing is marketing in my mind.

twentysomething

Slydice wrote: »

I don't see any harm in asking.

If they say yes, then ye're onwards..

If they say no, you could ask what level / type of qualification they consider yours to be, then you know for the future

Thanks Slydice, fingers crossed!

twentysomething

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

It depend on your subjects studied, of course, but you should be able to appeal this... Journalism is not marketing or PR - Its the writing skill base they are focusing in on.

I am assuming you studied english, communications or creative writing as part of your course but given its at a higher level than they asked for - digital marketing is marketing in my mind.

None of the course content covered Comms, writing, etc. But i've been doing all of those aspects in my day to day job for years. I've worked exclusively in scientific organisations (public and private) so my writing has to be at a very high level, as I need to translate complex technical subjects into something readable for the general public. I also hold a professional diploma in PR, but it's not on the NFQ.

Irishphotodesk

twentysomething wrote: »

Thanks Augme.
Really bloody frustrating so - I have all of the required competencies and triple the on-the-job experience they're looking for. They've looked for demonstrable experience in 2 out of 7 areas and I have all 7 and I also have some of the desirable experience they're looking for. This complete dependence on a specific piece of paper and not looking at any other areas beyond it are why I left the public service a few years ago in the first place

I had a similar experience, the job spec required a fetac level 8 qualification or experience, I have a different qualification but 20+ years experience and demonstrated knowledge of the job/role as well as extras but was disqualified at first hurdle - on review I'm guessing it was already promised to someone, because fetac level 8 qualification was overkill for the role, it could be done by anyone with basic levels of cop on.

ted1

Have you checked to see what the accreditation converts to in Ireland? Is it identified as a level 9?

twentysomething

Irishphotodesk wrote: »

I had a similar experience, the job spec required a fetac level 8 qualification or experience, I have a different qualification but 20+ years experience and demonstrated knowledge of the job/role as well as extras but was disqualified at first hurdle - on review I'm guessing it was already promised to someone, because fetac level 8 qualification was overkill for the role, it could be done by anyone with basic levels of cop on.

This is for a panel, so I would be hopeful of placing once I get by the initial application.

twentysomething

ted1 wrote: »

Have you checked to see what the accreditation converts to in Ireland? Is it identified as a level 9?

Yup, it's a level 11 on the Scottish System, where it's accredited, which maps to a level 9 on the NFQ
https://qhelp.qqi.ie/learners/qualifications-recognition-advice/comparing-qualifications-in-the-uk-and-ireland/Qualifications_Can_Cross_Boundaries.pdf

GRACKEA

According to the Public Jobs website regarding appeals, informal appeals (the first step) need to be lodged within 2 days of the decision if its at the interim stage of a competition. I'm new to the site so can't attach a link. Hopefully you have contacted them already, I certainly would in your position.

twentysomething

GRACKEA wrote: »

According to the Public Jobs website regarding appeals, informal appeals (the first step) need to be lodged within 2 days of the decision if its at the interim stage of a competition. I'm new to the site so can't attach a link. Hopefully you have contacted them already, I certainly would in your position.

Thanks, I sent them an email when i got the notification. They sent a reply saying they would respond in due course...

GRACKEA

Great, best of luck

Glinda

Best of luck with this OP. It may not necessarily be an error though - sometimes when they say level eight, that's exactly what they mean. It can be the difference between someone who has spent three or four years studying a subject in broad detail for a degree, versus someone who has a qualification at a higher level, but in a much narrower field.

I know this sometimes happens with legal qualifications (i.e. they specifically want a primary degree in law, Masters etc. won't do).

twentysomething

Glinda wrote: »

Best of luck with this OP. It may not necessarily be an error though - sometimes when they say level eight, that's exactly what they mean. It can be the difference between someone who has spent three or four years studying a subject in broad detail for a degree, versus someone who has a qualification at a higher level, but in a much narrower field.

I know this sometimes happens with legal qualifications (i.e. they specifically want a primary degree in law, Masters etc. won't do).

Thanks for the insight. Hopefully i'll hear something tomorrow...

twentysomething

Thanks for all of the advice folks, my appeal was successful and I got called for a video interview!

Postgrad10

Congrats twenty something. Good luck with your interview