Communications Specialists in the civil service interviews (HEO level)

twentysomething

Hi All,
I've been called for a stage 3 interview for the Communications Specialists panel at HEO level.
Does anyone know what to expect?
It's my first time interviewing for a role like this.
Thanks

lucat

Hi twentysomething,

This thread is a couple of years old but I'm wondering if you got through the competition? I'm thinking of applying to the new one they have open at the moment but I'm not sure they pay and grade is enough. These roles surely should be AP at least.

Wallet Inspector

I got just first interview. Tough. Panel of three.

ranable1995

Hi all, first time poster here on boards.

I applied for the 2021 competition which closed today. I expect there to be a lot of interest so I’m not holding out too much hope.

Lucat, I agree they should be AP, especially if placed in a Government Department. I work in an 'agency' of a Department (as the information booklet refers to) and the most senior comms person is a HEO but has the pressure/workload of an AP. However, it's my experience that a lot of senior management positions in agency bodies are at AP, but Communications isn't considered a senior management function and instead sits under an AP at HEO.

Wallet Inspector, have you heard anything back from the interview? Was it the standard competency based format?

twentysomething, I hope you ended up getting the job after the stage 3 interview.

Nekro Man

Same, fingers crossed tbh

lucat

ranable1995 wrote: »

Hi all, first time poster here on boards.

I applied for the 2021 competition which closed today. I expect there to be a lot of interest so I’m not holding out too much hope.

Lucat, I agree they should be AP, especially if placed in a Government Department. I work in an 'agency' of a Department (as the information booklet refers to) and the most senior comms person is a HEO but has the pressure/workload of an AP. However, it's my experience that a lot of senior management positions in agency bodies are at AP, but Communications isn't considered a senior management function and instead sits under an AP at HEO.

Wallet Inspector, have you heard anything back from the interview? Was it the standard competency based format?

twentysomething, I hope you ended up getting the job after the stage 3 interview.

I think there will be a lot of interest too, but in large part because of the economic climate at the moment. Normally a comms job with that level of responsibility and without the corresponding pay wouldn't attract huge interest, in my opinion.

Also I noticed they're running this competition only 2.5 years after they ran the last one. I thought that would be the norm more for generalist roles than specialist ones like this, although I could be wrong about that. But if I'm right, it means there might be high turnover from the role. Which is not surprising considering the level of skill you need for it and the fact you're not paid a lot or given the appropriate level of authority.

ranable1995

Fair points there, especially about the economic climate. I wonder are a lot of people in PR agencies etc. thinking that the civil service might be a good move given what has gone on over the past year.

In terms of the level of interest, and as a comparison, I was told that the Comms EO general campaign from 2020 had around 650 or so applicants but only 40 or so were called for interview. I don't know how many positions were available. I would be interested to see what the numbers were for the Comms HEO campaign from 2019 (which I did not apply for) and also for this one.

I stumbled across a PQ when looking for stats on turnover. I can't post the link as I'm a new user unfortunately:

805. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of new staff that started in the press and communications unit of his Department between 1 October and 31 December 2020; and the number of those new staff that still work in the unit. [4219/21]

806. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of new staff that started in the press and communications unit of his Department between 1 October and 31 December 2020 that came from panels; and the number recruited outside of panels. [4220/21]

"I propose to take Questions Nos. 805 and 806 together. Between the period 1st October and 31st December 2020 three new staff started working in the Press and Communications Unit who were assigned from various PAS panels. One of the three remains within that Unit. Separately, the Department intended to appoint a person to a temporary position on secondment from another organisation. For particular reasons it was not possible to proceed with this secondment and the individual remains with their parent organisation."

DOH might not be the best guide re turnover though.

lucat

I wonder if we'll hear anything this week, considering they're screening the applications now (at least I think they are)?

twentysomething

lucat wrote: »

Hi twentysomething,

This thread is a couple of years old but I'm wondering if you got through the competition? I'm thinking of applying to the new one they have open at the moment but I'm not sure they pay and grade is enough. These roles surely should be AP at least.

Hi, sorry, only seeing this now. Yes, I got through and got placed in a govt agency rather than one of the depts and it's been great so far. I'm in a team with one direct report. It was basically a lateral move pay wise and is quieter than I was used to in my previous role with the benefits of flexitime. It would probably be busier if we weren't working remotely, but it's interesting and diverse, although there are certainly some quirks to working in the civil service which take a bit of getting used to.

lucat

twentysomething wrote: »

Hi, sorry, only seeing this now. Yes, I got through and got placed in a govt agency rather than one of the depts and it's been great so far. I'm in a team with one direct report. It was basically a lateral move pay wise and is quieter than I was used to in my previous role with the benefits of flexitime. It would probably be busier if we weren't working remotely, but it's interesting and diverse, although there are certainly some quirks to working in the civil service which take a bit of getting used to.

I worked in an extremely busy Press Office for a couple of years and I'm having serious reservations about this competition in case I'm placed in the same or an equally busy one. I just don't have it in me. It's good to hear there are quieter ones though! How long were you on the panel for, if you don't mind me asking?

twentysomething

Sorry, only here sporadically! I was on the panel for about a year, I think? I was 32nd or something along those lines, I think?

lucat

A month just to get to stage 1...

Anyone heard anything yet?

Nekro Man

Has anyone heard anything?

lucat

I haven't anyway

ranable1995

Hi all, I haven't heard anything back yet either.

MarkBluer

So slow!

ranable1995

Just received the below via email:

"I regret to inform you that you are not among those candidates being invited to the next stage of the selection process."

I hope you all have better luck with it!

LD23

Just a heads up I heard back today, got shortlisted but I'm place 206 and they're interviewing up to place 17 so I'm not holding out hope haha!!

ranable1995

Congrats on making the shortlist at least! Who knows what could happen now that you're on it.

LD23

Thanks! Sorry to hear about yours, so many people must've applied for it. The panel life span is 12-18 months so maybe waaaaay down the line I'll hear something. Since it's a specialised role I doubt there will be too many opportunities in it but I guess it's hard to know.

lucat

I'm #85, which equates to about the 5th batch I'd they're calling them in groups of 17 or thereabouts. It's unlikely I'll get called but still, I'm happy all the same!

LD23

That's a great number, well done! Fingers crossed you do hear eventually!

Finished 21st just 4 outside the first 17 to be interviewed.

whynot16

Anyone know the level of experience of those called in batch 1?

Also does anyone know what the last competitions interviews were like?

I’m curious too, does it just go straight to interview or are there tests, e-trays, presentations etc ?

twentysomething

twentysomething wrote: »

Hi, sorry, only seeing this now. Yes, I got through and got placed in a govt agency rather than one of the depts and it's been great so far. I'm in a team with one direct report. It was basically a lateral move pay wise and is quieter than I was used to in my previous role with the benefits of flexitime. It would probably be busier if we weren't working remotely, but it's interesting and diverse, although there are certainly some quirks to working in the civil service which take a bit of getting used to.

Hi, could you let us know the process after the shortlisting phase ? Was it just an interview or tests -etray , presentations etc ?

Anyone interviewed yet ?

parisee88

after the shortlisting I did a Zoom interview with a four person panel. None of whom appeared to have any direct experience in the field. I got an offer almost a month ago - the process has been quite drawn out. Haven’t seem many people being placed yet.

@parisee88

@parisee88 thanks for the update. Would you mind my asking what place you were on the panel ? I'm 21st place, and hoping I get called. I was also hoping the panel would be experienced comms people. Were they asking general competency questions or comms related questions ? Thanks

Angieph

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117919925#Comment_117919925

Hi parisee88, What was the Zoom interview like, may I ask? I have one next week and I don't have any idea really what to expect... I'd appreciate your insights.

@Angieph

@Angieph can you let me know how it went ? I’ve one next week too ! Thanks

twentysomething

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117568405#Comment_117568405

Massive apologies, only seeing this now! I just got called for a straight interview with 2 high level comms people and an independent chair - all pre-covid, obv. The Q's were comms based within the competencies.

LD23

Hi all, just wondering did anyone further down the list ever get called for interview?

lucat

I'm wondering if there is any effort to match your previous experience/expertise in a particular sector to the role? E.g. if you previously worked in healthcare comms, would they try to place you in the HSE Press Office? I know what the civil service recruitment is like usually and I assume it's the same, but personally I have to be interested in the sector in order to be satisfied in the job.

parisee88

Hi there, mine was a good match but as far as I know it is based purely on supply and demand i.e a department needing bodies etc

lucat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119196864#Comment_119196864

You're lucky. Press Officer is usually a draining job even if you have an interest the sector. It would be gruelling if you didn't have that as a baseline.

lauralaura123

Hi all,

I've been called for a Zoom interview after applying for the Communications Specialist role in 2021.

Does anyone have the candidate information booklet outlining the competencies that they could share with me please? Many thanks!

parisee88

your best bet is to email the PAS contact who sends you on info for the interview but this booklet also applies to the role

https://www.publicjobs.ie/documents/Civil%20Service%20Competency%20Framework%20Model_Higher%20Executive%20Officer.pdf

Therese1989

Are most of these communication specialist roles based in Dublin?

Has it just been the one interview or are there a few stages does anyone know?

parisee88

Hi all, may not be of interest to this group but public jobs have a new campaign for Communication Officers at EO level.

lucat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119563935#Comment_119563935

Saw that. Salary seems very low for a government PR job.

parisee88

Yep and they will mainly be Dublin based.

scribbler1

Hi all,

This campaign is still going!

I did an interview last week and am now on a panel. Just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat?

OKDublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119736020#Comment_119736020

That's interesting. Did you have to do a test as well? I haven't heard anything.

OKDublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119773259#Comment_119773259

For the EO comms competition I meant to add. I assumed that was what you were referring to.

billyhead

Would anyone have the HEO information booklet for this that they could send on.

nmcd94

Hi,

Did anyone go for the Comms Officer, EO Level? I have had my interview etc, just wondering if anyone has had any updates?

Beethere

@ncmd94 How was the interview? I have mine coming up soon and don't know where to start with preparing. The job description seems so different from the competencies that it's hard to know what kind of answers to prepare.

LD23

Can't believe I have an interview for this HEO position soon after applying in 2021. Is anyone in the same boat? Hard to know what kind of things they'll ask other than going down the basic competencies using comms examples. Has anybody had an interview more recently with some insights?

Beethere

I had an EO comms interview a couple of days ago I thought it was quite tricky tbh. Asked things about agency Branding, metrics for campaigns, how you keep up to date in the comms space, how you implement budgeting decisions etc. I had prepared for more straightforward "tell me a time when" questions. Didn't feel it went well but it was definitely an experience 😅

LD23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120938195#Comment_120938195

Oh wow and that's for EO. Thanks for this, I'm mostly preparing my examples but I should remember to back them up in relation to these points you've menntioned. I always think interviews go badly even if they don't so best of luck, hopefully you'll get it!