NEW 2020 Assistant Principal Officer Competition

Awkwardstroke · 05-06-2020 11:02am

Wanderlust2021 wrote: »

I found the numerical horrendous, more so than the verbal which usually wrecks my head. I much prefer the cut-e assessments, cleaner and quicker to do. I needed a drink after the numerical. SJ one was fine as it always is but wasn't really geared towards CS I thought. I doubt I will get on the OOM, never mind be invited to the next stage! But it's my first AP attempt so experience will do me good.

I had a go at this too! found numerical reasoning Ok (usual time constraints). My beef is with the SJ part, as while I have a good idea where I got the other two tests questions right or wrong for the SJ part its a bit of mystery for me (and I work in the civil service and would think I have a reasonable idea of what the role of a AP is).

just some thoughts

mariagirl · 05-06-2020 12:14pm

Awkwardstroke wrote: »

I had a go at this too! found numerical reasoning Ok (usual time constraints). My beef is with the SJ part, as while I have a good idea where I got the other two tests questions right or wrong for the SJ part its a bit of mystery for me (and I work in the civil service and would think I have a reasonable idea of what the role of a AP is).

just some thoughts

This is my first AP application. I found the numerical particularly difficult, I think that the 5 levels of agree and disagree answer options in the Situational Judgenent threw me a lot! The practice pre test link issued by PAS on the SHL site gave 2 options instead of 5 so for me this waa a bit unexpected, and made it harder especially under the constraint of time.

qwabercd · 05-06-2020 1:50pm

Does anyone have an idea how often these come around? I missed this application, would there likely be any further openings in the next 6 - 12 months?

Mervyn Skidmore · 05-06-2020 1:53pm

qwabercd wrote: »

Does anyone have an idea how often these come around? I missed this application, would there likely be any further openings in the next 6 - 12 months?

Usually every 2 years but the last recession put promotions on hold for nearly 8 years.

moneymaid · 05-06-2020 2:20pm

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

I see it has definitely been extended. Complete horse manure as usual in these competitions. "THERE WILL BE NO EXTENSIONS", followed of course by an extension.

Sorry, what do you mean by this? I didn't get any notification to say the process has been extended.

moneymaid · 05-06-2020 2:23pm

First time APO Applicant.

Found the SJ and VR OK,
NR - not so good ðŸ€¯ I had to guess most of them. The time constraint really puts you under pressure.

Can anyone advise -
- when can we expect results of the aptitude tests?
- is it a video interview then?
- are there more aptitude tests after the interview?
- if you are offered the position, do you get a choice in which Department you would like to work in, subject to positions available?

Thanks

Ap2020 · 05-06-2020 2:45pm

moneymaid wrote: »

First time APO Applicant.

Found the SJ and VR OK,
NR - not so good &#55356;&#56367; I had to guess most of them. The time constraint really puts you under pressure.

Can anyone advise -
- when can we expect results of the aptitude tests?
- is it a video interview then?
- are there more aptitude tests after the interview?
- if you are offered the position, do you get a choice in which Department you would like to work in, subject to positions available?

Thanks

2-3 weeks

The booklet outlined that video interviews were next. That is subject to change, PAS always leave wiggle room for them to vary the procedure.

There has usually been a verification process where you redo the tests, and so an "etray" exercise in Chapter House. That might go ahead, but it doesn't have to and doesn't always. It is possible it will be scrapped as too difficult to accomplish during the Covid-19 pandemic.

You can express a preference, but that is (mostly) ignored. PAS assign people as positions become vacant.

*Gaijin* · 05-06-2020 2:51pm

moneymaid wrote: »

- when can we expect results of the aptitude tests?

A few weeks time.

moneymaid wrote: »

- is it a video interview then?

No. It will be three (likely, competency based) questions which you get in advance and then you have a set time to video record your answer to each. This is the first time they have done this for AP comps.

moneymaid wrote: »

- are there more aptitude tests after the interview?

Previous years have been required to resit the same tests in order get a similar range of results to prove you did them the first time. Given Covid, this resit will probably be proctored online.

moneymaid wrote: »

- if you are offered the position, do you get a choice in which Department you would like to work in, subject to positions available?

No. Its whatever you are offered (subject to if its your 1 and 2 choice, or if you are on the InterDept panel as well as the Open).

Blanchy90 · 05-06-2020 3:41pm

moneymaid wrote: »

First time APO Applicant.

Found the SJ and VR OK,
NR - not so good &#55356;&#56367; I had to guess most of them. The time constraint really puts you under pressure.

Can anyone advise -
- when can we expect results of the aptitude tests?
- is it a video interview then?
- are there more aptitude tests after the interview?
- if you are offered the position, do you get a choice in which Department you would like to work in, subject to positions available?

Thanks

If you are already in a department they can request to keep you

urgelgru · 05-06-2020 3:47pm

And if you're already in a Department you can notify your HR to say you'd like to be kept. Obviously it's up to them whether they want to keep you and/or if there's a vacancy

Cheeseplant · 05-06-2020 4:09pm

mariagirl wrote: »

This is my first AP application. I found the numerical particularly difficult, I think that the 5 levels of agree and disagree answer options in the Situational Judgenent threw me a lot! The practice pre test link issued by PAS on the SHL site gave 2 options instead of 5 so for me this waa a bit unexpected, and made it harder especially under the constraint of time.

Curious on the SJ, did you give each answer a different rating?
I can't remember the instructions, and it's highly likely that I've messed up, but I gave some of the answers the same rating e.g. two answers desirable, no answers in that situation highly desirable etc.

Pdbtsi · 05-06-2020 4:18pm

Cheeseplant wrote: »

Curious on the SJ, did you give each answer a different rating?
I can't remember the instructions, and it's highly likely that I've messed up, but I gave some of the answers the same rating e.g. two answers desirable, no answers in that situation highly desirable etc.

If I remember correctly, the instructions said something like 'you are strongly advised to use the full range of ratings' - though I could be imagining this. I did the same though, came across a few where no situation was highly desirable or highly undesirable, and gave two situations the same rating.

Awkwardstroke · 05-06-2020 4:33pm

Im sure most people are applying for a promotion grade? so unless the location offered is totally unacceptable...why would you turn it down? plus you pick your location preferences.

Awkwardstroke · 05-06-2020 4:35pm

I tried to use the range of answer in SJ exercises yet was difficult for a few where nearly all the options were (to me) on the negative side.

Cheeseplant · 05-06-2020 4:38pm

Awkwardstroke wrote: »

I tried to use the range of answer in SJ exercises yet was difficult for a few where nearly all the options were (to me) on the negative side.

i found this too

Nicole2020 · 05-06-2020 4:43pm

On some of the scenarios I ended up having 2 in a couple of the ratings, especially the ones with a lot of options / answers. There was one or two in particular where I think all bar one of my answers were in the negative segments.

dee75 · 05-06-2020 7:21pm

Awkwardstroke wrote: »

I tried to use the range of answer in SJ exercises yet was difficult for a few where nearly all the options were (to me) on the negative side.

I found this too. I think there was one question where 5 out of 6 options I ranked as undesirable.

Zulu Art · 06-06-2020 12:59am

dee75 wrote: »

I found this too. I think there was one question where 5 out of 6 options I ranked as undesirable.

Same boat here.

Mervyn Skidmore · 06-06-2020 1:08am

dee75 wrote: »

I found this too. I think there was one question where 5 out of 6 options I ranked as undesirable.

And there's no reason to say you were incorrect, you could have scored well on this answer depending on the marking scheme.

Zulu Art · 06-06-2020 9:46am

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

And there's no reason to say you were incorrect, you could have scored well on this answer depending on the marking scheme.

I think it was said in the context of ahould we have not used as many options as possible in the multi-choice. I too doubled up on the responses. I think I gave legit responses; and sure the system allowed the same level of (un)desirable be assigned to multiple options.

quad_red · 06-06-2020 12:14pm

Blanchy90 wrote: »

If you are already in a department they can request to keep you

Some departments only have AP Higher though? So they don’t take APs off the AP standard PAS process (which is what this is).

doc22 · 06-06-2020 12:33pm

quad_red wrote: »

Some departments only have AP Higher though? So they don’t take APs off the AP standard PAS process (which is what this is).

If you are already in one of those departments and they wanted to keep you I don't think they'd be a problem as they could keep you as a standard AP.

quad_red · 06-06-2020 12:37pm

doc22 wrote: »

If you are already in one of those departments and they wanted to keep you I don't think they'd be a problem as they could keep you as a standard AP.

Didn’t know they could do that.

Addle · 06-06-2020 2:46pm

quad_red wrote: »

Some departments only have AP Higher though? So they don’t take APs off the AP standard PAS process (which is what this is).

AP Higher comp usually follows standard comp anyways.

moneymaid · 06-06-2020 4:56pm

Has anyone completed any of the interview prep courses for AP?

If so, did you find them helpful?

ammg · 08-06-2020 4:03pm

Addle wrote: »

AP Higher comp usually follows standard comp anyways.

Only for those who finish in the higher rankings

Zulu Art · 08-06-2020 8:34pm

ammg wrote: »

Only for those who finish in the higher rankings

Do they make 2 panels so? Or is higher AP a totally other comp?

Forthebuzz · 09-06-2020 12:20am

Zulu Art wrote: »

Do they make 2 panels so? Or is higher AP a totally other comp?

Seperate campaign that is linked in with this. Last time or the time before to enter AP higher, you had to be an existing AP standard or have come in top 300 of AP comp

RWC15champions · 10-06-2020 12:50am

Just my two cents on the SJ.
I took the range of answers comment to be across all 100 questions and not on each scenario ðŸ˜…
One scenario I gave 4 out of 5 answers the exact same rating!
Time will tell I suppose ðŸ™ˆ

Anonire · 10-06-2020 7:18am

RWC15champions wrote: »

Just my two cents on the SJ.
I took the range of answers comment to be across all 100 questions and not on each scenario &#55357;&#56837;
One scenario I gave 4 out of 5 answers the exact same rating!
Time will tell I suppose &#55357;&#56904;

Was trying to post the same thing earlier but couldn't log in. Took the range of answers to mean across the 100 questions not each scenario.

NEW 2020 Assistant Principal Officer Competition

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