NEW 2020 Assistant Principal Officer Competition

delricyo

MrsBean wrote: »

I don't mean this to be smart but did you watch back what you had recorded after you finished and did it look ok? It is frustrating but treat it as a positive, you get a second go at it! I fluffed saying Assistant Principal and said it like Athissent Prinshiple at the end of one of my answers. Would love a second go at that!

Yeah, but you cant watch back what you record! The only option you have is to exit the interview process.
If you are talking about the practice interviews, yes - everything worked OK. And when I was in the live interview, I could see the sound bar moving on my selfie view screen.

I wouldn't worry about fluffing a word. As they say, the only person who notices the fluffing is you!

MrsBean

delricyo wrote: »

Yeah, but you cant watch back what you record! The only option you have is to exit the interview process.
If you are talking about the practice interviews, yes - everything worked OK. And when I was in the live interview, I could see the sound bar moving on my selfie view screen.

I wouldn't worry about fluffing a word. As they say, the only person who notices the fluffing is you!

I was able to watch back mine before I logged out! I just skimmed through a couple of secs of each one to make sure and then logged out.

delricyo

MrsBean wrote: »

I was able to watch back mine before I logged out! I just skimmed through a couple of secs of each one to make sure and then logged out.

I see that now - apologies.
Going to review it for a few seconds like you did and make sure it recorded OK

Mervyn Skidmore

MrsBean wrote: »

As far as I'm aware they called those who selected Dublin and scored 126 or higher forward to stage 2. Did you select Dublin?

It's not only Dublin according to an earlier poster but if you ask where, you're called a nosy ba$tard.

Loudboy

It was Dublin and another county...
My other county was Louth, but it was Dublin that got me in as there are almost no AP jobs in Louth.

Gifi

Is anyone on the Revenue AP Tax specialist 2020 competition? I don't seem to be able to find a separate one for it. Do you know what stage is after the vidAssess?

dellbell111

Hi, sry if this q was asked before. Can anyone recall what the cut off scores for batch 2 , batch 3 & batch 4 were in 2018 competition. Thanks !

TheStuka

berocca2016 wrote: »

Hi all, been lurking through this so far with regards to the process. Got an email there yesterday saying that there was a quality review done on my video interview and it would have to be redone by Thursday midnight, has this happened to anyone else?

Yes i had to resit mine. In fairness nerves got the better of me the first time and i didn't actually answer the questions. I decided to just drop out of the competition full stop, but unexpectedly got another shot at it which is fair of PAS. Would have preferred a face to face or streamed interview. Resat it last night and at least i answered the questions. Its very difficult to elaborate on your whole career in 9 minutes. I also would prefer if they did shortlisting before this because if you pass this and don't get through shortlisting its a lot of wasted effort.

Chaos Black

I think the point is that the video interview screens us faster and from what I have heard from previous campaigns eliminated a large chunk of applicants.

I would think dealing with the pressure and ability to present enough points in 3 minute bites is a large part of the test and is applicable to the role.

Nice of them to account for technical issues. Best of luck to everyone!

TaurenDruid

Chaos Black wrote: »

I think the point is that the video interview screens us faster and from what I have heard from previous campaigns eliminated a large chunk of applicants.

I would think dealing with the pressure and ability to present enough points in 3 minute bites is a large part of the test and is applicable to the role.

Nice of them to account for technical issues. Best of luck to everyone!

Huh.

I was eliminated from a previous competition because of technical issues - the application form I submitted was corrupted on their end and couldn't be opened. I was told it was up to me to check (which the booklet did say) and excluded on the basis it would be unfair on other participants if I was allowed submit another one after the deadline.

quad_red

TaurenDruid wrote: »

Huh.

I was eliminated from a previous competition because of technical issues - the application form I submitted was corrupted on their end and couldn't be opened. I was told it was up to me to check (which the booklet did say) and excluded on the basis it would be unfair on other participants if I was allowed submit another one after the deadline.

Christ that’s harsh.

batman007

Just spotted a new competition has opened for Communications Managers at AP level, is anyone applying? It is actually my area of expertise so thrilled to have another opportunity to get my foot in the door.

prettyboy81

batman007 wrote: »

Just spotted a new competition has opened for Communications Managers at AP level, is anyone applying? It is actually my area of expertise so thrilled to have another opportunity to get my foot in the door.

Criteria different a Level 8 qualification needed for this one. Best of Luck.

lucat

They're also running a general EO competition: https://www.publicjobs.ie/en/index.php?option=com_jobsearch&view=jobdetails&Itemid=263&cid=122285&campaignId=20148704

MrMistoffelees

I read it as any Level 8 qualification.

cimictus

Hi there,

Does anyone have any idea when we might hear about the next stage! My nerves are shot!

Chaos Black

No idea. They will drop when they drop! August so factor in a bit of delay.

cimictus

Thank you for your reply! Yes August is a big factor I guess! I know no point in speculating, these competitions are some of the most nervewracking things though!

quad_red

I wonder are there machinations going on in the background about freezing or delaying the competition?

Seems pretty clear kites are being flown by Gov on public sector promotion and recruitment freezes.

Given the stated aims of huge surges in teacher numbers, I wonder will the consider cancelling general campaigns like this?

Chaos Black

I doubt they will cancel as the campaign is already costed (I'd guess). No point in speculation I think.

lucat

Chaos Black wrote: »

I doubt they will cancel as the campaign is already costed (I'd guess). No point in speculation I think.

It's pay that's the issue. The campaign might run without anyone ever being hired off a panel.

I doubt there'll be a moratorium though because of the amount of extra work Covid has caused.

TheStuka

Chaos Black wrote: »

I think the point is that the video interview screens us faster and from what I have heard from previous campaigns eliminated a large chunk of applicants.

I would think dealing with the pressure and ability to present enough points in 3 minute bites is a large part of the test and is applicable to the role.

Nice of them to account for technical issues. Best of luck to everyone!

Yes I agree it is to screen faster but its not real life in practice. I've been in the Civil Service almost 18 years in multiple Departments and having a 'soundbite' competency has never come into play day to day nor have i witnessed it in action from colleagues. The old system of exam and face to face interview was much fairer IMHO , with a presentation and perhaps etray which has its merits too from experience in multiple sections including Ministerial Offices. The be a 'youtube' star in 9 minutes and just cram everything in (without enough time to give any real substance) is A) age discriminatory Not really measuring, reaction, critical thinking, human interactivity etc. Its just another hoop that has been added to give private companies €€€ . The Etray , interview ,writing a memo and giving a presentation in my view measure real qualities applicable to the AP role.

TheStuka

quad_red wrote: »

I wonder are there machinations going on in the background about freezing or delaying the competition?

Seems pretty clear kites are being flown by Gov on public sector promotion and recruitment freezes.

Given the stated aims of huge surges in teacher numbers, I wonder will the consider cancelling general campaigns like this?

I heard a stat recently that across the Service something like approximately 30-35% of APs are due to retire in the next 3-5 years so I doubt they will implement a freeze. But paycuts yes they are definitely coming down the tracks in light of Covid.

MrsBean

TheStuka wrote: »

The be a 'youtube' star in 9 minutes and just cram everything in (without enough time to give any real substance) is A) age discriminatory Not really measuring, reaction, critical thinking, human interactivity etc.

How is it age discriminatory? The use of a website to record a video? I would think in this day and age a reasonable grasp of technology is something that would be desired, if not required, of an AP in a modernising civil service. The website was very easy to use and PAS allowed for technical difficulties. It was simply an un-interupted recording of a competency answer. Not all that different to a written 'soundbite' in 500 words on an application form, just delivered in a different way.


Also, it is my understanding that those who get through this stage will still have to do a face-to-face interview/video interview.

Zulu Art

MrsBean wrote: »

How is it age discriminatory? The use of a website to record a video? I would think in this day and age a reasonable grasp of technology is something that would be desired, if not required, of an AP in a modernising civil service. The website was very easy to use and PAS allowed for technical difficulties. It was simply an un-interupted recording of a competency answer. Not all that different to a written 'soundbite' in 500 words on an application form, just delivered in a different way.


Also, it is my understanding that those who get through this stage will still have to do a face-to-face interview/video interview.

Some people have assumed during Covid that the reliance on IT in recruitment bias in favour of the tech-savvy. It probably does; but those who loose out would have lost out in other ways because being able to make an online-business video call is a basic task of an AP and will prob be for a long time

Whyalwaysme123

quad_red wrote: »

I wonder are there machinations going on in the background about freezing or delaying the competition?

Seems pretty clear kites are being flown by Gov on public sector promotion and recruitment freezes.

Given the stated aims of huge surges in teacher numbers, I wonder will the consider cancelling general campaigns like this?

What on earth are you talking about? ‘Seems pretty clear’. It’s actually the exact opposite - if you listen to the consistent messages coming from Government, there’s talk of strengthening the CS and investing in the CS/PS.
An EO comp was recently launched and an AP specialist. The doomsdayer comments are unhelpful, particularly when you’ve nothing to support them. Of course things could change, and pay MAY be reduced, but the negativity and speculation is ridiculous.

CBCB

lucat wrote: »

It's pay that's the issue. The campaign might run without anyone ever being hired off a panel.

I doubt there'll be a moratorium though because of the amount of extra work Covid has caused.

I'd be surprised. There are so many retirements coming up. Those vacancies need to be filled.

SFC1895

CBCB wrote: »

I'd be surprised. There are so many retirements coming up. Those vacancies need to be filled.

It will depend on how bad the finances are and what cutbacks Departments are expected to make.


Some/many (?) vacancies may not be filled at all, roles amalgamated, services dropped or subcontracted where possible.


The other alternative is to cut pay, but that would impact frontline workers like nurses so would be deeply unpopular.

InsideEdge

SFC1895 wrote: »

It will depend on how bad the finances are and what cutbacks Departments are expected to make.


Some/many (?) vacancies may not be filled at all, roles amalgamated, services dropped or subcontracted where possible.


The other alternative is to cut pay, but that would impact frontline workers like nurses so would be deeply unpopular.

My Department has just announced an internal AP competition so there are a lot of vacancies to be filled. There are quite a number of POs and APs retiring in the next few months so I can't see any moratorium on hiring staff. There may well be pay cuts/freezes but the unions have heard nothing yet and there is a scheduled pay increase in October.

SFC1895

InsideEdge wrote: »

My Department has just announced an internal AP competition so there are a lot of vacancies to be filled. There are quite a number of POs and APs retiring in the next few months so I can't see any moratorium on hiring staff. There may well be pay cuts/freezes but the unions have heard nothing yet and there is a scheduled pay increase in October.

That sounds very positive, hopefully there will be movement on that. I did hear anecdotally that a lot of new POs are being lined up for our place, God help them.



However sooner or later, expect a moratorium of some kind. Not all vacancies will be filled and Departments will be requested to make savings.