Third Secretary & Development Specialist Campaign 2020

[Deleted User]

Perhaps they scaled back the intake because of Covid. So were there about 2,000 candidates at the beginning?

HartsHat

threesecs wrote: »

Perhaps they scaled back the intake because of Covid. So were there about 2,000 candidates at the beginning?

The last two intakes were probably the biggest ever in the Dept's history, I'd say this intake will start the process of going back to the normal level of intakes (20ish).

[Deleted User]

Yikes. Hope I'm in the top 20 so. I was ranked in the top 10 for the video interview

PeachL00pies

Completing the interview stage isn't a guarantee that you'll be placed on the panel. You can still fail at interview stage if you don't score the points needed. I would say there will be a panel of 30ish formed. If there is a need for more Third Secs, then they will revisit those who scored below 42. It wouldn't surprise me if they did take anyone else through though.

[Deleted User]

I'm curious to know how the interview is marked. I did a competency interview before where each competency question was marked out of five in terms of relevance, structure and clarity. I think I did fine on the competency questions but I'm wondering how much weight is given to the questions on how much you know about the Global Island / Global Ireland.
I imagine that having bonus points for languages will help to get on a panel, too.

sectrd

threesecs wrote: »

I'm curious to know how the interview is marked. I did a competency interview before where each competency question was marked out of five in terms of relevance, structure and clarity. I think I did fine on the competency questions but I'm wondering how much weight is given to the questions on how much you know about the Global Island / Global Ireland.
I imagine that having bonus points for languages will help to get on a panel, too.

I seen on an old thread here that there were four sections, not sure exactly how they're weighted and it might be different this year given the format:

Competencies
Communication
Motivation
Specialist knowledge

Its the waiting for the results that I find most excruciating! The more I think about the interview the more I start to doubt myself and think of things I could have said. Hopefully we hear soon, would be fantastic if it was this week.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for that info. I think that competency questions can be unsettling if you are unfamiliar with the format.
I'm checking my inbox regularly even though I know we were told that we won't have the results until next week! I put a lot of effort into preparing the interview so it feels like an anti-climax now..

Clare2021

threesecs wrote: »

Thanks for that info. I think that competency questions can be unsettling if you are unfamiliar with the format.
I'm checking my inbox regularly even though I know we were told that we won't have the results until next week! I put a lot of effort into preparing the interview so it feels like an anti-climax now..

Did they say the results for both streams (TS/DS) would be out next week? Was it just DS interviews this week or did anyone have a TS interview this week as well?

[Deleted User]

I believe that the last Third Sec interview was on the 22nd. I was told that the results would be communicated in early February, so hopefully next week

sectrd

Results are out!

[Deleted User]

Woohoo!!

Daisies

That was a quick turn around

sectrd

I guess we just wait now?

[Deleted User]

Security clearance and employer reference check will be the next steps. Hoping the security clearance will be straight-forward and not an exhaustive questionnaire.

[Deleted User]

I would be curious to know how big the panel is. Usually PAS will tell you if you are on the panel and ring them.

tsrc20202021

Tsdso2020 wrote: »

I would be curious to know how big the panel is. Usually PAS will tell you if you are on the panel and ring them.

Would anyone know how many roughly will get offered a position? Maybe the first 10 or 20?

[Deleted User]

At least 20, I'd say..

julie132

Tsdso2020 wrote: »

I would be curious to know how big the panel is. Usually PAS will tell you if you are on the panel and ring them.

I emailed following the Exercise Precis result and was told:
"For the Third Secretary, we have called up to and including 206 on the order of merit to the next stage. At present there are no plans currently in place to call a further batch of candidates forward."

To interview 206 people is quite a huge number.
It is also surprising that 206 people scored above 42/50 on the Exercise Precis.

[Deleted User]

@julie132 They probably meant that 206 people took the precis exercise..

[Deleted User]

julie132 wrote: »

I emailed following the Exercise Precis result and was told:
"For the Third Secretary, we have called up to and including 206 on the order of merit to the next stage. At present there are no plans currently in place to call a further batch of candidates forward."

To interview 206 people is quite a huge number.
It is also surprising that 206 people scored above 42/50 on the Exercise Precis.

206 is the number they took past stage 1 - so 206 did video assessment, then a certain number did precis, then a certain number did interview

[Deleted User]

Yes, would say that about 100 did the precis exercise and then about 50 were interviewed, to create a first panel of 25 hirees. We should hear more about the security clearance, etc., this week.

sectrd

threesecs wrote: »

Yes, would say that about 100 did the precis exercise and then about 50 were interviewed, to create a first panel of 25 hirees. We should hear more about the security clearance, etc., this week.

I think they won't send all 25 for clearance at once, just as spaces become available? Which will probably take a whole given that it's all work from home and whatnot at the moment?

[Deleted User]

The Third Secretaries in Dublin at the moment go on posting in August - however I would expect new recruits to be hired by April (about a month for security clearance and then a month's notice to leave one's current job). I think I remember a friend saying that the first 15 were called together so that they could start around the same time and have their induction together.

sectrd

threesecs wrote: »

The Third Secretaries in Dublin at the moment go on posting in August - however I would expect new recruits to be hired by April (about a month for security clearance and then a month's notice to leave one's current job). I think I remember a friend saying that the first 15 were called together so that they could start around the same time and have their induction together.

Ok I see, would be great if that were the case.

Does anyone know if the start date is somewhat flexible if you do get called up?

I know of some people who got called for AO positions and were able to arrange a starting date a good bit down the line.

[Deleted User]

Yes, I believe that the start date is flexible but it's better to start as soon as you can because when it comes to getting your first preference for foreign postings, those who start earlier get first refusal (on the basis that those who start earlier normally had a better ranking in the competition so should have that privilege).

Daisies

Might be of interest to some on this thread.

https://www.dfa.ie/prep/brussels/vacancies/graduate-policy-officer-position-at-the-permanent-representation-of-ireland-to-the-eu.html

blithe

Daisies wrote: »

Might be of interest to some on this thread.

https://www.dfa.ie/prep/brussels/vacancies/graduate-policy-officer-position-at-the-permanent-representation-of-ireland-to-the-eu.html

Thank you very much, hadn't spotted that!

HartsHat

threesecs wrote: »

Yes, I believe that the start date is flexible but it's better to start as soon as you can because when it comes to getting your first preference for foreign postings, those who start earlier get first refusal (on the basis that those who start earlier normally had a better ranking in the competition so should have that privilege).

It is definitely better to star earlier, as you say, on the basis you outlined.

However, while starting earlier is better in terms of going on posting earlier, it doesn't mean you get "first refusal" on anything. It is only one of many factors considered and there is no refusal at all. Where the Dept decides you're going to, is where you're going to, whether it is your first or twentieth preference.

[Deleted User]

@HartsHat Hmm, that's something I'd like to know more about. Someone I know complained that they didn't get their first preference (even though they had relevant languages skills) because they started work in HQ later while finishing their current contract. I understood that one gets to express three preferences and people usually get one of them.

On another topic, if you know anything about how soon a new Third Secretary is entitled to take parental leave, I'd be grateful for some info!

HartsHat

threesecs wrote: »

@HartsHat Hmm, that's something I'd like to know more about. Someone I know complained that they didn't get their first preference (even though they had relevant languages skills) because they started work in HQ later while finishing their current contract. I understood that one gets to express three preferences and people usually get one of them.

On another topic, if you know anything about how soon a new Third Secretary is entitled to take parental leave, I'd be grateful for some info!

I'm afraid that's not quite accurate! Its quite common to get a posting outside your top 3.