New 2021 Assistant Principal in the Civil Service

AP2021

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054982#Comment_118054982

Same day as interview - 20 minutes to present and then 40 minute interview. Counts for 33% of the marks.

Material to be provided 7 days in advance of the interview

mariagirl

Hi , has another batch been called yet to Stage 2 video? Does anyone know the range called forward?

crinkley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118070410#Comment_118070410

I say it would be at least 4 weeks, but probably longer, until the next video interviews, when the next batch for the third stage get called I think would prove a good indication

Rainbowstar

Is there no etray this year no?

Great to hear if not as know lots who went down on that stage.

What's the exercise for the final round?

Vologda69

Any idea when stage 2 video interviews might happen for Cork?

FenFlynn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118089415#Comment_118089415

No idea. Awaiting eagerly to hear from those in batch 1 to get an idea what exactly Strategic Analysis exercise is. The only thing we know so far is that you get the material 7 days ahead of the actual presentation which is 20 minutes long.

Rainbowstar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118090983#Comment_118090983

Ah interesting. Can't possibly be as bad as the etray I imagine, though you never know. Also at least you get to the final interview stage after the video round which is much better I think. Best of luck to you!

FenFlynn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118101624#Comment_118101624

Thanks a million! Hope you are enjoying your new role if you’ve started already.

echi21

I am an external candidate and I have my interview next week but I am wondering about the strategic exercise... there are no guidelines around templates to be used font colour scheme etc. Is this normal or am I missing something?

Kenrach

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118107490#Comment_118107490

This is a new departure for PAS. Can you share what the excerise is and maybe people can advise you what the standard could be given their experience of working in the public sector

PhoenixParker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118107490#Comment_118107490

It's kind of a new departure for PAS but it's not dissimilar to what they sent out for the AO competition last year.

My advice is to read the materials carefully, both the Stage 3 Candidate Familiarisation and the Strategic Exercise Document.

There's more details hidden in there then it appears at a first quick read, both on what you should do and what is being assessed.

They want you to put something together that you feel would be appropriate for an AP to put together.

FenFlynn

Can I ask those that got invitation for the final stage, what kind of notice did you get before your interview/analysis exercise?

helpisneeded45

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118112694#Comment_118112694

I got the notice last Tuesday, report and presentation was due this Tuesday and interview tomorrow.

crinkley

Best of luck at least it’s not all on the one day

helpisneeded45

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118107490#Comment_118107490

I’m the same. I’m completely lost. I’m used to developing quite detailed reports but the scope of what is being asked for in 2 pages seems ludicrous!! Also there is context missing, at least for an external candidate there is.

FenFlynn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118113436#Comment_118113436

Only a week? 😲 I thought they'd be on the same day as well.

Do you send in the report and presentation or actually presenting to a board.

Thanks for answering my question! Very best of luck with the interview tomorrow!

apboardsuser

Report and Presentation slides are due in prior to the interview date.

Presentation to board with questions is the first 20 minutes with interview coming immediately afterwards which takes about 45 minutes.

I got notice Friday 22nd with report and slides due in fri 29th and then interview nov 2

echi21

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118113501#Comment_118113501

I just find it difficult because while the gave pretty clear directions regarding the content of the report and PowerPoint, they didn't give any direction around format - even font! I come from a company that does not use a lot of words in presentations, expecting them to be more discussion points and I am just not clear if this is the approach I need for this exercise. Mine is due tomorrow so just going to have to roll with it!

FenFlynn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118113875#Comment_118113875

Thanks for that.

How do you think your presentation and interview went? Was it quite structured? Purely competency based or more like quick fire questions? It's great to be done and dusted with, must be quite a relief for you.

FenFlynn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118113900#Comment_118113900

Probably a bit late now, but I'm happy to send you some slides I have from a civil service report writing training I did recently.

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118113900#Comment_118113900

In the absence of direction to the contrary, then, wouldn't the best thing be to use the default font and a standard template? They're not marking you on your Powerpoint skills, they're marking you on your ability to give a presentation. I.e., convey information, knowledge, data, basis for decisions, etc., in an engaging and professional manner.

So yes, I'd agree with you on not using a lot of words in the slides - we've all been subject to presentations where someone reads out the paragraph of text that you can read on the slide behind them, and struggled to stay awake.

(Disclaimer - I'm an etray veteran, I've not seen any of the instructions for this stage and have never done a PAS competition that required a presentation)

helpisneeded45

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118113953#Comment_118113953

Would love to hear on this one. I’ve been told that 3 competencies are being examined over 40 minutes so it’s either an in depth exam requiring multiple situations or the panel will take a broad interpretation of the competencies…. I suspect the latter but would be great to hear how others found it

Rainbowstar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118104630#Comment_118104630

Not appointed yet (if at all). I'm remaining positive as I did really well and placed high on both panels but as they're regional and I'm on the open panel only - it's impossible to know. I wish I knew how they appointed in terms of inter-D panel and Open panel, like how they pull of these panels, ratios etc. Hopefully I get a role after the absolute nightmare process it all is!!!

FenFlynn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118116835#Comment_118116835

I'm sure you'll be placed sooner or later. A lot of efforts and resources put in to have a panel set up, surely it would not make sense to let that expire. Hopefully you'll hear soon.

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118116835#Comment_118116835

IIRC the quota is supposed to be 1:1:1 Open:Interdepartmental:Internal but occasionally (often?), departments can deviate and owe debts to one of the panels which they then have to make up. E.g., they won't run an internal competition for a few years and so owe the next few vacancies to an internal panel.

juniper87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118114743#Comment_118114743

Likewise. Doing my interview in the coming days and am working on the basis all competencies will be tested, but I presume there may be less emphasis on the competencies they're looking for in the strategic analysis exercise.

For those doing the report, it may not be good advice, but I tried not to worry too much about font etc. and focus on the content and trying to ensure I followed what they set out quite closely. It was very challenging to get it down to pat with the amount of space given.

apboardsuser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118118235#Comment_118118235

My interview very much followed the competency based structure. It was quite structured and while some of the board asked open ended competency questions which allowed me to talk in depth about my experience, another asked more quick fire questions for the competency they were asking about.

I can't really remember the exact questions that came up as it's all a bit of a blur, but there wasn't many questions throughout the interview that i didn't come across at some stage or another when preparing for "competency based interviews", which is good in that if you prepare well, you should be able to handle the questions asked for the most part. Whether my answers were enough to pass the competency is another days work!

Also, just to note, I was also asked about the communication & interpersonal competency separately, which i was surprised by as I thought that would be assessed throughout the interview and not as a separate standalone competency so make sure and prep for that as I did not.

The board were very professional and put me at ease straight away. Delighted to have it over though and best of luck to all in the coming weeks.

FenFlynn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118118927#Comment_118118927

Thanks for taking the time to share how your interview went. Really appreciate it!

I've never done an interview at this level, some guidance on it is really helpful in the preparation process.

It sounds like you prepared really, hopefully it's an excellent outcome for you.

juniper87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118118927#Comment_118118927

Brilliant, thanks very much for sharing.

juniper87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118119183#Comment_118119183

And good luck!