The Questions You Might Get Asked at EO/HEO Thread for the Civil Service

I thought that was a very good question

i might start every week from now on asking myself on monday morning what my plan is for the week, tbh!

I am me123

A lot of the candidates gave the same answer to this question.

"Get to know my team and their working styles. ".

kwestfan08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119108873#Comment_119108873

Excellent post thanks so much. Would these be moreso examples of what a HEO might be asked at interview? Going for an EO interview next week and just trying to get a sense again what might be asked.

Dave 101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119232162#Comment_119232162

@kwestfan8 yes more so for heo but if you have an answer for them you will breeze the eo

Augme

My advice is going to go against the grain but I would recommend learning the competency bullet points off and being very comfortable knowing them rather than specific questions. The risk with learning specific questions is that often when someone us asked a Q outside of the specific ones they have pre-leadned they tend to fall to pieces.

Dave 101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119233013#Comment_119233013

💯 you should focus on the competencies first and the questions second…but they will ask you questions on both

agree fully with this.

you wont do better than knowing how each competency and sub competency maps to your cv and being very comfortable talking about this from all angles

aaron5250

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119108873#Comment_119108873

Amazing. Thanks @Dave 101

Paladonia

Should prepared answers for each competency in an interview be different to those on your application form? Or is it ok to use these again/expand on them?

hungerjames

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119325296#Comment_119325296

It's OK to use the ones on your application form but have AT LEAST one additional example prepared for each one because you're quite often asked for an additional one if you're approaching-but-not-quite reaching their mark.

Ciaran

You're likely to be asked specifically about the example on the form in some cases too so definitely make sure you have those well prepared.

yes agree with both

if its a strong example on form and it covers things from a few different angles youd hope to get to fully mine it, but always be ready with a backup even if not quite as strong.

you never regret having stuff prepped and not using it

Aisling(",)

One question that threw me at a HEO interview a few years back was "How would you deal with an overachieving staff member?".

Everyone always has there underperformance question ready but this one was the first I'd heard on high performers.

furrybones

This is a great thread, thanks to everyone who contributed.

When I did my interview for EO the interviewers honed in on my education (went back to college and completed a degree in my 40's) as much as my work experience. I was asked questions such as "what did you find most difficult about your course and how did you overcome it?" and "why did you choose that particular course?"

Work based questions were similar to those listed in previous posts - managing conflict, time management, motivation, any changes I made to improve work practices, etc.

JacenSolo

Thank you for these. I have my interview this week and frankly my anxiety is through the roof. I swear this has to be the most stressful and complicated process of hiring staff I've ever seen.

TY76

Hi,

Can anyone give a brief overview of how to prepare for an EO interview.

Many thanks

job seeker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120141095#Comment_120141095

It's litrally in the original post.