Higher Executive Officer Interview

Conor_OM

Hi folks,

I recently been offered an interview for HEO (shift allowance in Customs). I have only become an EO recently, about six months now. I'm not too hopeful due to my lack of EO experience but it was good enough to get an interview, I suppose.

I was hoping if anyone could give me any tips for the interview, what I should be saying, what questions I can expect and what points I need to hit to give me a chance at getting on the panel.

I've worked in Customs for three years - 2.5 years as a CO (Enforcement) and six months as an EO (Trade Facilitation).

The interview is just a single online interview.

Undercover

Find out what custom's strategy is in place and try link your answers back to it...

Conor_OM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118777531#Comment_118777531

Very good point, will definitely do that. Many thanks.

Rikand

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058227180/the-questions-you-might-get-asked-at-eo-heo-thread-for-the-civil-service

first two posts here cover the interview prep pretty well with sample questions

LuckyEd

I am recently transgender and am worried about how I may be perceived during the interview process.

Conor_OM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118780944#Comment_118780944

Brilliant. Thank you very much!

Conor_OM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118781616#Comment_118781616

Don't worry about it. I've worked with all sorts of different people from different backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation etc.

Revenue has been quite good over the last couple of years with that sort of stuff. As long as you can do the job, it won't be a problem.

LuckyEd

How do you mean "that sort of stuff"? It's not a choice. I was born this way.

Conor_OM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118786335#Comment_118786335

What I'm saying is that it doesn't matter. They will hire you based on how well your form is and how well you interview.

Sophia Petrillo

Some good advice here. Thanks.

Rikand

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118786653#Comment_118786653

It does raise a good question though. In a recent interview I was asked about coping with adversity related to decision making. Could LuckyEd use their transition as an example if there was adversity related to it or are they better keeping away from the topic altogether and make the interview strictly business ?

aaron5250

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058237153/higher-executive-officer-interview

How did it go?

Conor_OM

Absolutely brutal. Had my old PO on the panel, which I thought would favour me...he absolutely tore my form apart. Apparently a lot of people had the same experience.

I wasn't expecting to get it anyway so wasn't too annoyed about it. Have another HEO interview sometime soon which is off shift. Hoping that will be easier, the extra 12 months of experience should certainly help. My application this time around was far better.

Conor_OM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118805894#Comment_118805894

The interview board will mainly look for work related examples for the compentacies. So unless they have an example like that then no, I wouldn't mention it because it wouldn't be necessary. As I said before, they aren't hiring someone based on who they are but how well they think they'll do at the job.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058237153/higher-executive-officer-interview

Is there much court work involved?