Third Secretary Campaign 2022

EMD1990

Received news that I placed 74th on the OOM for the DSO role. So we wait and see.

lucat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120435592#Comment_120435592

I placed in the 90s. So assuming up to 97 is called, we should both be called to stage 2. Now to figure out what a "prècis" is!

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120435592#Comment_120435592

What was step one that got you on the OOM? Is that the numerical reasoning test? I'm hoping to go for it next time.

ShatterResistant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120436536#Comment_120436536

Hey Dory,

Step one consisted of three online tests, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and a situational judgement exercise. The verbal reasoning consisted of being provided with passages of information about a company, and then you have to answer 49 questions in 12 minutes (a mean feat, very few finish them anecdotally). The numerical reasoning was similar, but provided with graphs, numerical data etc. and you have to answer 37 questions in 12 minutes. The situational judgement was an inbox where you receive a number of emails over half an hour and must respond to them with answers proportionate to what you are being asked, who is asking you etc.

You receive marks then for all three and these are combined to give the OOM ranking. For this competition, the qualifying marks for each individual test was VR 34/80, NR 30/80 and SJ 35/80. These don't correspond with straight forward number of right/wrong answers so I assume there's some weighting/negative marking/time element. In this competition, they have indicated they are calling up to 97 on the OOM to take part in step two. Shoot me a message if you want any further info.

ShatterResistant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120435948#Comment_120435948

Hi Lucat,

Going off previous competition threads, we'll get a short document and have an hour to summarise it down. As an example, let's say you receive the document at 10am, you must read 3,000 or so words, draw out the most salient points, and weave them into a cohesive 350-450 word brief before an 11am cut-off. Another poster on here recommended practicing on long form news articles under timed conditions to get used to it.

lucat

Okay! I was assuming it would be a reduction to 40-50 words from short paragraphs of maybe 200 or 250, so this is useful information. I was intending to practice online because I found some basic websites for that, but if the texts are longer they wouldn't work. They also don't time you.

Thanks for the information.

Eoin2231

Placed in top 10 on OOM by testing for DSO - first time doing a précis interview/3rd Sec-equivalent, so would anyone have any pointers on how to prepare? I thought it would be like AO with a presentation on a topic but it doesn't seem so from comments in this thread?

For anyone who got DSO before - what's options like for transferring within DFA to another role after x years service? Would much rather have got somewhere in Europe. I don't mind doing the couple years in Africa - but definitely don't see that being where I'd want to stay long-term. Similarly, would anyone be able to talk about living experiences? Have heard from a couple people that their experience consisted of living in a compound 24/7 and having nothing to spend their money on except travelling.

lucat

I'm also curious about this. I have more interest and experience in the international and trade relations side of things rather than local level development.

dory

You can always apply for internal (and external) AP and First Sec competitions. They come up every 2 years or so, but are very competitive.

LemtishParuldarrion

Any news on Third sec? got 37 but never got called on the second round of interviews.

Leyendecker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120445438#Comment_120445438

I’m not a DSO but I work in the DFA. Honestly, I’ve never heard of anyone transferring from DSO to the diplomatic stream, if that’s what you’re asking. A DSO could apply for the internal 1st Sec comp, like someone said above, I suppose, but you’ll be up against all the 3rd secs who’ve been doing a more related job, so I don’t think the odds would be good, it is already super competitive among 3rd secs. Secondly, development specialists/ DSOs do spend their careers between the global south and the Dublin and Limerick offices (more likely Limerick). There are aren’t any postings in Europe (though there will be one in Ukraine soon). There’s one development counselor in Brussels but nothing lower to my knowledge. In Geneva and New York, there’s no development officers or DSOs, they hire temporary staff to fill the humanitarian advisor roles there—DSO really is a posting for the global south, mostly Africa, and it’s about administering development assistance, livelihood support and humanitarian relief. On your last question, living depends on the country and there’s a bunch of countries a DSO could go to. The compound living you referred to is definitely Abuja, maybe Addis and soon to be Islamabad (embassy opening 2024/2025, 10million in aid was just recently announced for Pakistan, probably programmed by a DSO and, the security situation is increasingly awful, so there will definitely be a DSO in-country soon and they’ll definitely be in a compound).

lucat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456952#Comment_120456952

There's also currently a Development Specialist recruitment campaign open, and it's at AP level, which makes me think Development is its own "track". This means it would be independent from the regular diplomatic service and not really interchangeable with it.

ShatterResistant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120456952#Comment_120456952

Thanks for the insights, hard to find anything about the role online outside of PAS/DFA. Did it exist before the 2020 competition, I can't find references to it before then?

I'm interested in the the DSO role for what it is and where it will be, but would like to keep the door open for the diplomatic route for further down the road also, if things didn't work out. I emailed PAS asking if you can be promoted internally from DSO to FS and in the most civil service of answers, 'Employees of the Department can apply for internal competitions once they meet the eligibility criteria of the specific competition' - you are eligible to apply if you meet the eligibility criteria to apply 😁 . Even if that route isn't practically or realistically open, DSO experience can only be of benefit for the next TS open competition. I'm a strong believer in the shimmy shimmy school of career development. They also confirmed that circular 08/2019 applies so current AO's would keep their grade point and increment date.

ShatterResistant

Did anyone in previous competitions get a language assessment at interview stage? Would be interested to hear their experience.

Daisies

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120458891#Comment_120458891

I can tell you that the DSO did not exist prior to the 2020 campaign. The only specifically permanent development roles were the DS. It was identified as a gap in the department because they had JPIs for two year contracts but we're losing the institutional knowledge. And all recruitment for DS were external recruitment.

As for promotion from DSO to FS, I would imagine there would be no issue in competing in either open or internal comps but the diplomatic stream is generally more competitive as the development experience/knowledge rules people out.

Daisies

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120458210#Comment_120458210

So it is a separate stream. There are three streams in DFA general, diplomatic and development. And while you can apply for one and work in one, you can always also apply in comps for the other streams. I personally know people who have gone from diplomatic to general stream and from development to diplomatic.

lucat

Has anyone done the Precis test yet? What was the subject-matter you had to write about? I imagine it will be something unfamiliar and technical.

lucat

Also, is anyone applying for this Development Specialist role? https://www.dfa.ie/about-us/working-with-us/career-opportunities/development-specialist.php I'm not, but I'm curious if anyone is.

ShatterResistant

Precis just done there - head absolutely melted after that. 360-odd words, felt my summary was very general and didn't include many of the specific points, but got the broad points conveyed in a cohesive way, if a bit blunt at times.

lucat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120518346#Comment_120518346

Was it on a subject you're familiar with? I have mine tomorrow and I'm wondering if it will be on a boring or very technical subject, to test focus and comprehension.

ShatterResistant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120519168#Comment_120519168

General topic related to international development as you'd expect. Not technical, just a few points of info sprinkled across a number of paragraphs so you have to identify them and summarise in a sentence or two, then string those sentences together into a continuous narrative. Ran very close to the time though, which going by previous comps is always the way. If I could go back I'd aim to have a draft at the 45 minute mark no matter how messy it was and put a good 15 into refining. I was 6 or 7 minutes out before I got to that stage which was too close and ended up with two sentence syntax errors and some poor phrasing/repetition.

Best of luck!

EMD1990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120436536#Comment_120436536

Stage 1 was three different tests. Verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and situational judgement. Stage 2 was today and that was a Precis test. Read a 3 page article and summarise in 350-400 words.

lucat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120519291#Comment_120519291

Thanks for the advice. I think you need to be at least 75% towards completion at the half-hour mark, whereas I was only 50%, so like you I didn't have time to read over the final submission. Reading it now, it's not very well structured so the overall message is a bit unclear and there are redundant words and words repeated etc. But it's done now.

I just realised that I didn't include any headings or sub-headings, I only had my candidate ID at the top. I wonder if that will go against me.

EMD1990

Got the Precis results today. Scored 37, so just about got to stage 3.

lucat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120546974#Comment_120546974

I thought you only go forward with a score of 38 or above? I assume the maximum score is 50 so they're inviting only those who scored 38 - 50 (i.e. "38 or higher"). Have I misunderstood?

EMD1990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120547010#Comment_120547010

You may be correct actually. I'm not so sure now 😂

lucat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120547095#Comment_120547095

I think they normally use wording like "up to and including 38" if they're calling 1-38, and that would happen in the case of a waiting-list/Order of Merit situation rather than a test score. If I'm wrong that will be a nice surprise for both of us!

ShatterResistant

I got 41 in the precis, date for interview came in ten minutes after the results. Depending on how the interviews go and number of positions available, I think they've called additional batches in previous competitions.

Green188845

Congrats to all who got through. Unfortunately I scored highly but not enough to get through for interview, hopefully they do get through a couple of batches. Although I don't know if that is less likely because there will be less positions for this competition? I'm assuming that this is similar to third sec where were on a panel for about 2 years.

Leyendecker

Anyone know how many people got called for interview for DSO?