Local Authority Graduate Programme 2024

bella1307

Hi All,

Did anyone apply for the recent Local Authority Graduate Programme run by the Local Government Management Agency?

Just wondering if anyone knows what the next stages in recruitment are? Or if anyone has experience participating in or completing this programme before, I would greatly appreciate hearing about your perspective on the role and whether you found it valuable.

lavidaes

Hiya, me too. I've received the email letting me know I've made it to the shortlisting stage following the situational judgement test. As far as I'm aware, after getting shortlisted comes interviews, then offers. How many areas did you apply for?

I would also greatly appreciate hearing others perspectives on the programme, as well as how competitive the process is. Especially after just stumbling across those threads from 2021 where people were saying only applicants with postgraduate qualifications were being accepted. 🥴 Is that still the case?

Best of luck, OP!

bella1307

Hi!! I got the same email, but I didn’t score very well in my situational test so I’d imagine I’ll be low on the order of merit for interviews, if I was even offered one.

I saw that thread too about only accepting postgrads 😬 I have a level 9 postgrad but not an MSc.. not sure if that is enough, but hopefully.

I applied for 2 areas in 2 districts but tbh I applied with my eye on one particular position in my local council that’s not even related to my discipline 😂 The councils that have roles related to my discipline would end up been an hefty commute for me. But we’ll see how it all unfolds over the next week or so and see if I’m even offered an interview. What about you?

321Marie123

Hello everyone! So, I've completed the Graduate Dilemmas test, and I received an email ( 9 days ago) from the test provider saying that LGMA will be in touch with me soon and that they are pleased to inform me that I have achieved the required standard. But, it's been a while, and I haven't received any email yet. Now I'm wondering if either they didn't select me for the first round or if it hasn't even started yet. Has anyone been invited for an interview already, perhaps? Thanks, and best of luck!

321Marie123

I would just add that I also received an email informing me that I was entering the shortlisting for the interview, but my email ended up in spam, so I didn't realize I had it. I don't know how I missed checking the spam for a few days. Has anyone received a confirmation email after that email for ranking after shortlisting?

bella1307

Hey, I wouldn't worry about it. The email mentions that shortlisting will take 10 days, presumably working days, so we probably won't hear from them until later next week :)

zara123

Has anybody heard anything back yet?

321Marie123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122031048#Comment_122031048

Nothing new in my inbox…

bella1307

I got an email today saying I had been shortlisted for an interview in both of the regions I applied for 😊

321Marie123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122039302#Comment_122039302

Congrats! Best of luck!☘️

zara123

congrats Bella! Which region did you apply to btw? I wonder if they’re shortlisting is done region by region?

bella1307

I’m not sure what way the shortlisting is done but I applied for Border & Western and Eastern & Midlands region! Hopefully you guys will get your emails on Monday 🤞

Gimley999

Did anyone get an email today

john12222

I received an email on Friday that I had been successfully shortlisted for interview in the southern region. Also in the email was confirmation that if I had selected a second region (which I did) that I would also be called for interview in that region and stated that I would receive a second email. However I have not yet received any such email. I wonder is anyone else in this scenario?

Gimley999

Congrats John just wondering if you have a postgrad.

john12222

Hi thanks. Yes I have a postgrad

Gimley999

I wonder if they are only interviewing candidates with postgrads like they did in 2021.

zara123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122051266#Comment_122051266

Yeah, I got an email today saying I was unsuccessful. I got 7.5 but needed an 8.5 for my stream. I'm currently in the final year of my undergrad so I wasn't expecting to get through. For the stream I applied for, at least in my region (community development), It must have had a lot of candidates with post-grads. Seemed like a great program, and best of luck to everyone who got interviews. I'm finding it really difficult as an undergraduate to get any grad programme so I wasn't really surprised.

Gimley999

It's a pity they didn't say that from the beginning save themselves having to sift through so many applicants.

zara123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122051379#Comment_122051379

Yeah, I get your frustration, however, I don't think every stream required a post-grad. If you still haven't received an email you may still get through. Best of Luck!

Gimley999

You too zara hope you get fixed up with something soon

321Marie123

Today I received an email informing me that I have been successfully shortlisted for an interview in the Dublin region, so I just want to reassure you that it seems emails are still arriving.

kb1234

hello,

I received an email saying I've been shortlisted for interview (I only applied for Dublin region, but not sure which stream I've been selected for, I applied for the community development one and the environment one). I don't have a post grad degree, just a level 8. Do I have any hope of being selected? Not sure how much I should prepare for the interviews if I don't have much of a shot!

Thanks.

Gimley999

If I was you I'd try as hard as possible. If you have been called for interview I would say you are on an even playing field with everyone else.

lavidaes

Who else received the email today with their scores breakdowns?😁 Seems to still be really competitive. I applied to five skills areas, and was (understandably) only shortlisted for one of those, but luckily it was the area I was hoping for most.

Any idea what the maximum possible score is? I'm curious if it's only relevant for shortlisting or if they'll take that number is taken into account when making a decision post-interview as well. 🤔 Good luck folks!

321Marie123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122067249#Comment_122067249

Last night I received my score breakdowns. I applied to 5 skill areas, but I was shortlisted for 2, which are relevant and what I hoped for. I'm also curious about the maximum possible score and how close we are to getting a job offer. How many people are usually called for interviews does anyone know?

lavidaes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122080861#Comment_122080861

Congrats! I saw people mentioning on a thread from a few years ago that the top possible score was 11, and they mentioned that for certain skills areas, this score was only being given to those with postgrads. I received an 11 without a postgrad so maybe that's changed. Unsure how many people are called for interviews, would also be curious to hear.

Kuiper81

Hello, I was on the graduate programme (2021-2024). In my case, the process was almost 6 months long (shortlisting to interviews to offer letter). I had applied in Border & Western and Eastern & Midlands in the Innovation & Change Management skillset. Your experience would depend on the Local Authority you would be placed in. Almost 120 graduates were recruited across the country and most of them left after a year. Permanent job is not a guarantee but if you work hard and have a good rapport with fellow staff, chances are that you would be shortlisted for an interview for a grade 4 or grade 5 job (as and when they arise)- your interview skills and knowledge would enable you to make it to the panel (no preferences as the process is fair). In my case, I had a great experience and got a permanent job in the council within 2.5 years. I would say try to get into bigger councils or councils in greater Dublin where opportunities arise every year or two. Councils like Donegal, Carlow, Offally, Laoise, Galway city etc have fewer vacancies and chances of getting a permanent job are negligible. Let me also tell you that competition for permanent job is also high but being a graduate helps in getting shortlisted, rest is on you.

321Marie123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122093466#Comment_122093466

Thank You so much! These are valuable pieces of information!

Kuiper81

The issue with us is that we expect a lot from day one and the HR & staff in local authorities feel that the graduate might leave mid way for a job in private sector. Public sector job is a bit slow, but what I did was I convinced them that I want to continue in the council for a long term. That is when the line manager and other staff started to put in efforts to train me and in the end I made a place for myself. To be honest, 99% depends on the local authority and line manager, some graduates in other councils had bad experiences and left abruptly. Do not say no to any work big or small, it will help you in your interview as well for a grade 4 or grade 5 job.

lavidaes

Hi again, has anyone received their interview invite for the Dublin region?🌟 I received my interview information for the Border and Western region via post, but nothing has arrived from the Dublin region yet. Was a bit surprised there was no email notification for the former, as it included a relatively soon deadline for me to confirm my attendance.

321Marie123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122099566#Comment_122099566

Hi,
I'm waiting for an interview invitation for the Dublin region, and I haven't received one yet.

bella1307

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122067249#Comment_122067249

oh god I hope not, I scored the minimum requirement in the skill area I want. So hoping it’s based on the interview alone.

bella1307

I had an interview yesterday and I have to say it was ok tbh. There were no curve ball questions or anything. I definitely could have answered better on two questions, but I live in hope I will be selected.

I have another interview next week for another skill area so definitely feeling more confident going into that one after yesterday.

321Marie123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122113165#Comment_122113165

Congratulations, Bella! I'm hopeful for your selection. Best of luck ☘️ with your upcoming second interview next week. I haven't received any notification about my interview date yet (Dublin region), so I'm curious about the time between the interview invitation and the scheduled date. Thank you.

lavidaes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122113165#Comment_122113165

that’s great news Bella, congrats! good luck on your second interview also! ❤️ if you don’t mind me asking, were your interview questions more related to your academic studies like the shortlisting process was, or just your general skills/work experience? I’m hoping the questions I get are open/situational enough to answer with reference either of the two

321Marie123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122099566#Comment_122099566

Hi! Have you received an invitation for the Dublin region yet? I haven't gotten mine. It seems like they might not be sending them out at the same time for each region, so I'm not too worried. I'm just concerned that if they're sending them via post, it might have gotten lost…

lavidaes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122120337#Comment_122120337

Hi, I have not received anything from Dublin yet either. That's good to know we're in the same boat. I'm only a little concerned about how potentially last minute the interview may be if all of them are indeed happening in May 😬 I'll keep you posted, it would be great to know if/when you receive an invite too!

321Marie123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122121283#Comment_122121283

Thanks for getting back to me. As soon as I get an invitation I'll let You know. Have a nice weekend :)

bella1307

Hi, no the interview questions were scenario based so “tell me about a time” “give me and example of” they weren’t too difficult, but just go through the competencies and have a scenario for each and you’ll be ok.

I got notifications of my interview abut a week before they happened. But the format was the same for both.

321Marie123

Just a quick update: Today I received an email invitation for an interview for one of the skill areas, but I'm still waiting to get the invitation for the other one (both in the Dublin region).

lavidaes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122141780#Comment_122141780

Me too! For 2 weeks from now.

321Marie123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122141912#Comment_122141912

Mine is for 3 weeks from now :)

Sumo123

For the those who received the email invitation, which areas you guys applied for?

I haven't received interview invitation for mine yet 😥

lavidaes

Anyone who's had an interview already, do you have an idea when we should hear back? I forgot to ask 😬

lavidaes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122156742#Comment_122156742

the email invitation i got for dublin was for community development, it was a letter via post i got for border & western region. have you heard anything yet?

ka10

no i haven't heard from them yet.i interviewed on 23rd for Dublin region.Do let me know if you get to know anything.

ka10

i was wondering if shortlisting marks would help in securing a good spot in shortlisting after the interview.I scored 11 for dublin region and 6 was cut off for my stream??

Sumo123

Finally, I received my Email invitation today for Dublin region.

ka10

which stream??

lavidaes

hello, wee update, i got a letter from border & western region today saying i've been placed on the panel for selection when a post comes up in the region. folks who've had their interviews already, be on the lookout! (that notice was dated approx. 1 week after my interview was)

does anybody know details about how long this process takes on average (getting selected from the panel i mean)? i thought positions wouldn't start til august/september so i'm a bit surprised to hear this good news so soon, i still have another interview for a different region, so i'm hoping to not receive any time-sensitive offers before i know how the second one went. though i feel like i've heard that regions which aren't dublin move much slower in terms of positions opening up.

finally, i'm 99% sure this is the case, but am i correct in assuming that you must accept the position offered, and if you turn it down, you will be removed from the panel? or do you remain on it for future opportunities?

good luck to all!