Deemed ineligible when applying for civil service job

dpham178

Hi!

just wondering if anyone has experience with being considered ineligible for a civil service job based on the grounds that their degree does not exactly meet the qualification requirement for the post? E.g. if the role asks for a business/finance/accounting degree but your degree is not the general business one but a more specific one (a specific industry)

I recently applied for an AO job (Business/Finance) and passed the interview with a relatively high OOM (top 10). However last week I received a message from PAS saying that I don't meet the essential requirements for the post and they didn't explain/clarify why. I emailed them to ask a few times about the reason but they have been slow to reply and when they did, they just sent me a link to the booklet with information on the requirements. Very helpful.

Needless to say I feel very frustrated with the decision they made on my application. The only possible reason I can think of is that I hold a Master's degree in Food Business Strategy while they ask for a Business/Finance/Accounting degree - yet I think my degree surely belongs to the Business category.

I already sent them my appeal form. Just wondering what is my chance of getting through… :)

jaffa20

I'm guessing you are referring to the below requirement. If you don't have it, I don't see the point in appealing unfortunately.

"a first or second class primary honours degree (minimum Level 8 on the National Framework
of Qualifications) having taken Business, Economics, Accounting or another financial discipline
as a major subject in the final degree examination"

dpham178

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122143748#Comment_122143748

Hi. Can I ask where you got it from? In the booklet I have this is the requirement:

"(iii) a Master’s degree or Post Graduate Diploma (at Level 9 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications) in Business, Finance, Economics, Accounting or another financial discipline."

There was no mention of the major subject in the final exam.

Dodge

Link

assuming this is the info booklet?

I’ve no skin in the game here but I don’t think your masters in Food Business Strategy would qualify, but if you want to argue that with them, let us know how you get on.

I actually know somebody with that masters and afaik it’s usually added to agri/science type degrees and most of the course is very heavily food specific. I wish you well, but I can see why they don’t believe that to be sufficient to meet their requirement

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122143759#Comment_122143759

Well the "Master's degree in Food Business Strategy" I see offered by UCD, does not have ANY of the topics I'd expect to see in a masters degree in finance/economics/accounting…. So if I was recruiting, you might as well have a masters in ancient greek for all the difference it would make to me, you simple do not have the depth of knowledge required.

Oscar_Madison

it’s quite strange you got an interview considering this was an essential requirement - if it’s essential then why waste time interviewing? It wasted your time as well as theirs

Riskymove

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122145795#Comment_122145795

it takes a lot of time to check every applicants info. they usually wait until people reach a certain stage so the numbers are manageable

TheBigLebowski

What's your primary degree in?

jaffa20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122143759#Comment_122143759

It should have a few options. It's important to know what your primary degree is because I don't think a Masters is a requirement. What other options does your booklet give?

https://www.publicjobs.ie/restapi/documents/4_AO_Business_Finance_Eligibility_2024.pdf

cats pyjamas

I know people who have applied for both internal and open competitions and have been told that their degrees are not eligible (Revenue seem to be very strict on this).

It happens fairly regularly and unfortunately it's always towards the end of the process that qualifications are checked.

Good luck with your appeal.

sohara00

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122146474#Comment_122146474

That's because its down to the person that's applying to make sure its an acceptable degree its stated in every application that its down to the user to check if its correct.

Anthony A

Just going to throw in some advice for people in this campaign and the same one next year that haven't got assigned. I know a decent amount of people have been excluded at the very final stage after getting through the 3 aptitude tests, interview and presentation and garda vetting, based on their degree modules not the degree itself. None of which was stated at any stage in the campaign application booklet or at any stage afterward.

My brother was excluded from the HR campaign at the assignment stage after they decided he didn't have enough HR modules in his final year to qualify as a specialisation. He had 35 to 40% HR modules and they wanted over 50% HR modules.

It was never stated in the information booklet or when he asked them at the beginning and he had his transcripts in 7 months ago. This information was only revealed after he pushed for a formal review. He was in the top 10 in the campaign.

It's a very poor way to treat people but not unsurprising. From what I gather this is happening more and more particularly on the AO specialist streams so just so people are aware, nothing is guaranteed until they assign you and they can and will refuse people on conditions not previously outlined at any point. You don't have much recourse either barring a couple of reviews they themselves look at.

Anthony A

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122357826#Comment_122357826

That information is never given out at the start of campaigns when people ask for it not is ever clear from the information booklets.

Most people aren't even excluded for the degree it's about the degree modules that they don't have a specific amount or specific ones but none of which are stated at any point during campaigns.

This is what results in so many complaints and reviews in these specialists campaigns.

countyireland12345

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122433011#Comment_122433011

It's always frustrating to go through the process and not get the job in the end. They state the eligibility in the competition booklets and advise it is on the candidates to ensure they are eligible. What is your brother's degree in? The HR stream requires a degree or master's in human resource management. Does he have this? Or did he just major in HR, which might be relevant, but it doesn't meet the requirement. I think the issue is also people applying without reeading the competiton booklets in full.

I think PAS are aware of the issue and that they are missing out on fine candidates as a result so I would not be surprised to see them lower the tresholds (e.g. acceping a major in HR rather than a full HR degree) in time.

Anthony A

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122433550#Comment_122433550

Hi county, that's actually incorrect from 2024 they no longer require a HR degree or Masters. They changed it this year to require a major/specialisation in HR but accept any degree like you state in second paragraph.

But the issue has been they never fully defined that how many modules qualify as a specialisation/major and people are being removed from campaigns who have under 50% but close in modules of HR etc. So really it was poorly outlined from the information booklet.