Third Secretary Competition - 2024

agoodusername

Hi there, I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but the DFA advertised four competitions last month:

1. Adminstrative Officer in Brussels
2. Presidential Policy Officer in Brussels
3. Presidential Policy Officer in Dublin
4. Graduate Policy Officer in London

If anyone has applied for any of these, feel free to let us know when you get some news. I was emailed about the policy officer role in Brussels stating that they'd received over 750 applications and that only those invited to interview would get a response. Those selected would hear by the 7th of May.

I completely missed the 3rd sec application this time, so any of the above opportunities would be useful for between now and the next competition.

Fifi555

Hi! I got this expression of interest too I’m wondering if they followed up with you since then? Was hoping it would mean an interview was on the horizon but it’s been nearly a month now.

2024thirdsec

No I’ve heard nothing since but I’d say the Easter break might cause a delay in the already slow process!

kevinoconnor765

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123377352#Comment_123377352

Yeah, waiting too but Yeah would imagine Easter slowed it

kevinoconnor765

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123386136#Comment_123386136

Perm Rep Presidency Policy Officer Competition — boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin'

Set up one there

boardsenthusiast

Anyone do their interview today?

2024thirdsec

did mine today, it wasn’t as bad as I thought but still pretty involved. How are others getting on?

boardsenthusiast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123455482#Comment_123455482

I feel mine went okay, could have gone more in on policy, but really there were very few foreign affairs related questions!

MarloStanfield

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123446857#Comment_123446857

Had mine Friday last week! Felt it went ok but hard to tell - could have failed any of the competencies easily enough. Any idea how long we'll have to wait to hear back?

gavinoontheweb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123463849#Comment_123463849

Batch 3 (40s and 41s) finished yesterday, I'd imagine results out by Thursday 29th.

2024thirdsec

Thanks for the info! Does anyone know if anyone from batch 1 is actually hired and actively working?!

boardsenthusiast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123478187#Comment_123478187

Yes they are- about 20 so far I've heard!

2024thirdsec

Results are out!

DonQuixote25

Is only one OOM in existence at any one time? i.e., are candidates who have been given an OOM position after stage 3 only placed in relation to applicants from the same batch?

Trying to get an idea as to how much time will be spent on the panel in the event that we make it through stage 4.

2024thirdsec

Anyone do the supervised précis this week? Seemed slightly easier than the last one.

DonQuixote25

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123517871#Comment_123517871

Yeah, seemed easier to structure and I was able to use more at the end for refining compared to Stage 2.

DonQuixote25

Any users have an update on this competition? Particularly interested if there has been much movement from those in Batch 2.

Awhellyeah

any word for those who did the precise as part of batch 2? did mine Friday week before last

2024thirdsec

Nada, I was thinking we might hear by the end of this week but who knows.

DonQuixote25

Results out yesterday from Stage 4 for those in Batch 3. Hopefully we're not waiting on this panel for too long.

Interested to see if there has been much movement in recent weeks. According to a PQ in the Dáil, only three applicants had been assigned as of early Feb.

Borboleta81

Hi All,

Does anyone know if there might be another expression of interest go around and what score candidates would need to be eligible to go for it?

Thanks.

Anastasia_

I received an expression of interest email today. However, I have taken up a HEO role since applying. Does anyone know if I could stay where I am on the salary scale or would I have to go back to point one? I haven't finished my year's probation yet if that makes a difference

Vakhta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123599088#Comment_123599088

I got this too - scored 39 on the precis.

Curious to know how much more recruitment is intended. And, indeed, how the batches work - is each batch integrated into one big panel, or is everyone from batch 3 hired before they move onto batch 4?

nrt

For someone who received a score around 30 in the précis, is there any likelihood of being called to the next stage? I’m thinking probably not, at this stage tbh.

agoodusername

At a guess, I'd assume that the next competition will be in the first half of 2026 given that they won't want to be placing people during the EU Presidency? Or nobody from the new competition will be placed until the end of next year.

Given the speed the DFA have gone at this time, compared to the 2022 competition, it's unlikely but not impossible.

Firstnamebunchofnumbers

Has anyone who received the expression of interest email a couple of weeks ago heard anything further?

DonQuixote25

Anyone else from recent batch(es) gone through e-vetting and now waiting to hear from PAS?