Administrative Officer Competition 2024

dory

For those asking how to improve situational judgement - I found it useful to do the practice tests on jobtestprep. They give you the correct answer, and then explain it to you. I learned a lot from them, like how the worst answer is often the 'wait and see' answer. That was for one test provider, I'm not sure if they do it for all of them.

rosyemily1

I placed 870s, is there any chance I will get called for an interview? I've seen people say no but I just want to be sure, thanks :)

dory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122857563#Comment_122857563

It's impossible to know. No way of knowing how many jobs there will be, how many won't show up for interview, how many will get offered a job but won't take it. It's a waiting game unfortunately.

AlpineAdventurer

I think last year capped out around 600

Allycats36

I only got 997. I did crap at the verbal normally I do great at that one. Sped through situational one tho.

emptyfishtank

Placed in the 190s oom, very happy! Have interviews for different civil service jobs over the next few weeks though so worried about potentially accepting something only to move if I get an AO role in the coming months. Would this reflect poorly on me with the CS? Assuming each batch has roughly 79 candidates I should be in the 3rd round of calls for interview so hoping to potentially hear word in a few months time

shellyc123__

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122858181#Comment_122858181

no, I don’t think it would reflect badly on you at all especially since you’re staying within the CS most are sound and understand it’s a promotion or job more suited to you. Also depending where you are you can always make a case to be kept as an AO in the current department you’re in

NTMB

Does anyone know what became of the other specialist streams there used to be in this such as HR, Finance etc? The last time I entered it there was also an option to enter these. That was 2 or 3 yrs ago maybe, but this time I seem to be only in the general stream. Have these other streams been abolished or did I overlook them in my application? Many tks.

dylanyahoo

It would not reflect badly on you at all. It's almost assumed that people in the Civil Service will be going for multiple competitions at a time.

dylanyahoo

They still do these, just separate from the main competition.

NTMB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122858405#Comment_122858405

Thanks for that, Dylan. I will keep an eye out so.

Sark2024

These were included in the AO Specialist competition back in January along with Health and Climate. Might be another one of these competitions in the New Year

sfdublindev

Hi, everyone, and thanks for all the posts in this thread. I've been lurking this and other Civil Service threads here on boards.ie — thought I'd finally come out of the shadows.

I applied for the AO stream this year and was lucky enough to be called for an interview in early December. Not the best timing, as I just started a new job this week. A bit torn as to what to do. I'm going to sleep on it.

In terms of the three assessments, I prepped for them using the sample tests on the public jobs website. I also drilled some basic maths — decimals, percentages, fractions, reading charts, etc., as I wouldn't be the most naturally skilled at this sort of thing. The situational was the oddest of the three for me — genuinely had no idea how I'd done after the test. Some of the answers seemed obviously wrong, but most of them had some kernel of decency in them, and I found it tricky to envision what the CS wanted, exactly.

M1ntyPyth0n

Congratulations to those who passed the first stage tests, and to those progressing to interview in December. Short time to prepare!

is that a button

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122858638#Comment_122858638

Congrats on your new job & also on getting called for interview! Hope everything works out for you! 😊 ... Just my thoughts on your post.. I would advise you to do the interview. It's probably an online one anyway so might be convenient. Also you don't know how your new job will go so it might be good to have a back-up plan. Even if you pass everything & get offered a position, you don't have to take it. If you do pass you may be on a waiting list for a good while depending on your order of merit & preferred location. By the time you do get called up, things might have changed for you & this position could be a good option. I would just keep it spinning in the background as it's a handy option to have! 👍

sfdublindev

Thanks, @is that a button! I think you're probably right — it makes sense to go for the interview. And it is remote, which is handy! Looks like I need to start preparing for my presentation… :)

batkitten

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122857563#Comment_122857563

I'm about the same numbers wise, someone said there last year it capped out at about 600. But again, it really depends on what people are applying for, if they pass interview, turn down the role for reasons of locations etc. I'd say like many people here we are applying for multiple positions at same time. I'm keeping an eye out for particular roles and location is a major factor for me, so even though it might be perfect job, the days of commuting would rule me out!

batkitten

Also, does anyone have good level of Gaeilge? The EO open competition has been extended until end of the month.
You have have a very good command of written Gaeilge (or vice versa for speaking it).
Might be a way in for others here?
CS runs courses with Gaelchultúr to improve your oral and written Irish so you could get in this way and be paid to improve yourself as well.
More Irish language jobs will be coming on stream in the future with 20% of new posts for it.

bleaks

I don't see why they would have passed 2182 candidates only to offer 600ish an interview. Seems like all the major political parties are looking to increase numbers the public service with new depts and the likes, so maybe PAS are looking ahead and expect higher demands next year. Is the panel only running for a year though?

JobTalkBoards

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122866689#Comment_122866689

They would have agreed what score is a pass in advance so they don't have full control on how many hit that really.

i'd imagine it will be a one year panel. Most are. There will be more competitions in that one year as well.

drummoli

For those wondering numbers; I did last year's AO comp and got OOM about 560 and got called for interview only last month. So I'd say around 600 probably is where it generally caps out (think I've seen similar numbers in threads for previous years, but as others have said it can depend on a many factors where on the OOM they get up to). But just keep in mind when you see next's years comp starting its stage one tests, there is a good chance a final batch of people from this year's one will probably still be being called. (Think the panel for a given year only officially ends once they start placing people post the first round of interviews for the next years.)

Oct 2023 - Stage1 tests.

Nov 2024 - Stage 2 interview/presentation.

Jan 2025 - Officially starting placement as an AO.

CS really is a waiting game.

Abbotsford5

Hi there anyone been called for interview yet? Just curious to know how many?

maool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122882868#Comment_122882868

Yeah there seem to be 79(ish) interviews scheduled next week, I'm on Monday. The first 79 on OOM have been invited to interview, though possibly some won't actually do the interview for various reasons. That's the first batch, and more batches will probably be scheduled in the new year some time

apat7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122858360#Comment_122858360

sorry for the late reply - I think they advertise those as separate recruitment rounds later in the year..

Abbotsford5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122883782#Comment_122883782

Brilliant the very best of luck to you.. I hope it goes well..

maool

Does anyone know if you're allowed to have notes with you during the presentation/interview? I'd assumed we would be, but just did an interview for an executive officer job yesterday and was explicitly told at the start that I couldn't use notes. I just sent an email to PAS about it there but I don't know if they'll come back to me before Monday

okaydo

Hello, I was just wondering if anyone knows when a nationwide AO competition will start?

maool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122904172#Comment_122904172

In case anyone is wondering, notes seem to be allowed :) but I would try not to depend on them too much as the booklet says it can count against your communication skills

mrsdewinter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122904172#Comment_122904172

I did AO interview earlier this year (for 2023 competition). I had notes for the presentation, not the interview. No issues at all.

M1ntyPyth0n

Anyone have an idea of when the first batch Stage 2 results will issue? I imagine it will be January 2025.

maool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122920664#Comment_122920664

I emailed them to ask - they said mid-December, so any time before Christmas I presume. Last year they seemed to be issued very quickly, I think by the following Wednesday based on the thread on here

DaireT98

Does anybody know if their are any publicly available stats on how many AOs are hired each year? I see this is available for EO and CO open comps but not for this one. I've placed in the low 200s and from this thread and previous years, it would seem I've good reason to be hopeful but haven't a clue in reality.

Sark2024

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122925421#Comment_122925421

Public Jobs will usually give you information about how many were hired last year if you email them. Low 200s is definitely a good score. I was around there too in the 2023 competition and was called for interview in May.

M1ntyPyth0n

Got my results there for Batch 1.

J.J.Onion

I just got my results there for Batch 1. Does anyone know if and how long it could take to be called if ranked in the upper teens (15-20)? Thanks.

rvictory2000

Hi team, hope you're all doing ok. Been a stressful few months throughout this competition. Congratulations to anyone who has made it through Batch 1 and I have just been panelled. I am in the lower teens, can barely believe it! Does anyone know how it plays out next? What the timeline might look like? Thanks and all the best.

JobTalkBoards

They get through the teens fast. Probably unlikely to see any movement before January but even if you do, start dates won't be before then.

emptyfishtank

The people talking about batch 1, I'm assuming that's people who were in the first 79 OOM that have done their interviews in the previous week or two and now been ranked again?

rvictory2000

yep!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122946611#Comment_122946611

M1ntyPyth0n

Already contacted to do clearance process by publicjobs. They're moving fast! (in the teens of Batch 1)

They asked you to fill out a self declaration form to do with your health and eligibility, and a Garda vetting form (if not a serving civil servant).

They also ask for a transcript of your relevant degree(s), Photo ID and proof of address.

Would be no harm to chase up a uni transcript at least if people haven't already.

smalltalker

are they looking for a transcript of each year of the degree?

rvictory2000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122951935#Comment_122951935

Not sure, I downloaded each year and also requested a letter of attendance that confirmed my attendance, final grade and degree certification. From what I have understood, the clearance people get that not everything will be available by Monday, and as long as you are in direct contact with them they'll help and get us sorted. Feels like the final stressful hurdle though doesn't it.

smalltalker

I’m mid 40s so don’t need to worry just yet, but also, I’m mid 40s so my degrees will need to be taken out of a vault 😄 so want to get my ducks in a row

J.J.Onion

Hey guys, just finished with handing in the documents for the clearance process. Does anyone happen to know how long the clearance process usually takes and when you'd expect to hear back?

JobTalkBoards

Took less than a day for me. Was really quick.

It is just before Christmas though so maybe won't be as fast. Regardless, I wouldn't be expecting to start before February at least.

maool

Has anyone heard back yet? Mine might be a bit slow since I've lived abroad, but also it might just be slow this time of year

J.J.Onion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122976688#Comment_122976688

I also haven't heard back yet and also have lived abroad.

rvictory2000

Haven't heard back from Clearance but presumably with Christmas they will take a while to get back to us. Did hear back that my Garda vetting was complete (I also have lived abroad a lot so was expecting this to take ages). They said they forwarded my vetting disclosure to PAS, but not what the result was. Assuming I don't have any criminal record that I'm unaware of, I think the ball is totally in PAS' court now…. I'm in the early teens so it'll be a while but hopefully not too long.

laoch na mona

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122865584#Comment_122865584

has anyone heard back about this, I applied for it as well I've good enough Irish still haven't heard back after applying for it though

nunogomes10

Hi

First time poster. Got in the low 300s at the first stage so hoping for an interview later this year. Just a query, are all AO jobs for this campaign based in Dublin?

Thanks