Administrative Officer Competition 2024

emptyfishtank

Yep, all Dublin based for this particular comp @nunogomes10

Rubyjean

First time applicant here, for anyone who has already interviewed. How are the interviews done? Do you have to do a presentation? How many interviewers? Would love any feedback on how to prep, hoping to return to work after a decade so haven’t interviewed for a long time!!

rvictory2000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123050081#Comment_123050081

Hi :) I did my interview before Christmas. Once you are called for interview you will be provided with very clear details as to what they expect from you. You will do a presentation on an issue in Irish society or politics, during which you present the context/background information and then propose policy-based recommendations to tackle or improve the issue. Your presentation cannot go over 10 minutes. That is followed by a 7 minute Q&A on your presentation, the resources you used to research, what methods you used to inform yourself, to develop recommendations etc. There will be information on the presentation in the pre-interview brief they send you when you are called to interview.

Then there is about 50 minutes of assessing your capabilities through the capability framework, which you will be able to find online, and will be linked to you when you receive the interview invitation. There are (I think) usually three people interviewing you, and they work through each different capability dimension (there are 4 dimensions, each of which is divided in 2 sub dimensions). I recommend familiarising yourself with the capability framework and the language used, and that you think of examples from your professional/personal/academic experiences that demonstrate your application of XYZ capabilities. Practice as much as possible answering questions based on the capabilities framework. If possible, ask someone to read through the capabilities framework and ask you random questions based on the skills listed.

Practice as much as you can and you will be great !

Rubyjean

oh wow thanks so much for taking the time to give such a detailed reply. That’s a pretty intense and scary interview!

Starscrush

does anyone know if they’ve called a further group to interview yet?

rvictory2000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123052440#Comment_123052440

honestly i haven't done many interviews in my time, but the format being so transparent and rigid made it a lot less nerve-wracking to prepare for! In the moment it was scary but it passes by quickly!! You will do great i am sure

seapotato

I am expecting to be called for the next round if they’re doing it in batches of 79 and I haven’t heard anything yet.

folioslim

First time applying to CS so wasn't sure what was entailed, but following Stage 1, I am OOM 1302, has anyone heard of an OOM this low being called for interview. I assume the panel is only open for 1 year, or is it 2? TIA

Sark2024

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123054993#Comment_123054993

Yes absolutely agree with this! While it's quite a long interview, my panel really went out of their way to put me at ease at the start. The structured approach allows you to prepare well, and each panel member will state which capability/competency their questions are on which gives you an extra moment to think about which of your examples you're likely to use.

rvictory2000

Don't suppose any panelled candidates have received an offer yet? I'm so nervous waiting for it!

M1ntyPyth0n

I have gotten a start date and offer but I'm staying in my current Department so maybe it's been a quicker process than a new entrant.

rvictory2000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123073037#Comment_123073037

wow congratulations! Can I ask what rank you were on the OOM? Well done!

Rubyjean

Anyone receive the expression of interest for revenue AO

quokka21

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123072598#Comment_123072598

I'm in the early 30s on the OOM and haven't heard anything except about the expression of interest for Revenue. Nervous waiting for it too! :)

rvictory2000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123080390#Comment_123080390

Haven't heard anything about this no, but I think I am delayed as I have been living and working abroad for quite some time. I think the foreign clearance is taking a while….

genericuser108

Hey, I was just wondering if we'll have a chance to list what departments we're interested in.

JobTalkBoards

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123090674#Comment_123090674

no, doesn't work like that unfortunately.

they might send out an email saying something like 'hey, Agriculture want people if you're interested' but typically they just say "hi, it's your time, you've you been assigned to X Department"

Starscrush

If anyone was wondering, a second group has now been called for interview

zara123

That’s great news. Does anyone know what OOM had been called then. (I’ll email PAS in the mean time).

emptyfishtank

Class news! Going off the previous info in the thread, the first group interviewed from Dec 2nd and results came out on the 11th so good to see the second batch called a month and a half after, not huge wait time (especially with Christmas/new year in the middle). I'm hoping to be in 3rd batch providing the batches are of similar size.

zara123

yeah I’m in the same boat as you. Hopefully batch two is as large as the first one. I email them there to see what oom was called and I’ll let this forum know when they reply.

zara123

got this response this morning

“To date, we have called up to and including 124 on the Order of Merit for the Graduate Opportunities AO General 2024 competition.”

seemingly doing smaller batches but good to know they’re still calling people.

walshdavid45

Question for those who've already done an interview.

Was the presentation an open brief or were you sent a list of topics to choose from?

rvictory2000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123112994#Comment_123112994

Open brief - On an issue that interests you, your analysis of it and the policy-based solutions that you recommend exploring. Can't be any more than 10 minutes long.

M.Diggums

Sorry if there is a separate thread for this (I couldn’t find it) but does anyone have any info regarding the IGEES AO competition and next steps following the interview?

milkdress

there is an IGEES thread but it seems to be quite inactive this year. There's info on the stages on PJ info hub. But interview is last stage and you get results after and a pass/fail and then a OOM for an offer

Triangle223

Can I ask did you feel like the presentation had to be strictly related to your degree? I've been called in group 2 for interview but I left college years ago with an arts degree and didn't use my degree after so struggled to find a topic to connect it to. Do you think I'll be penalised for choosing a topic not directly degree related?

milkdress

No not at all, its an open brief so the topic is completely up to you. They might ask why you chose it tho

M.Diggums

In general, once you get placed on a panel what is the process and timelines- Is there any flexibility regarding start dates and what’s the process around ringing a current employer? I’d ideally not like to have to work for 2-3 months with my employer knowing I’m going to leave…

mrsdewinter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123124271#Comment_123124271

It's quite a few years since my degree. I just picked a topic I had an interest in, a problem I'd like to see solved, tried to relate it to policy (shoehorn it into the most appropriate department), and pretended I was presenting my 'solution' to officials in that department. You might have the research done for an old college project? I didn't, and I got through.

Triangle223

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123125216#Comment_123125216

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123126707#Comment_123126707

Thanks for the reply and the advice, that's a relief. Unfortunately any college projects I had were so far removed from policy it would've been a real stretch to use, so I started from scratch. I was prepared for them to ask why I chose the topic so tried to pick something relating to my work experience to show the "specialist" insight

rvictory2000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123126634#Comment_123126634

Yeah I'm in that position now also, where I think they are contacting my current employer, or maybe they already have. I think that as it is the final step in the clearance process, generally speaking the offer comes not too long after they contact your manager.

At the very least that's what I'm hoping lol, as it's about to get awkward at the office if I have to wait another 3 months for an offer after explaining that I would be leaving to my manager.

M.Diggums

Yeah I’m a bit apprehensive, I think I’m quite likely to be placed on a panel for the IGEES AO competition but don’t really have the financial security to risk repercussions at my current job in the absence of a concrete offer/start date.

rvictory2000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123132728#Comment_123132728

They contacted my manager on Friday and she just submitted the form today. As soon as I hear about an offer I'll let you know. I'm no. 13 on the panel from the first batch of AO general interviews.

smalltalker

Best of luck. They seem to be moving quite slowly through the batch. Maybe they paused for the election to let things shake out.

Starscrush

Am I right in thinking there are no negative consequences if you choose not to put yourself forward for the revenue AO positions?

is that a button

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123137164#Comment_123137164

I think if you decide not to go forward for a Revenue position that you may have a much longer wait to be assigned as an AO. I believe Revenue appoint the largest amount of AO's & that some civil service depts don't have any AO's at all. Revenue may have a large amount of vacancies at the moment given that they are currently seeking expressions of interest. If you decide not to go forward for this then you may have a long wait until another AO position becomes available. This would probably depend on your chosen location & is fine if you are not in any hurry to commence work in the civil service as an AO.

(You could always accept a Revenue position & after 2 years of working there, apply for a transfer to another civil service dept via mobility).

rvictory2000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123133804#Comment_123133804

I got my assignment! It happened pretty fast, and apparently the department personnel section will contact me in the next week/two weeks to arrange the start date and any other specifics.

marto501

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123139230#Comment_123139230

From this am I correct in thinking that PAS contacted people to ascertain interest in positions in revenue. If so I wonder what number on the panel they went to. I'm in the 400's and wasn't contacted.

is that a button

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123140587#Comment_123140587

Congratulations!! That's excellent news! Wishing you all the best in your new role.

is that a button

..

is that a button

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123141312#Comment_123141312

Yes, reading back over some recent posts on this thread, it seems some people were contacted & offered an opportunity to express interest in a Revenue role. I'm not sure how this was determined, perhaps based on OOM or location, etc. I haven't received any contact to date..

smalltalker

I was interviewed in batch 1 and received an EOI for revenue

zara123

does anyone know if there has been further movement in Dublin?

Rubyjean

There are Dublin interviews all week. Mine is today!

DaireT98

What number are you approximately Rubyjean

Rubyjean

in the 80s. I found it really tough interview

ao2024

Hi guys,

I had my interview on the 27th January. Got the results on Feb 7 and I’m OOM 5 in my batch. They asked for my certificates and transcripts already.

Any experiences on timelines? I might have another job offer soon, but I really wanted to accept the AO. I really don’t know what to do.

DaireT98

It usually takes about three weeks unless they have to do extra checks if youre in a department where they have a higher security clearance. Usually you'll get a start day about a month after that so two months from now I'd say.

Starscrush

Results for last weeks interviews are out