2024 Assistant Principal in Civil Service

caviardreams · 23-02-2025 05:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123198190#Comment_123198190

I believe it can be a regular job, in any department, certainly know people who got offered that anyway. As a public service, queries etc can come in in irish or people may present at a desk speaking irish, all materials need yo be in irish and english etc, so irish is needed in all depts.

mol_89 · 23-02-2025 09:39PM

Well done to everyone who got to the next stage, and commiserations to those that missed out (I think we all know the feeling!). My score was over 240 and OOM was in the 90s for the open comp. Fingers crossed for the batch 2 of interviews happening soon, but feels like we might be for a bit of a wait.

dory · 23-02-2025 10:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123201981#Comment_123201981

(Bren below said it much better than I could)

bren2001 · 23-02-2025 11:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123201981#Comment_123201981

the comp is one year long and it's unlikely they'll make it down that far on the OOM.

All you can do it chalk it down as lesson learned. Those tests measure specific skills, and like any test in life, most people have to study for them. I practiced most nights for an hour or two and that stood to me on the day.

Equally, for the interview I'll practice. They're not like normal job interviews and you've to hit certain criteria. I'll be laying out my examples and organising them into categories.

It doesn't matter the experience you have. You've to demonstrate the competencies/capabilities according to their rules. Each stage has to be properly prepared for.

This will all stand to you for the next competition tho

durthacht · 24-02-2025 05:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123188725#Comment_123188725

Do you think they will get to OOM 900 even though the last competition ran for more than two years, while this is due to be just one year?

InvisibleInk · 24-02-2025 06:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123205481#Comment_123205481

I've no idea, I guess it depends on how many jobs there are and how many people pass each round. It's the whole how long is a piece of string question. I guess keep an eye here and you should be able to monitor how quickly they are moving through the ranks. It looks like they have taken 45ish through to batch 1.1, you could get 45 passes which means it might be while placing before they move to batch 1.2, or 0 passes so straight onto batch 1.2 - or anywhere in between those 2 numbers. Once it starts moving though you will get an idea of when/if it will hit OOM 900.

Starblue · 24-02-2025 08:12PM

Does anyone know how many were shortlisted initially in Mayo? Just to get an idea for other regional areas. Thanks

Juggler101 · 26-02-2025 08:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123201981#Comment_123201981

Same, I have done tests before and fared well, and figured these aren't the type of tests that you can study for. I also didn't want to spend money on jobtestprep, or whatever it's called! I'm still not fully convinced that practice would have made a significant difference. I reckon I lost a lot of marks due to my speed of answers... I prefer the old style tests LOL!

bren2001 · 27-02-2025 01:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123212805#Comment_123212805

I found jobtestprep pretty excellent for verbal reasoning. I have no doubt I would have performed much worse without it. My interpretation of text was very different to theirs and it allowed me to learn what they were looking for.

it was useless for the job situation stuff and the numerical I didn’t need help for.

dory · 27-02-2025 09:48AM

Same as bren, I bought the pack, did a lot of practice. Also applied for 3 CS jobs in the last year so had experience from those tests. It all definitely helped me get shortlisted this time round. I'm way higher on AP than AO panel right now. But I also know people who have done lots of practice, and still aren't improving. So I guess it depends.

Practice definitely helped me with situational judgement (although I still think a lot of it is luck). I learned a few things like - the worst answer is always the do nothing option. Seems it's better to make a total haims of things rather than sit on your hands.

LouiseHarp · 27-02-2025 09:56AM

Has anyone from the Dublin and Mayo groups received a date for the March interviews yet?

garyc_76 · 27-02-2025 12:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123214533#Comment_123214533

Not as yet Louise - can see them sending out notifications tomorrow at 4pm!! 😂

LouiseHarp · 27-02-2025 05:10PM

Yes, they love a good Friday evening notification. 😂😂

Skweefie · 27-02-2025 08:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123216134#Comment_123216134

I reckon it is strategic so people have cooled down by Monday, less chance of ranting phone calls from disappointed applicants

bren2001 · 28-02-2025 03:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123216134#Comment_123216134

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123216705#Comment_123216705

The Stage 1 results were released on a Wednesday at 10am. The Stage 2 results were released on a Wednesday at 10am. They've only issued "updates" e.g. 'we expect results in the new year' on Friday evenings.

Interview dates would likely not lead to ranting phone calls.

Of course, after saying the above, they're almost certain to release further info today.

the5th · 28-02-2025 12:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123201981#Comment_123201981

[delete]

civilservant01 · 28-02-2025 01:20PM

does anyone know if there’s any update on kerry?

Angel Flora · 28-02-2025 01:26PM

Meanwhile, nothing from Galway yet. Honestly, they should prioritize areas with demand—it's pointless to include other counties if they don’t have vacancies. But hopefully I can hear something soon.

skidmarkoner · 28-02-2025 02:19PM

Fairly annoying that they don't call people forward even more so when you know hr are asking for APs in your area

garyc_76 · 28-02-2025 03:06PM

They won't be notifying everybody at the same time as to when their interview is scheduled. They will give approx 1 week's notice, maybe 2 if we are lucky, prior to the interview being held to allow preparation for practical. So e.g. OOM 1 will be notified on Monday that their interview is on 10/03. OOM 8 could be held on the 12/03 so they will only receive notification on Wed 05/03. To issue a block notification would give those further down the OOM an unfair advantage.

Another thing to take in account is Paddy's weekend and whether they are likely to start the interviews before 17/03?

Patience is a virtue and i know that when the notification arrives and we are informed of the topics for the practical, i'll be wishing i had more time……….

bren2001 · 01-03-2025 05:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123218771#Comment_123218771

One weeks notice is kind of crazy imo. I have a job and my calendar is usually jam packed for the next 2-3 weeks. Expecting me to drop something on a weeks notice is tough!

If I had 2-3 weeks notice, thats far less of an issue.

caviardreams · 01-03-2025 10:29AM

TBF one week notice of an interview is very standard -often less in private sector

bren2001 · 01-03-2025 10:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123221651#Comment_123221651

I’ve always been told 2-3 weeks in advance or been told the expected date 2-3 weeks in advance with the exact time confirmed prior.

could just be me tho, I’ve not actually interviewed too much (5/6 times over my career)

pdawg092 · 02-03-2025 01:40PM

Anybody hear anything on the open stream for Wexford? I am 6th oom but haven’t heard anything since

InvisibleInk · 02-03-2025 05:50PM

I think we have a presentation thing to do so should get at least 2 weeks notice as you are given a week to do that.

durthacht · 02-03-2025 06:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123225232#Comment_123225232

According to my notes from the 2022 AP competition, PAS gave 22 days' notice between the invitation and the interview (i.e., calendar days not working days so about three weeks). They had quite a few days of interviews scheduled so obviously some will have had a couple of days more than others to prepare.

The analysis exercise was circulated 12 days before the interview but had to be completed and returned 4 days before the interview, so there was about a week to work on it. Again, these are calendar days rather than working days.

The schedule was about the same for another civil service competition I applied for with 19 calendar days between the invitation and the interview, and the presentation circulated about 14 calendar days before the interview, which again had to be returned a few days before the interview itself.

Anyone called to interview will have time to prepare and book some leave if necessary.

Good luck everybody.

dory · 02-03-2025 07:16PM

I'm trying to improve my STAR answers here. The samples I'm seeing online have very vague S's. Like "When I was working in a large multinational there was a conflict between two colleagues" and then into the steps taken to rectify the situation. Anyone know how much info one should give? I think in the past I've gone too deep into who said what etc. and didn't focus enough on the results. But that one above seems very vague. Doesn't show my own experience at all really.

Also, anyone remember from old threads a YouTube channel that was recommended for prepping for these kinds of interviews? I've had a quick look and can't find it. Thanks.