Has anyone gone from EO and AO in the civil service that could tell me what the job involves?

Missy95

Civil Service query

dory

Which department?!

Missy95

not sure which department yet. On the panel to be allocated.

dory

It's very hard to say without know department/section. You should read this here about what other AOs have done in the past:

https://careersportal.ie/careers/detail.php?job_id=94

Neptune_Alpha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058376836/has-anyone-gone-from-eo-and-ao-in-the-civil-service-that-could-tell-me-what-the-job-involves

So as a recent enough Joiner to the Civil Service, I've entered it as an EO in a Line department (Agriculture, Health , Education etc) and recently got promotion through open competition to AO in one of the "core" departments (Finance, Expenditure, Taoiseach/Oireachtas etc) after a few months.

My experience varied from the norm.. but as a general observation I've seen that CO's/EO's tend to look after some more clerical aspects and administrative aspects like in the print room, records, administration or services section (not to be confused with the service officers), and while EO's are technically a junior manager… not all have staff assigned to them. Normally HEO's/AO's in line departments tend to be interchangeable and are essentially middle management and more senior individuals, however what they do varies as to where they are assigned or have been assigned previously.

I know AO's that came in on a general stream that are essentially just another HEO within a section of a Division. While others who may have come in on a speciality (IGEES / economists for example) working specifically on policy related work (which in theory is the work AO's should be doing) you may find some Departments openly advertising internal roles for AO/HEO's for a job.

However the Civil service is very much a meritocracy… where when initiative is shown and capabilities are demonstrated and maintained… it tends to go a long way and is remembered. Sure you can have a degree or even 6, but to assume that alone will get you somewhere is a mistake I've seen too many people make. For example I know of someone who entered as a EO 5 years ago, made AO soon enough, and a business case was put in to keep them where they were working on the project they were assigned to as an EO… and after two years as an AO made AP (assistant principle) all down to their work ethic and drive.

I've also encountered some other styles of thinking that comes with the fact you may be working with people who joined the service anywhere from 1975 onwards… which is not to generalise or make an ageist comment, but have new joiners lifetimes worth of experience in the service and their views may be set in stone so to speak.

All in all its worth noting that a Job in the civil service is not one you go into for the money, but one where you're making somewhat of a difference on some level… have a good work life balance, and get to see the inner workings of how things work in Ireland (any by extend the EU and the World) and how things like that impact us.