2020 Executive Officer Civil Service

24-07-2020 11:29pm

Jay328 wrote: »

Hi just noticed this competition now. Had quick look at the application form what do you put in section B "relevant information" or can you leave this empty?

Also it says you shouldn't leave any gaps in employment like unemployment. Do you have to mention anytime you have been unemployed between jobs?

is that the blue background relating to your personal details or the one with your education/job background

edit Just noticed the education part it goes from section a to c no b......

And is it just me or does anyone else have to open with adobe to look at your application, as if i check it on my applications on the publicjobs site i get the "Please wait - you may not be able to view"

Jay328 · 24-07-2020 11:32pm

Brooks Incalculable Blackboard wrote: »

is that the blue background relating to your personal details or the one with your education/job background

Sorry got the wording wrong its section C supplementary information?

Jay328 · 24-07-2020 11:34pm

Brooks Incalculable Blackboard wrote: »

is that the blue background relating to your personal details or the one with your education/job background

edit Just noticed the education part it goes from section a to c no b......

And is it just me or does anyone else have to open with adobe to look at your application, as if i check it on my applications on the publicjobs site i get the "Please wait - you may not be able to view"

Yeah I have to open with Adobe applications

24-07-2020 11:42pm

Jay328 wrote: »

Sorry got the wording wrong its section C supplementary information?

i left that empty, didnt think we needed anything...maybe if you're a c/o and did courses .... its odd that it skips from section a to c...i might fire them off a email on monday morning

enfant terrible · 24-07-2020 11:42pm

anplaya27 wrote: »

Most boring job ever. I used to be one. Totally soul destroying desk job. Takes a certain kind of person imo to do it , didnt suit me tbh.

What would you be doing exactly?

Jay328 · 24-07-2020 11:45pm

Brooks Incalculable Blackboard wrote: »

i left that empty, didnt think we needed anything...maybe if you're a c/o and did courses .... its odd that it skips from section a to c...i might fire them off a email on monday morning

Yeah probably should it seems like it was put together in a rush.

Jay328 · 24-07-2020 11:50pm

enfant terrible wrote: »

What would you be doing exactly?

It completely depends on what section and what department your in.

You could be put in place that does good work or another section that does nothing and you become unmotivated.

But mostly it's a very straightforward job that you need to use your own judgement and common sense in my experience.

Kamu · 25-07-2020 12:01am

Jay328 wrote: »

It completely depends on what section and what department your in.

You could be put in place that does good work or another section that does nothing and you become unmotivated.

But mostly it's a very straightforward job that you need to use your own judgement and common sense in my experience.

Also meant to be a Junior Management position, however I am currently an EO and I've no CO's reporting to me. The CO's and EO's report to HEO's.

My role is purely processing paper documents and recording them on our electronic database which, for whatever reason, was decided that CO's wouldn't have the authority to do.

It's mindless. Boring and completely stress free; though each EO does have a certain amount of applications to process each week and if we don't have a valid reason for not reaching that target, we get a telling off.

All in all, it's not awful work, but it's not engaging in the slightest.

But that is just one (albeit the main) section of one department of over 35+ departments.

job seeker · 25-07-2020 12:13am

Kamu wrote: »

Also meant to be a Junior Management position, however I am currently an EO and I've no CO's reporting to me. The CO's and EO's report to HEO's.

My role is purely processing paper documents and recording them on our electronic database which, for whatever reason, was decided that CO's wouldn't have the authority to do.

It's mindless. Boring and completely stress free; though each EO does have a certain amount of applications to process each week and if we don't have a valid reason for not reaching that target, we get a telling off.

All in all, it's not awful work, but it's not engaging in the slightest.

But that is just one (albeit the main) section of one department of over 35+ departments.

You have litrally just described my dream job!

Jay328 · 25-07-2020 12:14am

Kamu wrote: »

Also meant to be a Junior Management position, however I am currently an EO and I've no CO's reporting to me. The CO's and EO's report to HEO's.

My role is purely processing paper documents and recording them on our electronic database which, for whatever reason, was decided that CO's wouldn't have the authority to do.

It's mindless. Boring and completely stress free; though each EO does have a certain amount of applications to process each week and if we don't have a valid reason for not reaching that target, we get a telling off.

All in all, it's not awful work, but it's not engaging in the slightest.

But that is just one (albeit the main) section of one department of over 35+ departments.

I do a agree it seems strange as to where they draw the line for what a CO cant do and what has to do done by an EO.

You also see some CO that have been there for years doing the job of an EO.

So it can be a very mindless job and sometimes not dissimilar to a CO especially if you dont have people reporting to you.

25-07-2020 12:26am

Jay328 wrote: »

I do a agree it seems strange as to where they draw the line for what a CO cant do and what has to do done by an EO.

You also see some CO that have been there for years doing the job of an EO.

So it can be a very mindless job and sometimes not dissimilar to a CO especially if you dont have people reporting to you.

agreed, im a c/o and we were apparently told we were doing the work of E/O (on volume of work and sensitivity of our job) - no pay increase thanks...there's not much really difference i hear...but in the area i work, E/O's can be the head of the office or a number of them work in HR or Finance departments and work for a HEO or two (Which would be my preferred job

Timicin · 25-07-2020 2:19am

Does anyone have any experience about applying for EO as a candidate with disabilities? I emailed PAS during the last competition about it but they never got back to me.

anplaya27 · 25-07-2020 8:03am

enfant terrible wrote: »

What would you be doing exactly?

Processing paperwork. Mostly onto excel spreadsheets. Rinse and repeat. That's it really most days to be honest. Odd trip outside office. Its mind numbing. As I said, takes a certain person. It was handy money to be fair just felt my brain cells dying slowly each day stuck at same desk in same office doing same things over and over again.

tgdaly · 25-07-2020 9:03am

Just to give my experience as an EO, of course there's the usual desk monkey Excel and Word stuff, but I've got to do a few other interesting things as well, for example I'm involved in 2 committees as a chair and another interdepartmental committe as a member. Also have organised awareness material and have had to go to plenty of meetings and got to travel out of County to conferences and things. So it very much depends where you get placed

Catalan69 · 25-07-2020 9:37am

Does 2 years service for interdepartmental competition have to be be consecutive?

keanocar · 25-07-2020 10:25am

SusieBlue wrote: »

Mine was the same, I clicked submit because I didn’t know what else to do.

Do they ask for proof of leaving cert/other qualifications at the interview, does anyone know?

Yes I had to bring all my original certs to the interview last year where they were then photocopied.

UpBack1234 · 25-07-2020 1:41pm

Catalan69 wrote: »

Does 2 years service for interdepartmental competition have to be be consecutive?

No. It just has to be cumulative and that includes TCO contracts. I had blagged one year as a temp in the Courts Service years ago and had gone back to the private sector - but it still counted towards overall service - this also applies to your payscale btw

Dublintigger · 25-07-2020 2:24pm

Hi Folks

Take note that this competition is specifically for D/PER - Depart of Public Expenditure and Reform. This is how it was advertised in the P/Job email alert : -

Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2020
Employer: DPER
View Job

Re D/PER - great place to work in at the moment because of what is going, the dynamics in Government and the possibility of good opportunities as well if you put the work in.

I suspect that it is a totally different panel to the current EO panel.

Dublintigger · 25-07-2020 2:28pm

Strazdas wrote: »

It's odd that they don't reference Level 6. A person who has successfully completed Level 6 would be ahead of anyone who has completed the first year of a Level 7 course.

I thought that too.... can anyone confirm that for sure?

Blueskies2019 · 25-07-2020 3:17pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

Hi Folks

Take note that this competition is specifically for D/PER - Depart of Public Expenditure and Reform. This is how it was advertised in the P/Job email alert : -

Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2020
Employer: DPER
View Job

Re D/PER - great place to work in at the moment because of what is going, the dynamics in Government and the possibility of good opportunities as well if you put the work in.

I suspect that it is a totally different panel to the current EO panel.

Are you sure? I think it is an open Competition for any Department. Civil Service HR Division falls under DPER.

pjcpolly · 25-07-2020 3:27pm

Brooks Incalculable Blackboard wrote: »

i left that empty, didnt think we needed anything...maybe if you're a c/o and did courses .... its odd that it skips from section a to c...i might fire them off a email on monday morning

Supplementary info is quite important. This is where you reference to the competencies that they require. You should basically explain what you have done previously to demonstrate the competencies to show that you have some experience.

Divisadero · 25-07-2020 3:37pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

Hi Folks

Take note that this competition is specifically for D/PER - Depart of Public Expenditure and Reform. This is how it was advertised in the P/Job email alert : -

Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2020
Employer: DPER
View Job

Re D/PER - great place to work in at the moment because of what is going, the dynamics in Government and the possibility of good opportunities as well if you put the work in.

I suspect that it is a totally different panel to the current EO panel.

No this a general competition for all Depts/Offices. DPER are mentioned as they basically manage the Civil Service. PAS are running the competition on their behalf and you could be assigned to any office in you area/s of choice.

Nigel Fairservice · 25-07-2020 3:49pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

Hi Folks

Take note that this competition is specifically for D/PER - Depart of Public Expenditure and Reform. This is how it was advertised in the P/Job email alert : -

Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2020
Employer: DPER
View Job

Re D/PER - great place to work in at the moment because of what is going, the dynamics in Government and the possibility of good opportunities as well if you put the work in.

I suspect that it is a totally different panel to the current EO panel.

All the posts have to be sanctioned by DPER but you can be assigned to any department.

Jay328 · 25-07-2020 4:04pm

pjcpolly wrote: »

Supplementary info is quite important. This is where you reference to the competencies that they require. You should basically explain what you have done previously to demonstrate the competencies to show that you have some experience.

Yeah was thinking the Supplementary info section is where you talk about the competencies.

But started to think that it might be too early for that and that they will issue a longer form for the the competencies after short listing and online test.

Did everyone else reference back to competencies in this section ?

Anonire · 25-07-2020 4:11pm

Jay328 wrote: »

Yeah was thinking the Supplementary info section is where you talk about the competencies.

But started to think that it might be too early for that and that they will issue a longer form for the the competencies after short listing and online test.

Did everyone else reference back to competencies in this section ?

I put a one liner in this box stating I have all the required competencies for the role.

I don't believe it's a place for writing any more than a few sentences. I think you are probably correct about a longer form at some stage to give our examples of the competencies.

Just to add, I would think this form is mostly for screening to see if you meet the minimum educational requirements for the role than anything else.

AngryLips · 25-07-2020 4:42pm

I used the section to state why I would be fit for the public sector, given that I applied from the private sector. Being fit for the role itself is visible from my tasks and duties specified in my career history.

rostalof · 25-07-2020 4:46pm

chillmad wrote: »

Be aware that if you are currently on an EO salary, that you may go back to the start of the scale by applying again through an Open competition.
Are you eligible for mobility?

No you can't. You can't start on a lower point on the scale than the point you are currently on. I've done it and had it confirmed in writing from DPER beforehand that I couldn't start on a lower point of the scale than the one I was currently on. In the last department I was in, I had a colleague who was successful in three successive Open EO competitions. She used them as a means to get a job closer to home each time. She progressed through the salary scale as normal despite leaving her initial post and the one after that, as a result of an open competition. She and I, retained the pension years we accrued and our years of service for leave entitlements etc.

The link below outlines the fact that from the 30th of November 2015, staff entering the civil service from an analogous grade and pay-scale in the public service, can also expect to commence on their current point of scale.

https://hr.per.gov.ie/policy/requirement-policy/starting-pay-on-recruitment/

McSween · 25-07-2020 5:23pm

How long does the initial application form take. Not near pc yet but Want to set aside time for this soon

Jay328 · 25-07-2020 6:03pm

Anonire wrote: »

I put a one liner in this box stating I have all the required competencies for the role.

I don't believe it's a place for writing any more than a few sentences. I think you are probably correct about a longer form at some stage to give our examples of the competencies.

Just to add, I would think this form is mostly for screening to see if you meet the minimum educational requirements for the role than anything else.

So do you think you have to include your leaving cert results if you satisfy the educational requirements with level 7 or 8?

Dont even know where my leaving results are.

Dublintigger · 25-07-2020 6:34pm

Blueskies2019 wrote: »

Are you sure? I think it is an open Competition for any Department. Civil Service HR Division falls under DPER.

It was advertised as D/PER but I had forgotten that the CD HR Division falls under DPER - thanks for the clarification.

Dublintigger · 25-07-2020 6:38pm

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

All the posts have to be sanctioned by DPER but you can be assigned to any department.

Thank you for the clarification -

Furious-Red · 25-07-2020 6:56pm

Its too late now as ive already sent in my application, but how far back do you go back with your work history. I just went as far back as i have it on my cv (which is over the last 5 or so years)

Dublintigger · 25-07-2020 6:59pm

Just a query and asking for clarification, if you have more that 24 months working in CS - as a TCO and as CO, can you still go for it if you clarify on all other points. I am in my current role as a CO for 17 months and I have over 12 months as TCO - went from a TCO straight in to CO without a break.

Also, can any one please clarify the difference between level 6 and 7? I always thought that 6 was advanced diploma and 7 was first year of a degree?

Thank you.

MFPM · 25-07-2020 7:12pm

Jay328 wrote: »

Yeah was thinking the Supplementary info section is where you talk about the competencies.

But started to think that it might be too early for that and that they will issue a longer form for the the competencies after short listing and online test.

Did everyone else reference back to competencies in this section ?

This is the only form you complete and it's this form they use if you get called for an interview - they expect you to illustrate the relevant competencies from your work history.

Green farmer · 25-07-2020 7:25pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

Just a query and asking for clarification, if you have more that 24 months working in CS - as a TCO and as CO, can you still go for it if you clarify on all other points. I am in my current role as a CO for 17 months and I have over 12 months as TCO - went from a TCO straight in to CO without a break.

Also, can any one please clarify the difference between level 6 and 7? I always thought that 6 was advanced diploma and 7 was first year of a degree?

Thank you.

Think level 7 is a completed ordinary 3 year degree. Level 8 is a 4 year or honours degree.

LegallyAbroad · 25-07-2020 7:36pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

Just a query and asking for clarification, if you have more that 24 months working in CS - as a TCO and as CO, can you still go for it if you clarify on all other points. I am in my current role as a CO for 17 months and I have over 12 months as TCO - went from a TCO straight in to CO without a break.

Also, can any one please clarify the difference between level 6 and 7? I always thought that 6 was advanced diploma and 7 was first year of a degree?

Thank you.

I don't think so, you weren't a permanent civil servant when you were a TCO, you were on a fixed contract. The clock starts ticking from when you became a permanent civil servant.

jaffa20 · 25-07-2020 7:36pm

MFPM wrote: »

This is the only form you complete and it's this form they use if you get called for an interview - they expect you to illustrate the relevant competencies from your work history.

It this really true? If you needed to illustrate the competencies under appendix 1 in this section, you would need to write an essay.

I just put a short paragraph summarising my skills and career to date.

Anonire · 25-07-2020 8:18pm

jaffa20 wrote: »

It this really true? If you needed to illustrate the competencies under appendix 1 in this section, you would need to write an essay.

I just put a short paragraph summarising my skills and career to date.

These forms usually include a different section for competencies. With Section B missing I guess that is where the competencies would go. Either section B is missing in error or they aren't asking for competencies at this point as section A does not require you to go into the level of detail you would need to illustrate the competencies.

November Golf · 25-07-2020 9:41pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

Just a query and asking for clarification, if you have more that 24 months working in CS - as a TCO and as CO, can you still go for it if you clarify on all other points. I am in my current role as a CO for 17 months and I have over 12 months as TCO - went from a TCO straight in to CO without a break.

Also, can any one please clarify the difference between level 6 and 7? I always thought that 6 was advanced diploma and 7 was first year of a degree?

Thank you.

As long as you have your CO probation completed your TCO service should count however I would recommend you email PAS.

The eligibility requirements for this campaign is ridiculous
- A full Level 6 award would get you into second or final year of most level 7 courses and yet PAS ask for a Level 7 and deem complete of first year as sufficient; not sure how they came to that conclusion.

Again if you have doubts about eligible, you should email PAS because its not a clean cut.

November Golf · 25-07-2020 9:49pm

LegallyAbroad wrote: »

I don't think so, you weren't a permanent civil servant when you were a TCO, you were on a fixed contract. The clock starts ticking from when you became a permanent civil servant.

The requirement is "be serving as a Civil Servant with at least two years’ service"

TCO and CO are the same grade. I know there can be issues around probation in a new role but I don't see why the clock would restart when you become permanent. If your service is good enough for incremental pay it should be good enough for promotion.

EDIT: In the previous EO interdepartmental competition it stated:

Where an officer was acting or serving on a Fixed-Term contract and was subsequently appointed in a substantive capacity, eligibility may be based on the aggregate service, e.g. six months in an acting capacity or on contract and eighteen months in a substantive capacity, can be aggregated to give two years’ service. For the purpose of deciding eligibility, officers must be serving on the closing date of < >.

Officers on probation are not eligible to compete except where they would have been eligible had they remained in their previous grade. Periods of special leave without pay should not be considered to break continuity of service for this purpose.

I would say it definitely worth sending an email for clarification.

https://assets.gov.ie/15997/0d0381911bac4a99af67834ce588c1b1.pdf

natc · 25-07-2020 10:22pm

I actually think the eligibility requirements for interdepartmental are ridiculous. Surely if you are serving x amount of years and can demonstrate that you have the relevant competencies that should be good enough. Relying on leaving cert just seems irrelevant. I think even for open competition its silly.

Many civil servants have plenty of experience now and can confidently demonstrate the required competencies so to think they could miss out on promotion because of a crappy exam from years ago is baffling!

25-07-2020 10:51pm

There is no Part B to the application form.

The 2019 EO and 2018 CO application forms didn’t have a Part B either.

In Section A, Employment Record, under the description of duties box, you should include duties that match the competencies.

If you are called for interview, this is the form the interviewers will have in front of them. They will basically work off the information you gave them as in “you worked for Company X, tell me how you...”. This is your opportunity to elaborate on your work experience to show them you have the required competencies.

You will not get another form to fill out to make the interviewers aware of your competencies.

Also, I would recommend that you do not leave the Supplementary Information section blank. Use it as an opportunity to sell yourself, sports, hobbies, volunteer work, something to mention in the interview, show that you have a personality!

Best of luck everyone!

25-07-2020 11:51pm

pjcpolly wrote: »

Supplementary info is quite important. This is where you reference to the competencies that they require. You should basically explain what you have done previously to demonstrate the competencies to show that you have some experience.

oh perfect, that sounds good, i can pull the application off and re do it can i?

The compentencies are the ones on that circle/wheel thing in the info booklet isnt it

jaffa20 · 25-07-2020 11:56pm

Might need to redo my application now too. I just copied and pasted quite a bit from my CV. Also, i found it strange that you need to put in gaps in employment. Unemployed doesn't look particularly appealing taking up a big gap if that's what they have in front of them for interviews.

enfant terrible · 26-07-2020 12:05am

Should you put in your salary for each job in the applicaton?

26-07-2020 12:14am

enfant terrible wrote: »

Should you put in your salary for each job in the applicaton?

no spot for it, i just gave job title and description of roles for it

Jay328 · 26-07-2020 12:24am

jaffa20 wrote: »

Might need to redo my application now too. I just copied and pasted quite a bit from my CV. Also, i found it strange that you need to put in gaps in employment. Unemployed doesn't look particularly appealing taking up a big gap if that's what they have in front of them for interviews.

Yeah I dont get why you have to put gaps in employment either and I am a bit hesitant to put it down.

But I am going leave any small gaps of a couple months out like one between leaving and getting a new job.

26-07-2020 12:49am

jaffa20 wrote: »

Might need to redo my application now too. I just copied and pasted quite a bit from my CV. Also, i found it strange that you need to put in gaps in employment. Unemployed doesn't look particularly appealing taking up a big gap if that's what they have in front of them for interviews.

I would recommend that you include all duties/tasks that match the required competencies for this role.

Regarding gaps in employment; fill in all your employment details. Then, in the Supplementary Information section, add in a line or two to explain any gaps in your employment history for example travel abroad, caring for a relative, lack of employment in your area etc...

26-07-2020 12:56am

enfant terrible wrote: »

Should you put in your salary for each job in the applicaton?

There is no need to include your previous salary on the application form. The starting salary for this role is non negotiable.

Just remember that any information you provide on the application form can be queried in the interview. For example, if you indicate that you are currently earning €50,000 in the private sector, the interviewers may question why you are applying for a role with a lesser salary.

rsl1976 · 26-07-2020 10:26am

Does anyone know if the 2 years as a CO can be from previous service. I am just over 1 year at CO but was able to carry over local authority service for point on the salary scale.

2020 Executive Officer Civil Service

Comments