Temporary Clerical Officer 2021 in the Civil and Public Service (Please read OP)

Fbjm · 02-11-2020 3:08pm

I applied for this just today, I really want a permanent role but I am very eager to get into the public service, the pay scale transparency and the job security are so appealing for me. Would it be advisable to leave my current private sector role if I'm offered a temporary CO role if I'm looking at eventually moving into the public sector full-time?

Red Honeysuckle · 02-11-2020 3:28pm

How many people have uploaded empty documents or the wrong thing that they need to send out a message double checking people uploaded the correct one?

Fbjm · 02-11-2020 3:32pm

I know!! Reading that had me worried I'd uploaded the wrong thing!

Banana Republic 1 · 02-11-2020 4:13pm

Fbjm wrote: »

I applied for this just today, I really want a permanent role but I am very eager to get into the public service, the pay scale transparency and the job security are so appealing for me. Would it be advisable to leave my current private sector role if I'm offered a temporary CO role if I'm looking at eventually moving into the public sector full-time?

No the public sector don’t work like the private, you could do loads of tcos but the process public jobs uses to hire full time people is designed primarily to justify its own quango does not take into account any of that experience.

jules5417 · 02-11-2020 4:18pm

Red Honeysuckle wrote: »

How many people have uploaded empty documents or the wrong thing that they need to send out a message double checking people uploaded the correct one?

I'm having same problem. When I upload doc to check it, it won't open.

Fbjm · 02-11-2020 4:51pm

Okay, thanks for the answer.

November Golf · 02-11-2020 4:59pm

Fbjm wrote: »

I applied for this just today, I really want a permanent role but I am very eager to get into the public service, the pay scale transparency and the job security are so appealing for me. Would it be advisable to leave my current private sector role if I'm offered a temporary CO role if I'm looking at eventually moving into the public sector full-time?

If you have a permanent job, it wouldn't be worth giving up for a temporary contract. But its really up to you to decide what is best in your personal circumstances.

A TCO contract could be for 8-26 weeks, and although it is possible get extended up to 18 month, its not probable that would happen as some department simple don't allow extensions.

If the decision is made to extend a TCO contract, it would most like be about 4 week out from the end date and based on the business need at the time rather than the quality of the candidate.

You might be extremely lucky and get offered an 26 week contract, get extended up to 18 months and, If you apply/progress through the CO campaign, get offer of permanent job before you finish as a TCO. **Alternative, you might get offered a 13 week contract and nice "sorry to see you go" card at the end.

Banana Republic 1 · 02-11-2020 5:30pm

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

If you have a permanent job, it wouldn't be worth giving up for a temporary contract. But its really up to you to decide what is best in your personal circumstances.

A TCO contract could be for 8-26 weeks, and although it is possible get extended up to 18 month, its not probable that would happen as some department simple don't allow extensions.

If the decision is made to extend a TCO contract, it would most like be about 4 week out from the end date and based on the business need at the time rather than the quality of the candidate.

You might be extremely lucky and get offered an 26 week contract, get extended up to 18 months and, If you apply/progress through the CO campaign, get offer of permanent job before you finish as a TCO. **Alternative, you might get offered a 13 week contract and nice "sorry to see you go" card at the end.

The last point there is what happens 99.9% of the time

Green farmer · 02-11-2020 5:42pm

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

The last point there is what happens 99.9% of the time

Just say you get a contract, do your 12 weeks, got on well, get the card saying good luck, What happens after that ? Are you off the panel for the rest of the year ? Or could you get another contract elsewhere, assuming your on the year around panel ?

November Golf · 02-11-2020 6:49pm

Green farmer wrote: »

Just say you get a contract, do your 12 weeks, got on well, get the card saying good luck, What happens after that ? Are you off the panel for the rest of the year ? Or could you get another contract elsewhere, assuming your on the year around panel ?

Unfortunately not, some people may get 8/10/13/26 week contract but once your assigned, your off the panel. Unless you get an extension, you would need to reapply the following year to get another contract.

If your on the all year round panel, you do have a better chance of getting a longer contract but thats no gaurantee they wouldn't offer you 8 weeks.

newbie18892 · 03-11-2020 12:55am

jules5417 wrote: »

I'm having same problem. When I upload doc to check it, it won't open.

You can check the document after you've submitted your application and update it if needed, as they said in today's message.

jules5417 · 03-11-2020 1:25am

newbie18892 wrote: »

You can check the document after you've submitted your application and update it if needed, as they said in today's message.

Thank you. I was worried about submitting it in case PAS couldn't open it.

jules5417 · 03-11-2020 1:28am

newbie18892 wrote: »

You can check the document after you've submitted your application and update it if needed, as they said in today's message.

What message I only got one regarding closing tco 2020.

Banana Republic 1 · 03-11-2020 7:57am

Green farmer wrote: »

Just say you get a contract, do your 12 weeks, got on well, get the card saying good luck, What happens after that ? Are you off the panel for the rest of the year ? Or could you get another contract elsewhere, assuming your on the year around panel ?

Your out, extensions do not happen because that would require some forward thinking and the use of logic.

Red Honeysuckle · 03-11-2020 2:55pm

jules5417 wrote: »

I'm having same problem. When I upload doc to check it, it won't open.

Log into your account. Go to my applications. It will have the online form and then below application form. Click on that and it will show you of its the correct one. I always save it as its original name and add . completed after it so I know its the correct one

jules5417 · 03-11-2020 5:01pm

Red Honeysuckle wrote: »

Log into your account. Go to my applications. It will have the online form and then below application form. Click on that and it will show you of its the correct one. I always save it as its original name and add . completed after it so I know its the correct one

Just checked it and I had sent blank one so updated and sent new one. Thank you

furrybones · 03-11-2020 5:20pm

Fbjm wrote: »

I know!! Reading that had me worried I'd uploaded the wrong thing!

It's freaked me right out. I've gone in TWICE and downloaded it from the application to make sure it's not blank. It's not, but I'm still freaked out, lol. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

jules5417 · 03-11-2020 6:57pm

furrybones wrote: »

It's freaked me right out. I've gone in TWICE and downloaded it from the application to make sure it's not blank. It's not, but I'm still freaked out, lol. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

The problem for me is if I upload the form from their job spec it is word pad so corrupted file so I have sent a odt file from Libre office fingers crossed its OK.

Mrs OBumble · 03-11-2020 8:37pm

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

Your out, extensions do not happen because that would require some forward thinking and the use of logic.

Extensions can and do happen.

Some departments have a policy of no extensions. But even there, exceptions can be made and sometimes are.

November Golf · 03-11-2020 10:04pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Extensions can and do happen.

Some departments have a policy of no extensions. But even there, exceptions can be made and sometimes are.

I think more broadly it seems extensions are not common practise. Quite a few recently appointed TCO's have reportedly been given so called "open contract" (which I take to mean Specific Purpose rather than the usual Fixed-Term) which could make it easier to extend, and perhaps that may change the situation also.

Banana Republic 1 · 04-11-2020 12:40am

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Extensions can and do happen.

Some departments have a policy of no extensions. But even there, exceptions can be made and sometimes are.

Principal officers have requested I be kept and even that didn’t work because HR can’t bring themselves to tick a boxes. Don’t be giving new applicants false expectations,there is more of a chance that the department gets hits by lightning and burns down.

Banana Republic 1 · 04-11-2020 12:48am

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

I think more broadly it seems extensions are not common practise. Quite a few recently appointed TCO's have reportedly been given so called "open contract" (which I take to mean Specific Purpose rather than the usual Fixed-Term) which could make it easier to extend, and perhaps that may change the situation also.

Open contracts seem to back again but there not handed out on merit some of the laziest gob****es ive met are tcos with open contracts and unless they kill someone their not turfed out because HR are incompetent.

Mrs OBumble · 04-11-2020 2:22am

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

Principal officers have requested I be kept and even that didn’t work because HR can’t bring themselves to tick a boxes. Don’t be giving new applicants false expectations,there is more of a chance that the department gets hits by lightning and burns down.

Someone I know well has had a different experience.

As well, someone he worked with clocked up 18 months (a maternity leave and then a extended to do a sick-leave cover) with one department, had a month off, then got a six month contract with another department off the next panel.

Divisadero · 04-11-2020 2:24am

TCO contracts being extended are the exception as opposed to the rule. If you go in as a TCO expect to finish when your contract is up no matter how much your Managers like you. I have seen contracts extended but this in my experience of three Departments is rare and none were offered permanent positions. They were replaced with CO's from the permanent panel. Which is cruel but that's how it usually works I'm afraid.

Caro3 · 04-11-2020 2:05pm

What type of questions are in Stage 1: Assessment questionnaire?
Is it verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and checking test, same as permanent CO or is it different?
thank you

Banana Republic 1 · 04-11-2020 2:29pm

Caro3 wrote: »

What type of questions are in Stage 1: Assessment questionnaire?
Is it verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and checking test, same as permanent CO or is it different?
thank you

Exact same.

November Golf · 05-11-2020 12:37am

Caro3 wrote: »

What type of questions are in Stage 1: Assessment questionnaire?
Is it verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and checking test, same as permanent CO or is it different?
thank you

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

Exact same.

No, the assessment questionaire is like a personality or job suitablity test. You will be given a statement that you need to rate based on your attributes, job preferances, and skills/attitude.

Part 1 about you - Someone who likes meeting new people.

Very like me
Quite like me
Cannot say
Not quite like me
Not at all like me

Part 2 the job you want - be able to structure my own work

Any job I do must include this
I would prefer this but its not essential
I wouldn't mind if this was part of my role or not
I would prefer not, or only a small part of my role
I would not want this to be part of my role

Part 3 Your skill, experience or attitudes compared to others you know

- Working in a team

Better than most
slightly better than most
Boardly the same as most
Not quite as good as most
Or
I have no experience of this

Banana Republic 1 · 05-11-2020 8:01am

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

No, the assessment questionaire is like a personality or job suitablity test. You will be given a statement that you need to rate based on your attributes, job preferances, and skills/attitude.

Part 1 about you - Someone who likes meeting new people.
Very like me

Quite like me

Cannot say

Not quite like me

Not at all like me

Part 2 the job you want - be able to structure my own work
Any job I do must include this

I would prefer this but its not essential

I wouldn't mind if this was part of my role or not

I would prefer not, or only a small part of my role

I would not want this to be part of my role

Part 3 Your skill, experience or attitudes compared to others you know

- Working in a team
Better than most

slightly better than most

Boardly the same as most

Not quite as good as most
Or

I have no experience of this

Ya the same exact thing that’s in the CO one

Caro3 · 05-11-2020 8:43am

From your answers, I understand there is also a questionnaire on our job suitability test.
I thought the phase 1 for CO (also) included verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and checking test?
Is it not the case?
And if it is, is it the same for Temporary CO?
Thank you for your answers.

November Golf · 05-11-2020 11:00am

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

Ya the same exact thing that’s in the CO one

Caro3 wrote: »

From your answers, I understand there is also a questionnaire on our job suitability test.
I thought the phase 1 for CO (also) included verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and checking test?
Is it not the case?
And if it is, is it the same for Temporary CO?
Thank you for your answers.

Verbal, Numerical reasoning or the Checking test are not normally part of the TCO selection process.

I don't expect that to change this year.

Temporary Clerical Officer 2021 in the Civil and Public Service (Please read OP)

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