Interdepartmental Higher Executive Officer 2020 - (Serving Civil Servants ONLY)

Purpletoes · 13-01-2021 5:30pm

Breezer25 wrote: »

There was a note at the top of Section B stating that each competency responses should not exceed 300 words.

I know, thanks. This post was in relation to some people running out of space for their job descriptions.

13-01-2021 6:44pm

Anniearenyouok wrote: »

I had another look at my application form. Seems I doubled up on a paragraph on one of the sections, was an oversight on my behalf.

I am hoping it won't go against me as it brings me over the 300 words. I found the form itself poor in its layout and structure.

Yes, the forms are desperate and have been since the moratorium was lifted. The EO 2014 form was identically abysmal, that's almost 7 years ago at this stage. The 300 word limit is the first time I've seen it so low. The employment sections are limited to about 150 words. I thought the competency spaces would be limited to exactly 300 as well, but discovered that wasn't the case.

Me being super paranoid, I went back and whittled the responses down to less then 300. The last thing I need is to be disqualified for having 6 extra words in one box.

Purpletoes wrote: »

I know, thanks. This post was in relation to some people running out of space for their job descriptions.

As above, the job sections are limited to about 150 words. I could easily have doubled that on my current placement alone. I maxed out on all of mine.

Dublintigger · 14-01-2021 12:56pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yes, the forms are desperate and have been since the moratorium was lifted. The EO 2014 form was identically abysmal, that's almost 7 years ago at this stage. The 300 word limit is the first time I've seen it so low. The employment sections are limited to about 150 words. I thought the competency spaces would be limited to exactly 300 as well, but discovered that wasn't the case.

Me being super paranoid, I went back and whittled the responses down to less then 300. The last thing I need is to be disqualified for having 6 extra words in one box.

As above, the job sections are limited to about 150 words. I could easily have doubled that on my current placement alone. I maxed out on all of mine.

I'm getting paranoid now.... I had the option of 160 words..... which did limit what I could say. I'm wondering if that was a test in itself??

Also, I just noticed going back over my application, apart from a few minor spelling errors, I forgot to sign my application. No sure if that will go against me and if my application will be disallowed. Any views?

Connected99 · 14-01-2021 6:31pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

I'm getting paranoid now.... I had the option of 160 words..... which did limit what I could say. I'm wondering if that was a test in itself??

Also, I just noticed going back over my application, apart from a few minor spelling errors, I forgot to sign my application. No sure if that will go against me and if my application will be disallowed. Any views?

IS the closing date next week? as i recall...
if so, Then you have time to log into PAS website and Amend those details and re- submit

jules86 · 14-01-2021 6:39pm

Connected99 wrote: »

IS the closing date next week? as i recall...
if so, Then you have time to log into PAS website and Amend those details and re- submit

Closing date the 12th I thought?

eroc79 · 14-01-2021 6:42pm

jules86 wrote: »

Closing date the 12th I thought?[/quote

Yep

14-01-2021 6:43pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

I'm getting paranoid now.... I had the option of 160 words..... which did limit what I could say. I'm wondering if that was a test in itself??

Also, I just noticed going back over my application, apart from a few minor spelling errors, I forgot to sign my application. No sure if that will go against me and if my application will be disallowed. Any views?

I'd say you're fine on both counts. I had to remove plenty of duties and roles etc in each one as the word count is very restrictive. I ended up having to scrimp and save words from everywhere, it ended up reading more like a tweet in some parts I tried to fit that much in.

It would want to be a cold, heartless b****** who eliminated someone from a comp because they omitted a typed 'signature', so don't sweat it is my advice. Best of luck

MrsBean · 14-01-2021 8:34pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

Also, I just noticed going back over my application, apart from a few minor spelling errors, I forgot to sign my application. No sure if that will go against me and if my application will be disallowed. Any views?

I would get on to PAS and tell them you noticed you forgot to sign it. Spelling errors won't matter.

Dublintigger · 14-01-2021 10:58pm

jules86 wrote: »

Closing date the 12th I thought?

The closing date was 12 January at 3pm

Connected99 · 15-01-2021 10:11am

MrsBean wrote: »

I would get on to PAS and tell them you noticed you forgot to sign it. Spelling errors won't matter.

Yes I agree

Connected99 · 15-01-2021 10:12am

Dublintigger wrote: »

The closing date was 12 January at 3pm

Apologises yes it was, I thought it was the 20th Of Jan..
Sorry... Best of luck everyone

Connected99 · 15-01-2021 10:15am

jules86 wrote: »

Closing date the 12th I thought?

Apologises, yes that is correct
Tbh I wouldn't worry about it.
It's done now...

neevobeevo · 19-01-2021 9:14am

Does anyone know if they will shortlist on the basis of the application form before the tests? Thanks

Dublintigger · 19-01-2021 10:42am

neevobeevo wrote: »

Does anyone know if they will shortlist on the basis of the application form before the tests? Thanks

That would be interesting to know.

Ahshurlookit · 19-01-2021 11:21am

neevobeevo wrote: »

Does anyone know if they will shortlist on the basis of the application form before the tests? Thanks

No, they won't. It's far too labour intensive to do this. There's no point in paying someone to look at forms of people who will never be interviewed because they failed the tests. In previous years it's always been tests first, then the shortlisting takes places in batches. So the first 400 would be shortlisted with roughly 200-250 called forward to interview and presentation.

redmgar · 19-01-2021 1:39pm

Are the exams much of a step up from the EO tests?

Ahshurlookit · 19-01-2021 6:48pm

redmgar wrote: »

Are the exams much of a step up from the EO tests?

I wouldn't say a big step up, since recruitment restarted the EO tests have always been SHL and the HEO competitions have been Cut-e. I know plenty of people who ace the SHL tests and can't deal with the Cut-e and vice versa. The one thing I would say is for people who struggle with numerical calculations, the cut-e might suit them better. The few times I've done them I needed a calculator for maybe 1 or 2 questions in total.

keepkeyyellow · 20-01-2021 1:21pm

Ahshurlookit wrote: »

I wouldn't say a big step up, since recruitment restarted the EO tests have always been SHL and the HEO competitions have been Cut-e. I know plenty of people who ace the SHL tests and can't deal with the Cut-e and vice versa. The one thing I would say is for people who struggle with numerical calculations, the cut-e might suit them better. The few times I've done them I needed a calculator for maybe 1 or 2 questions in total.

What’s the differences with the situational and verbal analysis for HEO then?

Is it similar to AO for anyone who’s done it?

redmgar · 20-01-2021 3:11pm

Do we have to do the scenario based assessment?
Were you state if an action in a situation is either good, bad or excellent?

lateron · 20-01-2021 7:54pm

Hi everyone.

How many people do you think apply for this competition?

Does anyone know for definite if its Cut-e or SHL? I need to get practicingðŸ˜¬

Good luck to you all.

Kenevil · 21-01-2021 11:22pm

Anyane have an idea of when they might start doing the online assessments?

Forthebuzz · 21-01-2021 11:43pm

lateron wrote: »

Hi everyone.

How many people do you think apply for this competition?

Does anyone know for definite if its Cut-e or SHL? I need to get practicingðŸ˜¬

Good luck to you all.

No definites but it has been cut-E the last 2 campaigns afaik

Forthebuzz · 21-01-2021 11:44pm

Kenevil wrote: »

Anyane have an idea of when they might start doing the online assessments?

Dper circular said link would be send by Feb 5th

Kenevil · 21-01-2021 11:45pm

Forthebuzz wrote: »

Dper circular said link would be send by Feb 5th

Perfect thanks ðŸ˜Š

Ahshurlookit · 22-01-2021 10:39am

keepkeyyellow wrote: »

What’s the differences with the situational and verbal analysis for HEO then?

Is it similar to AO for anyone who’s done it?

The verbal for EO was an SHL test, so it's read a passage of text and answer questions based on the passage. Verbal for HEO has been cut-e previously, so it's 6 tabs with information and you click the correct tab to find the answer to the question.

neevobeevo · 26-01-2021 10:00am

Can anyone please recommend a test package to buy in preparation for the tests?

Rye Bread · 26-01-2021 10:18am

Ahshurlookit wrote: »

No, they won't. It's far too labour intensive to do this. There's no point in paying someone to look at forms of people who will never be interviewed because they failed the tests. In previous years it's always been tests first, then the shortlisting takes places in batches. So the first 400 would be shortlisted with roughly 200-250 called forward to interview and presentation.

Last HEO competition they shortlisted first then issued the tests.

paulmacs.sis · 26-01-2021 11:54am

Rye Bread wrote: »

Last HEO competition they shortlisted first then issued the tests.

I would love if they shortlisted first.... it would let you know if you form is actually good enough before bothering stressing about the online test! And would make the interview process alot faster considering the smaller amount of candidates available

keepkeyyellow · 26-01-2021 2:20pm

Rye Bread wrote: »

Last HEO competition they shortlisted first then issued the tests.

I got kicked out of an AP comp for sending in a blank form- maybe they’re just gonna check the forms for things like that.

Forthebuzz · 26-01-2021 4:47pm

Rye Bread wrote: »

Last HEO competition they shortlisted first then issued the tests.

The last Interdepartmental they shortlisted after stage one results were out, stage two was shortlisting, stage 3 was supervised test (assessment centre) and stage 4 was interview and presentation

Interdepartmental Higher Executive Officer 2020 - (Serving Civil Servants ONLY)

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