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

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

rostalof · 26-01-2021 8:55pm

Forthebuzz wrote: »

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

You're right, I just checked my old publicjobs messages.

Addle · 26-01-2021 8:57pm

paulmacs.sis wrote: »

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

Or that you don’t have to submit the form until after initial shortlisting.

hellr · 26-01-2021 10:12pm

Does anybody know if these tests will be recorded

Brera · 28-01-2021 1:50am

neevobeevo wrote: »

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

I used this company for the last AP competition and fond it useful. Did really well on the test but I got shot down on the lack of management of large teams.

https://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/irish-civil-service-higher-executive-officer-prep

Brera · 28-01-2021 1:52am

hellr wrote: »

Does anybody know if these tests will be recorded

They normally don’t record them for the first round. Some competitions in the past have recorded them when they redo them rather than bring people into the PAS office to redo them.

Kenevil · 28-01-2021 5:09pm

hellr wrote: »

Does anybody know if these tests will be recorded

For the 2020 EO competition the tests were recorded and afaik it was only one test due to covid.

keepkeyyellow · 28-01-2021 6:12pm

Brera wrote: »

I used this company for the last AP competition and fond it useful. Did really well on the test but I got shot down on the lack of management of large teams.

https://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/irish-civil-service-higher-executive-officer-prep

When you got to the actual AP did you find that they were both really similar?

hellr · 28-01-2021 9:44pm

Not sure if it’s allowed but would anybody be interested in sharing a jobs prep sub for a month

whampiri · 28-01-2021 10:15pm

keepkeyyellow wrote: »

When you got to the actual AP did you find that they were both really similar?

These roles and exams are poles apart.

Buckfast W · 28-01-2021 10:19pm

hellr wrote:

Not sure if itâ€™s allowed but would anybody be interested in sharing a jobs prep sub for a month

Absolutely

keepkeyyellow · 29-01-2021 9:32am

whampiri wrote: »

These roles and exams are poles apart.

I’m aware but my question was whether he found the practice exams for AP similar to the actual AP exams. I’m still trying to decide whether to buy practice exams so would like to know if they’re good or not?

whampiri · 29-01-2021 10:13am

keepkeyyellow wrote: »

I’m aware but my question was whether he found the practice exams for AP similar to the actual AP exams. I’m still trying to decide whether to buy practice exams so would like to know if they’re good or not?

Sorry, I thought you were looking to compare the AO/HEO exams to the AP exams.

The AP exams are quite a bit harder than the examples, however the sample questions are useful to understand the format that the questions will take and the layout of information.

Brera · 29-01-2021 11:39am

keepkeyyellow wrote: »

When you got to the actual AP did you find that they were both really similar?

They weren’t completely similar but it did give a good grounding and an idea of what to expect.

Dublintigger · 29-01-2021 12:37pm

Kenevil wrote: »

For the 2020 EO competition the tests were recorded and afaik it was only one test due to covid.

There was only one on line test/assessment and it was recorded - participants were asked to record their surroundings before and after test and present there ID before the recording
No one was bought in to PAS to do a supervised test.
EO Interviews were also done on line via Zoom

Kenevil · 29-01-2021 4:03pm

I just got a message with pre-test material for stage 1(a). Stage 1(a) aptitude tests will be from 3rd Feb until 10th Feb at 3pm.

caarp · 29-01-2021 4:31pm

Thanks, I see that too. Ugh, tests...

Brera · 29-01-2021 4:40pm

It’s being recorded too ! ðŸ™„

Forthebuzz · 29-01-2021 5:13pm

I see it is a new test provider being used? Don't think I have done one previously with adaptive questioning

eroc79 · 29-01-2021 5:18pm

Forthebuzz wrote: »

I see it is a new test provider being used? Don't think I have done one previously with adaptive questioning

Definitely different.
Am I understanding it right, there's no time limit but time will count towards your final mark?

Uncle Pierre · 29-01-2021 5:22pm

Brera wrote: »

I used this company for the last AP competition and fond it useful. Did really well on the test but I got shot down on the lack of management of large teams.

https://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/irish-civil-service-higher-executive-officer-prep

With the different test provider being used, or possibly different form of tests, anybody know if the recommendation here is still valid?

Forthebuzz · 29-01-2021 5:55pm

eroc79 wrote: »

Definitely different.
Am I understanding it right, there's no time limit but time will count towards your final mark?

That's my reading of it yes

Brera · 29-01-2021 6:02pm

Uncle Pierre wrote: »

With the different test provider being used, or possibly different form of tests, anybody know if the recommendation here is still valid?

It’s hard to know but at the bottom of page they make reference to Sova.

“Irish Civil Service, Sova, cut-e and other trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are affiliated with JobTestPrep or this website.”

Has anyone heard of Sova being used in other campaigns ?

Ahshurlookit · 29-01-2021 6:58pm

Have never done a test like this before but it sounds similar to the tests for the recent EO campaign. I'm raging because I always did well at the cut-e tests!

corny · 29-01-2021 7:04pm

Anyone have any reservations showing a private company your ID and a panoramic view of a private dwelling? And being compelled to do so?

Ahshurlookit · 29-01-2021 7:14pm

corny wrote: »

Anyone have any reservations showing a private company your ID and a panoramic view of a private dwelling? And being compelled to do so?

No, there's very obvious legitimate reasons for having to show ID and a panoramic view of the room you're doing the test in. And you can do it in whatever room you want, you could sit on the toilet and show them your shower and wash hand basin if you wanted!! And nobody is compelled to complete the tests.

insert name here 123 · 29-01-2021 8:39pm

Wonder why you need a level 7 diploma for the EO comp, but for the HEO you only seem to require two years in the service and people management experience.

Doesn't seem right? Or am i missing something?

I don't recall it stating in the information booklet (HEO) anything about formal education requirements etc..

Kenevil · 29-01-2021 8:43pm

insert name here 123 wrote: »

Wonder why you need a level 7 diploma for the EO comp, but for the HEO you only seem to require two years in the service and people management experience.

Doesn't seem right? Or am i missing something?

I don't recall it stating in the information booklet (HEO) anything about formal education requirements etc..

Because the EO is an open competition and inter d so if you don't have 2 yrs service you need a diploma. The HEO is inter d only so you need 2 yrs service and management experience.

insert name here 123 · 29-01-2021 8:46pm

Kenevil wrote: »

Because the EO is an open competition and inter d so if you don't have 2 yrs service you need a diploma. The HEO is inter d only so you need 2 yrs service and management experience.

I appreciate that Ken, i was more curious as to why the instance on having a level 7 for EO rtaher than HEO, I would have thought a HEO would need certain qualifications to match the experience.

Just curious

Kenevil · 29-01-2021 8:49pm

insert name here 123 wrote: »

I appreciate that Ken, i was more curious as to why the instance on having a level 7 for EO rtaher than HEO, I would have thought a HEO would need certain qualifications to match the experience.

Just curious

You don't need a diploma for the inter d element of the EO just 2 yrs service

Kenevil · 29-01-2021 8:59pm

Kenevil wrote: »

You don't need a diploma for the inter d element of the EO just 2 yrs service

You need to have 1 of the following for EO because the EO is a mix of open stream and inter d

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

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