Clerical Officer 2020

acawarrior wrote: »

Would anyone recommend taking a job in the county council over the civil service?

I think you may get more annual leave so that would definitely be a plus. Possibly 26/27 someone else maybe able to confirm.

Mcgonagall7 wrote: »

Can I ask what the €500 increase is? Or how it's based? I started as a CO in May, will I be entitled to this? Sorry for the questions, I just hadn't heard anything about it!

Under the new agreement, building momentum, there's a 1% pay increase or a €500, whichever is higher. See forsa link.
https://www.forsa.ie/building-momentum-a-new-public-sector-agreement-faqs/

abbeybella wrote: »

Can anyone advise, if you have previous experience as a Temporary Clerical Officer can you go up to the next step on the pay scale? If so how many years would you need? Thanks

Your previous service is combined with your contract start date to give you the annual increment date I.e. if you start on 1st July and have 6 months tco experience, your next increment date would be around 1st January next year. If you ever get promotion, the increment date changes to when you start your new role. My new department allowed me a few weeks to give notice and also had the revised salary with incremental credit already written into my contract before I signed it.

Vologda69 wrote: »

I left public service and recently turned down job in city council. Took a drop in annual leave and pay. Far greater choice, flexibility, promotion opportunities etc in civil service. Idea of 9-5 in council wasnt runner. Im.currently working 7.30-3pm because it suits me. Best of luck choosing your hours in the council

The job I am going for in civil service would be shift work 24/7 but council would be 9-5.30.

Did you leave the public service? So you would recommend the civil service irrespective of the shift hours? Thanks

If you get Limerick you can apply for a transfer. It generally takes a couple of years but you apply the day you start work.

You could also do what someone I know did - if you get Limerick from this panel, take it and work in Limerick then apply for the next panel and put Clare as your No 1. You might then get called for Clare. The person I know was in Limerick looking for another county and managed to get their county of choice that way.

You will have to do the one year probation again, as far as I am aware, but it won't affect your increments. You don't go back to Level 1, you just continue on.

Where I am anyhow, we haven't had any suggestions, so far, as to when those of us working from home will be back in the office.

Vologda69 wrote: »

Yes I did and I dont regret it. I was working 8.30-5pm with little to no flexibility and an overbearing manager. Only you can decide whats right for you. But once youre in the civil service you will have to chance to move to other departments, locations etc So if the shifts dont suit or even the job at least you will have options down the road.

Perfect answer thanks

Is there a difference as to how the Civil Service and the Counry Councils advertise re forming panels to fill job vacancies? I assume that they both form such panels. Secondly, when can we expect both to advertise - if there is a difference. Or has the whole Covid situation upset their recruiting schedules.

tritriagain wrote: »

Started as CO last November and am thinking of doing a springboard course. My preference would be computers/coding but don't know if that would be beneficial to progression. Any one any idea on courses which would be considered worthwhile in promotion terms

Moomooland wrote: »

I would say go and do a course you’re interested in. It’s very unusual that CO’s avail of further/third level course, in the place I used to work in I was the only CO that was attending a course out of 20 odd CO’s. it also looks great if you’re thinking of going for EO or HEO promotion. 👍

I would go for it for your own development and to have an exit option should you need it some day. The issue with the civil service these days is that the competiton for promotion is tough. You are up against people with Master's degrees, people with a decade in middle management in private sector, people with years of ecxperience abroad who want to return home and are way over qualified. There's also so many COs now entering with a degree.

I wouldn't go for coding unless it interests you. Think of this as an oppotunity to do something you have an interest 9in and something that will round you out and enhance your CV.

My own story is I left the civil service and then did a Springboard course. I'm a big advocate of them but there is a very high dropout rate on the tech ones because people go for it thinking it's the ticket to promotions and big jobs at the Multinationals but really it's very tough, requires a lot of work and it's not for everyone especially coding.

leahyie wrote: »

Can I ask what the process is after your interview? I am due to have an interview for Tipperary in the next 2 weeks. If I pass will I get told what location and department I am offered before they start contacting my references? Where I live the furthest location I could be offered is about 2 drive from me, so I don't want my employer to be contacted about a reference if I am going to have to refuse the job due to distance.

The process for me was, interview, results, request for documents to start clearance which included a contact for reference. I have returned my documents and my Garda vetting is being processed at the moment.
I was able to let my employer know what was happening and he returned the reference for for me.
I haven’t been officially offered a position yet, hopefully by this happens soon when the vetting comes back. Best of luck with the interview.

Thanks for the information, the shift seems to be 5 eight hour days approx, if anyone could confirm this I would appreciate it, what's it like working in Dublin port?

jjnaas wrote: »

.......... I'm a big advocate of them but there is a very high dropout rate on the tech ones because people go for it thinking it's the ticket to promotions and big jobs at the Multinationals but really it's very tough, requires a lot of work and it's not for everyone especially coding.

Totally agree re the dropout rate. There is also a presumed prior knowledge of coding so it's definitely not for those who have no experience with it.