Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Third Secretary & Development Specialist Campaign 2020

11819202123

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 141 ✭✭Omnishambles99


    the quotas you're referring to probably refer to the sequencing of appointments at different grades from three sources - open, interdepartmental and internal -as far as I remember,depts have to keep these balanced according to an agreed ratio (don't remember the exact details though)



  • Registered Users Posts: 279 ✭✭HartsHat


    It differs per grade. For FS it's 1/3 of each.

    Therefore a TS who has served for two years in the CS can go for 100% of opportunities.

    A non-DFA civil servant (again who has served 2 years in the CS) can go for 66%.

    Everyone else can go for 33% (just the open competition).



  • Registered Users Posts: 5 mfux9mr9


    Anyone know how far into the 2nd panel PAS are now?



  • Registered Users Posts: 148 ✭✭belgowho


    would be interested in this and also how many there are roughly in that one and the 3rd one.



  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Heyou


    I got the second place, second batch. PAS has been incredibly quick. I did the interview and in the next week they released the results. A few days later, they asked me to send all my degrees, professional courses etc. Then references from my previous employers, some far back 2016 or later.

    Then they sent me a online form concerning the Garda Vetting where I had to input details of ALL places, countries, cities, even the number of the house/apartments I lived since I was born.

    However, once you have the information ready, the Garda Vetting was incredibly quick. They said the Garda Vetting can take up to 16 weeks; however, mine, took only one week. I though it would have taken longer because I lived in four different countries and many different addresses.

    They haven’t made me any offer yet but I don’t know what else they could possibly ask me at this stage.

    I guess they have to ensure that you have no criminal records, or any wrongdoing, as we are be representing Ireland abroad and dealing with issues concerning the national interest.

    If you think they are about to call you, I would advise to have a list of all addresses you have lived since you were born. If you have that ready, it may save you a lot of time when they call you for clearance.

    I hope that helps to alleviate the anxiety for those who are waiting in the panel.



  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Heyou


    Has anyone already working as a diplomat that could advise on what skills to focus to reach a First Secretary position, please?

    I though learning more foreign languages, and developing management/leadership skills but apparently it is not enough.



  • Registered Users Posts: 148 ✭✭belgowho


    I thought you were 3rd batch as only did interviews about 4-5 weeks ago? The ones who got precis scores 30-34...



  • Registered Users Posts: 5 mfux9mr9


    Are there four panels now? I’m wondering if people interviewed in recent weeks (who got below 30 in précis) were placed on the 3rd or a new 4th panel. There aren’t any batch numbers in the interview results notification.



  • Registered Users Posts: 8 ErikaYa


    Sounds there could be four panels now? I'm so curious.

    I did my interview last week and got my results yesterday. So maybe last week's people are a fourth panel or else we've been added to a third panel.



  • Registered Users Posts: 279 ✭✭HartsHat


    Learn from the good FS you see in HQ and they make a good impression on posting(s).

    Best way to become a First Sec is to prove yourself to be an excellent Third Sec.



  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 148 ✭✭belgowho


    My thinking is there are 4 but its just not labelled as batches like it is in AO recruitment. Will send PAS an email on Monday to query further.



  • Registered Users Posts: 5 mfux9mr9




  • Registered Users Posts: 148 ✭✭belgowho


    Anyone on their respective panels here anything about placement?



  • Registered Users Posts: 85 ✭✭Minifox


    Hello

    Skipping back a bit in thread here but grateful if someone could answer me. I was just outside first 206 that went on to video and precis stage in 2020. Assuming they don't do another round for third sec's this year, is there any hope of being called for video and precis etc this year? I mean, are there still so many people still waiting on panel after interview that I haven't a snowball's? And even after they exhaust panel who have been interviewed, I guess there are lots of people on the precis panel that still haven't been interviewed.

    Hope this question makes sense!



  • Registered Users Posts: 21 emhds


    Hello, I am not an expert on the process so I won't claim that I know this for sure, but I wouldnt get your hopes up. Even if they do eventually interview all the people who passed the précis exercise (which I don't think they will in all honesty), they would still need to go through the batch who made it to the second stage (video interview) but not the third (précis).

    To give some context, the passing mark for the précis I believe was 15 (someone please correct me if I am wrong) and they seem to have made it down to people with a score of over 25, from what I see on this thread. If we take it that about 15 people make it passed the final interview for each round, that means at this point there are around 60 potential new third secs who are being screened / have taken up posts from this competition alone.

    For them to go through all 206 who made it passed round one would be extremely surprising, given that in a usual competition there are no more than 30-50 new recruits per year. It would also mean that the process would be significantly delayed because they would have to run rounds 2 and 3 again for those who have not already done them, which would likely put us outside the end date of September 2022 (the closing of this current competition).



  • Registered Users Posts: 8 ErikaYa


    Hi all, I emailed PAS enquiring where they are on the panel they are at the moment. They advised they don't know for sure when but that I'll likely be contacted in the next few weeks.



  • Registered Users Posts: 148 ✭✭belgowho


    I was also told that everyone on previous panels have been contacted so good to know it's not that much longer!



  • Registered Users Posts: 3 reenoa


    Hi all

    I scored 24 on the precis and had all but given up hope on this. I know its hard to say but what are the chances I'll get an interview?



  • Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭exitstageleft


    It's actually kind of a funny one though, isn't it? In the initial, first round OOM one or two different questions could see you jump or drop double digit positions on the list. There's every chance that someone who finished just outside the cut-off to progress to the second round would score a better than another person who was called but just scraped a pass in the precis.

    To be fair, this type of situation is common across civil service competitions. It makes me wonder if departments are keener to wait for new competitions (and potentially better candidates) than declare positions open towards the end of campaigns.



  • Registered Users Posts: 2 McLauren1994


    Hi, was just wondering if anyone who was interviewed during the first week of September (who scored below 30 on the précis and is in the 3/4th panel) has been contacted for clearance yet? Thanks



  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 8 ErikaYa




  • Registered Users Posts: 2 McLauren1994


    I know!! Haha good to know it’s not just me!



  • Registered Users Posts: 8 ErikaYa


    Hey all, just got called for clearance! Things are moving! :D



  • Registered Users Posts: 1 R1234567


    Hi all! Did anyone who applied to this campaign apply for the Development Specialist Intern competition with Irish Aid advertised in August?



  • Registered Users Posts: 3 reenoa


    Can any current TS comment on how they find the role. I'm interested in the sort of tasks you have in headquarters and what the work environment is like. If I get through I'll be moving from corporate law which is extremely competitive, cut-throat, and fairly brutal in terms of workload. Any insights would be appreciated.



  • Registered Users Posts: 8 Tervuren3080


    Yes I applied - I just received an email today saying I am being called for an interview. Anyone else? Also is there a thread that is specific to the Development Internship in the DFA?

    Post edited by Tervuren3080 on


  • Registered Users Posts: 8 Tervuren3080


    Anyone know what an interview with DFA is like? Such as the style and questions they might ask?



  • Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭exitstageleft


    Has there been much movement of the panels? I wonder if there are plans to move further down lists for interviews or if they might just wait it out for a new campaign later this year.



  • Registered Users Posts: 13 spritefeedback


    Hi Folks,

    Just incase anyone hasn't seen it they have issued a message on publicjobs asking if people still want to be considered for the next stage in this competition. I didn't do fantastic in the precis excercise, to put it mildly, so was pretty surprised that I got a message. However, given the passage of time maybe they are just checking with everyone who passed rather than those with a mark that they expect to call for interview.

    In any case my personal circumstances have changed so will not be continuing.

    I'm mentioning this as the cut off for replying to the expression of interest is Monday 28 at 12 noon. Which is pretty tight and so in case any one missed it just a heads up.

    Best of luck to anyone still in with a shout.



  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 3 reenoa


    Has anyone heard anything? I replied to the notification to say I was still interested. What kind of interview can I expect if I get called? Good luck to everyone :D



Advertisement