How long before being called for interview.

pauliebdub · 20-10-2022 10:21PM #1

I applied for a public sector role a number a weeks ago just before the deadline. I haven't heard anything back yet. How long does it normally take between application closing date and calling candidates for interview? I would have expected to be called within a few working days.

Jim2007 · 21-10-2022 10:06AM

Well first they will have to filter the applicants and decide who they will blow off, who the will hold in reserve and who they will actually interview.... Since you don't know who else applied, I don't know why you'd automatically expect to be interviewed.

pauliebdub · 21-10-2022 04:40PM

I would have reasonably expected a call since my qualifications and experience match the requirements of the role , I'm wondering what the time lines are in general if there a rush to fill positions.

Bicyclette · 21-10-2022 04:59PM

Why would you have expected a call that quickly? Have you ever been involved in recruitment? These things take time. And it also depends on the role too. In order to call people for interview you need to convene an interview board. You need to coordinate availability. Decisions need to be made as to whether the interview will take place in person or online. What role did you apply for?

Jim_Hodge · 21-10-2022 05:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119775904#Comment_119775904

That's no guarantee of an interview. There may be more people with the qualifications and minimum experience than they will wish to interview. Others may also exceed your qualifications/experience. These processes can sometimes take months.

The Mulk · 21-10-2022 05:12PM

Was it a competency based application form? I screened applications last month, and we were lucky to get 5 people to interview, from 30 submissions.

Some people miss the whole technique of answering these questions.

Anyway, best of luck, hope you hear something soon.

21-10-2022 05:13PM

I’ve heard of processes in the private sector being as little as quick call from a recruiter followed by a call from a company offering a substantial contract job, but for a permanent in the public sector there’s quite a filtering process to get to interview and if that’s successful you go onto a panel from where they may or may not give you a placement.

pauliebdub · 21-10-2022 06:41PM

Thanks all. I'm used to applying for private sector roles which contact is usually quite quick within a week if I'm called for interview. I'll just have to be patient.

FluffPiece · 21-10-2022 06:43PM

You'll be at minimum - 4 weeks.

But could likely be looking at 8 - 12 weeks before first contact.

mtb_sends · 21-10-2022 06:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119776041#Comment_119776041

Can you elaborate on the technique element please?

surrender monkey · 21-10-2022 07:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119776460#Comment_119776460

The jobs are advertised giving a number of competencies such as personal effectiveness, management and change etc and they ask you to cite examples of times where you showed these competencies in 300 words or less. You fill out the examples using the star technique situation, task. Action result. So you describe the situation, the task you had to do, the actions you undertook to complete the task and the end result. A good form with examples will get you the interview after that it's up to you. Most public sector jobs are this way

Jim2007 · 21-10-2022 08:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119775904#Comment_119775904

There could be anything from 1 to 1000+ applicants depending on the popularity of the position and at least 50% are going to meet the requirements of the job and many will exceed them. If there are too few they might decide to re advertise or take different approach, if there are 50 it might take a week or two to filter and it it's a 1000 it could take weeks.... There is just no way of any of us on the internet to guess it. Do they have a contact address, perhaps you could ask them.

The Mulk · 22-10-2022 11:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119776488#Comment_119776488

The majority of marks are generally given for the action, in my experience, what the candidate did, the steps taken etc.

A strong example is key in these instances.

Flinty997 · 23-10-2022 09:30PM

You can get called for interviews months after applying in big organisations.

I dislike competencies based interviews, at the ones I've been involved in. Heavy in HR speak, and quite removed from the actually role being applied for. Candidates are either completely baffled or following a prepared scripts. Might be just where I work. Though I did training in sitting and giving them from a outside company and it didn't really change my mind.

But yeah if you are doing one do a lot of preparation as others have said. Have you examples ready, and make sure they tick the competency boxes.

How long before being called for interview.

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