Third Secretary Campaign 2022

Stage 1 was three different tests. Verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and situational judgement. Stage 2 was today and that was a Precis test. Read a 3 page article and summarise in 350-400 words.

Got the Precis results today. Scored 37, so just about got to stage 3.

You may be correct actually. I'm not so sure now 😂

I got 41 in the precis, date for interview came in ten minutes after the results. Depending on how the interviews go and number of positions available, I think they've called additional batches in previous competitions.

Anyone know how many people got called for interview for DSO?

I have an interview date in June for Third Secretary, précis score in the high 30s

I have the same question. There is a message earlier in the thread that hints at it but not 100% sure. I got 37 and got the interview call, language test done too. Not overly stressed but because of work I can't really leave before January. Good luck to everyone in this round!

Thanks for the info. Seems like from start to finish the 3rd sec process can take up to two years. Getting on the panel is no guarantee you will land a job, all very confusing for someone who has no experience with the civil service. I wonder if anyone who has started can give us some insight. I will be down around 40% after tax if I take it and I've heard there are delays in HQ for postings of up to 4 years. Seems very different compared with the days you'd be on post after a year or so and many people became second sec after 2 years. Now there aren't many second secs and the jump to first sec seems to take a while. Reading the policy documents like Global Ireland and stuff it seems there is a bit of a pivot and definitely a massive expansion in the DFA going on. Interesting time to join for sure.

Hard luck! Failed on Leadership Potential myself, which I thought would be one of my strongest competencies pre-interview. I could tell that the interviewer for that competency was not impressed by my examples.

If it's any consolation I have international development education and highly relevant work experience, including visits to projects in developing countries funded by the Irish government.

Placed in top 15 in stage 1 and scored 46 in the precis, which were both well beyond my expectations after comically bad results in the online tests for the Third Secretary campaign. My mistake this time was not giving enough attention to examples for some of the competencies while preparing. I spent a lot of time reviewing the 3 policy documents they recommended reading, in particular 'A Better World'. I was not asked any questions in the interview on Ireland's Overseas Development Assistance. For context, I placed 15 on an OOM in the Development Specialist Intern competition of 2022, (stayed with current employer due to better job security). I should have placed higher, but I flopped on questions related to 'A Better World'. Hence, I went into overdrive on knowing that document inside out this time around. My feeling is that a good few of those hired as Development Specialist Interns in 2022 will be hired as DSOs as an outcome of this competition.

Makes sense, I was getting conflicting information but I think I saw a few listed in linkedIn.

It is a 40 question multiple choice, I think it is a good measure of level because I landed right where I did in the official tests. It wasn't stressful or anything.

For anyone who has been successful in previous TS (or any civil service job I guess), what does the clearance process look like? What documents are required? For the police clearance, are there DFA forma that must be sent to the relevant jurisdictions, or what does that look like?

I was successful in the recent DSO interviews and place quite highly on the panel. I've lived in a few oscure places for longer than 6 months so I'd like to get the ball rolling as I expect gather the relevant police clearances might take a while....

Limerick is mainly Development Cooperation and Africa Division (DCAD/Irish Aid). There might be a few bits of other units there too. This division predominantly has Development Specialist Officers (DSO) rather than Third Secs.

I believe previous departmental policy mandated that all new Third Secs start in Dublin (for thorough indoctrination!). This may have changed now since at least one Third Sec from the latest campaign has started in Limerick.

You'd imagine that anyone requesting a Limerick posting would have to be in DCAD and there would have to be an opening in a willing unit there.

There are internships in the DFA, they were advertised quite recently so you'll probably be waiting until 2024. There are also graduate policy officer roles, I've seen a couple of postings on the Permrep website for them.

The department also has COs, EOs and AOs that come from the normal competitions, but they aren't diplomats. If you look at the AP threads here, there are first secs recruited in open competitions, but it's a very small number.

I'd expect everyone who made the panel to get called.

I was successful in the interview in the second round and made the panel. I just wanted to let those from the third round know that it can be a really long process. It took PAS 3 weeks to send an email asking for documents (diplomas, transcripts, etc.) for Garda clearance. I also had to get police clearance from abroad, then I had to get employer/academic references. And now I’m waiting for the PAS to sign off on everything (still not 100% sure what that means). And that’s all without having received a formal offer. So if you’re someone who currently isn’t working I’d really suggest you get a job in the meantime because it looks like I may not even start working until September and I interviewed at the end of March.

So long ! Thanks for the insight :)

Well done! I'm a little bit down the line from yourself. Do you think the batch 2 cohort will have to receive offers before we get asked for clearance? I'm not too optimistic but I've been told by friends that I should get called eventually. Keep us updated if you get called for clearance and good luck!

Hello,

Have been stalking this thread for a few months now and am appreciative of everyone's contributions. I'm sure I'm not the only one who does so! :)

I've been placed 3rd on the OOM following this 3rd round of interviews. I'm hoping to start soon but as IRL_25 suggests, it might be quite a while. I know people in DFA already who say there are a lot of Third Sec vacancies but it seems that the slow down is because of resourcing issues on the PAS side. Just said I'd leave a comment and say that as soon as I hear anything, I'll comment. I know it's helped me mentally process the whole competition seeing how people get on/when they're contacted etc.

From an anxious worrier!!