Higher Executive Officer 2024

Focus on the capability framework. They dont use the competency one for the comepetition. Have an answer for each sub element. They do the presentation first, it's on one of the strategic priorities of the civil service renewal strategy. You pick one and let them know how you would implement it into your current department as the HEO. They give you 5 mins to present then ask questions after. They send you links om exactly what they want/require.

Hi everyone and congratulations to all who have been paced and also all who ha e recently been shortlisted.

I was placed number 49 OOM in batch 4.

Would anyone have any insight as to how many vacancies they maybe .

In my department I was told the civil service is at a HEO deficit of 30% vacancies

I'm in batch 3 for Dublin; got a message inviting me for an interview. However, I'm flying out 30 minutes before my interview time so I emailed PAS to inform them of this & requested the interview be rescheduled. In response, I was informed the batch of interviews will be held during 06-09 May and all slots are full.

They've added me to the next batch of interviews but they couldn't give a timeline if or when this batch will actually be invited for interview as the whole process is vacancy led. Which just leads to another level of uncertainty.

For me, for them to have no flexibility - it sucks. I had been been checking my publicjobs inbox reguarly since December and now it's back to the waiting game. Not a happy bunny.

The same happened with my EO comp back in the day, and like above poster, I was rescheduled quick enough. I found PAS to be quite wary to give specifics for situations like this, but I was only waiting 5 weeks from my initial interview date until the next date.

Can I ask what OOM you are if you don't mind?

I’m batch 3 too but haven’t received an invitation to interview yet.. can I ask what oom you are? Definitely sucks that they can’t reschedule for you.

similarly , I was shortlisted for interview in early September and had my interview for Offaly on 7th Feb.
but they are interviewing based on vacancies so there is no way of knowing when you’ll be called really.

Do anybody know how many are on batch 3?

For the Dublin area

That's what I ended up doing - I booked a new outbound flight so I could take up the interview time that was offered to me. Didn't want to risk being unavailable the second time around.

I'm #174 in Batch 3 so it at least goes up to 174

I emailed them today about holidays soon and they replied and said the interview will be scheduled as normal and that I can contact them to reschedule if needed. I think they changed their policy on taking holidays into consideration before telling you your interview date.

It's a department of your choice but you need to be prepared to answer questions on all aspects of the report and the Department you've chosen

I would be surprised if they give you an interview date while on hols but I could be proven wrong.

The best of luck with your interview. Hope all goes well

Nothing would surprise me as I did my EO interview whilst on holidays in Spain in 38° heat. There was no option to change dates then

Update from PAS on 24.04.25 and was advised;

At present we have called candidates up to and including the order of merit 45 forward to stage 3 from batch 3 for Dublin.