HSE EMT interviews 2009

standclear · 03-03-2009 09:59PM #1

hi, got the D1, C1 and had the aptitude tests last week in Dublin..didnt manage to finish last four questions of the visual reasoning test, as by that stage all the little shapes looked the same to me:), so do i have a chance or not of being called to stage 2, whatever that entails?
am coming from PDF but not medical end,and have fetac level 5 occupational health with AED, manual handling and fire marshall.thats it course wise. noticed i was considerably older (and a lay-dee!) than the other applicants in the testing centre, but do a lot of circuit training etc so am fairly fit.

anything i need to know? what ye think of private colleges..any other relevant courses etc i need if and before i get called to an interview-or have i blown it??
be gentle..am a newbie..:o
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timmywex · 03-03-2009 11:02PM

Going by the courses you have done theres a good chance that you would get called for interview, you seem to have a good bit of expirience and that. But they mightnt look at the cv if you didnt do well enough!

I have no idea but do let us know how you get on through the recruitment process

standclear · 03-03-2009 11:11PM

thats what i mean,is it a basic intelligence test, and anyone that gets a half decent score gets called-or is it the top scorers overall..which would seem a bit odd, as theres other qualities neede as an emt than just being good at logical sequence tests? what do you think???
will find out end march either way..
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EMTrying · 05-03-2009 12:14AM

Hey Standclear

I also did the selection test last week in Dublin and I would have to agree, the analytical reasoning test started to fry the brain near the end. I got them all done though I had to guess about 6 or so.

How did you find the test over all? I read on another forum that there was about 1000 applicants to sit the test and it will be the top 200 to progress to the next stage and to eventually form a panel of around 70. So if any of that is true, the standard will be high.

Best of luck to you

Red Dwarf · 05-03-2009 11:19AM

A bit of advice:

Don't listen to the gossip regarding numbers and panels, it always happens with the NAS application process and before you know it "you will have to give a kidney to the HSE to get on the panel" :rolleyes:

Focus on what you put in your application form, skills, achievements, etc. That is what asked at interview. Also it might be a good idea to arrange a visit to your local NAS base and have a chat with the L-EMT/Ops officer regarding current and future developments of the ambulance service and gain as much understanding as possible regarding the role of a paramedic and AP.

Best of luck with your application.

standclear · 05-03-2009 10:45PM

yep red dwarf, if the HSE is anything like the PDF chinese whispers to go by;)...

The test itself was much like I thought, but ran out of time in the end..another fifteen mins would have done it..
There is a brand new course beginning in Inchicore College Dublin around September. I heard its supported by the NAS, in so far as they were consulted on the curriculum and is basically a pre-EMT course lasting a school year, ie. until June. All I know so far is that it is full time, a Fetac Level 5, and uniformed,( something similar to the NAS.) Think its interview based but apparently mega cheap-around 400 euros. Not sure of too much more but will give them a bell and check the facts from the fiction.
Anyone else heard of it?
If it does take place it'll probably consist of the 800 people who didn't get interviewed for the HSE trainee positions.:)
There is that course, and also a November 2009 course by the Ambulance Training School costing 2,500 euros which qualifies a person to work on the privates..haha..just re -read that and it sounds kinda funny..:D

Anyway, if anybody can advise/enlighten or contradict please feel free!
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DUBDUBDUB · 09-03-2009 01:04PM

Hello all,

Am i missing something here? The only application form i had was the one on public jobs asking about C1, D1 etc. I sat the aptitude and am confident i passed but dont know if in the top 200 till the 18th March.

Has anyone else filled in a form with details regarding first aid courses etc?? If so, i am worried now as i aint!!!

standclear · 09-03-2009 07:35PM

hi, no you aren't missing anything!! That was my point- that so much seems to be dependant on a top result in the aptitudes, in order to be called for an initial interview. So, relevant experience wouldn't be an issue until if and when you are called..
Best of Luck
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Bang Bang · 15-03-2009 08:09PM

Red Dwarf wrote: »

A bit of advice:

Don't listen to the gossip regarding numbers and panels, it always happens with the NAS application process and before you know it "you will have to give a kidney to the HSE to get on the panel" :rolleyes:

Focus on what you put in your application form, skills, achievements, etc. That is what asked at interview. Also it might be a good idea to arrange a visit to your local NAS base and have a chat with the L-EMT/Ops officer regarding current and future developments of the ambulance service and gain as much understanding as possible regarding the role of a paramedic and AP.

Best of luck with your application.

Sound piece of advice.
There's no point in going into any interview for any job with first gaining knowledge and any future known development of that job.

The best of luck to everyone who applied.

DUBDUBDUB · 16-03-2009 06:45PM

Got the email, passed and happy. Didnt tell me where i came in the order of merit though, the number isnt there!! Oh well, interviews are starting on the 20th April.

Good luck all!!

standclear · 16-03-2009 10:23PM

Yep i got the email aswell, and the big gap where order of merit should be!?So, on to the next stage!:D
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EMTrying · 17-03-2009 04:57PM

That makes three of us so!

standclear · 17-03-2009 06:41PM

EMTrying wrote: »

That makes three of us so!

well done!:D

DUBDUBDUB · 18-03-2009 11:36AM

anyone have a heads up on what the application form involves?? I think they may ask for real life scenarios you have been involved in relevant to team building, displaying leadership etc. Similar to the Gardai.

Anyway, i phone the HSE and asked how many positions there are. was told 22/23 however " things are changing in here every day so dont bank on it"

Apparently the plan is to start the first 13/14 in September and the rest stay on the panel till 2010!! Get the horrible feeling that if you are not in batch 1 then things could be changed by 2010. but just speculation.

Oh well, studying to do!

DUBDUBDUB · 23-03-2009 12:40PM

Came 25th. Does anyone know if it has any bearing on if you get called to interview or not? Or is it all based on the application form?

COS1 · 23-03-2009 02:27PM

Came 85th!

EMTrying · 23-03-2009 08:53PM

Hey DUBDUBDUB
I don't think it really matters at this stage, I would imagine the majority of people that passed will get called for interview. Also, your interview pretty much starts when you fill in the application form!
I came 16th, anyone know how many got through the first stage?

darragh o meara · 23-03-2009 09:30PM

Came 28th myself.... From what the information booklet states " the top 200 from the aptitude test will be called forward for interview" Thats when the fun starts....

COS1 · 23-03-2009 10:15PM

EMTrying wrote: »

Hey DUBDUBDUB
I don't think it really matters at this stage, I would imagine the majority of people that passed will get called for interview. Also, your interview pretty much starts when you fill in the application form!
I came 16th, anyone know how many got through the first stage?

200 i believe. was the top 200 from the amount that sat the exam.

DUBDUBDUB · 27-03-2009 06:39PM

Just heard on the radio there is a freeze on ALL, repeat ALL public service employment. I phoned Manorhamilton and they said that all they know for the moment is whats on the radio.

Their advice is to carry on as normal with the application process and a panel will be formed as normal. I spoke to a Paramedic the other day and he told me they are already majorly understaffed (like the rest of the frontline HSE depts) and should there be a freeze, with guys retiring, dropping out of training, leaving for the privates etc it will leave the service in a disaster scenario.

Does anyone have any news on this? I have not been working for 6 months and this seems like another kick in the teeth.

need to try and remain positive as there is still a panel to be formed, may just have to wait longer

COS1 · 27-03-2009 07:05PM

DUBDUBDUB wrote: »

Just heard on the radio there is a freeze on ALL, repeat ALL public service employment. I phoned Manorhamilton and they said that all they know for the moment is whats on the radio.

Their advice is to carry on as normal with the application process and a panel will be formed as normal. I spoke to a Paramedic the other day and he told me they are already majorly understaffed (like the rest of the frontline HSE depts) and should there be a freeze, with guys retiring, dropping out of training, leaving for the privates etc it will leave the service in a disaster scenario.

Does anyone have any news on this? I have not been working for 6 months and this seems like another kick in the teeth.

need to try and remain positive as there is still a panel to be formed, may just have to wait longer

No need to panic, Interviews will be going ahead as normal.

DUBDUBDUB · 27-03-2009 07:13PM

I am sure interviews will go ahead but its the thoughts of sitting on a panel waiting and waiting and waiting and (you get the idea). I will carry on regardless but am praying that the chimps in government decide it will only be further political suicide to fail to replace retiring EMT's Gardai etc.

timmywex · 27-03-2009 11:21PM

Ambulance service has been in a state for years

Understaffing nightmare.

Thats why you hear if the nearly unlimited hours of overtime that can be picked up! And theres not that much scope to cut out overtime either!

Leo Demidov · 02-04-2009 10:03PM

according to manorhamilton, interviews will go ahead as planned.

apparently no freeze on recruitment, all vacancies will be filled(dept of finance website referring specifically to emt)

according to current trainee, aspects of current training have been cut and next class has been suspended (first of 09 campaign due to start in late may) not 100% sure of these facts as they are second hand.

just wondering if many people used that cork based specialist careers company who had training days last weekend, if so was it any good, didnt make it.

ta.

darragh o meara · 03-04-2009 08:06PM

Yeah I used the career services crowd. They were very good and informative, Would highly reccomend them on both the aptitude course and the interview prep course.. I went through the aptitude test and interview last year and the courses really showed me where I went wrong.

As for the 2009 recruitment, the last of 2008's panel are starting in May this year and a few from the 2009 panel will fill up the rest, after that I think the next batch is due to start in September of this year. From what I heard there is a severe shortage of EMT's and with the proposed levy on lump sum pension payments due a lot of the older lads will be trying to retire before it comes in so no sortage of placements for those who want them and can pass the interview.

Fingers crossed I will be part of the May group....

Leo Demidov · 03-04-2009 08:13PM

where did you come in aptitude testing and does this have any impact on rank after interview

darragh o meara · 06-04-2009 07:17PM

wexfjord wrote: »

where did you come in aptitude testing and does this have any impact on rank after interview

I came 28th in the aptitude test but this means nothing after the test its only a culling to make the interview process easier. Its their way of reducing 2000 down to 200.

emer tech · 08-04-2009 01:39PM

Hi all, been reading for a while, about time i posted, also waiting for an interview date.
anyone receive a letter for the interview yet?

also hello emt trying, we met recently in galway!

COS1 · 08-04-2009 01:56PM

Hi Emer, Im also waiting for an interwiew date, i reckon we will recieve them tomorrow or friday at the latest.

emer tech · 08-04-2009 02:15PM

hopefully , starting to panic, well suppose we'll know in the next 2 days:)

EMTrying · 08-04-2009 04:09PM

Hey emer tech, hows things, how are you getting on with interview preparation? I haven’t received any letter yet either, though I was temped to say that I had to scare everyone!

HSE EMT interviews 2009

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