Clerical Positions in the Civil and Public Service

The_Conductor · 17-09-2014 11:21AM

Zipppy wrote: »

Hardly be COs though ?

I'd imagine EOs/HEOs- with a resident AP......?

Aglomerado · 17-09-2014 11:22AM

Zipppy wrote: »

Hardly be COs though ?

Hard to say. There are more recruitment campaigns for higher grades in the pipeline.

damienf1 · 17-09-2014 07:05PM

I take it that all the tests are all the same and that they don't change

The_Conductor · 17-09-2014 07:39PM

damienf1 wrote: »

I take it that all the tests are all the same and that they don't change

That would be a good reason why you'd only be allowed sit it once......?
Don't know though.......

nukie1978 · 17-09-2014 07:42PM

Aglomerado wrote: »

Hard to say. There are more recruitment campaigns for higher grades in the pipeline.

Any more detail on this? Only upcoming recruitment campaign I've heard about is the EO competition in November.

18-09-2014 08:05AM

Zipppy wrote: »

Hardly be COs though ?

Will be primarily CO's as it currently is with a few EO's in addition to this.

ninebeanrows · 18-09-2014 10:23AM

Found numerical harder than online test, screwed up near end there with time, probably only got 13/14 right. Error checking seemed better though.

Any idea what pass rate on numerical will be?

Aglomerado · 18-09-2014 10:56AM

nukie1978 wrote: »

Any more detail on this? Only upcoming recruitment campaign I've heard about is the EO competition in November.

I've heard of an AO competition (general) which is supposedly coming up this month. No sign of it yet though.

Zipppy · 18-09-2014 02:29PM

Aglomerado wrote: »

I've heard of an AO competition (general) which is supposedly coming up this month. No sign of it yet though.

Rumour trail within has EO, AO and AP competitions both general and specialist in coming months. ..

The One Doctor · 18-09-2014 03:54PM

Nikki2302 wrote: »

Done and dusted, thank god! Can't say I enjoyed it, the numerical test was pretty difficult. Anybody else find that?

Yup, wasn't too easy.

keowny8 · 18-09-2014 04:23PM

Is Dublin finished or near finished?

niamhzie · 18-09-2014 04:30PM

My group last Friday were told we'd hear back end of Sept/early Oct, is that what others were told too? Can't wait that long! :P

Princess Zelda · 18-09-2014 04:45PM

Did it today. I remember some other boardsie would have done it today too. I would have said hello but no-one was talking

That numerical test was hella tough.

@niamhzie we were told today the same time frame also. So probably mass release of results at that stage.

I think there was about 50% no show today.

darragh o meara · 18-09-2014 05:13PM

Is the test in Dublin the same style as was online?? As in really quick etc?

Starry12 · 18-09-2014 06:23PM

darragh o meara wrote: »

Is the test in Dublin the same style as was online?? As in really quick etc?

Yep. All very quick. Cant remember exactly but say 20 mins for 21 q's in the numerical and 8 mins for 46 q's in the error checking. Found it to be tight, but enough time.

18-09-2014 06:49PM

Princess Zelda wrote: »

I would have said hello but no-one was talking

Yeah, I've never been at a group assessment quite so silent. No-one talking and not a sound for the whole thing! Even as we left it was a mostly silent march to the exit.

Starry12 · 18-09-2014 07:03PM

They must have all been like that so cos mine was the same on Tuesday. Eerily quiet...

Princess Zelda · 18-09-2014 07:37PM

I think it was partly because of the competition aspect of it but who knows?

Ciaran · 18-09-2014 08:36PM

Princess Zelda wrote: »

Did it today. I remember some other boardsie would have done it today too. I would have said hello but no-one was talking

That numerical test was hella tough.

@niamhzie we were told today the same time frame also. So probably mass release of results at that stage.

I think there was about 50% no show today.

Weren't many empty spaces this morning, maybe 5 unused tables. Numerical got tricky towards the end alright, half way through I thought I was going to have plenty of time left over at the end to check my answers but only had a minute or so.

Princess Zelda wrote: »

I think it was partly because of the competition aspect of it but who knows?

I was suffering with a cold, that's my excuse for antisocialness.

The_Conductor · 19-09-2014 06:07AM

Princess Zelda wrote: »

I think it was partly because of the competition aspect of it but who knows?

Its pretty much the same for all the competitions in there- and indeed the interviews. With the exceptions of the few competitions where they have team based exercises- where they remotely view the interactions of candidates amongst one another (most definitely not at CO level)- people tend to keep to themselves- after all everyone else present is a competitor for a post......

keowny8 · 19-09-2014 10:08AM

Is it 20 questions in 20 mins kind of thing or is it 4 questions in 4 minutes and then onto the next set of 4 questions?

Meathlass · 19-09-2014 10:21AM

keowny8 wrote: »

Is it 20 questions in 20 mins kind of thing or is it 4 questions in 4 minutes and then onto the next set of 4 questions?

No, the time isn't split up so you can go back and forward through the questions, skip some if you want, recheck your answers etc. BUT each test (numerical, error checking etc) has it's own clearly defined times and once you're finished that's it, you can't change any answers.

keowny8 · 19-09-2014 10:55AM

Thanks Meathlass.... I think thats a better way....

19-09-2014 11:05AM

The_Conductor wrote: »

...after all everyone else present is a competitor for a post......

Still, I've gone for large group assessments in the past (even the AO ones out at Croke Park) and I always exchanged a couple of words with others. Never experienced such deathly silence. (And I'm not even a talkative sort)

Aglomerado · 19-09-2014 11:39AM

The_Conductor wrote: »

Its pretty much the same for all the competitions in there- and indeed the interviews. With the exceptions of the few competitions where they have team based exercises- where they remotely view the interactions of candidates amongst one another (most definitely not at CO level)- people tend to keep to themselves- after all everyone else present is a competitor for a post......

Very true. I attended an exam not so long ago where everyone stared sheepishly at the floor in the waiting area. The only people who spoke were myself and two colleagues from my own department.

gerbilgranny · 19-09-2014 01:10PM

The_Conductor wrote: »

Its pretty much the same for all the competitions in there- and indeed the interviews. With the exceptions of the few competitions where they have team based exercises- where they remotely view the interactions of candidates amongst one another (most definitely not at CO level)- people tend to keep to themselves- after all everyone else present is a competitor for a post......

I find that attitude quite sad. True, one wouldn't be handing out maths formulae to one's competitors, but I can't see any harm at all in saying 'hi, how are you, did you come far today?' and making a few jokey comments to lighten the situation. A nicer atmosphere for everyone helps everyone.

In fact - if I was organising this wretched competition - I'd give extra points to people who made an effort to be friendly to others!

There's actually a serious point here - to be able to interact with others when it's appropriate, to be able to create a pleasant and friendly atmosphere, and to demonstrate empathy - they are all important skills. Particularly if prospective employees will be dealing with the public or customers (so for example, Dept of Social Protection Staff, PeoplePoint Staff, Revenue Staff, etc etc etc) - business can be helped by the staff being able to establish a positive connection with the customer. Emotional Intelligence is a marvellous asset!

chopperp · 19-09-2014 01:35PM

how do you all hear about these jobs / positions ?

eroc79 · 19-09-2014 01:44PM

chopperp wrote: »

how do you all hear about these jobs / positions ?

I keep an eye on publicjobs.ie

chopperp · 19-09-2014 01:53PM

yeah I have signed up for notifications with them but have heard anything yet mainly more niche jobs nothing for basic civil servant

Fooker · 19-09-2014 08:09PM

Just out of interest, how did people do in the questionnaire in relation to the other scores?

Clerical Positions in the Civil and Public Service

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