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2019 AO Competition announced

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Comments

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    #212
    KRedzer
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭KRedzer


    nialljf wrote: »
    What's the latest on general stream?

    I'm in top 200. Am I out of luck at this stage?

    Have you been called to the Assessment Centre, no? I have mine on Wednesday this week.


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    #213
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,668 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    KRedzer wrote: »
    Have you been called to the Assessment Centre, no? I have mine on Wednesday this week.

    What was your order of merit?


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    #214
    KRedzer
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭KRedzer


    Sad Professor wrote: »
    What was your order of merit?

    55th


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    #215
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,668 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    KRedzer wrote: »
    55th

    I think they've only called up to around that number. I'm in the early 200s and haven't heard anything yet.


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    #216
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Sad Professor wrote: »
    I think they've only called up to around that number. I'm in the early 200s and haven't heard anything yet.

    Could be in the next batch. If you look at the board from last year they were calling people well into 2019 (into June and July it looked like, though mostly for the specialised streams by that stage). There will likely be more than one assessment centre.


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    #217
    AOHopeful2019
    Registered Users Posts: 28 ✭AOHopeful2019


    I have the assessment centre on Friday and was just going through the documents I've to bring along, for the 'References from previous employers listed on your application form to cover the last three years' does that just mean contact details? I wouldn't have written references but I could definitely provide contact details. It's my first time applying for civil service so just want to make sure I've everything correct!

    Best of luck to everyone in the interviews!


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    #218
    Senor Chang
    Registered Users Posts: 29 ✭Senor Chang


    AOHopeful2019 wrote: »
    I have the assessment centre on Friday and was just going through the documents I've to bring along, for the 'References from previous employers listed on your application form to cover the last three years' does that just mean contact details? I wouldn't have written references but I could definitely provide contact details. It's my first time applying for civil service so just want to make sure I've everything correct!

    Best of luck to everyone in the interviews!

    I’m getting a written reference, but maybe that’s wrong! I thought if it was just the contact details then they would have provided a form like the one for current employer, and I think it says to bring the original and a copy


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    #219
    AOHopeful2019
    Registered Users Posts: 28 ✭AOHopeful2019


    Senor Chang wrote: »
    I’m getting a written reference, but maybe that’s wrong! I thought if it was just the contact details then they would have provided a form like the one for current employer, and I think it says to bring the original and a copy

    Yeah I ended up getting a written reference this morning from an old manager just to be safe.
    Do you have the assessment centre tomorrow too?


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    #220
    KRedzer
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭KRedzer


    I called the PAS last week to clarify this, and the person told me to just bring the contact details. I informed them that we received no form to do this aside from the current employer form, and they told me to just use this for the past employers too. So I made a separate sheet for the details of past employers, and submitted it in the test centre yesterday with no issue. it is a bit confusing, so I'm still expecting some issues with it if I am successful.


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    #221
    AOHopeful2019
    Registered Users Posts: 28 ✭AOHopeful2019


    KRedzer wrote: »
    I called the PAS last week to clarify this, and the person told me to just bring the contact details. I informed them that we received no form to do this aside from the current employer form, and they told me to just use this for the past employers too. So I made a separate sheet for the details of past employers, and submitted it in the test centre yesterday with no issue. it is a bit confusing, so I'm still expecting some issues with it if I am successful.

    Yeah I had assumed it was just contact details but when I didn't see any form I started to think they were looking for a written one instead.

    How did you find the assessment centre? I'm particularly worried about the presentation.


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    #222
    Portomarino
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭Portomarino


    For what it's worth I actually found the presentation part much easier to handle than the interview. For the presentation you're given plenty of time to prepare material and collect arguments whereas I found the interview to be brutal and intense especially with the interruptions.

    I felt that I answered most competency questions to an appropriate level however the 'Knowledge and understanding of the role of AO in the Civil Service and Self Development' part went poorly and there was lots of grilling here. Given that qualifying standards for all competencies must be met I fear I might have blown it for this year which I find a bit frustrating as everything else (other competencies and presentation) went well and I've only myself to blame. Just needed to vent somewhere.

    Something that I found slightly odd was the fact that I was not asked to complete the 2nd stage of the assessment process but instead skipped directly from the online assessment to the interview/presentation and I placed 75th so a bit lower than others in this thread.


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    #223
    AOHopeful2019
    Registered Users Posts: 28 ✭AOHopeful2019


    Portomarino wrote: »
    For what it's worth I actually found the presentation part much easier to handle than the interview. For the presentation you're given plenty of time to prepare material and collect arguments whereas I found the interview to be brutal and intense especially with the interruptions.

    I felt that I answered most competency questions to an appropriate level however the 'Knowledge and understanding of the role of AO in the Civil Service and Self Development' part went poorly and there was lots of grilling here. Given that qualifying standards for all competencies must be met I fear I might have blown it for this year which I find a bit frustrating as everything else (other competencies and presentation) went well and I've only myself to blame. Just needed to vent somewhere.

    Something that I found slightly odd was the fact that I was not asked to complete the 2nd stage of the assessment process but instead skipped directly from the online assessment to the interview/presentation and I placed 75th so a bit lower than others in this thread.

    I'd have to agree with this. Found the interview very intense. Two of the interviews were extremely nice but one looked completely uninterested in what I had to say and seemed a bit bored so don't think it went too well at all.

    Presentation wasn't fantastic but I argued my decision and I think they were happy enough, didnt manage the full 15mins so hopefully that doesn't work against me.


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    #224
    sj20111
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭sj20111


    Did anyone think to ask PAS when results might be out? Given that here on boards I think I only saw people mentioning assessment centre dates on the 20, 21 and 22 Nov. for the first batch called, is it possible we mind get results this week?


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    #225
    ForEsme
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭ForEsme


    How is the timing/date for your interview decided? Is it random selection, provided you passed the previous stages? Thanks


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    #226
    ForEsme
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭ForEsme


    Results are out ( at least for HR stream). Good luck.


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    #227
    AOHopeful2019
    Registered Users Posts: 28 ✭AOHopeful2019


    They're out for business and finance too, passed and in the 40's! Very surprised I passer but delighted now.

    Best of luck to everyone!


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    #228
    Bec123
    Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭Bec123


    Also passed! I'm in the 20s on General stream and 30s on Business and Finance stream. Really surprised but delighted!!


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    #229
    Senor Chang
    Registered Users Posts: 29 ✭Senor Chang


    I placed in the 20s for the business stream, anyone know how many people they're likely to take on? Or how many they took in previous years? I'm trying to figure out if it's okay to get a bit excited :P


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    #230
    deargdeabhil
    Registered Users Posts: 7 ✭deargdeabhil


    Also placed in the 20s for business stream... Any idea if there is a change of been offered a position???


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    #231
    MrsBean
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭MrsBean


    deargdeabhil wrote: »
    Also placed in the 20s for business stream... Any idea if there is a change of been offered a position???

    Yes, I would put money on it. I'd say you'll be placed in early new year, they'll fly through them.

    Congrats to those successful!


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    #232
    ForEsme
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭ForEsme


    Any chance of being offered a position for HR stream? In top 10. Thanks


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    #233
    MrsBean
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭MrsBean


    Well I don't work for PAS so this isn't gospel but I am a civil servant so I'm aware of the general speed of the process. My honest opinion is that if you were successful at the recent interviews you will be offered a position in the next few months, whether specialist streams or general. There's been a lot of AO to AP promotion this year so plenty of AO spots to fill across the service.

    I think (and hope for my own sake!) they will move on to do another batch of interviews for those of us lower down the order of merit soon. I'm 103 on the general order of merit so will hopefully hear about an interview early next year.

    Top 10, you should be chuffed!


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    #234
    ForEsme
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭ForEsme


    Thanks for that MrsBean, wasn't sure if I should be quietly optimistic or not. Fingers crossed you'll get called for interview soon.


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    #235
    rickara3
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭rickara3


    What kind of results did people get for the presentation? Very hard to kbow what exactly they were looking for. Is it possible to get more in-depth feedback on our interviews and oresentations e.g. Inteviewer notes etc?


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    #236
    MrsBean
    Registered Users Posts: 312 ✭✭MrsBean


    rickara3 wrote: »
    What kind of results did people get for the presentation? Very hard to kbow what exactly they were looking for. Is it possible to get more in-depth feedback on our interviews and oresentations e.g. Inteviewer notes etc?

    It’s worth a shot, although they may just give you a generic response. There is also an appeals process if you want to go down that route. You must apply within 2 working days of your results for an informal review and within 10 working days for a formal review.

    It is very frustrating not knowing where you went wrong, I’ve been there myself, so commiserations.


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    #237
    mac1ntosh
    Registered Users Posts: 93 ✭✭mac1ntosh


    rickara3 wrote: »
    What kind of results did people get for the presentation? Very hard to kbow what exactly they were looking for. Is it possible to get more in-depth feedback on our interviews and oresentations e.g. Inteviewer notes etc?


    You definitely can, but you have to put in a written request for it. Shouldn’t take too long to get, and there is an appeals process! It’s outlined in the booklet at the start of this thread.


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    #238
    Jenor0050
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭Jenor0050


    Anyone placed off the panel?


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    #239
    ForEsme
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭ForEsme


    I heard they started drawing down from the panel todsy.


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    #240
    rickara3
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17 ✭rickara3


    ForEsme wrote: »
    I heard they started drawing down from the panel todsy.

    From which stream? Do you know someone who got a call? Presume people have to go through the various paperwork checks and garda vetting etc with PAS before details about the actual department and team are provided


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    #241
    ForEsme
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭ForEsme


    rickara3 wrote: »
    From which stream? Do you know someone who got a call? Presume people have to go through the various paperwork checks and garda vetting etc with PAS before details about the actual department and team are provided

    I was asking PAS in relation to the HR stream. Not familiar with the whole process at all myself.


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