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Principal Officer competition 2019

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12357…35

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    #122
    Megidje
    Registered Users Posts: 29 ✭Megidje


    Aitor wrote: »
    I presume dress code doesn’t matter?
    No but no wearing any of them fancy smart watches! Thought he was checking for signs of self harm when he asked me to show him my wrists!!


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    #123
    Irishder
    Registered Users Posts: 927 ✭✭✭Irishder


    Megidje wrote: »
    No but no wearing any of them fancy smart watches! Thought he was checking for signs of self harm when he asked me to show him my wrists!!

    That was a bit strange ok. Wonder how much each test costs


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    #124
    Summer2019
    Registered Users Posts: 111 ✭✭Summer2019


    Irishder wrote: »
    That was a bit strange ok. Wonder how much each test costs




    I had difficulty understanding my invigilator, was asking him to repeat everything twice! Also in the middle of one of the tests he started introducing himself again from the beginning, he was obviously talking to a new candidate but i could hear all the background noise from the call centre. So distracting!!


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    #125
    hardybuck
    Registered Users Posts: 5,162 ✭✭✭hardybuck


    Summer2019 wrote: »
    I had difficulty understanding my invigilator, was asking him to repeat everything twice! Also in the middle of one of the tests he started introducing himself again from the beginning, he was obviously talking to a new candidate but i could hear all the background noise from the call centre. So distracting!!

    You should probably complain about that.


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    #126
    kingvagabond
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭kingvagabond


    Hi All,

    I completed the two tests earlier today. The process was very user friendly.

    I found the test ok at the start. I felt I scored well. But as I progressed, particularly latter parts of test 2, I found extremely difficult albeit impossible.

    Is the general consensus the same?

    With about 15 mins to go I felt I hit a wall my brain was fried and the case study language was like Double Dutch.

    Also any ideas on how many folks took the tests? What number would be called for intereview?


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    #127
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    I did the test not long ago, and I found the first part of the test very okay - completed with more than 10 minutes to go (no idea of the weighting of that though), but we're likely to think we did okay in this element as we gave the answer we assumed was correct :D:pac:


    The second part was more of a crap shoot. I hit a blank on the maths part (which should have been my strong point) and was doubting my understanding of the information. I thought the last question(s) was simple enough... which definitely means I misunderstood! :o:pac:


    Summer2019 wrote: »
    I had difficulty understanding my invigilator, was asking him to repeat everything twice! Also in the middle of one of the tests he started introducing himself again from the beginning, he was obviously talking to a new candidate but i could hear all the background noise from the call centre. So distracting!!


    I had the same, it was very broken, electronic static, but thankfully we got to the start okay. But, I heard nothing once the test began. That would have been horribly distracting. They may review and compensate if you complain.

    kingvagabond wrote: »

    With about 15 mins to go I felt I hit a wall my brain was fried and the case study language was like Double Dutch.


    I had that for the maths part - questions that if you didn't have time pressure would be no problem, but this is the IQ part of the test and they need to stream somehow, so cannot complain.


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    #128
    Xofpod
    Registered Users Posts: 711 ✭✭✭Xofpod


    Last time out they brought 160 to the next stage I think.
    kingvagabond wrote: »
    Hi All,

    I completed the two tests earlier today. The process was very user friendly.

    I found the test ok at the start. I felt I scored well. But as I progressed, particularly latter parts of test 2, I found extremely difficult albeit impossible.

    Is the general consensus the same?

    With about 15 mins to go I felt I hit a wall my brain was fried and the case study language was like Double Dutch.

    Also any ideas on how many folks took the tests? What number would be called for intereview?


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    #129
    ThumbTaxed
    Registered Users Posts: 377 ✭✭ThumbTaxed


    Aitor wrote: »
    I presume dress code doesn’t matter?

    I am doing mine naked as I want to feel comfortable to be honest.


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    #130
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    ThumbTaxed wrote: »
    I am doing mine naked as I want to feel comfortable to be honest.


    It's okay, the supervisors are naked also.


    Actually, that reminds me. I wasn't expecting to see myself in the bottom right of the screen. Any possibilities of compensating the fact I'm devilishly handsome and a distraction even to myself :pac:


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    #131
    Roscoe69
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭Roscoe69


    kingvagabond wrote: »
    Hi All,

    I completed the two tests earlier today. The process was very user friendly.

    I found the test ok at the start. I felt I scored well. But as I progressed, particularly latter parts of test 2, I found extremely difficult albeit impossible.

    Is the general consensus the same?

    With about 15 mins to go I felt I hit a wall my brain was fried and the case study language was like Double Dutch.

    This was almost exactly my experience of it!

    My invigilator was a woman with a strong French accent who was very sound. As I was scanning the room for her with my laptop, the app disappeared from my screen and I had to log in again. Luckily I got back straight to her quickly enough but it was a bit disconcerting.

    I could hear a lot of call centre background noise at the start but it was muted as soon as the test started. Would not have been able to handle that.

    I had a good five minutes to spare on the first test so went back and adjusted one or two answers... the second test I had five seconds to spare before being shut down.


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    #132
    kingvagabond
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭kingvagabond


    So let's say 75 time slots to do the exam multiply by let's say 15 guests per slot gives 1,125. If you say 160 to stage 2, that will give you about 14.22% of top applicants get a call. That's pretty tough..... trying desperately here to keep the self confidence level high. Took a battering this morning , should of asked to check the wrists after the exam I'd say.

    How did people prepare for the tests?

    I read the material and tried the sample tests linked. But other than that nothing more tangible then that. I would think like everything with practice and time you could improve your skills in this area. But you'd probably have to invest a lot of time which may not be practible for many. thoughts...


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    #133
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    kingvagabond wrote: »
    I would think like everything with practice and time you could improve your skills in this area. But you'd probably have to invest a lot of time which may not be practible for many. thoughts...


    Apparently not for IQ tests, possibly a little but nothing material. Once you're familiar with the expectation from doing the sample tests there's not much more you can do to improve. That's my excuse for not doing more CA tests :pac:


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    #134
    Roscoe69
    Registered Users Posts: 16 ✭Roscoe69


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Apparently not for IQ tests, possibly a little but nothing material. Once you're familiar with the expectation from doing the sample tests there's not much more you can do to improve. That's my excuse for not doing more CA tests :pac:

    Ditto!


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    #135
    dixiefly
    Registered Users Posts: 2,947 ✭✭✭dixiefly


    I did them earlier also. Like some above I found the first part ok and was finished about 3 minutes to go.

    The second part I struggled on the first question - not really understanding what they wanted. After that it was fairly ok but i ran out of time on the last question - probably dilly dallied early on.


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    #136
    dixiefly
    Registered Users Posts: 2,947 ✭✭✭dixiefly


    kingvagabond wrote: »
    So let's say 75 time slots to do the exam multiply by let's say 15 guests per slot gives 1,125. If you say 160 to stage 2, that will give you about 14.22% of top applicants get a call. That's pretty tough..... trying desperately here to keep the self confidence level high. Took a battering this morning , should of asked to check the wrists after the exam I'd say.

    How did people prepare for the tests?

    I read the material and tried the sample tests linked. But other than that nothing more tangible then that. I would think like everything with practice and time you could improve your skills in this area. But you'd probably have to invest a lot of time which may not be practible for many. thoughts...

    I just read the instructions & did the example.


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    #137
    Summer2019
    Registered Users Posts: 111 ✭✭Summer2019


    hardybuck wrote: »
    You should probably complain about that.


    I did, I sent an email to PAS as I didnt find it professional at all, taking into account the grade that candidates are going for.


    I don't think anything will come out of it, but they should be aware of these issues for future contracts with providers they choose.


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    #138
    Bobby04
    Registered Users Posts: 384 ✭✭Bobby04


    Did it this morning, found first part ok but still very unsure if I'm right or completely off the mark on those questions - never my strong point. The second part I finished with 15 minutes to spare! I assumed all along there were more questions until it said I had done the last one!! I'm worried now I rushed them seeing as others hadn't much time to spare. I did review them all but didn't end up changing much if anything. Glad it's over. Good luck to everyone who did it.


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    #139
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Bobby04 wrote: »
    Did it this morning, found first part ok but still very unsure if I'm right or completely off the mark on those questions - never my strong point. The second part I finished with 15 minutes to spare! I assumed all along there were more questions until it said I had done the last one!! I'm worried now I rushed them seeing as others hadn't much time to spare. I did review them all but didn't end up changing much if anything. Glad it's over. Good luck to everyone who did it.


    People are wired differently. I did the first section in practically half the time allotted. To me (whether I'm right or wrong) they seemed obvious. Although one or two I had to read a few times.



    Whereas, I found the next section more difficult, and I struggled with the relevant info on the math type questions, and very unsure I understood what was being asked fully. And I'm a chartered accountant :pac: I did finish it and had about 5 minutes left over and went back to the maths questions and I was mentally drained at that stage and didn't make any changes.



    Anyway, I'd say we'll find out around the 22nd of Nov or early the week after.



    I think all the tests have been taken by now.


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    #140
    Bobby04
    Registered Users Posts: 384 ✭✭Bobby04


    Yeah to me that's mind boggling that anyone could find the first part easy!! Fair play to you.

    Each to their own...


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    #141
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Bobby04 wrote: »
    Yeah to me that's mind boggling that anyone could find the first part easy!! Fair play to you.

    Each to their own...


    If we could combine our mental talents we'd make a great PO applicant :D


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    #142
    badday
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭badday


    Did them earlier today - dreadful experience. Invigilator seemed distracted and unsure how to work the application, then they asked me to pause just after I had started the exam because they were having issues with another candidate. I had to explain that I didn't have the option to pause then I heard some other voices then the invigilator failed or 'forgot' to come back to me, eventually I just carried on myself. Background noise was dreadful not sure what was going on in the test centre but it sure was distracting. Overall not a pleasant experience and the problems the invigilator was having with the other candidate(s) sure didn't help me. I've done these type of remote invigilator tests before and with no such problems. Overall a very poor experience.


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    #143
    ThumbTaxed
    Registered Users Posts: 377 ✭✭ThumbTaxed


    Absolute pile of horse manure that is. Highly appropriate, appropriate, slightly appropriate and so on.

    Really.

    I knew what to expect so nothing specific to this test but in general I find that system dreadful as making decisions on this fictious examples isnt at all realistic.

    For example, the question about your A. Sec assuming you didn't brief him previously on something. How can you say you'd ring or email him without knowing what type of person they are. That's where common sense prevails and while they attempt to quiz that out of you anyone with some difference of cop on would have more questions to ask than simply pick a scaled down answer.

    I could really see a large accountancy firm hiring a senior member of staff on such results. Oh wait, maybe not..


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    #144
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Actually, question - did any of ye show the invigilator your working paper at the end?

    I let the time run out then it went back to the supervisor screen and after about 15 seconds I simply logged out after there was no contact. Only afterwards remembered I was supposed to show them my workings.


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    #145
    kingvagabond
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭kingvagabond


    Yes showed them my working paper at the end. He spoke to as soon as my time elapsed. He said test was complete, asked me to complete a survey and have a nice day. I too wished him a nice day.


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    #146
    Witco
    Registered Users Posts: 29 ✭Witco


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    Actually, question - did any of ye show the invigilator your working paper at the end?

    I let the time run out then it went back to the supervisor screen and after about 15 seconds I simply logged out after there was no contact. Only afterwards remembered I was supposed to show them my workings.

    No, I wasn't asked for it


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    #147
    Bobby04
    Registered Users Posts: 384 ✭✭Bobby04


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Actually, question - did any of ye show the invigilator your working paper at the end?

    I let the time run out then it went back to the supervisor screen and after about 15 seconds I simply logged out after there was no contact. Only afterwards remembered I was supposed to show them my workings.

    Yep had to show my work. Different invigilator for that bit compared to the one that started the process with me (she was nice!!)


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    #148
    Summer2019
    Registered Users Posts: 111 ✭✭Summer2019


    badday wrote: »
    Did them earlier today - dreadful experience. Invigilator seemed distracted and unsure how to work the application, then they asked me to pause just after I had started the exam because they were having issues with another candidate. I had to explain that I didn't have the option to pause then I heard some other voices then the invigilator failed or 'forgot' to come back to me, eventually I just carried on myself. Background noise was dreadful not sure what was going on in the test centre but it sure was distracting. Overall not a pleasant experience and the problems the invigilator was having with the other candidate(s) sure didn't help me. I've done these type of remote invigilator tests before and with no such problems. Overall a very poor experience.


    Badday, I think you should email PAS to inform them. I emailed them yesterday. It's not fair that due to inexperience of the providers staff and no fault of your own to lose marks for this stage.


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    #149
    hardybuck
    Registered Users Posts: 5,162 ✭✭✭hardybuck


    ThumbTaxed wrote: »
    Absolute pile of horse manure that is. Highly appropriate, appropriate, slightly appropriate and so on.

    Really.

    I knew what to expect so nothing specific to this test but in general I find that system dreadful as making decisions on this fictious examples isnt at all realistic.

    For example, the question about your A. Sec assuming you didn't brief him previously on something. How can you say you'd ring or email him without knowing what type of person they are. That's where common sense prevails and while they attempt to quiz that out of you anyone with some difference of cop on would have more questions to ask than simply pick a scaled down answer.

    I could really see a large accountancy firm hiring a senior member of staff on such results. Oh wait, maybe not..

    There's something wrong if two out of every three appointments need to come through this system. Especially if most of the successful candidates are internal candidates anyway.


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    #150
    Ollie321
    Registered Users Posts: 373 ✭✭Ollie321


    FYI Revenue has opened a new competition which might interest some of you:
    Principal Officer - Business Taxes Policy and Legislation Division - Cork


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    #151
    Sonjac
    Registered Users Posts: 17 ✭Sonjac


    Ollie321 wrote: »
    FYI Revenue has opened a new competition which might interest some of you:
    Principal Officer - Business Taxes Policy and Legislation Division - Cork

    Where do Revenue advertise? I don't think its through PAS?


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