2019 AO Competition announced

tricky@ · 01-09-2020 9:52pm

One more batch of interviews coming up for the general stream at end of September....

Dear xxxxx

“Further to your application for the Administrative Officer 2019 competition, additional vacancies have arisen and it is intended to call forward one further batch to fill these.

The current vacancies for the above named competition will be based in Dublin only.

Please email xxxxx by 9am on Friday, 4th September 2020 if you wish to be considered and we will be in contact with you in due course.

Interviews are likely to take place end of September 2020 and you may be asked to complete a detailed application form (qualifications, work history etc.), if you have not already done so.

Please note that an expression of interest is not a guarantee that you will be called forward for interview.

Should we receive a large response, candidates will be invited forward to the next stage of the process based on their Stage 1 order of merit.

As you will appreciate, given the Covid19 situation, the Interview stage is to be undertaken utilizing remote video interviewing. The platform PAS will be using for the interviews is the Zoom remote video conferencing facility. Zoom is compatible on laptop and desktop computers with a webcam and it is also compatible with most mobile and tablet devices.”

Cheeseplant · 02-09-2020 10:30am

out of curiosity, can you give a ball park as to your placing in Stage 1? I didn't get one of these emails

tricky@ wrote: »

One more batch of interviews coming up for the general stream at end of September....

Dear xxxxx

“Further to your application for the Administrative Officer 2019 competition, additional vacancies have arisen and it is intended to call forward one further batch to fill these.

The current vacancies for the above named competition will be based in Dublin only.

Please email xxxxx by 9am on Friday, 4th September 2020 if you wish to be considered and we will be in contact with you in due course.

Interviews are likely to take place end of September 2020 and you may be asked to complete a detailed application form (qualifications, work history etc.), if you have not already done so.

Please note that an expression of interest is not a guarantee that you will be called forward for interview.

Should we receive a large response, candidates will be invited forward to the next stage of the process based on their Stage 1 order of merit.

As you will appreciate, given the Covid19 situation, the Interview stage is to be undertaken utilizing remote video interviewing. The platform PAS will be using for the interviews is the Zoom remote video conferencing facility. Zoom is compatible on laptop and desktop computers with a webcam and it is also compatible with most mobile and tablet devices.”

tricky@ · 02-09-2020 10:36am

Cheeseplant wrote: »

out of curiosity, can you give a ball park as to your placing in Stage 1? I didn't get one of these emails

No problem, I was placed between 350-360 on the general stream after the tests.

Cheeseplant · 02-09-2020 10:56am

tricky@ wrote: »

No problem, I was placed between 350-360 on the general stream after the tests.

Well that explains it! I'm slightly out of that range

Best of luck with the next stage

Sneats · 29-09-2020 6:04pm

Hi folks,

I'm expecting to interview on Friday. My AP was helping me with interview prep and he's nearly certain I missed a part in the initial application form or that I missed a more detailed form, in which the applicant would outline how they demonstrate ability in each competency.

I was certain I didnt miss anything and now I'm having doubts because apparently the interview board will be basing their questions off of this form where I've given examples demonstrating my ability at each competency.

Did I miss something?

Thanks for your help.

- J

MrsBean · 29-09-2020 7:43pm

Sneats wrote: »

Hi folks,

I'm expecting to interview on Friday. My AP was helping me with interview prep and he's nearly certain I missed a part in the initial application form or that I missed a more detailed form, in which the applicant would outline how they demonstrate ability in each competency.

I was certain I didnt miss anything and now I'm having doubts because apparently the interview board will be basing their questions off of this form where I've given examples demonstrating my ability at each competency.

Did I miss something?

Thanks for your help.

- J

No, there often is a more detailed form but I think this time it was just a work and education history. PAS have been changing the level or detail they request in the initial forms. So it's up to you to cram in as much as you can at interview

Best of luck!

tricky@ · 29-09-2020 8:12pm

I can also confirm that it’s just the education and work history form that we had to complete. I had the interview yesterday.

Sneats wrote: »

Hi folks,

I'm expecting to interview on Friday. My AP was helping me with interview prep and he's nearly certain I missed a part in the initial application form or that I missed a more detailed form, in which the applicant would outline how they demonstrate ability in each competency.

I was certain I didnt miss anything and now I'm having doubts because apparently the interview board will be basing their questions off of this form where I've given examples demonstrating my ability at each competency.

Did I miss something?

Thanks for your help.

- J

Sneats · 04-10-2020 5:15pm

MrsBean wrote: »

No, there often is a more detailed form but I think this time it was just a work and education history. PAS have been changing the level or detail they request in the initial forms. So it's up to you to cram in as much as you can at interview Best of luck!

Thank you so much for replying. PAS confirmed what you've said above.

The interview was very chill and I wasnt as nervous as I thought would be. Sound folks on the board!

Cheers for the reply and best of luck yourself

MrsBean · 04-10-2020 6:53pm

Sneats wrote: »

Thank you so much for replying. PAS confirmed what you've said above.

The interview was very chill and I wasnt as nervous as I thought would be. Sound folks on the board!

Cheers for the reply and best of luck yourself

Wow that's great to hear! Hopefully you get good news soon. I've already been placed from this panel but thank you for the well wishes!

Minifox · 04-10-2020 7:08pm

MrsBean wrote: »

Wow that's great to hear! Hopefully you get good news soon. I've already been placed from this panel but thank you for the well wishes!

Well done, Sneats, and good luck to Mrs Bean. My own interview wasn't all that 'chilli but it could have been worse.
Sneats, can I ask how long you had to wait after the interview before PAS contacted you?

Minifox · 04-10-2020 7:09pm

Minifox wrote: »

Well done, Sneats, and good luck to Mrs Bean. My own interview wasn't all that 'chilli but it could have been worse.
Sneats, can I ask how long you had to wait after the interview before PAS contacted you?

Sorry, other way around!

Aleece2020 · 08-10-2020 1:48am

Hello all; I'm doing the 2020 AO competition and was wondering if anyone here has their OOM and if you made it to interview as of yet/got placed/when you got placed.

Just so that myself and the others over in the 2020 thread know what kind of OOM should be aiming for? I realize recruitment here might be a bit behind due to COVID-19 but I'd like to get a rough ideal all the same.

MrsBean · 08-10-2020 11:34am

Aleece2020 wrote: »

Hello all; I'm doing the 2020 AO competition and was wondering if anyone here has their OOM and if you made it to interview as of yet/got placed/when you got placed.

Just so that myself and the others over in the 2020 thread know what kind of OOM should be aiming for? I realize recruitment here might be a bit behind due to COVID-19 but I'd like to get a rough ideal all the same.

Hey there, I don't think the 2019 timeline will give you a very accurate estimation as there were delays in my placement due to covid. But anyway here is a rough time line which I hope is of some help.

7th Oct 2019: Closing date
11th - 14th Oct: Online testing window
25th Oct: Test results out with initial OOM
25th - 29th Oct: Window to submit a detailed application form

I received an initial OOM over just over 100 and was in Batch 2.

Batch 1 interviews took place mid Nov and I think results were out at the start of Dec. A friend received an OOM approx 30 from Batch 1 and was placed in Feb 2020.

Batch 2 interviews took place early Feb and results were out a week later. I received OOM in mid 30s and was placed in July. As far as I know once covid hit there was a pause on assignments from this comp, so had covid not appeared I may have been placed earlier in the summer. I say this only to help you with your own guessing of timelines

Batch 3 interviews Sept 2020

garrincha62 · 28-10-2020 4:42pm

Anyone know what the story with the latest panel? Will they go through it before pulling from the 2020 comp?

Minifox · 28-10-2020 5:21pm

Was wondering the same thing myself.

theboycaoimhs 83 · 28-10-2020 8:07pm

Yeah wondering if anyone knows how many are on the 2019 panel now. I have my number for it after the last round of interviews and assessments but not sure will they reach me.

thechaseison · 02-11-2020 11:30am

Hi all,

Does anyone how information on pay scales? I’m looking at circulars but they don’t make sense to me!

I started in the civil service in December 2019.. I think I read somewhere that I skip certain increment points, is that correct?

Thanks!

rostalof · 02-11-2020 11:35am

thechaseison wrote: »

Hi all,

Does anyone how information on pay scales? I’m looking at circulars but they don’t make sense to me!

I started in the civil service in December 2019.. I think I read somewhere that I skip certain increment points, is that correct?

Thanks!

You skip points 4 and 8

https://www.forsa.ie/unions-secure-measures-to-resolve-public-service-new-entrants-pay-issue/

Administrative officer (PPC)
33,053 – 35,546 – 36,257 – 39,378 – 43,372 – 46,412 – 49,454 – 52,505 – 55,547 – 58,578 – LSI 1 60,679 – LSI 2 62,776

https://www.forsa.ie/other-benefits/pay-and-conditions/pay-scales/civil-service-payscales/

HydroTendonMan · 02-11-2020 11:35am

thechaseison wrote: »

Hi all,

Does anyone how information on pay scales? I’m looking at circulars but they don’t make sense to me!

I started in the civil service in December 2019.. I think I read somewhere that I skip certain increment points, is that correct?

Thanks!

Serving civil servants will go to the nearest point on the AO scale up from their current salary. You will also receive one additional increment for promotion.

If you started since 2011 you will be skipping points 4 and 8. So for example, if the next point up from your salary is point 3, you will be starting on point 5 as 4 is skipped.

MrsBean · 02-11-2020 1:15pm

HydroTendonMan wrote: »

Serving civil servants will go to the nearest point on the AO scale up from their current salary. You will also receive one additional increment for promotion.

*Unless you are moving from HEO to AO. This move is not deemed to be a promotion as they are "equivalent grades".

pluggedout · 02-11-2020 4:41pm

garrincha62 wrote: »

Anyone know what the story with the latest panel? Will they go through it before pulling from the 2020 comp?

The latest panel will be active until a new one is formed from the 2020 competition. So my guess is unless you are at the very top of the panel you won't get placed...Makes one wonder why they called Batch 3 at all.

Minifox · 02-11-2020 5:12pm

pluggedout wrote: »

The latest panel will be active until a new one is formed from the 2020 competition. So my guess is unless you are at the very top of the panel you won't get placed...Makes one wonder why they called Batch 3 at all.

How do you know this? I mean, did someone from PAS tell you this?

pluggedout · 02-11-2020 5:33pm

Minifox wrote: »

How do you know this? I mean, did someone from PAS tell you this?

Yes, PAS said that panel only active until one formed from 2020 comp...

theboycaoimhs 83 · 02-11-2020 9:28pm

pluggedout wrote: »

Yes, PAS said that panel only active until one formed from 2020 comp...

That doesn't sound right. I had thought the panel lasted for much longer than that.

pluggedout · 02-11-2020 10:49pm

theboycaoimhs 83 wrote: »

That doesn't sound right. I had thought the panel lasted for much longer than that.

That's what they said. It's very disappointing.

AngryLips · 03-11-2020 9:50am

Does anyone know, if you're successful in the process and they call you to fill a vacancy, do they wait for you to serve your notice or are you given a far enough in the future and you're expected to meet that date regardless of any commitments elsewhere?

Minifox · 03-11-2020 9:58am

You are allowed to negotiate a finish date with your current employer, within reason, as far as I know.
Does anyone know the Order of Merit that are currently at with Batch 3? I asked PAS on Friday but I'm still waiting for an answer.

MrsBean · 03-11-2020 10:00am

The ball is in your court (and also with your local HR if you are a serving civil servant) regarding a start date/release date, within reason. They would expect 3-4 weeks notice period in many places. If you were looking to delay it by a couple of months that might be a different story but worth discussing with pas to get a definitive answer.

rostalof · 03-11-2020 10:54am

theboycaoimhs 83 wrote: »

That doesn't sound right. I had thought the panel lasted for much longer than that.

For the last number of years there's been a new AO competition every September/October. It makes sense that the panel from the previous competition is either exhausted or finished before the new panel is in place.

Minifox · 03-11-2020 10:57am

rostalof wrote: »

For the last number of years there's been a new AO competition every September/October. It makes sense that the panel from the previous competition is either exhausted or finished before the new panel is in place.

I really hope you're right.
I can't think of much else at the moment. I thought once I had my OOM it was in the bag, but now I'm not at all sure anymore.

rostalof · 03-11-2020 11:01am

Minifox wrote: »

I really hope you're right.
I can't think of much else at the moment. I thought once I had my OOM it was in the bag, but now I'm not at all sure anymore.

I don't know if you misunderstood what I meant in my previous post. When the panel for the 2020 competition is formed, the 2019 panel is finished.

From the embedded word document in the 'General Information' section of the AO 2020 Information Booklet,

Appointments from panels
At the end of the selection process a panel(s) of qualified candidates is formed from which vacancies may be filled. This panel may remain in place for up to twelve months. A panel is a list of qualified candidates ranked in order of merit from Stage 3 of the selection process. Should a vacancy arise and their place be reached, candidates undergo the final stage of the selection process. Prior to recommending any candidate for appointment to this position PAS or the employing organisation will make all such enquiries that are deemed necessary e.g. employer references, to determine the suitability of that candidate. Until all stages of the selection process have been fully completed a final determination cannot be made nor can it be deemed or inferred that such a determination has been made.

Qualification and placement on a panel is not a guarantee of appointment to a position. Once an offer of appointment has been accepted a candidate may no longer remain on the panel.

Minifox · 03-11-2020 11:27am

Yes, I had misunderstood.
But as someone said before, I can't see why they made a Batch 3 from 2019 weeks before a 2020 Batch will open.

rostalof · 03-11-2020 11:32am

Minifox wrote: »

Yes, I had misunderstood.
But as someone said before, I can't see why they made a Batch 3 from 2019 weeks before a 2020 Batch will open.

I'd guess you have a few months left yet. The tests for the 2020 competition were only run recently and the interviews haven't even started yet.

MrsBean · 03-11-2020 11:33am

Because they have to have a panel ready to draw staff from should vacancies arise.

You have a few weeks yet before they form the 2020 panel, they haven't even gotten results out for stage 1 yet.

Have you contacted pas to ask them how far away from your number they are?

Minifox · 03-11-2020 11:36am

rostalof wrote: »

I'd guess you have a few months left yet. The tests for the 2020 competition were only run recently and the interviews haven't even started yet.

Well, where there's life there's hope, but with my OOM as low as it is, there's not a lot of it.
If anyone has been offered a place, I'd be grateful they let me know their approximate Order of Merit. PM me, if you don't want to reveal that info publicly. I'm in the forties.

Minifox · 03-11-2020 11:37am

MrsBean wrote: »

Because they have to have a panel ready to draw staff from should vacancies arise.

You have a few weeks yet before they form the 2020 panel, they haven't even gotten results out for stage 1 yet.

Have you contacted pas to ask them how far away from your number they are?

Yeah, I tried calling on Friday but you have to email now. No info yet.

MiggyB · 04-11-2020 3:08pm

Did anyone get confirmation of the tests being received or an acknowledgement from PAS

Flopshot77 · 04-11-2020 3:11pm

Minifox wrote: »

Well, where there's life there's hope, but with my OOM as low as it is, there's not a lot of it.
If anyone has been offered a place, I'd be grateful they let me know their approximate Order of Merit. PM me, if you don't want to reveal that info publicly. I'm in the forties.

I'm in the forties too. I know they flew through the initial panel at start of the year so hopefully they get to us. Again they do interviews and all for the newest AO the earliest they could have a panel is maybe February

Minifox · 04-11-2020 3:36pm

We live in hope.
Just found out that they are due to begin contacting candidates from Batch 3 in the next week or so.
I was hoping they had already started...

skittles159 · 05-11-2020 5:53pm

This seems like good news in any case

HydroTendonMan · 06-11-2020 10:04am

In the 2019 competition they invited the top 250 on the OOM after the testing stage to complete applications.

Is this the usual figure?

PhoenixParker · 06-11-2020 10:08am

HydroTendonMan wrote: »

In the 2019 competition they invited the top 250 on the OOM after the testing stage to complete applications.

Is this the usual figure?

Around that.
It will depend on demand but it's very few.
The specialised comps have a better overall shot.

BOHSBOHS · 09-11-2020 11:38pm

Theyve started calling folk off the panel for clearance

tricky@ · 11-11-2020 12:14pm

BOHSBOHS wrote: »

Theyve started calling folk off the panel for clearance

Anyone here been notified they have been reached for clearance yet? I know there are a few of us in the forties from the panel on here so grateful if anyone higher than that might indicate if they have been called yet.

Minifox · 11-11-2020 2:12pm

Emailed PAS and was told they've called to OOM 10 so far
There's hope yet for the forty-somethings... not sure how much hope though.

tricky@ · 11-11-2020 2:14pm

Minifox wrote: »

Emailed PAS and was told they've called to OOM 10 so far
There's hope yet for the forty-somethings... not sure how much hope though.

Great, thanks for the update. Yeah not overly confident myself but haven’t completely ruled it out!

tricky@ · 18-11-2020 4:02pm

15 called as of this week following the last round of interviews/presentations so slow but steady progress.

Minifox wrote: »

Emailed PAS and was told they've called to OOM 10 so far
There's hope yet for the forty-somethings... not sure how much hope though.

Baldr · 18-11-2020 9:19pm

I've requested a review of my presentation results, but not sure if I will be competitively placed if my request is successful. Can anyone hazard a guess for a ballpark mark for OOM 1-30?

pluggedout · 26-11-2020 5:30pm

They are up to 25 called as of today.

Minifox · 02-12-2020 3:49pm

Still on 25 today.
They've also started calling people to interview and presentation from 2020 competition.
Not looking good for the forty-somethings, I fear.
Maybe no X-Mas pud for Tiny Tim...

2019 AO Competition announced

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