Garda Control Room Operator/Call Taker competition

nilescraneo · 09-12-2017 1:44pm #1

New competition up on Public Jobs for control room operator with AGS. 4 x 12 hour shifts on & 4 days off, with 25% shift allowance + Sunday & bank holiday allowances when rostered. Standard civil service starting scale of €438 gross p/w. Positions in:

Harcourt Square, Dublin 2

Anglesea Street, Cork

Murrogh, Renmore Rd, Galway

Castlebar (GISC)

Waterford City

https://www.publicjobs.ie/publicjobs/campaignAdvert/67440.htm?lang=en

Gong to give it a go anyway. Best of luck!

Kingp35 · 09-12-2017 2:33pm

An interesting but tough job I would imagine. Quite a lot of responsibility for a Clerical Officer.

nilescraneo · 09-12-2017 2:57pm

Am a CO at the moment in peoplepoint in a fairly meaningless job, so going to give this a try.

job seeker · 09-12-2017 4:29pm

Kingp35 wrote: »

An interesting but tough job I would imagine. Quite a lot of responsibility for a Clerical Officer.

That's for about 10.30 p/h.. Which isn't great for that type of work imo..

Crunchymomma · 10-12-2017 1:40am

job seeker wrote: »

Kingp35 wrote: »

An interesting but tough job I would imagine. Quite a lot of responsibility for a Clerical Officer.

That's for about 10.30 p/h.. Which isn't great for that type of work imo..

I'd say it works out as more. They get a 25% shift allowance over regular CO salary

job seeker · 10-12-2017 1:50am

Crunchymomma wrote: »

I'd say it works out as more. They get a 25% shift allowance over regular CO salary

Ah sure that's right, I missed that! I might apply just for the interview practice.

But if I got a job like this I'd be pretty nervous. connecting the calls..

AGS2017 · 10-12-2017 2:59pm

Is this a similar pay scale to the civilian immigration jobs at Dublin Airport?

Is there much chance of overtime/additional shifts for the CO's at Dublin Airport to bump up their pay with the odd shift?

Scienceless · 10-12-2017 4:28pm

‘An extra payment is also available when rostered to work on a Sunday and Bank/Public Holiday’

What does this actually mean in money or % terms?

Is this extra payment for Sunday’s etc in addition to the normal shift allowance payable on all shifts? Or instead of?

TallGlass · 12-12-2017 2:03pm

438€ before tax and that is that correct? That seems very low for the role.

Crunchymomma · 13-12-2017 2:50am

TallGlass wrote: »

438€ before tax and that is that correct? That seems very low for the role.

That's before the extra shift allowances. 438 a week is basic CO salary

raven136 · 13-12-2017 3:17am

Working in a control room presently for a large private security company.

That level of pay advertised is low

Bazzy · 13-12-2017 3:54pm

Applied for this also i'm sure theres more to the pay fingers crossed I get an interview!!

Ciano1997 · 16-12-2017 9:53pm

Applied fo this myself, gonna use it as a stepping stone to try get into the guards. Does anyone know when th assessment is?

hdowney · 17-12-2017 1:12pm

Applied for the Dublin location. Will see what happens

the whole year inn · 17-12-2017 1:19pm

I am thinking about applying for Castlebar (GISC) role .I belive thats to do more with helping the Guards with data input and relaying information to the Guards.Is there much room for promotion with these roles,I just graduated with a degree in IT and would like to use it and wonder what promotion if any there is if any ?

job seeker · 30-12-2017 5:11am

Ciano1997 wrote: »

Applied fo this myself, gonna use it as a stepping stone to try get into the guards. Does anyone know when the assessment is?

Is that possible?

The application process isn't closed until the 3rd of January anyway. Not sure about the assessment!

job seeker · 30-12-2017 5:14am

the whole year inn wrote: »

I am thinking about applying for Castlebar (GISC) role .I belive thats to do more with helping the Guards with data input and relaying information to the Guards.Is there much room for promotion with these roles,I just graduated with a degree in IT and would like to use it and wonder what promotion if any there is if any ?

Here is more info on Casltebar!

Link

As for your qualification, I assumed it was open to people from any working background? I may be wrong though!

job seeker · 12-01-2018 5:29pm

Received an message there with practice material. I'll have a better look at it later this evening.

Bazzy · 12-01-2018 5:34pm

job seeker wrote: »

Received an message there with practice material. I'll have a better look at it later this evening.

Me too have it printed off and ready to study before I even attempt the practice modules

job seeker · 12-01-2018 6:36pm

Bazzy wrote: »

Me too have it printed off and ready to study before I even attempt the practice modules

Good. I just read it on the screen and had a go at the practice tests there.

Verbal reasoning: This was just reading the information and selecting. True, False or can't tell. It's essentially about just reading the passage fast. I guess, then base your answer on what you've read.

The situational behaviour questionnaire: Well it's exactly that. It's not timed and in the booklet it stated that there are no correct answers. So you just have to answer it as honest as possible or which answer best describes you. You don't get to practice this.

call handling: This was a pain in the arse, I found. You gotta, type fairly quickly. I done it twice. First time, I ran out of time half way through the first question. I repeated it (you can do this practice test as often as you wish.) I made it to the third lot of information and ran out of time then. It's pretty much about about typing fast to input all the information in the shortest amount of time.

Overall the practice test are pretty helpful..

employ me · 12-01-2018 7:12pm

Well you're doing better than myself. The link to the call handling practice test within the familiarisation booklet led me to a screen that said "this exercise has been completed"

How frustrated am I?

job seeker · 12-01-2018 7:20pm

employ me wrote: »

Well you're doing better than myself. The link to the call handling practice test within the familiarisation booklet led me to a screen that said "this exercise has been completed"

How frustrated am I?

Have you done it once already? If, so there is an email you should have received, which provides a link to the same test again. This can be done as many times as you want.

EDIT: You should have received it from PAS! Subject: Additional link to practice material for the Call Handling test.

employ me · 12-01-2018 7:24pm

job seeker wrote: »

Have you done it once already? If, so there is an email you should have received, which provides a link to the same test again. This can be done as many times as you want.

EDIT: You should have received it from PAS! Subject: Additional link to practice material for the Call Handling test.

No, hadn't done at all (hence my frustration). I do have a separate link to the practice you can do repeatedly, just wasn't sure if not receiving the material in the first link would put me at a disadvantage. If it's just the same material then I'll stop fretting.

Cheers

job seeker · 12-01-2018 7:30pm

employ me wrote: »

No, hadn't done at all (hence my frustration). I do have a separate link to the practice you can do repeatedly, just wasn't sure if not receiving the material in the first link would put me at a disadvantage. If it's just the same material then I'll stop fretting.

Cheers

Oh I get you. What you do in that case is click the link in the message. Select call test. Then you have to register your email and name. Then you can do it for the first time. After that you follow the link in the emails to repeat it.

employ me · 12-01-2018 7:57pm

job seeker wrote: »

Oh I get you. What you do in that case is click the link in the message. Select call test. Then you have to register your email and name. Then you can do it for the first time. After that you follow the link in the emails to repeat it.

All good thanks job seeker. I've completed the practise now. ðŸ‘

job seeker · 12-01-2018 8:16pm

employ me wrote: »

All good thanks job seeker. I've completed the practise now. ðŸ‘

No worries!

weadick · 12-01-2018 11:54pm

job seeker wrote: »

Is that possible?

The application process isn't closed until the 3rd of January anyway. Not sure about the assessment!

Yeah it doesnt make any sense to use this job as a 'stepping stone' for the Guards as it is a completely different position with a totally different selection process. This seems to be along the lines of a Clerical Officer competition.

job seeker · 13-01-2018 12:40am

weadick wrote: »

Yeah it doesnt make any sense to use this job as a 'stepping stone' for the Guards as it is a completely different position with a totally different selection process. This seems to be along the lines of a Clerical Officer competition.

That's what I assumed. It's really publicJobs.ie that are doing this campaign on behalf of the Guards also.

EDIT: This position however, would enable you to transfer within the P.S. which is a benefit!

GoProGaming · 13-01-2018 1:29am

weadick wrote: »

Yeah it doesnt make any sense to use this job as a 'stepping stone' for the Guards as it is a completely different position with a totally different selection process. This seems to be along the lines of a Clerical Officer competition.

I think it clearly does. If someone wants to be a member of ags and shows such an interest in the job they where willing to take a job in a garda control room taking 999 calls from the public and other emergency services and dispatching ags vehicles to calls. It would give that person plenty to talk about at interview and would give them a wide view of the job.

Instead of: "I wanna be gard cos i like the cars and stuff, I watch road wars on repeat to learn the lingo"

Xenji · 13-01-2018 1:36am

Texts went out to people today for pulse in Castlebar, they had to do a separate campaign from the clerical officer campaign as so many people were rejecting the position, you could reject it 3 times and still stay on the panel.

job seeker · 13-01-2018 1:37am

GoProGaming wrote: »

I think it clearly does. If someone wants to be a member of ags and shows such an interest in the job they where willing to take a job in a garda control room taking 999 calls from the public and other emergency services and dispatching ags vehicles to calls. It would give that person plenty to talk about at interview and would give them a wide view of the job.

Instead of: "I wanna be gard cos i like the cars and stuff, I watch road wars on repeat to learn the lingo"

That's true, that it would be an advantage during the interview stage. Although, you'd be still required to undergo the same recruitment process as everyone else, to become a Garda and I assume that you'd be viewed as a clerical officer. As this is essentially is C.O. position.

job seeker · 13-01-2018 1:44am

Xenji wrote: »

Texts went out to people today for pulse in Castlebar, they had to do a separate campaign from the clerical officer campaign as so many people were rejecting the position, you could reject it 3 times and still stay on the panel.

I don't understand!

I selected Castlebar for my first choice and Galway for my second, in the email/message for the familiarisation material it stated the following.

You will have until 12 noon on Wednesday 24th January 2018 to complete and submit your aptitude tests.

So where is the separate campaign you're talking about? I only received one e-mail/message on PublicJobs.ie.

GoProGaming · 13-01-2018 1:47am

job seeker wrote: »

That's true, that it would be an advantage during the interview stage. Although, you'd be still required to undergo the same recruitment process as everyone else, to become a Garda and I assume that you'd be viewed as a clerical officer. As this is essentially is C.O. position.

Oh absolutely agree, it wont let you in via the back door. You still have to apply like everyone else but if you successfully make it to interview you would have a lot more to talk about if you needed to demonstrate competency in dealing with stressful situations or a difficult member of the public etc.

I worked in an another emergency service control room and regularly spoke to these guys on the phone. They always seemed to enjoy the job and where a pleasure to deal with. Grade 3 even with 25% shift and sunday pay is about average for this type of job at entry level, there will be increments and more then likely overtime available. No one joins the public sector to be rich.

job seeker · 13-01-2018 1:54am

GoProGaming wrote: »

Oh absolutely agree, it wont let you in via the back door. You still have to apply like everyone else but if you successfully make it to interview you would have a lot more to talk about if you needed to demonstrate competency in dealing with stressful situations or a difficult member of the public etc.

Yes, that's what I assumed that the OP mean't. But it most diffidently would be an advantage in the interview stage. No doubt about that!

GoProGaming wrote: »

I worked in an another emergency service control room and regularly spoke to these guys on the phone. They always seemed to enjoy the job and where a pleasure to deal with. Grade 3 even with 25% shift and sunday pay is about average for this type of job at entry level, there will be increments and more then likely overtime available. No one joins the public sector to be rich.

Agree, Although it offers opportunities in other departments withing the P.S.

nilescraneo · 13-01-2018 2:58am

GoProGaming wrote: »

I think it clearly does. If someone wants to be a member of ags and shows such an interest in the job they where willing to take a job in a garda control room taking 999 calls from the public and other emergency services and dispatching ags vehicles to calls. It would give that person plenty to talk about at interview and would give them a wide view of the job.

Instead of: "I wanna be gard cos i like the cars and stuff, I watch road wars on repeat to learn the lingo"

It really doesn't. This is a CO position. If you used this as an opportunity to showcase your desire to be a Garda at interview they'd rightfully ask why didn't you join the Garda Reserve? as that would give you the closest possible experience to what it's like being in the guards, as you actually are out working with them.

I think if you're using this role as a stepping stone, you are wasting your time. At the rate the guards are recruiting at the moment you don't even really need a stepping stone anyway.

GoProGaming · 13-01-2018 3:05am

nilescraneo wrote: »

It really doesn't. This is a CO position. If you used this as an opportunity to showcase your desire to be a Garda at interview they'd rightfully ask why didn't you join the Garda Reserve? as that would give you the closest possible experience to what it's like being in the guards, as you actually are out working with them.

I think if you're using this role as a stepping stone, you are wasting your time. At the rate the guards are recruiting at the moment you don't even really need a stepping stone anyway.

Sure we'll agree to disagree. It worked for a number of us already.

Xenji · 13-01-2018 3:44am

job seeker wrote: »

I don't understand!

I selected Castlebar for my first choice and Galway for my second, in the email/message for the familiarisation material it stated the following.

So where is the separate campaign you're talking about? I only received one e-mail/message on PublicJobs.ie.

They were offering people positions in Pulse from the 2016 Clerical Officer Campaign up till December, they advertised the separate campaign last month as they were struggling to get people to fill the positions as you could turn down an offer to work in Pulse and still keep your position on the Clerical Officer campaign.

weadick · 13-01-2018 4:01am

GoProGaming wrote: »

I think it clearly does. If someone wants to be a member of ags and shows such an interest in the job they where willing to take a job in a garda control room taking 999 calls from the public and other emergency services and dispatching ags vehicles to calls. It would give that person plenty to talk about at interview and would give them a wide view of the job.

Instead of: "I wanna be gard cos i like the cars and stuff, I watch road wars on repeat to learn the lingo"

It's not a 'stepping stone' in the sense that there is no progression from this position into the guards. Similar thing happened when they brought a clerical grade into the prison service and lots of people thought they would have a great chance of becoming prison officers out of it but when the prison officer comp came about it meant diddley squat - they were just civil servants who happened to work within the system.

job seeker · 13-01-2018 4:24am

Xenji wrote: »

They were offering people positions in Pulse from the 2016 Clerical Officer Campaign up till December, they advertised the separate campaign last month as they were struggling to get people to fill the positions as you could turn down an offer to work in Pulse and still keep your position on the Clerical Officer campaign.

Ah I get you! That's mad! Thanks very much for clearing that up for me though!

Scienceless · 13-01-2018 12:01pm

job seeker wrote: »

EDIT: This position however, would enable you to transfer within the P.S. which is a benefit!

What if someone transfers into this job from an existing PS job? Would they be able to start at a point on the salary scale equal to what they are currently earning?

hdowney · 13-01-2018 12:46pm

I got my email with the material on my way to work yesterday so haven't had a chance to look at it. It sounds a lot more complex than the CO material from late last year. I take it I should take some time, sit at a table etc to complete it? Especially the typing part?

employ me · 13-01-2018 12:57pm

hdowney wrote: »

I got my email with the material on my way to work yesterday so haven't had a chance to look at it. It sounds a lot more complex than the CO material from late last year. I take it I should take some time, sit at a table etc to complete it? Especially the typing part?

Hi hdowney,

Yes I would. When doing the call handling part especially as you will need some peace and quiet to focus.

job seeker · 13-01-2018 4:40pm

Scienceless wrote: »

What if someone transfers into this job from an existing PS job? Would they be able to start at a point on the salary scale equal to what they are currently earning?

That I'm not too sure. I would assume that you continue on with the same salary. But I could be totally wrong.

themom · 13-01-2018 6:10pm

I also received my email yesterday.

I am having trouble accessing the practice tests though.It won't open with Word.

Anyone else having this problem?

employ me · 13-01-2018 6:17pm

themom wrote: »

I also received my email yesterday.

I am having trouble accessing the practice tests though.It won't open with Word.

Anyone else having this problem?

Hi themom,

The familiarisation booklet opens in word but the links within to the tests open in your browser (do make sure you have pop-ups enabled).

themom · 13-01-2018 7:27pm

Thanks employ me.

I will try that. It just tells me the site is not valid,.

job seeker · 13-01-2018 7:36pm

themom wrote: »

Thanks employ me.

I will try that. It just tells me the site is not valid,.

Worked grand for me also! Did you try a different internet browser?

nilescraneo · 13-01-2018 7:36pm

job seeker wrote: »

That I'm not too sure. I would assume that you continue on with the same salary. But I could be totally wrong.

You can't 'transfer' as this is an open competition and not an internal, current serving civil servant only one, you have to go through this competition like everyone else. I would assume you'd start at whatever increment you are currently at if you are a serving civil servant.

Contact the person in charge of the campaign to clarify though, their details are in the email you got on public jobs with the familiarisation material.

themom · 13-01-2018 8:13pm

What browsers are ye using?

job seeker · 13-01-2018 8:13pm

themom wrote: »

What browsers are ye using?

Google Chrome.

themom · 13-01-2018 8:20pm

Me too and I just rang a friend to see if she could get into the link and she can't either.

Garda Control Room Operator/Call Taker competition

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