NEW 2016 Open and Interdepartmental Assistant Principal in Civil Service competition.

tea and coffee · 19-12-2016 10:02pm

dee75 wrote: »

Does anyone know, if you are one of the lucky ones to get offered an AP role, how long will an external candidate be given to finish up his/her existing employment?

I am employed in the legal sector and it would take a bit of time to disengage from my current job. Would it be a major problem if you needed 3 months before you could start?

Thanks!

you'd more than likely be on a panel for several months so you'd have time to give notice. being on the panel is no guarantee of being placed though esp if further down the panel

DeirdreDee · 20-12-2016 2:10am

I agree that the typeface or whatever you call it was dreadful. For the numerical, it was quite disgraceful.

The verbal test was the same old rubbish, as was the job situational malarkey. The numerical this time was much more difficult than previous exams. I guessed a few at the end when I ran out of time. I suspect the pass mark will be lower than usual for the numerical. And remember, you only have to pass the numerical. You could get them all right but you get no extra marks.

Ridiculous of PAS to rush this test through in the week before Christmas; for their systems to down in the middle of it; and for much of the test to be barely readable.

dee75 · 20-12-2016 11:49am

tea and coffee wrote: »

you'd more than likely be on a panel for several months so you'd have time to give notice. being on the panel is no guarantee of being placed though esp if further down the panel

Thanks tea and coffee

I definitely wouldn't be handing in my notice if I was just on the panel.

What I was wondering more is once you are offered an assignment to a Department, and you accept it, how long would they give you to work out your notice elsewhere? If you told them your notice period was 3 to 4 months, is there any possibility they would decide to offer it to someone who was available sooner?

Dodge · 20-12-2016 11:53am

3 months is fairly long. The average waiting time for civil servants (i.e. Not outsiders coming in) would be 2/3 weeks from official offer. Now there may be a preliminary offer and that could give you some wiggle room but PAS are the people to speak to here (as soon as an offer is made)

mortimer33 · 20-12-2016 11:56am

I would have thought that 3 months notice is standard for upper management in most organisations - which is who this role is aimed at?

hardybuck · 20-12-2016 12:23pm

A minority of organisations need a quite rigorous Garda clearance process for obvious reasons. That can take in the region of 10 weeks to get over.

But the level of notice that's required is normally set out in your employment contract, and is underpinned by legislation in terms of minimum notice periods? Everything above that is agreed locally.

franklyon · 20-12-2016 9:57pm

Just finished it there, what a ***** of a test.
The numerical was impossible within the time limit, seriously calculate line by line how many fecking trousers were sold over a 5 year period, ratio blah and comission this.
Yeah easy to do if you had 10 minutes per questions but to do all that in the time allowed you would have to be superman.:mad:

The verbal one was tough too, yes the answers seemed obvious but they had inserted a word here and there and double negatives to trick one.

I suppose though whoever gets through will deserve it, certainly won't be me.

The_Conductor · 21-12-2016 8:09pm

Frankly- I'm relieved to read that I wasn't the only one who had severe difficulty even reading the numerical test. I did think the verbal and the situational/work skills test were fine- though the situational was very damn wishy washy- it didn't really assess you sufficiently I felt.

Anyhow- if we all felt the numerical was appalling- perhaps I'm not out of the competition- I had felt when I finished the test that I was 100% definitely out.........

Beebie · 21-12-2016 9:39pm

+1...totally agree Franklyon / The Conductor

Verbal / Maths brutal........much harder than last AP Test.
Maths is my weakest subject, I didn't need to worry about the graphs, I couldn't even understand the questions!!
In end, it was just tick something to get through it........soul destroying really but take some comfort that others felt the same.
...no way did I get through it...roll on next competition!

prettyboy81 · 22-12-2016 8:29am

I would imagine it will be January 2017 when we get the good/bad news on our results.

Wing Back · 22-12-2016 11:33am

Thought the verbal test was OK.

I know I messed up at least 2 questions in the numerical as read the graph wrong. That's just 2 I know are wrong....I'm not including the guesses there.

I think it's harsh that you can't go back. As I realised when I was on the 3rd question about that particular graph.

Thought the judgemental was a bit wishy washy in parts aswell to be honest.

Hopefully will get the results in a timely fashion.

It's a pity they can't tell you how you got on straight away once the test is done.

Dublinboard · 22-12-2016 12:06pm

Just wondering what preparation people do for these tests?

The_Conductor · 22-12-2016 1:11pm

Dublinboard wrote: »

Just wondering what preparation people do for these tests?

There isn't an awful lot of preparation you can do- other than get a good nights sleep and ensure you're not disturbed while doing the tests. It is a good idea to do the samples- and then redo them and keep redoing them- until you get them all correct- and are in a frame of mind to answer the test- but that said- the examples are on a whole scale easier than the real test questions.

Macy0161 · 22-12-2016 2:04pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

but that said- the examples are on a whole scale easier than the real test questions.

Maybe the results will show different, but I thought the actual Maths test was easier than both the practice ones, especially compared to the one's given at the time of pre test info.

dee75 · 22-12-2016 4:07pm

+ 1 on the numerical test too. Knew it was going to be tough as it's not my strongest point, but found several of the questions extremely difficult. Had to guess a couple as I was just taking too long to work out the calculations and even then my calculations were clearly wrong as my answer didn't tally with any of the options. And those bloody trousers/suits/shoes questions were terrible!

Also, I ran out of time at the end and stupidly didn't just abandon question 16 and at least put in a guess for 17 and 18.

In the situational test, for one question I ticked all six answers/suggestions as being undesirable/highly undesirable. Anyone else remember anything like that?

Flinchwhip · 22-12-2016 5:34pm

dee75 wrote: »

+ 1 on the numerical test too. Knew it was going to be tough as it's not my strongest point, but found several of the questions extremely difficult. Had to guess a couple as I was just taking too long to work out the calculations and even then my calculations were clearly wrong as my answer didn't tally with any of the options. And those bloody trousers/suits/shoes questions were terrible!

Also, I ran out of time at the end and stupidly didn't just abandon question 16 and at least put in a guess for 17 and 18.

In the situational test, for one question I ticked all six answers/suggestions as being undesirable/highly undesirable. Anyone else remember anything like that?

Yeah I had one or two a bit like that, certainly one.

franklyon · 23-12-2016 2:42pm

dee75 wrote: »

In the situational test, for one question I ticked all six answers/suggestions as being undesirable/highly undesirable. Anyone else remember anything like that?

Yeah I remember one part like that,where none of the solutions seemed to fit.

Tedda2016 · 01-01-2017 9:01pm

Hi guys, maybe this question is for another thread but just wondering if HEO competitions are ever open competitions, or is it just AO or EO that are open?

Working in the private sector!

dee75 · 01-01-2017 9:14pm

Tedda2016 wrote: »

Hi guys, maybe this question is for another thread but just wondering if HEO competitions are ever open competitions, or is it just AO or EO that are open?

Working in the private sector!

I'm private sector too, but I think HEO will be offered by open competition at some stage in the future. I know the most recent one was not an open competition.

There are already specialised HEO jobs advertised on publicjobs.ie that are open to all suitable applicants, such as roles within the National Transport Authority (closing date for applications is 9th January!).

Dodge · 01-01-2017 9:29pm

There was an open competition before the freeze. The latest interdepartmental was the first in nearly a decade so there's no pattern but I'd be astonished if there wasn't open competitions for HEO in the near future

nazzy · 02-01-2017 12:07am

Dodge wrote: »

There was an open competition before the freeze. The latest interdepartmental was the first in nearly a decade so there's no pattern but I'd be astonished if there wasn't open competitions for HEO in the near future

That recent one - if it is the same one we are talking about - was Open. The HEO on advertised in November had three streams - Open, InterD and Irish. It was very specific, however, in that it required a professional accountancy qualification. I applied and have an interview in a few weeks.

I stuck an application into this AP Comp as well, though it was really just for the psychometric testing practice to be honest!

Dodge · 02-01-2017 2:43am

No, the most recent HEO (general) was interdepartmental. A previous one (2006 or so) was Open

nazzy · 02-01-2017 12:28pm

Dodge wrote: »

No, the most recent HEO (general) was interdepartmental. A previous one (2006 or so) was Open

Well I've an Open HEO interview in a few weeks. It wasn't a general one, as I said above - it was specifically HEO Auditor in Civil Service - but it had the three streams. So it was possibly the first Open HEO in a long long time!

It's not my intention to go off-topic - just it was a competition that did cause some rumblings when it was announced!

prettyboy81 · 06-01-2017 11:50am

I'd imagine we shouldn't be waiting too long now for results of aptitude test.

The_Conductor · 06-01-2017 12:03pm

prettyboy81 wrote: »

I'd imagine we shouldn't be waiting too long now for results of aptitude test.

Disaster of an aptitude test.........
Friday afternoons do appear to be a favoured time for releasing things in PAS........

delricyo · 06-01-2017 2:00pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

Disaster of an aptitude test.........
Friday afternoons do appear to be a favoured time for releasing things in PAS........

I was thinking the same thing myself. But it took almost a month last year to issue the results. We may be waiting a while

Hopefully not, I want to be put out of my misery

dee75 · 06-01-2017 2:23pm

Seriously??!! I had assumed it would be end January before we heard anything back!

Had managed to put it to the back of my mind.....but now will be watching my messages on Public Jobs!! Maybe it will be today.

Found the tests difficult, so not expecting a positive response this time around.

Good luck to all!

bobbysands81 · 06-01-2017 6:02pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

Disaster of an aptitude test.........
Friday afternoons do appear to be a favoured time for releasing things in PAS........

Have been keeping a sneaky eye on my phone today half thinking the results might be coming out!

Bit optimistic thinking they'd be out this week maybe.

The difficulty of the maths might slow things a bit?

nazzy · 06-01-2017 6:16pm

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Have been keeping a sneaky eye on my phone today half thinking the results might be coming out!

Bit optimistic thinking they'd be out this week maybe.

The difficulty of the maths might slow things a bit?

I've been at the same craic! Constantly checking - once this thread got active again, it was nice to see others in the same boat ha ha!

It's painful and torturous waiting in fairness. I'd love to have the update and get the numbers just to know what the story is.

tigger123 · 06-01-2017 6:18pm

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Have been keeping a sneaky eye on my phone today half thinking the results might be coming out!

Bit optimistic thinking they'd be out this week maybe.

The difficulty of the maths might slow things a bit?

Why would the difficulty of the maths slow things? As in people are complaining?

The_Conductor · 06-01-2017 6:23pm

tigger123 wrote: »

Why would the difficulty of the maths slow things? As in people are complaining?

Did anyone actually complain though?
I know I didn't.

tigger123 · 06-01-2017 6:24pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

Did anyone actually complain though?
I know I didn't.

I didn't either, I meant to give them some feedback though.

yabadabado · 06-01-2017 6:37pm

Same bollixology in all these threads .Seems to have started even earlier in this thread .

tigger123 · 06-01-2017 6:43pm

yabadabado wrote: »

Same bollixology in all these threads .Seems to have started even earlier in this thread .

Cheers for the contribution fella!

yabadabado · 06-01-2017 6:45pm

tigger123 wrote: »

Cheers for the contribution fella!

My pleasure .

nazzy · 06-01-2017 6:55pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

Did anyone actually complain though?
I know I didn't.

Maybe not enough passed it? Or they may need to do further checks if there's a lower pass rate than normal?

Or they took two weeks off for Christmas and this week is a go slow! Hopefully next week brings some news!

DeirdreDee · 06-01-2017 11:29pm

Yes, the pass mark will be set lower than usual because the standard will be much lower. They always fix the pass mark relative to the scores achieved. Obviously the maths were much harder than ever before so the pass mark will be much lower.

I remember doing a civil service exam years ago for programmer. Part of it was 20 pictures of wheels and cogs - if this wheel turns clockwise four times, what position will the 5th wheel be at when the blah blah blah. Not a notion did I have of any of them. No joking. Still passed and was offered the post - simply because nobody else was any good at them either.

Don't worry folks - it'll be grand.

The_Conductor · 07-01-2017 10:35am

DeirdreDee wrote: »

I remember doing a civil service exam years ago for programmer. Part of it was 20 pictures of wheels and cogs - if this wheel turns clockwise four times, what position will the 5th wheel be at when the blah blah blah. Not a notion did I have of any of them. No joking. Still passed and was offered the post - simply because nobody else was any good at them either.

Gawd- thats a blast from the past- passed that exam too.........

Lets keep our powder dry- perhaps we're being overly pessimistic about the math this time round.........

anthrogal · 11-01-2017 3:07pm

Heard a wee birdy whisper that results should be out sometime this week......

Fingers crossed folks!

seamie78 · 11-01-2017 3:14pm

would be nice to know one way or the other at this stage

Aglomerado · 11-01-2017 3:15pm

anthrogal wrote: »

Heard a wee birdy whisper that results should be out sometime this week......

Fingers crossed folks!

.

Probably late Friday afternoon, I'd say. Good luck, all.

bobbysands81 · 12-01-2017 1:47pm

They're out!!!

Log onto your public jobs account!

Aglomerado · 12-01-2017 1:48pm

The results are out... top 1,047 being invited to the next stage! :eek:

I'm somewhere in the middle, so I'll be up in PAS again for the next stage in late January. I'm happy to have gotten through; thought the maths were tricky but I passed comfortably.

Stage 2 will comprise supervised verbal and numerical tests, a job simulation exercise and an etray exercise.

jets · 12-01-2017 1:53pm

Aglomerado wrote: »

The results are out... top 1,047 being invited to the next stage! :eek:

I'm somewhere in the middle, so I'll be up in PAS again for the next stage in late January. I'm happy to have gotten through; thought the maths were tricky but I passed comfortably.

Stage 2 will comprise supervised verbal and numerical tests, a job simulation exercise and an etray exercise.

Well done and good luck in the next round.

A rather deceiving email for those outside 1,047 like me. "I am pleased to inform you" then I read on to see I am slightly over 1,047 so its game over for me anyway :rolleyes:

Aglomerado · 12-01-2017 1:59pm

jets wrote: »

Well done and good luck in the next round.

A rather deceiving email for those outside 1,047 like me. "I am pleased to inform you" then I read on to see I am slightly over 1,047 so its game over for me anyway :rolleyes:

Thanks, I just clicked the feeback link at the bottom of the email. I scored in the top bracket for verbal and numerical and the bottom bracket for situational judgement... that's always my downfall so I'm pleasantly surprised!

jets · 12-01-2017 2:01pm

Aglomerado wrote: »

Thanks, I just clicked the feeback link at the bottom of the email. I scored in the top bracket for verbal and numerical and the bottom bracket for situational judgement... that's always my downfall so I'm pleasantly surprised!

I scored in the top bracket for the numerical but that wasn't included for some reason in the order of merit, just my luck i guess

tea and coffee · 12-01-2017 2:20pm

Got through Open and InterD and in top 200 in both. delighted but Stage 2 looks very tough

salomon · 12-01-2017 2:23pm

Got through. Top 3rd. And as usual scraped through the scenarios

The_Conductor · 12-01-2017 2:25pm

Placed just over 1,200.......
Damn.......
Actually did pretty ok on the numerical after all- the situational/scenarios was my worst score.

Best of good luck to everyone through to Stage 2.

gics · 12-01-2017 2:39pm

Looks like PAS are trying a new format again. Situational & E Tray and both done before the interview. That's going to be the day from hell!

NEW 2016 Open and Interdepartmental Assistant Principal in Civil Service competition.

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