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NEW 2020 Assistant Principal Officer Competition

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Comments

  • #1982
    busher07
    Registered Users Posts: 21 ✭busher07


    Well Done


  • #1983
    machalla
    Registered Users Posts: 1,523 ✭✭✭machalla


    Passed the etray earlier. Any idea as to how soon before any interviews take place or is it based on the results of the video interviews and etray to determine a ranking?


  • #1984
    dee75
    Registered Users Posts: 337 ✭✭dee75


    I had to pick my ego up off the floor and dust it off. I didn't pass the Etray. Failed leadership and drive/commitment.

    To be honest, I'm a bit surprised given I've panelled twice already in the 2016 and 2018 competitions but didn't accept the AP offers made to me at the time. Odd to pass Etray and interviews twice before, but to fail this time.

    Ah well, assume I must have messed up somewhere.

    Best of luck to everyone who's through to the final stage.


  • #1985
    derailed
    Registered Users Posts: 82 ✭✭derailed


    Sorry to hear that. Very hard to take that in. Seems the format of the etray keeps changing with different test providers and so on.

    Hopefully another competition will be announced within the coming year given the anticipated numbers of retirements and so on.


  • #1986
    Ravelleman
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 3,635 CMod ✭✭✭✭Ravelleman


    machalla wrote: »
    Passed the etray earlier. Any idea as to how soon before any interviews take place or is it based on the results of the video interviews and etray to determine a ranking?

    No ranking; those who pass go through to interview in no particular order. PAS will assign you your time and date. In my case at the end of 2020, the interview was within around two weeks of etray result. It moves quite quickly overall after the video interview is marked.


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  • #1987
    starringme
    Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭starringme


    Have people found that the interview style allows you to give a STAR-based answer for the competencies or are you expected to give multiple, shorter, examples?

    If the former, do they tend to ask you about the example on your form? I have stronger answers to at least two competencies now (over a year since I did the form), so if I'm asked about the form example can I say 'but a better example is...'?


  • #1988
    Ravelleman
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 3,635 CMod ✭✭✭✭Ravelleman


    starringme wrote: »
    If the former, do they tend to ask you about the example on your form? I have stronger answers to at least two competencies now (over a year since I did the form), so if I'm asked about the form example can I say 'but a better example is...'?

    You can use any example you want. When prompting you to speak about a specific example, rather than asking a question about an example you have already given, they will usually ask you to refer to the example on your form or any other you choose. Bear in mind also that the form had only one specific competency example on it; the other boxes were summaries.


  • #1989
    TaurenDruid
    Registered Users Posts: 4,017 ✭✭✭TaurenDruid


    dee75 wrote: »
    I had to pick my ego up off the floor and dust it off. I didn't pass the Etray. Failed leadership and drive/commitment.

    To be honest, I'm a bit surprised given I've panelled twice already in the 2016 and 2018 competitions but didn't accept the AP offers made to me at the time. Odd to pass Etray and interviews twice before, but to fail this time.

    Ah well, assume I must have messed up somewhere.

    Best of luck to everyone who's through to the final stage.

    Hard luck, Dee. The etray seems to be something of a lottery. I've failed one, passed one, and couldn't honestly tell you what I did differently between the two.


  • #1990
    machalla
    Registered Users Posts: 1,523 ✭✭✭machalla


    Ravelleman wrote: »
    No ranking; those who pass go through to interview in no particular order. PAS will assign you your time and date. In my case at the end of 2020, the interview was within around two weeks of etray result. It moves quite quickly overall after the video interview is marked.

    Just to mention that I got the etray results yesterday and have an interview date as of today. So the same experience as yourself Ravelleman. Thanks.


  • #1991
    ammg
    Registered Users Posts: 106 ✭✭ammg


    Anyone do the video assessment for the Irish panel?


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  • #1992
    Betty123.
    Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭Betty123.


    Any video interview results from 27th April out yet?


  • #1993
    derailed
    Registered Users Posts: 82 ✭✭derailed


    Betty123. wrote: »
    Any video interview results from 27th April out yet?

    Not yet from talking to someone else earlier about the Stage 2 Video Interview but this competition is moving on very swiftly. From getting etray Stage 3 results on Tuesday, I have already received an invite to Stage 4 Final Interview on Thursday of next week. So I would expect to hear something soon on Video Interview Results.


  • #1994
    Cheeseplant
    Registered Users Posts: 332 ✭✭Cheeseplant


    derailed wrote: »
    Not yet from talking to someone else earlier about the Stage 2 Video Interview but this competition is moving on very swiftly. From getting etray Stage 3 results on Tuesday, I have already received an invite to Stage 4 Final Interview on Thursday of next week. So I would expect to hear something soon on Video Interview Results.

    that is not a lot of time to prep!! :eek:


  • #1995
    derailed
    Registered Users Posts: 82 ✭✭derailed


    Cheeseplant wrote: »
    that is not a lot of time to prep!! :eek:

    Agree could have done with more time but things moving swiftly. Will give it my attention for the next week and only advantage is that I have had an internal AP interview in recent weeks which was useful in terms of preparation for this next one coming up.


  • #1996
    dee75
    Registered Users Posts: 337 ✭✭dee75


    derailed wrote: »
    Not yet from talking to someone else earlier about the Stage 2 Video Interview but this competition is moving on very swiftly. From getting etray Stage 3 results on Tuesday, I have already received an invite to Stage 4 Final Interview on Thursday of next week. So I would expect to hear something soon on Video Interview Results.

    Well done! That seems very fast turn around to Stage 4. I wonder is it indicative of regional vacancies needing filling. Are you comfortable sharing your selected counties or general region?


  • #1997
    derailed
    Registered Users Posts: 82 ✭✭derailed


    dee75 wrote: »
    Well done! That seems very fast turn around to Stage 4. I wonder is it indicative of regional vacancies needing filling. Are you comfortable sharing your selected counties or general region?

    Thanks! Yes it's a very fast turnaround and may well be a sign of further imminent competitions on the horizon with so many places needing to be filled following multiple retirements and promotions and so on.

    I selected Dublin No.1 on the basis of numbers of positions while also keeping in mind possibilities for remote working allowing for locational flexibility (even though application was submitted in mid April of last year when we were just one month into WFH). My second choice was Carlow which was made based on connections to area and also No.2 due to the much greater possibility of an offer through the Dublin Panel if successful.


  • #1998
    starringme
    Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭starringme


    What are the competencies you're asked on? Is it like the form/stage 2 interview with only leadership, judgement and management with the other 3 marked within those answers? I don't see an actual clarification anywhere.


  • #1999
    Cheeseplant
    Registered Users Posts: 332 ✭✭Cheeseplant


    The competencies are listed here https://www.publicjobs.ie/documents/PAS_CS_Competency_Models_Assistant%20Principal.pdf
    you would usually be quizzed on the top 4: leadership, M and D of results, A & D/judgement, inter and comms. Drive and commitment can be a separate competency or evaluated from the 4 above. Specialised knowledge can sometimes be a separate competency (e.g. in the case of a technical/ specialised role) but I imagine will be judged over all comps above in this as a general competition.


    disclaimer: I haven't sat an AP open interview so open to correction!


  • #2000
    Ravelleman
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 3,635 CMod ✭✭✭✭Ravelleman


    Cheeseplant wrote: »
    The competencies are listed here https://www.publicjobs.ie/documents/PAS_CS_Competency_Models_Assistant%20Principal.pdf
    you would usually be quizzed on the top 4: leadership, M and D of results, A & D/judgement, inter and comms. Drive and commitment can be a separate competency or evaluated from the 4 above. Specialised knowledge can sometimes be a separate competency (e.g. in the case of a technical/ specialised role) but I imagine will be judged over all comps above in this as a general competition.


    disclaimer: I haven't sat an AP open interview so open to correction!

    It's actually five, if I recall correctly: drive and commitment is merged into management and delivery, and specialist knowledge is addressed separately (in my case by the chair). It's a blur to be honest and, although I was successful, I remember being slightly surprised by it all at the time.


  • #2001
    starringme
    Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭starringme


    So you're actually asked for examples on all 5 with drive etc. measured by your other answers? I remember being surprised in the HEO interview that there was a specialist knowledge question as there wasn't one on the form, I had to absolutely wing it.


    PAS are being vague af


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  • #2002
    extendormove
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭extendormove


    Has anyone that had to complete their video interview by April 27 heard anything yet?


  • #2003
    billyhead
    Registered Users Posts: 9,521 ✭✭✭billyhead


    Results are out for the video interview.


  • #2004
    Awkwardstroke
    Registered Users Posts: 94 ✭✭Awkwardstroke


    Just got my results (video stage) and thankfully I got through (average 55 for each section). Never done an Etray exercise before so fingers crossed on that part of the process.
    billyhead wrote: »
    Results are out for the video interview.


  • #2005
    Kurn
    Registered Users Posts: 874 ✭✭✭Kurn


    Can anyone tell me what does the interface look like for the etray. Is it something that takes over your screen, an outlook like environment? Or a virtual desktop?


  • #2006
    machalla
    Registered Users Posts: 1,523 ✭✭✭machalla


    Kurn wrote: »
    Can anyone tell me what does the interface look like for the etray. Is it something that takes over your screen, an outlook like environment? Or a virtual desktop?

    Its an outlook like environment within the browser.

    You don't create documents in it, all activity is through the browser and very similar to creating emails. I found it a bit clunky overall.


  • #2007
    Cheeseplant
    Registered Users Posts: 332 ✭✭Cheeseplant


    Awkwardstroke wrote: »
    Just got my results (video stage) and thankfully I got through (average 55 for each section). Never done an Etray exercise before so fingers crossed on that part of the process.

    I wonder when etray notification will be out. I was thinking this week to sit next week and results c. 07/06 with interviews 2 weeks later.


  • #2008
    Cheeseplant
    Registered Users Posts: 332 ✭✭Cheeseplant


    Mbwb wrote: »
    yes. About 5 weeks they put me through clearance, contacted my department for reference, sign self-declaration etc. When PAS happy with all that you are officially assigned to a Department.

    Mbwb- you were interviewed in March weren't you? Has your batch been mostly placed do you estimate?


  • #2009
    Findlk
    Registered Users Posts: 37 ✭Findlk


    Etray dates out already. Seems to be moving very fast, similar to the last batch. Wonder would this mean there's a possibility of further batches and a subsequent new competition before middle of next year!


  • #2010
    derailed
    Registered Users Posts: 82 ✭✭derailed


    Findlk wrote: »
    Etray dates out already. Seems to be moving very fast, similar to the last batch. Wonder would this mean there's a possibility of further batches and a subsequent new competition before middle of next year!

    Seems to be moving so fast that I can see there being another competition before the end of this year! Definitely further batches should be called forward in meantime at this rate.


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  • #2011
    Mbwb
    Registered Users Posts: 52 ✭✭Mbwb


    Cheeseplant wrote: »
    Mbwb- you were interviewed in March weren't you? Has your batch been mostly placed do you estimate?

    Yes, everyone on the panel has been called, I was assigned late April


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