Senior Executive Officer, Local Authority 2020

Alittlehelp45 · 14-09-2020 12:00pm

Does anyone know what Stage 3 will entail (I’m not getting ahead of myself - I’d just like to understand the process a bit better as an outsider)

crinkley · 14-09-2020 3:27pm

Alittlehelp45 wrote: »

Does anyone know what Stage 3 will entail (I’m not getting ahead of myself - I’d just like to understand the process a bit better as an outsider)

going by the booklet looks like an interview with a presentation possibly

The selection process may include some or all of the following:
 Online testing
 Video Interview
 Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of the information contained in their application;
 A preliminary interview, which may also include a presentation;
 Completion of an online questionnaire;
 A competitive interview, which may also include a presentation;
 Work sample/role play/ media exercise, and any other tests or exercises that may be deemed appropriate.

However, if its like the general AP I believe they had an e-tray exercise after the video interview

Alittlehelp45 · 14-09-2020 3:59pm

crinkley wrote: »

going by the booklet looks like an interview with a presentation possibly

The selection process may include some or all of the following:
 Online testing
 Video Interview
 Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of the information contained in their application;
 A preliminary interview, which may also include a presentation;
 Completion of an online questionnaire;
 A competitive interview, which may also include a presentation;
 Work sample/role play/ media exercise, and any other tests or exercises that may be deemed appropriate.

However, if its like the general AP I believe they had an e-tray exercise after the video interview

Thanks- as an outsider the process seems a little onerous and extremely time consuming. I’m at interview stage for another role and would expect to know the outcome within weeks. It sounds like this process could linger for months - I suppose if you’re not in you can’t win!

crinkley · 14-09-2020 4:03pm

Alittlehelp45 wrote: »

Thanks- as an outsider the process seems a little onerous and extremely time consuming. I’m at interview stage for another role and would expect to know the outcome within weeks. It sounds like this process could linger for months - I suppose if you’re not in you can’t win!

It can depend how quickly they need staff. I'm in the UK civil service and they have tried to quicken up the pace so the last post it was 3 months (for internals, as there was no security checks needed) from applying to those at the top of the merit list getting in post. The competition before that one of my staff it took them 18 months from applying to being in post.

At least we are in the first batch, and by all accounts they foresee vacancies coming up after October

tungsten · 15-09-2020 3:48pm

Video assessment with Sonru for those who my be interested in process

Introductory Question – 1 minute 30 seconds – (Not Scored)
Please give a brief overview of why you feel you are suitable for the role of Senior Executive Officer. In your response, please make reference to your career to date and motivation for this particular position. (Note: This question is not scored)
Question 1 – Delivering Results – 3 minutes
Please give a specific example of a time you were responsible for delivering results. In your response, describe how you delivered the service/project, with a focus on operational planning, management of resources (e.g. human, financial), monitoring standards and overcoming difficulties.
Question 2 – Strategic Management & Change – 3 minutes
Please give a specific example of a time you devised, implemented and evaluated a strategy/policy to meet a specific change objective. In your response, describe how you went about this, who was involved and what impact this strategy/policy change had.
Question 3 – Performance through People – 3 minutes
Please give a specific example of leading and managing a team to ensure high performance. In your answer, please describe your approach to communicating with and motivating staff, building effective teams and monitoring standards.

lucat · 16-09-2020 11:30am

tungsten wrote: »

Video assessment with Sonru for those who my be interested in process

Introductory Question – 1 minute 30 seconds – (Not Scored)
Please give a brief overview of why you feel you are suitable for the role of Senior Executive Officer. In your response, please make reference to your career to date and motivation for this particular position. (Note: This question is not scored)
Question 1 – Delivering Results – 3 minutes
Please give a specific example of a time you were responsible for delivering results. In your response, describe how you delivered the service/project, with a focus on operational planning, management of resources (e.g. human, financial), monitoring standards and overcoming difficulties.
Question 2 – Strategic Management & Change – 3 minutes
Please give a specific example of a time you devised, implemented and evaluated a strategy/policy to meet a specific change objective. In your response, describe how you went about this, who was involved and what impact this strategy/policy change had.
Question 3 – Performance through People – 3 minutes
Please give a specific example of leading and managing a team to ensure high performance. In your answer, please describe your approach to communicating with and motivating staff, building effective teams and monitoring standards.

So are you just...paraphrasing your application form??

tungsten · 16-09-2020 8:07pm

lucat wrote: »

So are you just...paraphrasing your application form??

3 mins is approx 400 words - a challenge!

WAW · 19-09-2020 9:01am

For the people who scored well in the the management scenarios.

How did you approach the test? Did you mostly pick just one option for each question or divide the points across two/three options?
Thanks

PeachL00pies · 19-09-2020 12:32pm

Has anyone attempted the interview yet? Really struggling with the fact that once its recording you can't restart...

flended12 · 20-09-2020 7:03pm

WAW wrote: »

For the people who scored well in the the management scenarios.

How did you approach the test? Did you mostly pick just one option for each question or divide the points across two/three options?
Thanks

Rule of thumb I was given with mgt scenarios is always follow line manager protocol and/or policy in your organisation. The "testers" want to make sure you are not inclined to go rogue.

Take any emotion out of the scenario and go with "what would manager/policy expect me to do".

WAW · 20-09-2020 9:53pm

flended12 wrote: »

Rule of thumb I was given with mgt scenarios is always follow line manager protocol and/or policy in your organisation. The "testers" want to make sure you are not inclined to go rogue.

Take any emotion out of the scenario and go with "what would manager/policy expect me to do".

Thanks. So basically, you would generally choose just one answer to each scenario rather than spread points over the 3 options?

flended12 · 20-09-2020 10:02pm

WAW wrote: »

Thanks. So basically, you would generally choose just one answer to each scenario rather than spread points over the 3 options?

Pretty much.

There were some answers that I gave a token 1 or 2 points out of the 6 including the main answer. In hindsight I should have stuck to what I was told for all answers.

Itchyfeet89 · 22-09-2020 4:24pm

Video interview is annoying. I haven't done it but trying to read your statements while looking at the phone screen is not ideal.

silverwatch · 23-09-2020 3:25pm

For those doing the interview, are ye using different examples for the answers to those ye used on the application form.

Find it very frustrating that the questions are pretty much what's on the application form. Is the correct strategy to use the same examples or to use different ones I wonder?

crinkley · 23-09-2020 3:28pm

silverwatch wrote: »

For those doing the interview, are ye using different examples for the answers to those ye used on the application form.

Find it very frustrating that the questions are pretty much what's on the application form. Is the correct strategy to use the same examples or to use different ones I wonder?

I'd say you are pretty safe using what was on the form just expanded etc. personally I used this bit of down time at work to write different ones to beef up my catalogue of answers for similar campaigns and hopefully the next stage.

silverwatch · 23-09-2020 10:08pm

Me again, I have a delay between my webcam and my microphone on the practice tests. I have sent an email but no reply. Any tech wizzards on here. Makes it look like someone else's voice as my lips are not in sync with the sound....

Casarina · 23-09-2020 10:50pm

silverwatch wrote: »

Me again, I have a delay between my webcam and my microphone on the practice tests. I have sent an email but no reply. Any tech wizzards on here. Makes it look like someone else's voice as my lips are not in sync with the sound....

From trying the webcam and the Sonru app I would suggest doing it on your phone. The sound quality on my laptop was terrible. I think from what people are saying (both here / on the Ass Principal thread) that the Sonru app on your phone is the best option.

Have only done the practice test myself.... last minute.com for me I think! Not prepared at all!

silverwatch · 23-09-2020 11:12pm

Thank you so much I don’t know why I didn’t think of that! And me here writing this on my phone n then going to the laptop! Thanks again

Casarina wrote: »

From trying the webcam and the Sonru app I would suggest doing it on your phone. The sound quality on my laptop was terrible. I think from what people are saying (both here / on the Ass Principal thread) that the Sonru app on your phone is the best option.

Have only done the practice test myself.... last minute.com for me I think! Not prepared at all!

Casarina · 23-09-2020 11:13pm

silverwatch wrote: »

Thank you so much I don’t know why I didn’t think of that! And me here writing this on my phone n then going to the laptop! Thanks again

No bother at all. Best of luck to you and everyone at this stage! Great fun!

crinkley · 24-09-2020 9:14am

doing mine this lunch time, I'm sick of looking at my answers lol

Alittlehelp45 · 25-09-2020 8:53am

I’ve just completed mine and found the process horrendous! It’s so rigid, there is no opportunity to convey personality or the likes. I felt like a robot (who stuttered a lot)!

Does anyone know the weighting placed on each component (application, aptitude and interview) as if it’s heavily weighted towards the interview I think I’m gone!

Tigerpants · 25-09-2020 8:26pm

Alittlehelp45 wrote: »

I’ve just completed mine and found the process horrendous! It’s so rigid, there is no opportunity to convey personality or the likes. I felt like a robot (who stuttered a lot)!

Does anyone know the weighting placed on each component (application, aptitude and interview) as if it’s heavily weighted towards the interview I think I’m gone!

I got the impression that the aptitude is done and dusted. Now its the video interview marked on its own that decides if you go through to the next stage.
Application Form hasn't been looked at yet...that's what I think anyway!

User247 · 28-09-2020 12:13pm

Any idea when we should have the feedback from the interviews? What would typically be the next round? I'm assuming competitive interviews will be hard to organise with Covid! This is my first time doing one of these. I found the timing hard. They want an awful lot in your answers with very little time to say it!

User247 · 28-09-2020 12:16pm

Alittlehelp45 wrote: »

I’ve just completed mine and found the process horrendous! It’s so rigid, there is no opportunity to convey personality or the likes. I felt like a robot (who stuttered a lot)!

Does anyone know the weighting placed on each component (application, aptitude and interview) as if it’s heavily weighted towards the interview I think I’m gone!

I feel the exact same! I was exhausted by the time the interview was over!

I also think that we are going to be called to the next round based on our performance on the interview only.

sifi70 · 01-10-2020 12:59pm

Hi all, this was my first time taking such a test. What is the chance of ever being called if you don't fall within the first 200 successful individuals who took the test. If you make the panel, do you stay on it until you eventually get called for an interview or do they 'dissolve' the panel after a certain period of time? Thanks.

crinkley · 01-10-2020 3:31pm

sifi70 wrote: »

Hi all, this was my first time taking such a test. What is the chance of ever being called if you don't fall within the first 200 successful individuals who took the test. If you make the panel, do you stay on it until you eventually get called for an interview or do they 'dissolve' the panel after a certain period of time? Thanks.

Panels tend to stay 'live' for 2 years and then it expires and a new comp is needed.

as for the chance of being called all depends on demand, a lot of those 200 called may not past the video and then subsequent interviews

Itchyfeet89 · 01-10-2020 4:38pm

I had serious technical difficulties with this sonru app and my answers did not get uploaded properly. I contacted public jobs who gave me another opportunity to do it but I still wasn't happy with it. It would be a lot better to do interview through zoom or microsoft teams or something like that

djcubedmofo · 09-10-2020 9:09am

"The selection board met last week and this week to review and assess all candidate responses and it’s anticipated that results will issue around mid-Oct."

Received this Thursday 8th after I sent an update request.

tungsten · 09-10-2020 9:27am

djcubedmofo wrote: »

"The selection board met last week and this week to review and assess all candidate responses and it’s anticipated that results will issue around mid-Oct."

Received this Thursday 8th after I sent an update request.

Thanks for that
Did anyone else get a strange request to resend photo i.d and declaration earlier this week?

djcubedmofo · 09-10-2020 9:32am

tungsten wrote: »

Thanks for that
Did anyone else get a strange request to resend photo i.d and declaration earlier this week?

I didn't.

crinkley · 09-10-2020 2:07pm

tungsten wrote: »

Thanks for that
Did anyone else get a strange request to resend photo i.d and declaration earlier this week?

nope, but I did get a confirmation email when I sent mine in

Tigerpants · 09-10-2020 5:02pm

tungsten wrote: »

Thanks for that
Did anyone else get a strange request to resend photo i.d and declaration earlier this week?

Yes I did! All good now!

djcubedmofo · 15-10-2020 10:45am

Just found out that I didn't pass. Did well on the ""Delivering Results" section but scored slightly under the pass mark in the other two sections: "Strategic Management & Change" and "Performance through People".

Alittlehelp45 · 15-10-2020 10:52am

djcubedmofo wrote: »

Just found out that I didn't pass. Did well on the ""Delivering Results" section but scored slightly under the pass mark in the other two sections: "Strategic Management & Change" and "Performance through People".

I was 5 marks shy on the performance through people criteria. I can’t believe that the interview was examined in isolation. I scored in the low 50s on the aptitude test and would ordinarily be comfortable interviewing. I had a train wreck speaking to camera and monitoring time while working from home with young kids. I would actually consider performance through people one of my strengths... the process would nearly put me off applying again

crinkley · 15-10-2020 11:00am

I passed next stage to be early November. Certainly not my best interview delivery but I had my examples from a U.K. civil service panel that I passed for the same grade so glad it was obviously more about the content than the delivery lol

tungsten · 15-10-2020 12:14pm

Passed also
Tips i'd like to pass on if helpful

I used 'i' a lot, embarrassingly so

Had my competencies at 250 words for 3 mins video

I spoke at a consistent speed - no void silences if possible

Keep your eye on the camera. I didn't look at notes.

crinkley · 16-10-2020 9:09am

Did anyone who pass get their results or just the email saying you've met the standard?

Maria2605 · 16-10-2020 10:41am

crinkley wrote: »

Did anyone who pass get their results or just the email saying you've met the standard?

Hi there,
I was just going to ask the same thing! All I got was an email saying I met the standard. I was surprised that they didn't give any marks on the individual competencies! But now I see that other people seem to have received more detailed feedback so I'm confused. Might just be an oversight?

PeachL00pies · 16-10-2020 11:00am

I also only got an email saying I met the standard. I presume it has been structured like this to level the playing field for the 'Main Interview' and that the Order of Merit listing will follow...

Although, I could be completely wrong. You never know what PAS has up its sleeve.

crinkley · 16-10-2020 1:33pm

I would just to have liked to have seen my marks to see what areas I should be working on for the main interview, maybe it will come later like the online tests breakdown did

PeachL00pies · 19-10-2020 12:04pm

Emails out with notification to self-book an interview time.

tungsten · 19-10-2020 12:34pm

When booking it had a sub campaign ref called seo tipperary county council
Am worried why the campaign is specific to tipp.Any ideas?

crinkley · 19-10-2020 1:01pm

I booked the last date available, mine also gives Westmeath which was like my 5th choice, I wonder if that has any bearings

PeachL00pies · 19-10-2020 1:47pm

Mine was for Dublin City Council, which was my first choice. I only put down three in total on the application form, which was DCC, Fingal and Regional Assembly. Maybe give PAS a call and ask?

crinkley · 19-10-2020 2:44pm

PeachL00pies wrote: »

Mine was for Dublin City Council, which was my first choice. I only put down three in total on the application form, which was DCC, Fingal and Regional Assembly. Maybe give PAS a call and ask?

going by the latest email it seems its just a default for the system, I really didn't mind anyway I would accept any of the 6 I put down

akruteh · 21-10-2020 8:55pm

Does anyone have the SEO competition booklet by any chance? Thanks.

crinkley · 30-10-2020 9:39am

see they gave the competencies they will be basing the interview on, I have no idea about timings or how long to expect the interview to last. Numbers must be low enough as well with only one chair

Tigerpants · 02-11-2020 11:39pm

Is this interview the final stage?

crinkley · 03-11-2020 7:46am

Tigerpants wrote: »

Is this interview the final stage?

Have they done the sift on our application yet? I never got anything about passing that stage but can't imagine they would put you in front of a panel before it

PeachL00pies · 03-11-2020 10:59am

Interview is final stage. I asked during the test call and they said they're aiming for the end of this month for panel positions.

Senior Executive Officer, Local Authority 2020

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