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Third Secretary & Development Specialist Campaign 2020

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  • Registered Users Posts: 61 ✭✭ddpas


    blithe wrote: »
    Edited: sorry, forgot to say that yes, numerical is just one table too (with tabbed sheets) :)

    Haha no worries, I edited mine as I forgot to ask it too!! That's great thanks a mil, glad to hear yours went well! :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭exitstageleft


    On another board someone was suggesting that if we make it to the interview stage, it'll be one interview for all the streams we applied for. Can anyone here shed light on whether or not that's true?

    If it is, how would you present your competencies?
    The DSO looks for slightly different competencies from the TS, while another AO stream is quite different again.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,639 ✭✭✭completedit


    That verbal reasoning test was not what I was expecting whatsoever. I'm normally good at comprehension but having to trawl through the various sheets under a time constraint was very difficult. I got to 26 and that was me actually flying through it. Bit demoralizing but que sera


  • Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭exitstageleft


    That verbal reasoning test was not what I was expecting whatsoever. I'm normally good at comprehension but having to trawl through the various sheets under a time constraint was very difficult. I got to 26 and that was me actually flying through it. Bit demoralizing but que sera


    Seems like everyone is struggling with that one! Probably not as bad as you thought though - 26 is quite a few in the time limit.


    Were the questions hidden when you were reading through the tabs? I'm not sure if that was down to a particular browser or if it's set like that. It's a pain anyway.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4 Ramnavk2


    Just completed the assessments there, thought the deductive logic in particular was challenging. Like others have said, the layout of the verbal & numerical threw me a little at first, but once you got into it it was fairly straightforward.

    the chatAssess too was interesting, tbh probably went through it a little too quickly as I wasn't sure how many responses would be needed for each part.

    best of luck to everyone!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2 mirrorball13


    Hey guys,

    I just did the assessment and got through okay with most things, however, I did run out of time on the numerical reasoning and now it’s showing as blocked?
    This is my first time taking these tests, is this normal? Should it be showing as completed and sent or is it blocked because I ran out of time?

    Thanks!


  • Registered Users Posts: 37 mulligja


    Hey guys,

    I just did the assessment and got through okay with most things, however, I did run out of time on the numerical reasoning and now it’s showing as blocked?
    This is my first time taking these tests, is this normal? Should it be showing as completed and sent or is it blocked because I ran out of time?

    Thanks!

    In the familiarisation material it says to contact the Help Desk if it shows up as 'Blocked'. Details for help desk is also there and in the messages on public jobs.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2 mirrorball13


    mulligja wrote: »
    In the familiarisation material it says to contact the Help Desk if it shows up as 'Blocked'. Details for help desk is also there and in the messages on public jobs.

    Yeah, I sent them an email just to be on the safe side but was wondering if anyone had the same issue, thank you though!


  • Registered Users Posts: 37 mulligja


    Anyone happen to know if negative marks are also given for skipped questions?


  • Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭exitstageleft


    Well, finished up the assessments this morning but they were a bit of a disaster really. I can't say I felt confident about any section.
    Most of my verbal answers were only slightly better than educated guess. It really feels like there just isn't time for comprehension, just scan and guess.
    The logic was slightly harder than I expected too.

    I wonder if the SJT would be slightly easier if you already had some experience in the civil service. It might be clearer how much authority you have yourself, and how often you should revert to your boss. I found that often the answers were all reasonable but I could've done with more context.

    Anyway, guess the dream's not dead until the results come back in a few weeks!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 279 ✭✭HartsHat


    Well, finished up the assessments this morning but they were a bit of a disaster really. I can't say I felt confident about any section.
    Most of my verbal answers were only slightly better than educated guess. It really feels like there just isn't time for comprehension, just scan and guess.
    The logic was slightly harder than I expected too.

    I wonder if the SJT would be slightly easier if you already had some experience in the civil service. It might be clearer how much authority you have yourself, and how often you should revert to your boss. I found that often the answers were all reasonable but I could've done with more context.

    Anyway, guess the dream's not dead until the results come back in a few weeks!

    Probably not really. TS tend to have far more autonomy and responsibility than equivalent grades (E.g. deputy head of mission or chargé, briefing Ministers directly etc.) so depends if the exams are calibrated to reflect that - if they are, experience of an equivalent role in the general CS could even be a disadvantage.

    While some TS have prior PS experience, the majority do not.


  • Registered Users Posts: 63 ✭✭blithe


    Does anyone know when we might expect the results? The week after next, maybe?
    Thanks!


  • Registered Users Posts: 17 Puguchung


    If you didn’t get a TS/DSO role, which other department(s) would you want to work in? Are any other departments similar either in terms of scope of work, or autonomy, or environment, something else? Are there other departments where experience there stands you in good stead for one day moving into a TS//DSO role?


  • Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭exitstageleft


    blithe wrote: »
    Does anyone know when we might expect the results? The week after next, maybe?
    Thanks!

    On the webpage that detailed the TS/DSO there was a rough schedule. I think the next part was results and feedback "early November", interviews "late November" and more testing "early December". Judging from that I'm guessing maybe toward the end of the week after next.

    The page appears to be gone now and the same info is not in the booklet.


  • Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭exitstageleft


    Do people expect two separate order of merits for the Third Secretary and the Development Specialist Officer?

    Has everyone applied for both too?


  • Registered Users Posts: 25,993 ✭✭✭✭noodler


    Not sure if this has been asked before but I noticed the following text in the Information Booklet:

    "Entry will be at the minimum of the scale and the rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation and may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy."

    I am an existing Civil Servant currently on point three of the AO payscale. Does anyone know if this means that I will revert to point one? was anyone here a similar position previously? I don't see the same line in the AO Information Booklet so it's worrying!

    There should be another line that says unless you are a public servant immediately prior to taking the post.

    This is a well understood term. You will retain your incremental credit but make sure you contact who you need to confirm


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21 ticklemonster


    Just finished the tests. Found them all confusing tbh. At the beginning in the numerical I def got a few wrong as I couldnt tell if the information was related to the company in the question so put 'cannot tell'. Pretty sure I screwed that one up. Logical and verbal were ok though so hopefully that counts for me!


  • Registered Users Posts: 5 Paladin_


    On the webpage that detailed the TS/DSO there was a rough schedule. I think the next part was results and feedback "early November", interviews "late November" and more testing "early December". Judging from that I'm guessing maybe toward the end of the week after next.

    The page appears to be gone now and the same info is not in the booklet.

    The timeline is mentioned at the end of this webpage if anyone wants to check (Steps 6 to 9): www[dot]publicjobs[dot]ie/en/graduate-opportunities/graduate-third-secretary

    Interested to know if anyone going for TS also applied for the policy advisor positions in New York? www[dot]dfa[dot]ie/pmun/newyork/about-us/job-opportunities/job-vacancy-policy-advisor-posts-security-council-term.html

    (Created a new Boards profile so can't share links yet)


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,639 ✭✭✭completedit


    I applied for the Security Council job and got a rejection e-mail last week.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28 PurpleRainx


    Just finished the tests:

    Logical reasoning-ok except seeing the answers I got wrong put me off. Also couldn't see how many questions there were unless I was just missing that so have no idea how many I completed.

    Chat-Assessment-Fine. Had 11 mins to spare. Was surprised I could not go back and check my answers though. I guess this makes sense as the chat is instant.

    Numerical reasoning-time pressuring to say the least. Very difficult when you have to memorise/scribble down the question as the tabs cover over the question. Got a technical error message at the end of numerical reasoning but then had a tick beside it once I went back in and a message saying I have completed all tasks. Anyone else had this issue? Contacted the AON PAS email, hope they get back to me before the deadline Tuesday and say whether it was submitted or not. Hope I don't have to resit it (wonder if that's even an option?)

    Verbal reasoning-found the toughest. Couldn't get to grips with not having question in front of me while reading the tabs. Answered below 30 I think which is disheartening. Anybody know if this is marked together with the deductive logical part?

    Overall tougher than expected but all I can say is I did my best and the rest is up to fate :)


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  • Registered Users Posts: 238 ✭✭exitstageleft


    Just finished the tests:

    Logical reasoning-ok except seeing the answers I got wrong put me off. Also couldn't see how many questions there were unless I was just missing that so have no idea how many I completed.

    Chat-Assessment-Fine. Had 11 mins to spare. Was surprised I could not go back and check my answers though. I guess this makes sense as the chat is instant.

    Numerical reasoning-time pressuring to say the least. Very difficult when you have to memorise/scribble down the question as the tabs cover over the question. Got a technical error message at the end of numerical reasoning but then had a tick beside it once I went back in and a message saying I have completed all tasks. Anyone else had this issue? Contacted the AON PAS email, hope they get back to me before the deadline Tuesday and say whether it was submitted or not. Hope I don't have to resit it (wonder if that's even an option?)

    Verbal reasoning-found the toughest. Couldn't get to grips with not having question in front of me while reading the tabs. Answered below 30 I think which is disheartening. Anybody know if this is marked together with the deductive logical part?

    Overall tougher than expected but all I can say is I did my best and the rest is up to fate :)

    Wow, I could've nearly written the same post. Hopefully most of us found the levels similarly tricky.

    Did anyone get 30 or more questions answered confidently? (I did not!)


  • Registered Users Posts: 37 mulligja


    Just finished the tests:

    Logical reasoning-ok except seeing the answers I got wrong put me off. Also couldn't see how many questions there were unless I was just missing that so have no idea how many I completed.

    Chat-Assessment-Fine. Had 11 mins to spare. Was surprised I could not go back and check my answers though. I guess this makes sense as the chat is instant.

    Numerical reasoning-time pressuring to say the least. Very difficult when you have to memorise/scribble down the question as the tabs cover over the question. Got a technical error message at the end of numerical reasoning but then had a tick beside it once I went back in and a message saying I have completed all tasks. Anyone else had this issue? Contacted the AON PAS email, hope they get back to me before the deadline Tuesday and say whether it was submitted or not. Hope I don't have to resit it (wonder if that's even an option?)

    Verbal reasoning-found the toughest. Couldn't get to grips with not having question in front of me while reading the tabs. Answered below 30 I think which is disheartening. Anybody know if this is marked together with the deductive logical part?

    Overall tougher than expected but all I can say is I did my best and the rest is up to fate :)


    Had the error you had on numerical on verbal, got message back this morning to confirm that it's grand as long as you had "Completed and Saved" on your end screen. Think you did fine on verbal, i got through about 20 and even skipped through a few.


  • Registered Users Posts: 269 ✭✭Aleece2020


    Just finished the tests. Found them all confusing tbh. At the beginning in the numerical I def got a few wrong as I couldnt tell if the information was related to the company in the question so put 'cannot tell'. Pretty sure I screwed that one up. Logical and verbal were ok though so hopefully that counts for me!


    I don’t think anyone can finish the entire test And get everything right, that’s less than 30 seconds per question - I reckon you’ll be okay.


  • Registered Users Posts: 61 ✭✭ddpas


    Wow, I could've nearly written the same post. Hopefully most of us found the levels similarly tricky.

    Did anyone get 30 or more questions answered confidently? (I did not!)


    Think I got about 33 of the verbal ones done in the end.. the test seemed to be more of a time management assessment than anything else!


  • Registered Users Posts: 148 ✭✭belgowho


    Completed all tests bar the ChatAssess which plan to to do today. Quite happy with how I did( even with only getting over 30 questions answered in verbal).

    My feeling on the verbal is based on how I practiced on JobTestPrep.
    Each time I did the same practice test again, I followed my process of scanning/key words etc. I would have memory from previous time of doing test which would undeniably give me an advantage, but i still kept to my process. After doing a test maybe the 3rd time, I still couldnt get to the circa 40-49th question or get them all right.

    Naturally, some people would have better reading comprehension and memory, but I would be shocked if high numbers got to the 40+ question and got everyone of them right. Considering how much time it takes you to read the question, open up each tab, scan, understand the relevant section etc, it would be very very difficult to do it all accurately in 12 minutes.


  • Registered Users Posts: 44 PeachL00pies


    Just completed the tests. Much prefered the format used to the EO which took place a few weeks ago. Thought the ChatAssess was reasonable also.

    This would be my third time applying for Third Sec after two unsuccessful attempts, so I don't hold out much hope.

    Best of luck to everyone - working in DFA offers up some amazing opportunities!


  • Registered Users Posts: 63 ✭✭blithe


    Just completed the tests. Much prefered the format used to the EO which took place a few weeks ago. Thought the ChatAssess was reasonable also.

    This would be my third time applying for Third Sec after two unsuccessful attempts, so I don't hold out much hope.

    Best of luck to everyone - working in DFA offers up some amazing opportunities!

    Best of luck to you too! Here's hoping third time's the charm :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 2 onthemaas


    Well that was more stressful than I had anticipated. I definitely feel like I rushed through the chat assess test which was probably not the best idea.


  • Registered Users Posts: 39 CrouchTiger


    Puguchung wrote: »
    If you didn’t get a TS/DSO role, which other department(s) would you want to work in? Are any other departments similar either in terms of scope of work, or autonomy, or environment, something else? Are there other departments where experience there stands you in good stead for one day moving into a TS//DSO role?

    My experience on joining as a TS is that those with previous civil service experience tend to land on top of the panels. Having held a previous AO position in Finance or Justice tends to be a really excellent asset for getting in.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 39 CrouchTiger


    I thought the booklet said 1-2 years in HQ in Dublin. I do feel bad for anyone moving here to rent. It's woeful.

    A lot of current TS are looking at 3 years in Dublin BTW given the size of the queue. Be prepared to wait that length.


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