Temporary Clerical Officer 2021 in the Civil and Public Service (Please read OP)

jules5417 · 12-11-2020 11:35pm

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

For all that there worth #nothing what so ever.

I'm just hoping my application form wasn't blank!!

November Golf · 12-11-2020 11:57pm

jules5417 wrote: »

I'm just hoping my application form wasn't blank!!

If you go into your publicjobs profile to "My Applications" you should be able to download and check your application form as submitted.

furrybones · 13-11-2020 1:03am

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

If you go into your publicjobs profile to "My Applications" you should be able to download and check your application form as submitted.

Yeah.. I've done that.. twice. I KNOW it wasn't blank but considering things were bad enough for PAS to email about it, I'm still doubting myself. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Green farmer · 13-11-2020 8:27am

furrybones wrote: »

Yeah.. I've done that.. twice. I KNOW it wasn't blank but considering things were bad enough for PAS to email about it, I'm still doubting myself. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

That thought has gone through my head as well, even though I've checked it a few times.

Banana Republic 1 · 13-11-2020 9:21am

Green farmer wrote: »

That thought has gone through my head as well, even though I've checked it a few times.

Last time I got a invite to an interview on Monday for the following Monday.By Friday I got an email from pas saying we never got your application and could you please resubmit your r form via email which I did, course I did think how did I get an interview if they didn’t have my application, but no matter. In the interview they asked me why I reassigned last tco contract and I informed them that the other tco in same department did not me. They later started digging about my ability to use email and I told them the story above re the application form. I didn’t get the job, hmm.

upinthesky · 13-11-2020 9:53am

Assessment 1 is now available, I assume everyone that applied properly receives this?

aleoga · 13-11-2020 1:42pm

I saw in an earlier post that "Stage One is an Assessment Questionnaire available for both standard and special needs candidates " although I didn't see special needs mentioned in the 2020 booklet. Do you think this means there is a different Assessment Questionnaire for special needs candidates or is it the same for both standard and special needs?
Many thanks.

Banana Republic 1 · 13-11-2020 2:21pm

One of the questions on the test. To be able to do it without having to put in a lot of effort. what does this mean to you ?

1 Im so good at it I don't even having to think
or
2 I only have to bash this the return key its like stealing a living

weadick · 13-11-2020 3:25pm

I often wonder with these assessment questionaires whether its better to be honest or to just pretend you are above average and excellent at everything.

Banana Republic 1 · 13-11-2020 3:29pm

weadick wrote: »

I often wonder with these assessment questionaires whether its better to be honest or to just pretend you are above average and excellent at everything.

Answer honestly but always either agree strongly or disagree strongly

13-11-2020 5:06pm

TCO Q no. 1: "I would jump off a bridge if my team lead told me to"

Somewhat agree, no?

Banana Republic 1 · 13-11-2020 5:10pm

Cali Stocky Thinker wrote: »

TCO Q no. 1: "I would jump off a bridge if my team lead told me to"

Somewhat agree, no?

No one likes a whistle blower

Aleece2020 · 13-11-2020 5:50pm

Are the competencies for TCO the same as a regular CO?

November Golf · 13-11-2020 6:19pm

Aleece2020 wrote: »

Are the competencies for TCO the same as a regular CO?

Yes the competencies are the same.

Banana Republic 1 · 13-11-2020 8:22pm

Aleece2020 wrote: »

Are the competencies for TCO the same as a regular CO?

Yes

furrybones · 15-11-2020 11:24pm

Just completed the assessment and it's pretty much the same as last year's one. Fingers crossed that I pass it and get a good OOM, or at least an OOM they'll reach by the end of the panel.

I got a 6 month contract from the 2020 campaign and got used to working full time again, so I'm finding it hard now that it's finished. I loved the work and I got on great with my colleagues, so leaving was especially difficult

Thankfully, the organisation I volunteer with left the door open for me to come back once my contract finished so at least I'm not staring at 4 walls all day every day and I'm doing something useful (miss the paycheck though).

While I've heard that people see these campaigns as a waste of time and money, I think they are a great opportunity to experience many different areas of the public sector and I really hope I'll be as fortunate with the 2021 campaign as I was in 2020.

Best of luck to everyone

jules5417 · 15-11-2020 11:31pm

furrybones wrote: »

Just completed the assessment and it's pretty much the same as last year's one. Fingers crossed that I pass it and get a good OOM, or at least an OOM they'll reach by the end of the panel.

I got a 6 month contract from the 2020 campaign and got used to working full time again, so I'm finding it hard now that it's finished. I loved the work and I got on great with my colleagues, so leaving was especially difficult Thankfully, the organisation I volunteer with left the door open for me to come back once my contract finished so at least I'm not staring at 4 walls all day every day and I'm doing something useful (miss the paycheck though).

While I've heard that people see these campaigns as a waste of time and money, I think they are a great opportunity to experience many different areas of the public sector and I really hope I'll be as fortunate with the 2021 campaign as I was in 2020.

Best of luck to everyone

My oom in Limerick was 40 2020 and didn't get a call hoping next year will be better for us all. Best contract I ever got was 16 months in the council loved it. Worse contract social welfare staff were just so unfriendly was happy to get out.

furrybones · 15-11-2020 11:38pm

jules5417 wrote: »

My oom in Limerick was 40 2020 and didn't get a call hoping next year will be better for us all. Best contract I ever got was 16 months in the council loved it. Worse contract social welfare staff were just so unfriendly was happy to get out.

I had one that I thought I'd never get out of too, but it was an experience nonetheless. I also learned a lot about myself with that contract, and it wasn't all bad :P

Aleece2020 · 16-11-2020 6:49am

For people who have done this before and gotten a good result; do you have any advice on how to go about this? This is my first time going for TCO and I didn't do well at all with the regular CO competition earlier this year.

Banana Republic 1 · 16-11-2020 9:04am

Aleece2020 wrote: »

For people who have done this before and gotten a good result; do you have any advice on how to go about this? This is my first time going for TCO and I didn't do well at all with the regular CO competition earlier this year.

Forget about the CO one that’s a lotto.

furrybones · 16-11-2020 12:05pm

Aleece2020 wrote: »

For people who have done this before and gotten a good result; do you have any advice on how to go about this? This is my first time going for TCO and I didn't do well at all with the regular CO competition earlier this year.

I did quite well in the TCO campaign and then got an abysmal OOM in the CO campaign - absolutely no chance of getting anything out of it. I'm at a loss as to why, considering I would have answered much the same for both.

Strazdas · 16-11-2020 1:25pm

Aleece2020 wrote: »

For people who have done this before and gotten a good result; do you have any advice on how to go about this? This is my first time going for TCO and I didn't do well at all with the regular CO competition earlier this year.

One of the contributors further up suggested to be firm in your answers - don't go for the safe middle option.

Banana Republic 1 · 16-11-2020 4:49pm

furrybones wrote: »

I did quite well in the TCO campaign and then got an abysmal OOM in the CO campaign - absolutely no chance of getting anything out of it. I'm at a loss as to why, considering I would have answered much the same for both.

You have to look at the whole public jobs competition process as a lotto. There are so many people applying for these positions that PAS, (Public appointments service), would take years to go through all the applications if they actual read them. So they have constructed a Byzantine way of taking a bunch of applications and throwing them in the bin.

Keep applying for CO comps but don't rely on it. There are people who pay money to practise the type of "aptitude" test which PAS use, therefore proving aptitude testing is bogus unless its for a very specific type of work, say CIA spy. Take the people who green lighted the dáil printer that wouldn't fit in the building or whom ever copy and pasted the Maurice McCabe stuff. An aptitude test should have eliminated people who make errors like that but it doesn't and do you know why its cause its bogus. Get irritated but then move on.

Banana Republic 1 · 16-11-2020 5:00pm

Strazdas wrote: »

One of the contributors further up suggested to be firm in your answers - don't go for the safe middle option.

That was me and it works.

furrybones · 17-11-2020 6:53pm

Is it too early to be impatient for results of the assessment tests?

newbie18892 · 17-11-2020 7:17pm

furrybones wrote: »

Is it too early to be impatient for results of the assessment tests?

It said results in early december sadly

November Golf · 17-11-2020 7:17pm

furrybones wrote: »

Is it too early to be impatient for results of the assessment tests?

Yes. There is a general rule of thumb for dealing with impatience as follow:

1. If you haven't received results in two weeks, it is perfectly acceptable to be impatient. (Solution: Give out on Boards)

2. If you haven't received results in three weeks, it perfectly acceptable to be concerned. (Solution: Email PAS for update)

3. If you haven't received results in four weeks, it perfectly acceptable to be deeply worried. (Solution: Ring PAS for update)

Strazdas · 17-11-2020 7:21pm

Just out of interest, does the main CO competition have a similar format and one hour assessment test?

Banana Republic 1 · 17-11-2020 7:29pm

Strazdas wrote: »

Just out of interest, does the main CO competition have a similar format and one hour assessment test?

Yes but there is also a “aptitude” test as part of the process.

November Golf · 17-11-2020 7:35pm

Strazdas wrote: »

Just out of interest, does the main CO competition have a similar format and one hour assessment test?

For the CO competition, the assessment questionnaire is very similar but you would also have a Verbal reasoning and Numerical reasoning tests which are about 20-30 minutes each.

While you have to pass all 3 test to proceed, only the assessment questionnaire and Verbal Reasoning tests score count toward your order of merit for interview.

Correction, I checked and there was no aptitude tests for CO 2020. That may change again next time around but this year the CO and TCO were essentially the same format for Stage 1 and likewise are moving straight to Stage 2 interviews.

Banana Republic 1 · 17-11-2020 7:40pm

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

For the CO competition, the assessment questionnaire is very similar but you would also have a Verbal reasoning and Numerical reasoning tests which are about 20-30 minutes each.

While you have to pass all 3 test to proceed, only the assessment questionnaire and Verbal Reasoning tests score count toward your order of merit for interview.

Are you sure about that, I’ve done a few tests above in Dublin and despite me doing well on verbal the maths one always brought down my score.

November Golf · 17-11-2020 7:53pm

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

Are you sure about that, I’ve done a few tests above in Dublin and despite me doing well on verbal the maths one always brought down my score.

There was no aptitude tests for CO2020, so clearly not.

But that is how they use to mark the aptitude test. they want a minimum standard of math but after that its disregarded for OOM purpose, same for the EO/AO.

furrybones · 17-11-2020 7:59pm

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

Yes. There is a general rule of thumb for dealing with impatience as follow:

1. If you haven't received results in two weeks, it is perfectly acceptable to be impatient. (Solution: Give out on Boards)

2. If you haven't received results in three weeks, it perfectly acceptable to be concerned. (Solution: Email PAS for update)

3. If you haven't received results in four weeks, it perfectly acceptable to be deeply worried. (Solution: Ring PAS for update)

Some very sound guidelines there, lol. I fear I may perish from the impatience by week 4.

furrybones · 17-11-2020 8:00pm

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

Are you sure about that, I’ve done a few tests above in Dublin and despite me doing well on verbal the maths one always brought down my score.

I can't speak for the CO, but in the EO assessments the numerical reasoning wasn't taken into account for the final score.

upinthesky · 17-11-2020 8:05pm

What happens if you don’t do well at stage 1, will they email you to tell you that you were unsuccessful?

I did the test questions and I was advised to apply for a position if I had not already done so on all four parts, I was happy with that!

November Golf · 17-11-2020 8:16pm

upinthesky wrote: »

What happens if you don’t do well at stage 1, will they email you to tell you that you were unsuccessful?

I did the test questions and I was advised to apply for a position if I had not already done so on all four parts, I was happy with that!

If you were to be unsuccessful, you would be informed in the results email that you didn't meet the qualifying standard. And unfortunately, your out of the competition.

Red Honeysuckle · 18-11-2020 10:16am

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

Are you sure about that, I’ve done a few tests above in Dublin and despite me doing well on verbal the maths one always brought down my score.

There was no CO aptitude test in Dublin this year. And no bulk interviews. They are calling as positions arise so very slow moving unless in Dublin. I think Limerick are on no20. Also AFAIK it's only a one year panel that closes in May (unless circumstances change).

Aleece2020 · 18-11-2020 10:49am

Is there likely only going to be a stage one in this, much like the last CO competition?

November Golf · 18-11-2020 11:35am

Aleece2020 wrote: »

Is there likely only going to be a stage one in this, much like the last CO competition?

Yes, Stage 2 is Online Interview via Zoom.

Banana Republic 1 · 18-11-2020 12:24pm

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

Yes, Stage 2 is Online Interview via Zoom.

Is true that recent TCOs will skip this step

November Golf · 18-11-2020 12:47pm

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

Is true that recent TCOs will skip this step

Thats what is says in the Information Booklet but as I'm sure you know, its not true until it happens.

Candidates who have successfully completed a TCO contract/s within the 3 years prior to 9th November 2020 may not be required to undergo a Stage 2 - Interview. Such candidates will, if advanced to Stage 2, instead be required to provide satisfactory references, for the period of the TCO contract/s in question, confirming suitable performance in the role. These references will be verified with the relevant Department. Other additional references may also be required for other recent employment. Please note that details of all prior TCO contracts, including those within the last 3 years, must be provided on the Standard Application Form.

- pg. 5

Strazdas · 18-11-2020 3:42pm

Red Honeysuckle wrote: »

There was no CO aptitude test in Dublin this year. And no bulk interviews. They are calling as positions arise so very slow moving unless in Dublin. I think Limerick are on no20. Also AFAIK it's only a one year panel that closes in May (unless circumstances change).

One would imagine Covid-19 seriously disrupted everything this year. Anyone who applied for this panel was unlucky in their timing, especially if it closes in May.

I am me123 · 18-11-2020 10:22pm

For those already on a TCO temporary open contract, is it nescessary to apply for the 2021 campaign?

cvb03 · 18-11-2020 10:26pm

I am me123 wrote: »

For those already on a TCO temporary open contract, is it nescessary to apply for the 2021 campaign?

Yes I am on a TCO open contract at the moment and applied for TCO 2021 just in case current contract may come to an end soon.

cvb03 · 18-11-2020 10:26pm

I am me123 wrote: »

For those already on a TCO temporary open contract, is it nescessary to apply for the 2021 campaign?

Yes I am on a TCO open contract at the moment and applied for TCO 2021 just in case current contract may come to an end soon.

I am me123 · 18-11-2020 10:31pm

cvb03 wrote: »

Yes I am on a TCO open contract at the moment and applied for TCO 2021 just in case current contract may come to an end soon.

Im on a temporary open contract ( for a minimum of 8 weeks) at present in DEASP.
Is it likely my current contract will be extended? I have not applied for the 2021 campaign.

Banana Republic 1 · 18-11-2020 10:40pm

I am me123 wrote: »

For those already on a TCO temporary open contract, is it nescessary to apply for the 2021 campaign?

An open contract is like gold to a tco because after four years your become permanent. There is a small chance you could be dropped at any stage with only a weeks notice however.

November Golf · 18-11-2020 11:02pm

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

An open contract is like gold to a tco because after four years your become permanent. There is a small chance you could be dropped at any stage with only a weeks notice however.

I dont believe they are "Open" in that way. I reckon they are "specific purpose" aka a contract of uncertain duration, like what they use for maternity leave etc.

The DEASP fought the Unions in court to prevent the TCO's in the public services card section becoming permanent. I would be surprised if they risked going down that road again.

I am me123 · 18-11-2020 11:10pm

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

An open contract is like gold to a tco because after four years your become permanent. There is a small chance you could be dropped at any stage with only a weeks notice however.

Does that suggest that (in my case) that there may be a chance I could be kept on after the 8 weeks? In DEASP.

Banana Republic 1 · 18-11-2020 11:22pm

Mike Foxtrot wrote: »

I dont believe they are "Open" in that way. I reckon they are "specific purpose" aka a contract of uncertain duration, like what they use for maternity leave etc.

The DEASP fought the Unions in court to prevent the TCO's in the public services card section becoming permanent. I would be surprised if they risked going down that road again.

Was that recent, I was in a psc section last year, half the staff where on there fourth year and I heard no mention of that. There was only two full time people out of 12.

Before I left there was a reshuffling of entire Permanent staff and 1 person came from elsewhere. None of the permanents where happy about the moves

Temporary Clerical Officer 2021 in the Civil and Public Service (Please read OP)

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