Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2018 (Dublin)

Skip13 · 08-09-2018 2:28pm

shiversd wrote: »

Hi all,

So I lost out by one point in the 2016 EO competition on the numerical test (supervised one)but passed the earlier stages of assessment. Anyone know if you can carry over previous results to this campaign? I thought i has read somewhere on the public jobs website that you could do this if applying for the same competition or similar. Their website is down until Sunday for maintenance so cant check it out . Have the first assessment next week for this one. Thanks

I thought it was a totally new competition.

Dubs9 · 08-09-2018 5:48pm

It looks like publicjobs.ie is back working. Hopefully it'll stay that way.

shiversd · 09-09-2018 1:18am

doc22 wrote: »

They might carry over scores for the regional eo, It would be unfair that regionals who didn't select dublin to compete against those who have already seen/done perhaps the exact same tests for EO dublin.

Looks like PAS have copped on to possible cheating on verbal and numeric ,it looks like they will be done dublin like the latest CO. Little point in supervised test if the candidate screenshots text/answers and got help in previous home test.

Just to clear here, there was no cheating ! I just found that even after all the practicing before the numerical tests, i stuggled with the amount of time allocated. I also stubbornly answered all the questions even though i guessed the remaining few! I kept getting distracted buy the timer instead of answering qs correctly. Lesson learned !

Claireyy · 09-09-2018 1:38pm

Has anyone else done the familarisation material? It seems very short to me... There was one question about describing myself and then one job scenario...usually the practice material has verbal and numerical scernarios?!

Skip13 · 09-09-2018 1:47pm

Claireyy wrote: »

Has anyone else done the familarisation material? It seems very short to me... There was one question about describing myself and then one job scenario...usually the practice material has verbal and numerical scernarios?!

With the EO stage one is just situational questions first and then a few weeks later verbal and numeracy

Noseyaf · 10-09-2018 1:14pm

Hey has anyone done the assessment? waiting till I get home but quiet nervous

cmurpie · 11-09-2018 11:47am

Did anyone do the Assessment yet ? how was it ?

FenFlynn · 11-09-2018 1:49pm

cmurpie wrote: »

Did anyone do the Assessment yet ? how was it ?

Haven't started yet. Still trying on some practice ones, hopefully that'll help a bit in getting a better score. I've never been good with the situational judgement tests, so the more practice the better.

cmurpie · 11-09-2018 2:05pm

FenFlynn,

Have you a link for practice tests ?

FenFlynn · 11-09-2018 2:08pm

cmurpie wrote: »

FenFlynn,

Have you a link for practice tests ?

hi, I paid for one on jobtestprep.co.uk, im not confident to do it without any preparation so I just bought a package to practice on

Noseyaf · 11-09-2018 2:19pm

Hi everyone,

I just completed the online assessments.
There was three stages,
The first, was how you'd describe yourself, very accurate indifferent not at all etc.
The second was what you want from a role, must have, don't mind, must not have.
And the final was a paragraph with four or five options of responses and you just said which was weak, good or excellent.

Very hard to tell if you did well as it's all just opinion based, don't think there is a right or wrong answer

FenFlynn · 11-09-2018 2:22pm

Noseyaf wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I just completed the online assessments.
There was three stages,
The first, was how you'd describe yourself, very accurate indifferent not at all etc.
The second was what you want from a role, must have, don't mind, must not have.
And the final was a paragraph with four or five options of responses and you just said which was weak, good or excellent.

Very hard to tell if you did well as it's all just opinion based, don't think there is a right or wrong answer

Thanks so much for that.
Now I know what to practice on. Didn't realise there were three parts, would have been totally unarmed

Gaffer78 · 11-09-2018 2:44pm

Is anybody yet to recieve a link to the testing window?

kopite386 · 11-09-2018 2:58pm

I completed the assessment yesterday only took me 30 minutes and that was reading over everything carefully so don't get too stressed about it, as above its all opinion based

FenFlynn · 11-09-2018 5:34pm

kopite386 wrote: »

I completed the assessment yesterday only took me 30 minutes and that was reading over everything carefully so don't get too stressed about it, as above its all opinion based

Hi, would you remember who the provider is?
Thanks for the tips. I'm certainly less stressed out now, will attempt it tomorrow morning I think

carnie · 12-09-2018 12:07pm

Just completed it. Wasn't bad, there was one question I went back to a couple of times to change the answer.

Anyone know if the next stage is an attitude test?

SomeSayKos · 12-09-2018 12:20pm

carnie wrote: »

Just completed it. Wasn't bad, there was one question I went back to a couple of times to change the answer.

Anyone know if the next stage is an attitude test?

Pretty sure the next stage is a numerical test and a verbal reasoning test

wicklow girl · 12-09-2018 3:14pm

Just finished, took my time about 50 mins. very similar to familiarisation stuff. Had it completed in 35 mins then went back over it changed one or two answers. All in all happy enough as others have said its all about your own opinion so don't get stressed. Said at end next info will be out week of 24th if successful or not so good luck everyone.

FenFlynn · 13-09-2018 4:02pm

Just finished mine, I thought it was quite difficult. The third part is unambiguous and I wasn't sure in most cases, hopefully it was adequate to pass. Good luck everyone!

JennyZ · 15-09-2018 11:51am

For anyone who selected both Open and Internal/Interdepartmental on the application for the open competition, is it then required to also complete the seperate Internal application process and forms issued internally to be eligible for Internal/Interdepartmental? Thanks

Sinus pain · 15-09-2018 6:54pm

JennyZ wrote: »

For anyone who selected both Open and Internal/Interdepartmental on the application for the open competition, is it then required to also complete the seperate Internal application process and forms issued internally to be eligible for Internal/Interdepartmental? Thanks

As far as I know it’s one application, exam etc for both

JennyZ · 17-09-2018 8:14am

Sinus pain wrote: »

As far as I know it’s one application, exam etc for both

thanks, new in the CS it seems with the 1:1:1 one third of the roles will come from open competition one third interdepartmental both of which are covered by the open competition for the other third internal I assume you have to complete the seperate internal forms and do that whole process separately but it's a bit unclear

JennyZ · 18-09-2018 11:44pm

Hi all, does anyone know how sick leave may impact. I started as a TCO over 2 years ago and have 6 uncertified days, CO for the past 2 years and recently had to take 3 certified days. Worried it might rule me out.

Turtwig · 19-09-2018 12:00am

JennyZ wrote: »

Hi all, does anyone know how sick leave may impact. I started as a TCO over 2 years ago and have 6 uncertified days, CO for the past 2 years and recently had to take 3 certified days. Worried it might rule me out.

Depends how long you've been working and when the absences occurred:
'Standard' allowance is
No more than 7 days not certified in a 2 year period
No more than 56 days or 25 instances for a 4 year period.
No more than 14 days certified or no more than 6 individual instances (certified or not certified) for the current year (usually applied under probationary conditions).

Important to note that Saturdays, Sunday's and Public holidays are included if they fall between your period of absence e.g. Fall ill on a Wednesday night, resume work the following Tuesday, Sick days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Five days total.

Edit: Forgot to add these limits are reduced pro rata if you haven't accrued four years service. For example, worked exactly three years then the limits drop to 42 days and 18 instances.

joseph brand · 20-09-2018 4:12pm

Noseyaf wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I just completed the online assessments.
There was three stages,
The first, was how you'd describe yourself, very accurate indifferent not at all etc.
The second was what you want from a role, must have, don't mind, must not have.
And the final was a paragraph with four or five options of responses and you just said which was weak, good or excellent.

Very hard to tell if you did well as it's all just opinion based, don't think there is a right or wrong answer

I have no idea how it's supposed to be answered (the first section).

As far as I can see, you can be honest, or a chancer (talk yourself up/ paint yourself as a stellar worker/ human).
I went with honesty, as I imagine that anyone looking at the answers will be able to smell a bs'er.

Example questions: (not exact but similar)
I'm forgetful or I'm usually a little late for work or I like other people to do my work

Very like me - Quite like me - Cannot say - Not very like me - Not like me at all.

Here is a golden opportunity for you to make yourself highly undesirable.

While I've started typing, I want to mention something about the numerical and verbal that are to follow.

I am currently waiting on an interview after doing the supervised tests for the 2016 EO campaign.

The numerical is mostly working out percentages, so practice that.

Example: Tom has $3,500 and Jane has $1600. Tom has x% more $.

You will also be taking all your data from tables/ pie charts/ bar charts.

The verbal is about answering questions on a paragraph that you have read (there are many different paragraphs as you progress through that test - sometimes only one or two questions per paragraph of text)

My problem was that I was expecting them to be tricky, so I spent too long on them. I might see the obvious answer, think I found it too quickly, so I go and read the paragraph again. Doing online examples proved to me that they are far simpler than my worrisome/ overthinking mind believed.

kopite386 · 21-09-2018 6:10pm

Does anybody have the information booklet. I thought I had it downloaded it on my laptop but it turns out I only have it on the computer in work.

Crunchymomma · 21-09-2018 6:22pm

kopite386 wrote: »

Does anybody have the information booklet. I thought I had it downloaded it on my laptop but it turns out I only have it on the computer in work.

The Public jobs website has been updated with a campaign updates page, I think the booklet is available there

redmgar · 24-09-2018 2:32pm

Would does the work station assessment consist of?

MaserGreat · 24-09-2018 3:51pm

Anyone who is not applying internally (eg just member of the public) received any updates on the next stage? I feel like I read somewhere we’d be updated on our status by the 24th?

Dublintigger · 24-09-2018 3:52pm

MaserGreat wrote: »

Anyone who is not applying internally (eg just member of the public) received any updates on the next stage? I feel like I read somewhere we’d be updated on our status by the 24th?

I heard it would be the COB 24th before we heard anything - ie tomorrow or sometime this week.

redmgar · 24-09-2018 3:53pm

It said the week commencing the 24th, so this week at some stage.

mac1ntosh · 24-09-2018 9:51pm

Does anybody know when we will have to do the numerical and verbal reasoning tests?

redmgar · 25-09-2018 9:34am

the next stage I think.

mac1ntosh · 25-09-2018 10:31am

redmgar wrote: »

the next stage I think.

Thanks for that, but I meant in terms of dates. I would’ve thought we’d have them done by now.

eimaj18 · 25-09-2018 12:32pm

Also does anyone know if we’re doing unsupervised aptitude tests at home and then supervised? Or is it straight to supervised?

KtodaT · 25-09-2018 2:07pm

eimaj18 wrote: »

Also does anyone know if we’re doing unsupervised aptitude tests at home and then supervised? Or is it straight to supervised?

You do the tests at home first and provided you pass you will be called to sit the supervised tests afterwards in order of merit.

Then after that, if you pass, you will be called for etray and interview.

It's a long oul' process!

eimaj18 · 25-09-2018 3:05pm

KtodaT wrote: »

You do the tests at home first and provided you pass you will be called to sit the supervised tests afterwards in order of merit.

Then after that, if you pass, you will be called for etray and interview.

It's a long oul' process!

Yeah I thought that but last time the Situation Analysis was down at 1a and the unsupervised was 1b. No mention of it in the documents too?

drone22432 · 25-09-2018 3:12pm

eimaj18 wrote: »

Yeah I thought that but last time the Situation Analysis was down at 1a and the unsupervised was 1b. No mention of it in the documents too?

The 2016 CO panel had unsupervised tests at home , the 2017 CO panel skipped that stage straight to the supervised tests . Maybe they have decided to abandon them

Dublintigger · 25-09-2018 3:50pm

drone22432 wrote: »

The 2016 CO panel had unsupervised tests at home , the 2017 CO panel skipped that stage straight to the supervised tests . Maybe they have decided to abandon them

I think it would be good if they went straight to the supervised test..... it would shorten the long long oul process!!!!

KtodaT · 25-09-2018 4:04pm

Dublintigger wrote: »

I think it would be good if they went straight to the supervised test..... it would shorten the long long oul process!!!!

That is true!

I believe the purpose of having unsupervised and then supervised was to weed out those who cheated by comparing scores. But sure if they just have supervised tests, no one can cheat! Either way, you would think they would want to speed up the process seen as how they are crying out for staff. Who knows!!:rolleyes:

Dublintigger · 25-09-2018 4:08pm

KtodaT wrote: »

That is true!

I believe the purpose of having unsupervised and then supervised was to weed out those who cheated by comparing scores. But sure if they just have supervised tests, no one can cheat! Either way, you would think they would want to speed up the process seen as how they are crying out for staff. Who knows!!:rolleyes:

You would think so.

25-09-2018 4:08pm

Straight to supervised is simply unworkable due to the numbers involved. There were up to 15k applicants in one of the earlier ones, IIRC. The current method just means they can whittle it down to the top 2,000 or so, then ask them to come in and do the supervised one. Weed out the blatant cheaters and take the top x% means now you only have to interview 500 instead of 10,000.

JennyZ · 25-09-2018 7:30pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

There were up to 15k applicants in one of the earlier ones, IIRC.

15k was mentioned in the 2016 thread, however that competition was for the whole country. 2017 CO was also Dublin only. I'd say the numbers in 2017 CO would be higher than Dublin 2018 EO, but that's just a guess.

25-09-2018 10:27pm

Yeah, I agree. The reasoning is still the same though. If there were only a quarter of the applications received, there's still no way to start with the supervised tests. The logistics are simply too much.

eimaj18 · 25-09-2018 10:36pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Straight to supervised is simply unworkable due to the numbers involved. There were up to 15k applicants in one of the earlier ones, IIRC. The current method just means they can whittle it down to the top 2,000 or so, then ask them to come in and do the supervised one. Weed out the blatant cheaters and take the top x% means now you only have to interview 500 instead of 10,000.

But would they just take the people who "passed" the situation analysis to the supervised aptitude test? I suppose we'll (hopefully) find out this week!

Ber25 · 27-09-2018 5:31pm

No word yet.

Dublintigger · 27-09-2018 5:33pm

Ber25 wrote: »

No word yet.

Tomorrow is another day - the results are due out this week sometime.

Mazuma · 27-09-2018 5:36pm

PAS usually like to send results out on Friday afternoons

Sinus pain · 27-09-2018 5:46pm

Is there results for the situational tests?

Sinus pain · 27-09-2018 6:01pm

What is the starting rate for executive officer? There seems to be a few figures knocking around the internet and I’m unsure which one is correct

Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2018 (Dublin)

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