Administrative Officer 2017 Campaign

The_Conductor · 22-09-2017 7:17am #1

New 2017 Campaign Announced this morning
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Closing date for applications is the 19th of October.

Best of good luck everyone!

Edit: Familiarisation / information booklet attached

Riskymove · 22-09-2017 9:40am

Just to add there is also a seperate campaign at AO level for Graduate Economists/EValuators launched today

https://www.publicjobs.ie/publicjobs/campaignAdvert/61531.htm

bronzesheep · 22-09-2017 9:16pm

Anyone know the full scale for this grade?

It has a starting salary listed as €31,221, but I can't spot the full scale in the information booklet.

Sparks15 · 22-09-2017 9:53pm

bronzesheep wrote: »

Anyone know the full scale for this grade?

It has a starting salary listed as €31,221, but I can't spot the full scale in the information booklet.

The Personal Pension Contribution (PPC) salary rate for the position of an Administrative Officer is as follows (1st April 2017)

€31,221
€33,575
€34,247
€37,194
€40,967
€43,838
€46711
€49,593
€52,466
€55,329(NMAX)
€57,314(LSI1)
€59,294(LSI2)

Long Service Increment (LSI1) = may be payable following 3 years satisfactory service at the maximum

Long Service Increment (LSI2) = may be payable following 6 years satisfactory service at the maximum

https://www.publicjobs.ie/publicjobs/publication/document/17170309_AO_Principal_Conditions_2017.doc

galgal07 · 25-09-2017 8:59pm

I am wondering if it's worth applying if you're not interested in a position in Dublin? The info booklet states "It is envisaged that these graduate opportunities will arise across a range of Departments with the majority of these vacancies based in Dublin, however, regional positions may arise from time to time."

The_Conductor · 26-09-2017 7:03am

galgal07 wrote: »

I am wondering if it's worth applying if you're not interested in a position in Dublin? The info booklet states "It is envisaged that these graduate opportunities will arise across a range of Departments with the majority of these vacancies based in Dublin, however, regional positions may arise from time to time."

To the best of my knowledge- there are current vacancies across most of the Departments taking part in the competition- however the list of regional locations is rather spartan. Aka- Revenue and Foreign Affairs probably have a few Limerick and Cork posts, Agriculture- Portlaoise, DSP- Carrick-on-Shannon- and that might be about it. AO is predominantly Dublin based- and tends to be treated differently than the other general service grades. You 'might' get a regional offer- but its a bit of a long shot- and it would be unfair to assume even if you got placed on a panel- that there would be a regional post to be filled.

Some people from the last panel were accommodated- by being back-filled into defacto HEO posts- more as staff managers- than traditional HEO posts- however, that doesn't appear to have gone particularly well (several AOs quit in quick succession- as the post didn't live up to what they expected).

Impossible to tell really- but if you're not willing to countenance a Dublin post- its a bit of a long shot.

Note- even at lower grades you can have to travel to Dublin and/or other locations for specific aspects of your work. Just because you're based in Clonakilty (and yes- there is a fairly large government office in Clon)- doesn't mean you won't have to drive elsewhere as required (you'll get mileage and subsistence etc- but its not something you'll get rich on.......)

bodun · 26-09-2017 12:49pm

Sparks15 wrote: »

The Personal Pension Contribution (PPC) salary rate for the position of an Administrative Officer is as follows (1st April 2017)

€31,221
€33,575
€34,247
€37,194
€40,967
€43,838
€46711
€49,593
€52,466
€55,329(NMAX)
€57,314(LSI1)
€59,294(LSI2)

Long Service Increment (LSI1) = may be payable following 3 years satisfactory service at the maximum

Long Service Increment (LSI2) = may be payable following 6 years satisfactory service at the maximum

https://www.publicjobs.ie/publicjobs/publication/document/17170309_AO_Principal_Conditions_2017.doc

I am currently in the Public service and in the middle of the scale above. If I was successful here would I stay on my current salary or would I have to start at the bottom?

The explanation is a bit vague saying different terms may apply if you are already a public servant.

SJ. · 26-09-2017 2:21pm

bodun wrote: »

I am currently in the Public service and in the middle of the scale above. If I was successful here would I stay on my current salary or would I have to start at the bottom?

The explanation is a bit vague saying different terms may apply if you are already a public servant.

Public service? or civil service?

bodun · 26-09-2017 2:30pm

SJ. wrote: »

Public service? or civil service?

I'm currently in the Public service.

The_Conductor · 26-09-2017 3:09pm

bodun wrote: »

I'm currently in the Public service.

Depending on the nature of the post you're currently in- and whether, or not, it has parity or relativity to a civil service grade- you are entitled to 1), 2) or 3)(depending on the post).

1. Consideration as a new entrant at the bottom of the salary scale, but pre-existing public sector pension contributions transferred to your new employer under the public sector transfer network.

2. A maximum of 2 increments on the stated salary scale and transfer of accrued pension entitlements

3. Start point on the AO PPC scale at the point closest to your current salary- without any loss in pay for you (this can mean a small payrise- typically of around 400-500 Euro per annum).

It depends on the post- and you would be advised to seek clarification from PAS on this.

HairyCabbage · 26-09-2017 3:15pm

I have just graduated with a degree in applied maths, do I have a hope with this?

Riskymove · 26-09-2017 3:19pm

HairyCabbage wrote: »

I have just graduated with a degree in applied maths, do I have a hope with this?

why wouldn't you?

once you have a first or second honours degree you can apply

The_Conductor · 26-09-2017 3:26pm

Riskymove wrote: »

why wouldn't you?

once you have a first or second honours degree you can apply

That's a first or a second class honour on a Level 8 Honours Degree (i.e. if you have a first or second class honour in a level 7 degree- it doesn't count).

Further information on what constitutes a level 8 qualification here: http://www.nfq-qqi.com/

bodun · 26-09-2017 3:34pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

Depending on the nature of the post you're currently in- and whether, or not, it has parity or relativity to a civil service grade- you are entitled to 1), 2) or 3)(depending on the post).

1. Consideration as a new entrant at the bottom of the salary scale, but pre-existing public sector pension contributions transferred to your new employer under the public sector transfer network.

2. A maximum of 2 increments on the stated salary scale and transfer of accrued pension entitlements

3. Start point on the AO PPC scale at the point closest to your current salary- without any loss in pay for you (this can mean a small payrise- typically of around 400-500 Euro per annum).

It depends on the post- and you would be advised to seek clarification from PAS on this.

Ok thanks. I'm in a clerical officer role under the HSE so I presume it would be similar to the CS. I'll check with PAS.

eefslol · 26-09-2017 3:34pm

HairyCabbage wrote: »

I have just graduated with a degree in applied maths, do I have a hope with this?

I got through the campaign last year (due to be placed this month) and I had just graduated and had never worked before. Go for it! Especially with something like maths.

HairyCabbage · 26-09-2017 3:37pm

Riskymove wrote: »

why wouldn't you?

once you have a first or second honours degree you can apply

I do but it's a 2:2 which tends to rule me out of most graduate jobs, also I don't have any real leadership/people management experience which seems to be a large component of the job!

wos · 26-09-2017 7:21pm

HairyCabbage wrote: »

I do but it's a 2:2 which tends to rule me out of most graduate jobs, also I don't have any real leadership/people management experience which seems to be a large component of the job!

That is a Second Class Honours (Level 8) degree!

The_Conductor · 26-09-2017 8:16pm

wos wrote: »

That is a Second Class Honours (Level 8) degree!

Not necessarily.
Applied Maths in UCC or UCD is a 3 year BA degree- i.e. a Level 7 qualification.
UCD do a 4 year BSc in Applied and Computational Maths- which is a 4 year, Level 8 qualification. UCD also have a 5 year Applied Mathematics & Mathematics Education BSc./MSc. - which is a level 9...........

In short- if its a 3 year degree- its a level 7 qualification- if its a 4 year, its a level 8. Just because its Applied Maths- and the poster has a 2:2- does not automatically mean they qualify for the competition.......... They need to satisfy themselves that they meet the requirements of the competition.

bronzesheep · 26-09-2017 8:51pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

In short- if its a 3 year degree- its a level 7 qualification- if its a 4 year, its a level 8. Just because its Applied Maths- and the poster has a 2:2- does not automatically mean they qualify for the competition.......... They need to satisfy themselves that they meet the requirements of the competition.

Are you talking about Applied Maths here specifically, or degrees in general? Just in case, Honours degrees can also be 3 years in duration, it depends on the degree.

From the NFQ website http://www.nfq-qqi.com/index.html

'Honours Bachelor Degree (NFQ Level 8)
Class of award-type: Major
Volume: Large
The Honours Bachelor Degree is normally awarded following completion of a programme of three to four years duration (180-240 ECTS credits), although there are examples of longer programmes in areas such as architecture, dentistry and medicine.'

wos · 26-09-2017 9:22pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

Not necessarily.
Applied Maths in UCC or UCD is a 3 year BA degree- i.e. a Level 7 qualification.
...

I assumed they read your previous post about Level 8 and were still querying the 2.2 part!
It amazes me just how many people on these forums (for civil service competitions) seem so unsure if they meet the requirements of the competition.

SJ. · 26-09-2017 10:15pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

In short- if its a 3 year degree- its a level 7 qualification- if its a 4 year, its a level 8

That's complete nonsense. An Arts degree from UCD or other NUI colleges is a 3 year level 8 degree.

Ravelleman · 27-09-2017 2:37am

HairyCabbage wrote: »

I have just graduated with a degree in applied maths, do I have a hope with this?

Assuming you can get through the aptitude tests, it really depends on the competency-based interview. This requires citing examples from your past experience, be this in college or work. Neither is necessarily favoured over the other, as far as I understand it; you just need to be able to respond to the questions they ask with specific reference to the skills you have developed. I went in from an advanced postgraduate background and this lent itself well to the format, I found.

HairyCabbage · 27-09-2017 8:06am

wos wrote: »

I assumed they read your previous post about Level 8 and were still querying the 2.2 part!
It amazes me just how many people on these forums (for civil service competitions) seem so unsure if they meet the requirements of the competition.

My question was less about whether or not I met the requirements and more asking if I had a hope of being placed high enough on the panel to actually get a job!

Jimbob1977 · 27-09-2017 8:31am

Out of interest,

o If the closing date is October and the interviews are November/December, when are the first offers likely to be made? Is it a protracted process?

o How many jobs are on offer? Is it a case of a handful, dozens or hundreds?

I have never applied to the Public Sector before

BobCat123 · 27-09-2017 8:47am

If all goes to plan, I assume offers will be made come late January/early February. Panels are formed so there's no indication how many positions are available however they are moving quickly through last years AO panel so there seems to be a lot of positions in Dublin.

Jimbob1977 · 27-09-2017 9:47am

BobCat123 wrote: »

If all goes to plan, I assume offers will be made come late January/early February. Panels are formed so there's no indication how many positions are available however they are moving quickly through last years AO panel so there seems to be a lot of positions in Dublin.

Thanks BobCat123,

When you attend interviews in the Civil Service, do you learn in advance which department you will be interviewing for? Or is it a generic interview with generic questions?

I'm curious to understand how a candidate might express his/her preferences and how the interviewers tease this out.

For example, the candidate might have a real love of Foreign Affairs and Politics, but zero interest in Finance.

donkey_kong · 27-09-2017 10:19am

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Thanks BobCat123,

When you attend interviews in the Civil Service, do you learn in advance which department you will be interviewing for? Or is it a generic interview with generic questions?

I'm curious to understand how a candidate might express his/her preferences and how the interviewers tease this out.

For example, the candidate might have a real love of Foreign Affairs and Politics, but zero interest in Finance.

In previous years the interview has been more generic and competency based, and the interview has absolutely no bearing on which department you get assigned to.

Successful candidates are put onto a panel ranked on orderof merit, and when departments come looking for staff they get whoever is next up on the panel. So one of the competencies they're looking for is an ability to get upto speed on a policy areas where you've no previous experience. If the department you then get assigned to has a number of vacancies it's possible that the department may try and match you with whatever is most suitable for your own background,at least initially, but there's no guarantee.

As for time scale, if this year's competition is anything to go by, the first appointments will be early in the new year but the panel is likely to last through most of 2018. So if you make the panel but are outside the top 100 or so you might expect to be waiting months rather than weeks before you're called. Vetting and reference checking will only take place after your place on the panel is reached so that could add another couple of weeks onto the timeline.

RBassett · 27-09-2017 12:54pm

If you're in the top 10-20, there's a good chance you'll be assigned to one of the central Departments: Taoiseach's, PER or Finance. I wasn't aware that D/FAT had AOs (other than the AO-equivalent 3rd Secs)?

In my experience, AOs are sent were there is most demand, both across the civil service and then in Departments. Preferences for a particular business unit are rarely considered.

Riskymove · 27-09-2017 1:11pm

HairyCabbage wrote: »

My question was less about whether or not I met the requirements and more asking if I had a hope of being placed high enough on the panel to actually get a job!

your degree will have no bearing on you getting on the panel or how high you might get

HairyCabbage · 27-09-2017 1:16pm

Riskymove wrote: »

your degree will have no bearing on you getting on the panel or how high you might get

Ok, so is it just performance in the aptitude tests combined with performance in interview? If you were able to answer the competency related questions well would a lack of experience matter?

Riskymove · 27-09-2017 1:40pm

HairyCabbage wrote: »

Ok, so is it just performance in the aptitude tests combined with performance in interview?

the aptitude tests don't count for the panel either. They only determine if you get called to interview

The final panel is based on interview (and anyother exercise they might use, if any - presentation etc)

If you were able to answer the competency related questions well would a lack of experience matter?

AO is a graduate recruitment excersie - work experience isn't necessarily a requirement

You should research a bit about leadership though - anyone can lead as such in different scenarios (projects, voluntary work, sports etc)

Administrative Officer 2017 Campaign

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