r/IrishCivilService

Hi all,

I’m just wondering how people here cope with large workloads in a CO role. I think it’s starting to effect me negatively in terms of my mental health. As I’m working though my lunch some days and do work on the weekends some times too.

I understand this is against work rules to work outside work hours. It’s just that I find it easier to get x,y and z done. Than have to try to explain why I don’t have it done..

Also my manager asked me why I had I got no holidays booked off yet. I took one AL day off. But if I take time off for holidays I’m only going to be thinking about my workload on my AL. So I don’t see the point.

I want to make it clear that I’m just looking for techniques to work more efficiently. This is not a request for legal or HR advice. I understand that’s against the rules here.

Thanks. 🙂

Hi all

I recently joined the Civil Service as an EO. I have been working for about 9 weeks.

Unfortunately for me, I absolutely hate the dept into which I have been placed. In addition to the work being boring beyond belief, it is a total mismatch of my skillset.

1. I am aware I have to be position for two years before applying for Mobility. I was also informed by other people that I can still add myself to the list but when I tried that today I was told I wasn't eligible.

2. I report to an AP, and was told them by them no training would be provided per se, that it was learn on the job.

So far, in my limited experience, I have been very unimpressed and I am considering a move back to private. Before I go down that route, is anyone aware of any other things I can try to get out of this team?

Ta!

Hello

I've been an AO for about a year and three months and am considering entering the mobility list as I know it's a slow process.

I would like to work with something that has something to do with the environment, or if not, social inclusion or culture in some way (but not in DSP).

Someone has experience in the Depts of Environment or Agriculture, or Culture, Rural Development etc? What kinds of work are there and what sort of culture you had in your unit?

I am a civil servant currently serving in a Department. I am interested in a position that was advertised by open competition in a Govt agency - but it is not an aegis body of my particular Department.

I applied and did an interview. I haven’t heard back yet but I am considering what will happen if I were to be successful.

I would be reluctant to leave the civil service as I know how hard it can be to get in, and leaner times are with us already with regard to recruitment.

If successful, I believe career breaks are not allowed for taking up pubic public sector posts and are only for private sector job opportunities. Is this commonly enforced?

Could I negotiate a secondment via the respective HR teams even though my Dept and this agency are not connected directly? Is this likely to work?

I know I’ll need to ask to confirm, but I’m wondering if anyone has experience of this or has heard anecdotally of this happening. Etc.

Thanks.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

Have been emailing them since February trying to get a response but nothing.

what’s the best thing to do here? Should I make a complaint through the customer service email?

I know they are busy but I have a genuine query about a panel.

Edit: stupid typo in the title. 2103 is 77 years away. I mean post-2013 :D

I am curious about the amount paid for the new Vs the old pension

I am pre-2013 and I pay:

1.5% of basic pay (Surv)

1.5% of basic pay (Lump sum)

3.5% of net pensionable pay

10%/10.5% ASC

I looked up the rates for the post-2013 pension. I could have these wrong.

3% basic pay

3.33%/3.5% ASC

This week my Pension payments were around 9% of my basic pay.

If I was on the new scheme I'd pay about 4.5% towards my pension.

My calculations show that if I was on the new scheme my pay would be around €50 higher per week.

I think I'd prefer to be on the old pension all the same.

I am just curious if my home-made excel calculator is accurate? Post-2013 civil servant, do you pay around 4.5% towards your pension, and pre-2023, do your figures broadly line up with mine?

I made a calculator that gives me my pay brolen down into all its deductions and the pension amounts etc. I had a problem where I was overpaid so needed to make a lot of calculations on what I owed back so it's been handy to have this document.

Thanks

I see that a HEO ICT competition for Digital Business Engagement opened today.

Do similar competitions for other ICT areas usually pop up around the same time?

Debating whether to chance my arm with the Digital Business Engagement one, or hold out for Software Development. (I have 13 years of software engineering experience in Fintech companies so thinking a move to revenue or something similar might suit me).

Hi All,

I have been offered a role in the private sector which is in HR for 55K and healthcare, it is 35 mins drive from my house, 3 days in office and 2 days at home and hours 9.00 am - 17.30 pm. Working over the hours would be considered normal in my industry also.

I have also just today been offered an assistant staff officer role in my local county council for corporate services which is a 10 min cycle from my house and around 36.5 K.

My question to you all is which should I go for?

Am I mad in the head to consider the job as it is essentially 20K less?

Also if anyone knows what kind of roles you would be doing in corporate services that would be great.

Any help is much appreciated, my head is wrecked!!

Thank you!

Hi everyone, I have an interview for the Civil Service in a few days based on two capabilities: evidence informed delivery and communicating and collaborating. I'm expecting it to be CO level, does anyone have any advice on questions that might come up/how many examples I should have? Right now I have about 8 examples to go off of, I'm just scared they'll ask a really specific question I haven't prepared. It's my first Civil Service interview so I'd really appreciate any advice!! Thanks :)

Hi everyone,

I received my OOM last week for the Third Sec Competition and am under the 300 cut off. It said that the next stage would be "Stage 2 of the selection process will comprise of shortlisting."

I haven't applied to Third Sec before but thought the précis test would come before shortlisting, having trawled through various sub-reddits.

Does this mean that the précis has been scrapped? Am I being shortlisted for interview? Am I being shortlisted to take the précis?

I would be interested to hear people's previous experience and thoughts on this.

The clearance email says:

"Starting with the most recent, your references should cover at least the last 2 years of employment or education/training.

Your referees should be your line manager or HR department. If you have any gaps in your employment, you can include a character reference for that period.

Emails should be valid work emails and not personal email, unless it is a character reference."

I can give my last manager - however, like me, he was also laid off so is not at the company were both employed by. Should I get him to use his _current_ work address?

I am on a panel for temporary CO and had my first interview a few weeks ago and passed

I have an upcoming interview for permanent position for CO but for HSE. Would there be much difference in the interview and questions ask?this one seems to be through cpl recruitment

I have an interview tomorrow for an AP equivalent, it's capability framework. Never done one. Other than having examples, understanding the specialized role is there anything else I can do to prepare.
What are the types of questions asked ?

Ive been told by people that they receive emails about job opportunities being sent via emails internally. Ive never received them or been told about them. Is there a mailing list i need to register for or what is the process

More here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/organisation-information/careers-in-the-department-of-social-protection/#current-vacancies

Hi all,

I have an interview with a body tomorrow not in the Public Service.

I am very nervous. There is 7 competencies and im struggling to remember any/all.

Any help will be appreciated as I really need this role!

I have submitted my application and completed the set of five competency-based questions covering areas such as Leadership, Judgement and Decision-Making, Management and Delivery of Results, Communication Skills, Specialist Knowledge, and Public Service Values.

Will the interview panel revisit these answers during the interview? Should I expect questions that ask me to expand on or provide further detail on the examples I included in my application?

I have an upcoming interview for a specialised ICT role.

I'm looking for websites, resources, or places where I can find sample interview questions, competency-based interview examples, and general preparation tips that would be useful.

The key competency areas I would like to focus on are:

• Leadership

• Judgement, Analysis & Decision Making

• Management & Delivery of Results

• Interpersonal & Communication Skills

• Specialist Knowledge, Expertise & Self-Development

• Drive & Commitment to Public Service Values

Any recommendations, sample questions, or interview preparation advice would be greatly appreciated.

Just got the results. Have to say pretty happy considering how competitive it was. Got placed in around 320 on OOM. However, the email notes that the top 300 candidates are expected to be shortlisted which makes me a little disappointed 😭