From Private sector professional to Clerical Officer in Local Authorities

Hi Kilter,

The entrance exam is basically an aptitude test, covering comprehension (reading passages and answering Qs), numerical, and classification & checking. Look on the public jobs website for test examples. The test is easy enough, but it can be challenging trying to get the classification/checking done fast. There is little time for the test, but I think you are not meant to get it all done. However if you practice the test examples first, you should be able to get most of it done. Depending on your score in the test, you are placed on a ranking e.g 5th or 20th. They call people in the top ranking for interview. I don't know how many, but they could call 40 or 50. Depending on the other candidates, you should get placed in the top 10 if you are academically strong. Eg. I got 6 honours in the leaving cert & got placed 4th and 9th in my two tests (for different organisations)

Your choice seems a bit more difficult than mine. At least you have a company car & a little more money than me. I have never got a company car. I haven't got health insurance/pension benefits for the past few years. In fact I don't even get sick pay!!!! If I am out of work for a day or two with cold/flu I don't get paid, yet I still have to make up all the work & get figures for the end of the month. I feel that employees are treated more humanely in the public sector. I think the private sector is ok as long as you are in the full of your health & able to deliver the goods every month. At the first sign of ill health/pregnancy/personal problems, a person in the private sector could be out on their ear.

Best of luck
 
Hi Buzybee

Thanks for the help. I am also wrestling with the loss of status question too-Ive spent six years in college, have science and forestry degrees but honestly think, as you have pointed out, that the work - life balance is much better. as it is, I work around ESB high voltage power lines using chainsaws and other saws, often at a height which can be pretty nasty to ones health if something goes wrong and our company wont even pay sick pay! what a joke. i also think that they are fiddling my tax. I ve had enough of them and gave a months notice. Being happy and having better quality time is more important to me.

As regards revision work for the CO post I just bought a book by byron entitled "How to Pass Selection Tests". Bet its going to be riveting reading!!


Thanks Buzybee
 
I;m just after reading this thread and its a really good intresting read, it was created almost a year ago - Buzzybee and Killter did you end up going for the CO jobs and how did you get on?

Im currently deciding if i'll take an EO position or emigrate to Oz, so am doing some research into all this - would like to hear of your experinces a year on.
 
Yep, I come from a finance background and work in a LA. It is safe, regular hours and untaxing work.

Opportunities to get into the finance section of the LA seem low.

If I got a transfer - I'll probably be put filing or inputting.

I'll probably do some more study on a part time basis and see out the recession in this job.
 
I moved from contracting into the private sector a few years ago, and its been great. One thing to consider is that the public sector pension gives you the best return if you maximise your years of service. Those of use moving late into the public sector don't won't be able to do this, so you have to look at buying back years etc when balancing the pro's and con's of the move.
 
My main problem working with the local authority is the nature and boredom of the job.


They pay for no CPE/CPD courses or accountancy subs.


More study is probably the only solution or taking on part-time work.

Just check out career breaks possibilities within the local authority. Some LAs are very restrictive.
 
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Hi,
I am currently working in the public sector, just completed a masters and I am seriously considering a move to the private sector. I am 28 years old and I've worked here since I left college.

My god, my work is mind numbing. Just so Boring! ( CO grade) But it does come with all the perks mentioned. Great pension, Flexi, No Stress.

I am just worried that I won't actually make the cut in the private sector. The job is really annoying me of late. This job has actually made me really lazy. It's probably like anything you just get used to a new job!


Like I think to myself I must be crazy to leave when eveyone else is dying to get in. I was overlooked for promotion twice, it's really being a case of I'm sitting on my A*s. So had to motivate yourself tho.

But yeah I would be really interested to know how the original poster got on in the end!

I have been given advice that I should leave if i am not happy.. but may be a case of far away grass is not always greener...
 
Another aspect is how sustainable the ok (when including pension) salary is. COs have been terribly paid since the year dot up to maybe 10 years ago.

Which wasn't really surprising, since as far as I know it's a job that officially requires only the leaving cert.

I would think that there's a reasonable possibility the salary will drift back via poor increases over the next couple decades to a position where at the very least no-one with a masters would even consider it as a career option.

Economically it's not good to be attracting over-qualified people into roles where their training and qualifications are often useless apart from getting an allowance for the qualification.
 
I got into the Civil Service last year. I am a Clerical Officer. I don't mind the work, dealing with figures & some queries from the public. I work in a large section. They move people around every few years so you won't be in the same job for years on end.

I love the flexi time. I can work up 1.5 days a month. This has really helped to make my annual leave last. I can use some flexi when I am going on hols. I love the way I can take a day off and just go shopping/relax at home. I could never do that before, as I had only the 20 days hols, and I had to make them last. I couldn't 'waste' them, doing things that I could do on a Sat (eg. cleaning the house, watching DVDs etc)

Also, I get some overtime from time to time, so I don't feel the drop in salary is too bad.

When you are in the Civil Service/Govt job for 2 yrs, you are eligible for the EO/Grade IV confined competitions. From hearsay, it is a bit easier to get promoted from these than from the external competitions.

I went into the Civil Service mainly because I wanted less stress and a better work life balance. I find the salary is OK considering the work involved and the hours of work.
 
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