During periods of Civil Service recruitment, the Clerical Officer position is often the first step into an exciting career in the Civil Service.

Clerical Officers work in all departments in Ireland, providing vital input to the team through a range of general office duties. Promotional opportunities are available to all Clerical Officers when they are made permanent. Clerical Officers need a good general standard of education and a customer focused attitude.

The next entry level into the Civil Service is the Executive Officer position. As a trainee management role, Executive Officers perform a first-level management role in all departments. This encompasses both project management and after initial training, staff management. Executive Officers can apply for promotion after a specified period of time. Details of criteria needed to apply for this position can be found on our website www.publicjobs.ie

The Administrative Officer (AO) position is primarily aimed at graduates.  Administrative Officers play a crucial role in policy formulation (through critical analysis, research and policy drafting) for a wide range of governmental areas. Administrative Officers can also be involved in drafting briefing materials for Ministers. This role is an excellent opportunity for honours graduates to begin working in the Public Service.

Another attractive position for graduates is the Third Secretary/Junior Diplomat in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the recruitment grade for the Irish diplomatic service. Third Secretaries initially work in the Department of Foreign Affairs before travelling to an Irish embassy or consulate where they will work for a number of years. There are many different projects and areas of work within Foreign Affairs, from dealing with Irish tourists' issues abroad to acting as an Irish Representative in various formal functions.

To apply for the AO and Third Secretary position, you need a first or second class honours degree.

Professional and specialist roles exist within the Public Service for both graduates and non-graduates.

These include:

• Engineers
• Planners
• Architects
• Accountants/Auditors
• Medical Consultants
• Psychologists
• Nursing Staff
• Legal Staff - Solicitors, Barristers, Law Clerks
• Paramedical Staff – Dental Surgeons, Environmental Health Officers, Pharmacists, Community Welfare Officers.
• Scientists  
   

We also provide recruitment and consultancy services to Local Authorities, Health Service Executive, the Garda Siochana and other public bodies.

There are two types of entry contracts into the Civil Service. There are established contracts in which the employee is on probation for one year before they become established and term time contracts. The term time contract can be either 8, 10 or 13 weeks and this type of employment is conducted during the summer months.

An employee on the established contract can apply for the below types of employment after two years of continuous employment.

1) Worksharing allows staff to opt for a part-time attendance pattern. Current examples of attendance patterns include: mornings only, afternoons only, three days per week, four days per week, 9am to 3pm each day, week on/week off and three weeks out of four. Worksharing staff are paid on a pro rata basis.

2) Flexitime gives staff flexibility to vary their starting and finishing times, depending on the needs of their section. Staff must be in work during the core times of 10.00am - 12.30pm and 2.30pm – 4.00 pm. A person may start work between 8.00am and 10.00am and finish between 4.00pm and 7.00pm. Staff may build up hours during a four week flexi period which can be taken as leave in the next flexi period.

3) The Shorter Working Year scheme allows staff to balance their working arrangements with outside commitments. Under the terms of the scheme, special leave is available as a period of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 13 consecutive weeks. The leave may be taken as one continuous period, or as a maximum of 3 separate periods each consisting of not less than 2 weeks and not exceeding 13 weeks in total. The period of absence counts as unpaid special leave.

4) A career break is a period of unpaid leave from work of between six months and five years. In the Civil Service, staff may take two career breaks during their career. A career break may be allowed for domestic reasons; including child care, education or travel abroad. A person on a career break may not take up paid employment in Ireland. A career break of up to three years is available for purposes of self employment.

Civil Servants will start on the first point of the salary scale for their entry grade. For each grade in the Civil Service you will see a salary scale from the Department of Finance website: click here

All our jobs in the public service are advertised on our website www.publicjobs.ie. Here you can view current vacancies across a wide range of Public Service organisations and apply for these positions on-line.

There is a recruitment and promotion moratorium in place in the civil service, local authorities, non-commercial state bodies, the Garda Síochána and the Permanent Defence Forces.

Decisions in respect of future recruitment campaigns will be taken in the context of the business needs of the relevant organisation, the moratorium on recruitment and promotion and any redeployment arrangements agreed for the civil and public service. 

During periods of Civil Service recruitment, Open competitions are held for recruitment to entry level grades of Clerical, Executive and Administrative Officer.

You can also respond to our newspaper advertisements in the national press, or call into our Public Appointments Careers Store: 26-30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1

Among the other services offered on our website are:

• Information on the Public Appointments Service
• Career information including profiles of people working at different levels across the Public Service
• Interview hints and techniques
• Sample Questions from a range of selection tests
• Hints and Tips for the test session
• Links to the websites of a range of public service organisations
• Answers to a range of frequently asked questions