Interdepartmental competitionfor

Assistant Principal(Higher)

in the Civil Service

Stage 1Information Booklet

Video Interviews

This is an important document so please set some time aside to read it in advance of the test session.

©Public Appointments ServicePage 1

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your application for Assistant Principal Higherin the Civil Service.

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is committed to the principles of good recruitment practice and these principles involve fair and impartial selection. The process will comprise a number of stages. This first stage consists of a video interview where your answers will be recorded.

You may take these interviewseither via a PC with a webcam or on a mobile device i.e.a tablet or mobile phone. This booklet will provide you with an overview of the process. When you receive the link you will have an opportunity to carry out practice interviews to familiarise yourself with the system. You must complete the practice interview before you complete the actual video interview.

Information on each subsequent stage of the selection process will be made available to the candidates who are invited to progress.

PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS SERVICE

March 2017

©Public Appointments Service, 2017

The reproduction of any part of this document by any process whatsoever is breaking copyright law.

Overview

In the video interview, you will be presented with three interview questions and will be given five minutes in which to respond to each. These interview questions are being provided to you in advance (see page 7 of this booklet) so that you will have time to consider your responses. Your responses will be recorded and will be subsequently assessed by a selection board.

There will be a set time window (details below) during which you must complete the video interview. You are strongly advised to complete your interviewearlyin the assessment window.

Our assessment provider for the video interviewisSonru.You will require a PC or laptop with a webcam, or a mobile device to complete the interview. During the assessment window, helpdesk facilities will be available from Sonruto deal with any technical issues you may have while taking theassessment.

Candidates must meet the required standard in their answers to all three interview questions.One question relates to policy/strategy formulation. Please note that if you do not meet the required standard in your answer to this question, your answers to the remaining questions will not be assessed.

Those who achieve the required standard will be ranked accordingly. Only those who qualify and are placed highest on the basis of the video interview will be invited to Stage 2. However, the number to be invited forward will be determined from time to time, having regard to the likely vacancies to be filled.

Qualification at video interview is no guarantee that a candidate will be invited to Stage 2 or subsequentstages.

Honesty Contract
Integrity and honesty are key values within the Civil and Public Service. As potential employees you are expected to honour these values, both in how you approach this competition and by agreeing to follow the rules and procedures laid down. By taking part in the selection process, you are confirming that you are the person named on the application and you agree to complete the interview honestly and without assistance. A third party must not personate a candidate at any stage of the process. Your attention is drawn to the important information set out in Appendix 2. By accessing or attempting any assessment/ test materials or interview you are agreeing to be bound by the terms set out.

Video Interview

You will receive two emails on or before 15th March, 2017 from Sonru; one containing a link to your video interview and a second containing support information.

These will come from so we advise you to add this address to your safe-senders list in advance of Wednesday 15th March, 2017. These emails may be filtered into your Junk/Spam email folders (or ‘Promotions’ in the case of gmail). You are also advised to check all these folders regularly.

If you do not receive the emails from Sonru by 3pm on Wednesday 15th March, please email mediately, but no later than 12 noon on Thursday 16th March.

Assessment Window
You must complete the video interview between
Wednesday 15th March and 11:59pm onTuesday21st March 2017

You are strongly advised to give yourself sufficient time and not wait until the final hours of the assessment window to record the interview. No time extensions will be given.

Please note that you must NOT change your email address during the selection process. The PAS will not be responsible for non-delivery of messages to any new/revised email addresses you may provide.

Helpdesk support fortheassessment tests

In the unlikely event that you experience any technical difficulties, you should contact Sonru’s technical support help desk:

Helpdesk Support Information
Support will be available 24/7

Ireland: +353 76 680 1294

Overview of the Video Interview

A video interview is an interview that takes place online using video technology. Video

interviewing is used by many companies in Ireland and internationally.

A one-way interview means that you do not need to be online at the same time as the interviewer. It replicates the conditions of a live interview without the need to meet in person.

Preparing to take the video interviews

  • You may take the video interview in a venue of your choice wherever you have access to a computer with webcam or mobile device, and a reliable internet connection;
  • Taking this assessment within a secure IT network e.g. such as your work network which may have firewalls or other security technology in place, may cause you technical difficulties. These difficulties may become apparent at the bandwidth testing stage when you login to the Sonru system. The onus is on the candidate to ensure their equipment meets the technical specifications outlined in Appendix 1;
  • Should you encounter firewall difficulties you can either do the interview via asmartphone/tablet or you can email the link to another computer e.g. your home computer;
  • If using a mobile device, the Sonru Record app will need to be downloaded in advance. Links to these apps will be included in the email invitation to the video interview.
  • As the interview will require your full concentration, please ensure that you record the interview in a quiet environment, where there are no distractions and where you will not be disturbed;
  • You should close down all other applications except for your browser windows and internet connection, and stop all other activity on your computer or mobile device;
  • Further information on the IT requirements to sit the interview is provided atAppendix 1at the end of this document;
  • During the period of the assessment window, support facilities will be available from the test provider to deal with any technical issues you may have in relation to the video interview;
  • As is the case in a face to face interview, there will be no breaks between the three questions when recording the actual video interview;
  • You must ensure that all three interview questions in your video interview are answered or your responses will not be assessed.

Test your Equipment

  • Make sure to fully charge your laptop or mobile device.
  • Check that your webcam and microphone are working.
  • Put your laptop or device on ‘Do not Disturb’, blocking all incoming notifications and calls.
  • Keep your camera still and make sure you can see yourself clearly in the outline provided.
  • Before the you begin the interview, there will be a check carried out on your device and the answers you provide to the sample questions will be played back to you.

Video Interview Process

When you click on the link you will be prompted to login and provide a password and agree to the terms and conditions. This is to allow you to create your own account and you may choose any password that you wish.

You will then be provided with a short video tutorial explaining how the system works. When you have watched the tutorial, please press continue.

Once you have read the information on this page, click on “Get Started”. On a PC, this is located in the top right of the screen. On mobile devices, it is usually on the bottom right of the screen. You will then be asked two practice questions and, after a set amount of time to read the questions, you will be asked to record an answer for both practice questions.

It is your responsibility to review your answers and ensure that you are visible in the recording and that your responses are clearly audible. If this is not the case, please check your settings or use an alternative device. You may do as many practice interviews as you wish – your answers will not be seen by anyone but you.

When you are confident that your practice interview is clearly visible and audible and that you will not be disturbed, you can then click the button to start your actual interview. Once you start the actual video interview you will not be able to pause or stop the recording, or go back and record your answers again. You will only be permitted to record the video interview once. When you have finished, you will receive an email confirming that your responses have been saved and you will have the opportunity to provide feedback, if you wish.

AP Higher Video Interview
  1. We are providing you with questions in advance so we recommend that you reflect on the answers that you want to give before starting the interview.
  2. This is a competitive process. You will not receive any follow up or supplementary questions so please describe in detail the experience and skills you have gained with particular reference to the outcome. Should you be successful and invited to the next stage, your responses will be followed up in more detail.
  3. You should aim to use as much as possible of the time available to answer the questions. You will be assessed solely on the basis of the information you provide so it is in your best interests to provide as much information as possible. If, for example, you only answer “I have excellent Policy and Strategy Experience” or “I have lots of experience of dealing with stakeholders”, this will be considered insufficient evidence for the assessors to evaluate your response.
  4. One of the questions you will be asked relates to your experience in policy/strategy formulation. Due to the importance of this area in the Assistant Principal Higher role, if you are deemed not to meet the qualifying standard on the basis of the answer provided in this area, the remainder of your interview answers will not be reviewed or assessed.
  5. You must provide a comprehensive answer for all three questions.
  6. Communication, influencing and presentation skills are required in this role and these will be assessed in this interview. However, please note that the principal concern is for us to hear about your experiences and skills rather than assess your comfort levels in front of a camera.

Please provide as much specific and evidence based information as possible when answering these questions, having regard to the role and competencies required as set out in the circular.

During the video interview you will be askedto record a response to the following three questions:

Question 1. (5 Mins)
Please provide an overview of your experience in engaging effectively with diverse/ challenging stakeholders and give one specific example that you feel best demonstrates your skills in this area and the outcome achieved.

Question 2. (5 Mins)

Please provide an overview of your experience in significant policy/strategy formulation on complex issues and give one specific example that you feel best demonstrates your skills in this area and the outcome achieved.

Question 3. (5 Mins)

Please provide an overview of your experience of providing leadership with particular reference to leading through change and give one specific example that you feel best demonstrates your skills in this area and the outcome achieved.

General Information
  • Candidates will be permitted to undertake the video interview only once.
  • Those to be invited to the next selection stage will be called on the basis of their results at the video interview stage (Stage 1). The number of candidates to be invited will be determined by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) from time to time having regard to the number of vacancies to be filled. PAS will notify those to be invited to Stage 2.
  • All test and assessment materials and content are subject to copyright and all rights are reserved.
  • Data Protection Acts 1988 & 2003:
    Records created are subject to the rights and obligations set out in the Data Protection Acts, 1988 & 2003. Where the services of a third party are used and there is a requirement to provide them with information, all necessary precautions will be taken to ensure the security of your data. In taking part in this process candidates give their consent for their data to be processed by PAS and all affiliated service providers, for the purposes of this competition.
  • An invitation to attend any part of the selection process is not to be taken as implying that the Public Appointments Service is satisfied that you fulfil the eligibility requirements of the post.
  • It is important to remember that this is a competitive process for a role where integrity is paramount. Sharing information on the selection process e.g. through social media or any other means, may result in you being disqualified from the competition.

Appendix 1 – Technical Specifications

General Setup Requirements

Sonru is an application that is compatible with all modern web browsers including Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer 11+.You must have a webcam on your PC/ Laptop to use the system. Alternatively, you may take it on your Smart Phone or Tablet.

Candidates should ensure their PC / laptop or mobile device complies with the following:

  • Browser: A minimum of Flash Player 11+ (but preferably later) version should be pre-installed with the computer administrator's permission. The access to webcam and microphone through flash should be allowed.
  • Mobile device: Sonru offers the option of video interviews via the Sonru Record App. Android and iOS specifications are shown below.

The hardware requirement for desktop users is such that the user's machine can support a modern web browser.

Browser Support:

The Sonru Candidate Portal supports the following browsers:

  • Google Chrome (latest release version)
  • Google Chrome for Android (latest release version)
  • Firefox (latest release version)
  • Firefox for Android (latest release version)
  • Internet Explorer 11+
  • Opera (latest release version)
  • Safari for OS X (latest release version)
  • Safari Mobile for iOS (latest release version)
  • Microsoft Edge

Flash Player

Flash Player version 11+ (but preferably later) must be installed, and the access to webcam and microphone through flash should be allowed through the browser.

Required Internet Connection

If you are in an area with low broadband connections we recommend you complete your interview on a mobile device using the Sonru Record App. You will then be able record your interview with connection speeds down to 3G speeds as the interview is saved to the device. If you are completing on a browser you will need a minimum speed of 140 kbps upload speed.

Network & Firewall IP address pool

  • 52.19.196.189 Ports 443 (HTTPS) & 1935 (RTMP)
  • 184.169.139.169 Ports 443 (HTTPS) & 1935 (RTMP)
  • 54.253.113.198 Ports 443 (HTTPS) & 1935 (RTMP)
  • 54.247.177.24 Ports 443 (HTTPS)

Appendix 2
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Terms and Conditions
Your attention is drawn to this important information. By accessing or attempting any assessment / test materials you are agreeing to be bound by the terms set out below.
  1. All test and assessment materials are subject to copyright and all rights are reserved. No part of the tests/assessment materials or interview (including any text, questions and/or potential answer options) or associated materials (including practice and/or familiarisation materials) may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, printing, photographing, recording, written or otherwise, at any stage. To do so is an offence and may result in you being excluded from the selection process. Any person(s) who contravenes this provision, whether an applicant or other, or who assists another person(s) in contravening this provision, is liable to prosecution and/ or civil suit for loss of copyright and intellectual property.
  2. Your attention is drawn the Commission for Public Service Appointment’s Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service. In particular please note Section 5 - Responsibility of Candidates (see below).

Canvassing
Candidates should note that canvassing will disqualify them and will result in their exclusion from the appointments process.
Candidates’ obligations
Candidates in the recruitment process must not:
  • Knowingly or recklessly provide false information
  • Canvass any person, with or without inducements
  • Interfere with or compromise the process in any way.
A third party must not personate a candidate at any stage of the process.
Penalties for failure to comply
Any person who contravenes the above provisions, or who assists another person in contravening the above provisions is guilty of an offence. A person who is found guilty of an offence is liable to a fine and/or imprisonment.
If a person found guilty of such an offence was or is a candidate in a recruitment process, then:
  • Where he/she has not been appointed to a post, he/she will be disqualified as a candidate
  • Where he/she has been appointed subsequent to the recruitment process in question, he/she
shall forfeit that appointment.
  1. The admission of a person to the competition, or invitation to undertake any element of the selection process is not to be taken as implying that the Public Appointments Service is satisfied that such a person fulfils the essential requirements.

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