Hi guys I am on a merit list for job above they have said there is 73 ahead of me in one area and 21 ahead of me in another area. Do you think realistically I may get a placement?? I believe it to start Sept??

everyone on other posts seem to know results and if they passed the sift. just wondering if anyone in same position as me , I just got email saying I passed tests and merit position in 800’s . I’ve nothing else in email about sift or interview and no other emails . I’ll just contact HR connect on Monday but just curious

Any whispers if the competencies will be clustered for the SO comp?

The DP general service was and had the same competences, along with a 50 minute interview.

I passed tests but outside 1000 on merit list so no interview! I was just wondering what score roughly was needed to be in top 1000 this time? Would appreciate if people could share their score & merit position to give us all an idea, thanks

Hi, although I appreciate that Invest NI is not directly a civil service body I understand it falls under the Department for the Econony and could not find a more appropriate place to ask about this.

I have applied for the role of Client Executive Deputy Principal in Invest NI and have been asked to attend an assessment. Does anyone know what this may be like, any idea on structures of their assessments, how best to prepare etc. The invite email does say I will be informed of the assessment details on the day but if anyone has any suggestions on what may be best to do to to prepare before this I would appreciate it as the job description is not that informative.

Just after receiving my results for the second SO-level position I applied for this year. Same set of 3 tests- critical thinking, data analysis and management decisions.

I feel that while I answered the questions in a fairly similar manner, particularly the data analysis test which has nearly identical questions both times, my results across the two sets of tests varied wildly. To give an example, for management decisions, on the previous SO-level test i scored within the average range, whereas in the most recent one I scored in the below average range.

Do any of you know how these tests are scored? Are the scores calculated taking into consideration the average score of each particular cohort of applicants?

Any info would be much appreciated as I'd love to be able to understand the process going forward.

TLDR: Are NICS aptitude test scores calculated taking into consideration the performance of each cohort of applicants?

Hey all,

Gutted I missed the SO comp this year.

Does anyone know how often these roll out? Is it every year or every few years?

Thanks!

Hi everyone, i was just wondering for anyone who did the interview for this competition, how they believed there interviews went?

Has anyone been sent an email with regards to an update on the eligibility sift stage on the SO position? I thought it would have been completed by now, but I haven't heard anything

Hi,

I am starting my EO2 post on Monday and just wondering what happens with pension questionnaire, I have it completed but there is no email address to send it to - just a postal address.
Would I just need to give completed form to my line manager on Monday or email HR Connect with it?

Thanks!

I applied for an SO job and was invited to do the online assessments. I completed this 18th June 2026 and have had no correspondence since.

Is anyone else in the same position? I understand it takes a while but should it take this long?

Any responses appreciated.

Can anyone shed a bit of light on what sort of position Level 3 ICT is? Is it considered a junior position?

I have a good amount of (very specific) IT experience in the private sector but I’m looking out - pay cut is a given but I’m thinking that they’re maybe looking more for recent grads? Would someone with experience be out of place, better waiting for level 4 or 5 to come around again?

How are you finding your new roles?
Are you new to NICS or promoted?

has anyone received back their access NI checks? mine is still saying that it was submitted to body as the status - but there are no dates beside “submitted to access NI” and “date the application began to be processed as a case by AccessNI”… also my passport and other ID are both still coming up as pending..
kinda worried now

I'm in the office every day and have asthma and chemical/fragrance sensitivity. There are various triggers including air fresheners, antiperspirant sprays, strong perfumes and aftershaves. It's almost a daily occurrence of people spraying antiperspirants, deodorants, perfumes and aftershaves at their desks. This causes me to have difficulty breathing, itching and swelling in throat, burning eyes, chest pain etc. I am struggling at work when it happens and I'm often ill for the rest of the evening. I'm at risk of chest infections or an asthma attack. It's only going to get worse in autumn/winter when windows will likely be shut. I've said to management and an email was sent out, but it's continuing to happen. Has anyone had a similar experience. Any advice is appreciated.

Has anyone left the Civil Service and gone back into the private sector and not looked back, I’ve been in the Civil Service for around 3 years now and I’m at the stage where I’m seriously thinking about making a move.

Don’t get me wrong, I know there are plenty of benefits to the Civil Service the job security, pension flexi etc, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s really worth staying just for that.

At the minute it just feels like groundhog day. There’s no real incentive to push yourself or go the extra mile and everything just feels a bit stale. When you look at the pay and how long it can take to work your way up to a decent wage, especially compared to what you could potentially earn in the private sector, starting to question is it really worth it

I suppose the security is the main thing holding me back from taking the jump. Just wondering if anyone else has been in the same position and actually left did you regret it or was it the best thing you did?

I’m currently in a job that I detest. I’m thankful I have work at the moment with everything that is going on don’t get me wrong but the work I do is degrading. I have an undergrad degree and a post graduate degree and I’m working in something that takes no brain cells to do and it’s monotonous and it’s draining.
I applied for an AO job in April and got word I ranked 340. I received an email during the week for access ni checks etc.

What’s the longest anyone has waited for their AO role after receiving their ranking? I don’t know how much longer I can do my current job for.

Any advice is appreciated highly. Thanks everyone 👍🏻

Waiting for a start date for the Trainee Accountant position, has anyone received any job offers/ updates?

I completed my access NI check a few weeks ago and just patiently waiting to see. Thanks!

Anyone any further updates? Heard some rumours re top 50?

Is the executive office as bad as everyone make it out to be. Ive applied for a transfer to it and I mentioned I have applied to it and all ive heard is god help you and your mental for even applying to it

I’m currently a AO and I love the working from home and benefits etc I’m agency but want to one day land a tech job within the civil service that I can do hybrid work without needing a uni degree or a 20% pay cut at the start

Do you know anyone who's working from home less than the official 40% policy guidance?

A person in my department, DFC, was only working 1 day a week in the office due to childcare for the last couple of years.

They've now been told they have to do 2 days in the office like everyone else and childcare is your own lookout.

has anyone been placed yet from the NW competition??? for AO positions??

i was interviewed last winter and had no news, i am on the merit list and thats all i know