How publicjobs capability-based interviews work for AO, HEO and other Civil Service grades: the four areas, what boards ask, four worked STAR answers and the pitfalls to avoid.

publicjobs Interview Questions 2026: Capability Framework + STAR

The 2026 DFA Third Secretary competition from the publicjobs booklet: who could apply, online assessments, the written exercise, interview, 2026 salary scale and panel.

Third Secretary Competition 2026 (DFA): Stages, Salary, Interview

The 2026 AO Specialist competition: online tests provisionally 5 to 10 November, interview and exercise in January 2027, pay from €41,176 to €70,547, and how the panel is filled.

Administrative Officer Competition 2026: Tests, Interview, Salary, Panel

Verbal, numerical, situational judgement and assessment questionnaires: what each publicjobs online test measures, how long it runs, how proctoring and Order of Merit work, and where to practise.

publicjobs Online Tests 2026: Every Test Type, Timings, Free Practice

publicjobs (the Public Appointments Service) is the central recruiter for the Irish Civil and Public Service. It runs competitions for Administrative Officer (AO), Higher Executive Officer (HEO) and, for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Third Secretary (the graduate entry diplomatic grade). In the AO 2024, HEO 2026 and Third Secretary 2020 competitions, Stage 1 was a set of online assessments. For Graduate Opportunities Administrative Officer (General) 2024, publicjobs described three remotely proctored assessments: Verbal Reasoning (40 statements in 30 minutes, each judged True, False or Cannot say on a passage), Numerical Reasoning (24 questions on charts and tables in 35 minutes, five options each) and a Situational Judgement Test (40 minutes; text, video and chat scenarios, each with three options, choosing the best response). There was no negative marking, candidates had to reach the qualifying standard in all three, and the combined Verbal Reasoning and Situational Judgement scores set the Order of Merit. Each competition sets out its own tests in its candidate information and familiarisation material. Later stages differ by grade: the Third Secretary competition has used an online video interview, a precis (written) exercise and an interview, and the HEO 2024 final stage combined a written report, a 5-minute oral briefing and an interview. The Higher Executive Officer in the Civil Service 2026 competition scheduled its online assessments for October 2026, shortlisting for December 2026 and interviews for January 2027.