The Public Service Blog
All articles
Every guide and worked example on the blog, newest first. 74 in total.
PublicJobs Test 23Situational Judgement 10Job Simulation 7Interview Skills 13Civil Service Grades 18Career Advice 3
November 2026
September 2026
August 2026
Civil Service GradesDSP Traineeship Programme 2027: 30 Places on a CO-to-EO Track
Civil Service GradesHR Managers in the Civil Service: The AP Competition Closing 10 September
Civil Service GradesRTB Executive Officer 2026: Applications Closed, Interview Guide
PublicJobs TestThe Five HEO 2026 Application Questions
PublicJobs TestHEO 2026 Locations: How the Two-Location Choice Works- PublicJobs TestHEO Test Practice: SJT, Numerical, Verbal and Timed Papers
- PublicJobs TestHEO 2026 Application and AI: Keep the Evidence Yours
- PublicJobs TestWhat Counts as Three Years of Management Experience for HEO 2026?
- Civil Service GradesThe 2026 Clerical Officer Scoring Error: What Happened and What It Means
- Civil Service GradesGarda Vetting for Civil Service Jobs: How Long, and Can It Be Reused?
Civil Service GradesIrish-Language Civil Service Competitions: There Is No Aptitude Test- Civil Service GradesNumber One on the Panel and Still No Offer: Why That Happens
- Civil Service GradesHow Long Does publicjobs Clearance Take After the Interview?
Interview SkillsWhat Does Order of Merit Mean on a publicjobs Panel?
Interview SkillsThe Seven Things a publicjobs Board Is Actually Assessing
July 2026
- Career AdviceCareer Progression in the Irish Civil Service
- Civil Service GradesAO vs AP: What's the Difference?
- Civil Service GradesHow to Choose Which Grade to Apply For
Interview SkillsHow to Ace Your Civil Service Interview- Interview SkillsSTAR Method Examples That Stand Out
Interview SkillsTop 10 Interview Tips from Hiring Boards- PublicJobs TestVerbal Reasoning Practice for the PublicJobs Test
June 2026
May 2026
- Situational JudgementIrish Public Service SJT vs UK Civil Service SJT
- Civil Service GradesClerical Officer (CO): Full Guide to the Competition
- Civil Service GradesExecutive Officer (EO): What the Competition Involves
- PublicJobs TestWhy You Keep Failing the Numerical Reasoning Test (and How to Fix It)
- Situational JudgementWhy Smart Candidates Still Bomb the SJT
- PublicJobs TestWhat Numerical Score Do You Need to Pass the Civil Service Test?
- PublicJobs TestHow the publicjobs.ie Verbal Reasoning Test Works
- Civil Service GradesHow Much Does Civil Service Test Prep Cost in Ireland?
- Situational JudgementSJT Rating and Ranking: How PSP Practice Scoring Works
- Interview SkillsHow publicjobs Competency-Based Interviews Work
- Interview SkillsThe STAR Method for Irish Public Service Interviews
April 2026
- Civil Service GradesCO vs EO: Which Civil Service Grade Should You Apply For?
- PublicJobs TestNumerical Reasoning Question Types on publicjobs, With Worked Examples
- PublicJobs TestFalse or Cannot Say? Worked Verbal Reasoning Examples
- Situational JudgementThe 2024 Capability Framework Behind Every SJT Scenario
- Interview SkillsThe Most Common publicjobs Interview Questions by Competency
- Job SimulationWhat Is the Job Simulation Exercise in publicjobs Competitions?
- PublicJobs TestIs Paid Numerical Reasoning Practice Worth It for publicjobs?
- PublicJobs TestHEO 2026: Applications Closed, Assessment and Timeline
- Civil Service GradesAdministrative Officer (AO): The Graduate Route Explained
- Job SimulationThe 2024 Capability Framework Explained for Job Applicants
March 2026
- Interview SkillsWhy Strong Candidates Still Fail the Interview Stage
- Civil Service GradesWhich Irish Civil Service Grade Am I Eligible For?
- PublicJobs TestA Step-by-Step Method for publicjobs Verbal Reasoning Questions
- Situational JudgementSJT Examples Mapped to Real Public Service Scenarios
- Civil Service GradesThe publicjobs.ie Application Process, Start to Finish
- Interview SkillsIs a Mock Interview Worth It for publicjobs?
- PublicJobs TestHow to Speed Up on Numerical Reasoning Without Making Mistakes
- Job SimulationRunning Out of Time in the Inbox Exercise? Here Is the Fix
- PublicJobs TestFree vs Paid Verbal Reasoning Practice: What Irish Candidates Should Know
- Job SimulationMapping Your Answers to Capability Framework Competencies
February 2026
- PublicJobs TestNumerical Reasoning for the Clerical Officer Competition: A Starter Guide
- Situational JudgementIs There a Right Answer to SJT Questions?
- Interview SkillsHow Many Examples Should You Prepare for a Competency Interview?
- PublicJobs TestVerbal Reasoning for the Executive Officer Competition
- PublicJobs TestAm I Reading Too Much Into Verbal Reasoning Passages?
- Situational JudgementCan You Really Prepare for an SJT? (And Is It Worth Paying?)
- Job SimulationDo You Need Public Sector Experience to Pass a Job Simulation?
- Interview SkillsPhone Screen vs Final Interview: What Changes
- PublicJobs TestVerbal Reasoning vs Reading Comprehension: Know the Difference