This profile appeared in our special Graduate Options supplement on Tuesday, Sept 26th, 2017
The Civil Service is now one of the biggest employers of high quality graduates in Ireland with more than 200 graduates annually taking up roles in diverse areas such as the Department of Finance, the Department of Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Health, in the diplomatic stream in Foreign Affairs and Trade, as trainee auditors in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, and graduate economists in the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service.
This year's graduate's campaign opened on September 22nd, 2017, on gradpublicjobs.ie.
Graduate roles include administrative officer, graduate opportunities in Local Government, trainee auditor in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and graduate economist in Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES).
Applications are accepted from graduates across all degree disciplines.
Graduates who are successful in the aforementioned competitions play a role in policy and strategy formulation across the spectrum of economic, financial, international, environmental and social issues.
Michelle Noone of gradpublicjobs.ie said that the Civil Service is looking for people with the potential to take on high-level responsibilities in the management of public services and the analysis of public policy issues.
She says the Civil Service has opportunities for people coming from different disciplines and backgrounds and as the business, economic and social environment becomes more complex and demanding, there is an increasing need to ensure that a wider range of skills are available within Departments and Offices.
Now in its third year, the Civil Service Graduate Development Programme has been designed to provide new graduate entrants to the Civil Service with the skills and knowledge required to equip them in their varied roles across the Civil Service and support them in maximising their potential.
As part of this programme, entrants have the opportunity to secure practical and professionally valuable learning.
Built around the core competencies required at graduate entry-level across the Civil Service, this programme engages and develops participants’ skills through a combination of project-based, interactive and independent learning as well as structured training which is delivered by senior in-house senior subject matter experts as well as external experts.
Cillian McBride from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which developed and manages the Graduate Development Programme for Departments and Offices across the Civil Service, says new graduate entrants are provided with ongoing support during this programme to ensure they are equipped to manage the challenges of their new working environment and role. “This experience aims to foster independent analytical thinking and decision making, develop relationship and interpersonal skills, and nurture strategic thinking and leadership potential,” says McBride.
“Special features of the programme include an innovation project which participants are invited to complete, access to experienced mentors and the establishment of a graduate network, which is managed by graduates, who organise a variety of peer learning and informal networking events throughout the year.”
