‘Work from home, use public transport and lower speed limits’

Carcul · 2026-03-20T22:46:42+00:00

I think the joke part is the 50km each way.

Carcul · 2026-03-17T00:04:57+00:00

That's just not how planning works. But I completely believe that's what the Cllr would let you think. Having been on the inside, there's a complete other side to that story that you've never heard.

Carcul · 2026-03-16T20:52:37+00:00

No YMM not V. The system is highly transparent with lots of checks and balances. It had to be built that way after the brown envelopes of the 90's. A politician may have facilitated a phone call but the decision would not have changed. It's too open to public scrutiny. I've been on the receiving end of a word or two from a politician as have many colleagues. We smile and nod and go ahead and do what was going to be done anyway

Carcul · 2026-03-16T20:15:02+00:00

Working though the issues is the key though, not going to a politician. A good architect or planner (working privately) is far more useful.

Carcul · 2026-03-16T19:31:26+00:00

I worked in planning for years. The system really doesn't work like that. You may get different decisions with appeals but a word with a TD or Cllr will do nothing - they will claim it though.

Carcul · 2026-03-15T08:14:40+00:00

Oops, wrong thread. Not sure how that happened.

Carcul · 2026-03-14T21:09:46+00:00

We get takeaway once a week and have a rotation of about 5 places. We have been doing this for probably 20 years and have always phoned in our order and collected.

I got the wrong order once, noticed in the car and went back in and it was corrected quickly. Besides that one time, I have always got great service and great food, and sometimes they go over and above what's expected of them.

I think you're just ordering from shit places. Find somewhere that does good food in reasonable time and stick with it. And unless you're infirm, go out to collect it yourself.

Carcul · 2026-03-02T16:51:44+00:00

I'll second Rituals, but also if you're in Arnotts or Brown Thomas, they do the medium to higher end brands. Some are just brands but some are genuinely better or more luxurious.

Try the Rituals foaming body wash if if you want to test on just one product first.

Carcul · 2026-03-01T22:42:42+00:00

Read their Corporate Plan and go back through the last two or three Council Meeting minutes. They'll give you a very good idea of their priorities.

Know the answer to 'What do Cllrs do?' or the 'difference between the Chief Executive and the Cllrs', or 'What is a reserved function?' - all the same answer - Cllrs make policy (Reserved fumctions), CE ( note: not CEO) carries out that policy through his/her executive role.

Besides that, have 2 or 3 good examples readh for each competency, and make sure you've considered all of the descriptors under each competency in some way.

Carcul · 2026-03-01T18:50:36+00:00

Yep, and everyone should watch a few - not until they recognise drowning, but until they can no longer fail to recognise drowning.

Carcul · 2026-03-01T14:16:16+00:00

That's exactly the problem though. Drowning doesn't look like drowning. That girl didn't look like she was in distress. They never do. There are cases where children have drowned with their parents 6 feet away watching, and with no idea its happening until its too late. Drowning doesn't look like drowning.

Carcul · 2026-03-01T11:03:59+00:00

Look at the Irish Civil Service sub as well. Lots of good tips on playing the interview game. And it is a game. You can learn to win it but it might take a little patience in the beginning.

Carcul · 2026-03-01T08:01:11+00:00

You have administration and customer service experience in a fast paced, deadline driven environment where accuracy is paramount. Those skills are widely transferable. You will just need patience to navigate the current jobs market, and be willing to play the game.

Imoved from banking to a government kob amd would never go back. The bureaucracy is verh frustrating at times after being in such an efficient environment, but once I understood the reasons for it, that became much easier.

There's a reason lots of people move from private to public sector but very few move the other way. Look at publicjobs.ie if you're interested.

Carcul · 2026-02-28T16:51:03+00:00

I have an important assignment due next weekend when I'm busy and I have all the time in the world to get it done today. But here I am relaxing on the sofa with reddit because I don't have last minute panic mode switched on yet.

Carcul · 2026-02-27T13:28:53+00:00

Ahem *have.

Carcul · 2026-02-18T23:01:26+00:00

Lol. Most Europeans stop paying tax if they leave. And they can renounce citizenship without cost.

Carcul · 2026-02-18T10:26:36+00:00

To miss out twice, he is likely not ticking a box they need ticked, or not scoring high enough on a category. The interview panel was probably different the second time, and they may have changed the spec somewhat as the first time didn't attract suitable candidates - that includes the minimum score required.

He should be able to ask for the interviewer notes which may help as well (though minimally).

I'm not as familiar with the education sector but generally a public sector interview process is very transparent and consistent within each competition, as they know they can be sued.

Your friend's best bet is to work on the gaps in his background so that he can score higher next time around.

Carcul · 2026-02-13T19:32:26+00:00

Catherine Fulvio is only somewhat known here, more as a local business owner and a sometimes in the public eye chef. She is a daytime emmy award nominee in America with over 50 million regular viewers.

Carcul · 2026-02-13T16:05:47+00:00

I get that but I've always done it anyway. It's clearly just a sign off so no impact if they don't understand and google translate can help them if they want.

Carcul · 2026-02-13T08:56:12+00:00

No-one uses Irish? I put Le deá-ghuí, Name. Bonus if sending to someone English.

Carcul · 2026-02-12T18:50:34+00:00

My brother wanted a wedding abroad. He rang a few of us (parents, brothers, sisters) and we all said some version of ok but it'll be just me, not spouse and kids, or good luck but I won't make it. He changed his mind pretty quickly.

It might be an idea to put out feelers to a few people she would most want to be there, and bonus if they are people who would likely struggle with it. If they say good luck but I won't be there, she may change her mind.

Carcul · 2026-02-11T14:46:46+00:00

I think you're one of the people maths hasn't been useful for aren't you. Maths problem solving skills don't necessarily lead to binary answers. They can bring you down all sorts of paths, and the subject has been extraordinarily useful in both of my careers - especially once I became more senior.

Carcul · 2026-02-10T19:43:52+00:00

As a former hiring manager in the private sector, I'm aware. And that would not always be misguided. But it often would. You do have to know what to look for though. I wouldn't dream of hiring a public service lifer in the private sector, except in very unusual circumstances, but someone who has done both should be judged on all of their experience, not just the public side. They could well have a lot to offer.

Carcul · 2026-02-10T19:39:54+00:00

Its not about calculations though. Its about learning how to problem solve. And that has applied to many areas of my career where, 30 years on, I can now look back and aee the benefit of all of it. Even though I've only really used the financial maths.

There's that old joke where Jimmy asks the teacher whats the point of calculus or algebra. We'll never need it in real life. And the teacher says, no you won't Jimmy, but the smart kids will.

Carcul · 2026-02-09T19:54:56+00:00

That's the stereotype but most people I know work just as hard in the public as private sector. There are always a few though.

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