For many professionals — especially those moving from the private sector or arriving from another country — the public sector job application process can feel overwhelming.
It’s not just about submitting a CV. It’s about aligning your experience to specific competency-based frameworks, writing detailed STAR examples, and adapting to a new language — both literally and professionally.
At GetHired.ie, I see this struggle often: brilliant people with strong experience, blocked not by lack of skills, but by lack of guidance in navigating the public recruitment system. Let’s change that.
📌 Why the Public Sector?
In Ireland and across Europe, the public sector is a major employer — offering stability, career progression, and a chance to contribute meaningfully to society. In fact, according to the Irish Civil Service 2023 Workforce Report, over 3,000 public sector positions opened across departments, with growing demand in areas like project management, HR, digital transformation, sustainability, and service delivery.
But unlike the private sector, hiring here follows a rigid, competency-based model. This means your application must do more than show interest — it must demonstrate impact.
🎯 Competency-Based Hiring: What It Means
Competency-based frameworks assess your behaviours and capabilities, not just your qualifications. You’re evaluated on how you acted in a situation, what you achieved, and how your actions align with the core competencies of the role.
According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), “Competency-based selection provides a structured method for predicting future performance by assessing previous behaviour in real-life situations.”
Most public sector forms focus on 4 to 6 key areas, like:
- Teamwork & Collaboration
- Communication Skills
- Analysis & Decision-Making
- Planning & Organising
- Leadership Potential
Each answer should follow the STAR format:
- Situation – What was the context?
- Task – What was your responsibility?
- Action – What did you do?
- Result – What changed or improved?
❌ Why Strong Candidates Still Get Rejected
Many applications fail not because of poor experience, but because of:
- Unclear structure (no STAR)
- Vague or generic answers
- Overuse of buzzwords without real examples
- Lack of tangible results (no metrics or outcomes)
- Misalignment with public sector language
💡 “I’m a team player who works well under pressure” means very little unless you prove it with evidence.
✅ What You Can Do to Stand Out
Here are key ways to elevate your application:
- Research job titles & standards. Public sector titles often differ from private ones. For example, in Ireland, “Executive Officer” may refer to mid-level staff, not a senior executive. Use the correct terminology.
- Keep a master document of your work experience. List your previous roles, dates, responsibilities, and key achievements. This saves time when tailoring applications.
- Prepare 3–5 STAR stories that show core competencies. These should be adaptable across different applications.
- Avoid translation errors. If English isn’t your first language, work with a coach, teacher, or native speaker to refine your writing and phrasing. Avoid literal translations.
- Test your examples on someone else. Ask: “What did you understand from this example?” If it’s unclear to them, it will be unclear to the panel.
- Stay updated on market needs. According to LinkedIn’s 2024 Skills Report, the most in-demand public sector skills include: Project management, Digital literacy, Data analysis, Change management, Cross-cultural communication.
💬 Public Sector Is About Potential — Show Yours Clearly
The public sector values structured thinking, integrity, and service to the community. Your job as a candidate is to connect your experience to those values with clear, honest examples.
At GetHired.ie, I help jobseekers — especially foreign professionals and career changers — bridge the gap between experience and application. Together, we turn doubt into clarity, and generic forms into interview invitations.
📢 Final Thoughts
Your skills are valid. Your experience matters. But in public sector applications, it’s not just about what you’ve done — it’s about how you present it.
✨ A good STAR example can open doors. ✨ A strong structure gives confidence. ✨ And with the right guidance, you can thrive in this system.
If you’re preparing for a public sector role and don’t know where to start — don’t worry. You’re not alone. Let’s build your application together.
📩 DM me or follow @GetHired.ie for weekly tips, STAR templates, and one-on-one coaching.
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