HEO Competition: How to Get In

The Higher Executive Officer grade is where a lot of people in the civil service are aiming. It is a meaningful step up in both responsibility and pay, and the competition to get there is genuinely challenging. The difficulty is that open HEO competitions are rare, the multi-stage process is more demanding than the EO equivalent, and most candidates underestimate how much the assessments matter at this level.

Whether you are an EO looking to move up from inside, or a candidate considering the open route, here is a plain-spoken breakdown of what the HEO competition actually involves.

What does the HEO grade look like?

The Higher Executive Officer sits above the Executive Officer (EO) and below the Assistant Principal (AP). At HEO level you are typically running a section, managing a team of EOs and COs, and taking responsibility for outputs rather than just individual tasks. It is a management grade, and the assessments reflect that: they are testing your judgement and analytical ability, not just your speed on a number sequence.

On salary, the publicjobs.ie career path page lists the HEO starting salary as €59,435. The Forsa PPC scale (effective June 2026) runs from approximately €60,029 up to €76,546 at the top long service increment. For a broader picture of where the HEO sits relative to EO, AP and the other grades, the guide to Irish civil service grades is a useful starting point.

Open competition versus promotion: what is the difference?

Most people reach HEO through interdepartmental promotion competitions rather than open public competitions. If you are already an EO in the civil service, an interdepartmental competition is typically the main route available to you, and these run more frequently than open campaigns.

Open HEO competitions are less common. When they do run, they attract a large field because the grade is well-paid and the entry requirements do not specify a degree. If you are outside the civil service entirely, an open competition is your route in, so it is worth checking publicjobs.ie regularly for when one is announced.

The stages and the type of assessment are broadly similar either way. What differs is the pool of applicants and the panel structure.

What are the stages of the HEO competition?

The HEO process is more involved than the EO or CO competitions. Based on what has been publicly described for recent HEO campaigns, the typical stages are:

Online aptitude tests

These are the first filter and they matter enormously. The assessments at HEO level include verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and a Situational Judgement Test. The exact timing and number of questions can vary by competition - always check the information booklet for the specific campaign you are entering.

The verbal and numerical sections are shorter than at EO level, but that does not make them easier. The questions are pitched at a higher level of difficulty, and the time pressure is still real. A third-party prep provider suggests the HEO numerical and verbal sections run to 15 questions each in 15 minutes apiece, though this is not confirmed in an official booklet - check publicjobs.ie for the definitive format.

The SJT at this level is mapped to the 2024 Capability Framework for the HEO grade. That matters because the right answer is not always the one that feels instinctively sensible. The ranked-answer format requires you to understand what the public service values at management level - things like managing people fairly, maintaining accountability, and making decisions with incomplete information. Practising generic multiple-choice SJTs built for UK employers will not prepare you for this.

Interview and presentation or analysis exercise

Candidates who progress through the online assessments typically face a capability-based interview and some form of structured exercise - which may be a presentation, a written analysis, or an e-tray. The exact combination varies by competition.

The e-tray exercise, in particular, catches a lot of people off guard. It can run for over two hours and involves working through a realistic in-tray of emails, reports and decisions under timed conditions. If you have never done one before, you need to practise the format. Walking in cold is a significant disadvantage. The job simulation test preparation page covers how to approach the e-tray and work sample exercises that appear at HEO level.

Order of merit and panel

As with all publicjobs competitions, your final score determines your order of merit. The higher your OOM, the earlier you are likely to be called from the panel. Panels are typically active for around 18 to 24 months, though publicjobs.ie makes clear that being placed on a panel is not a guarantee of a job offer.

Is it worth applying if I am not already an EO?

It depends on the competition. For open HEO campaigns, there is no requirement to hold an existing civil service grade, so if you have relevant management experience in another sector it is worth considering.

The competition at HEO level is stiff. Most candidates in an open field will have either come up through the civil service already or have strong management backgrounds elsewhere. The assessments are pitched to match that level.

If you are a Clerical Officer looking at longer-term progression, the more immediate path is usually EO first - then HEO from inside. The guide to the EO competition covers what that process involves.

What does the Capability Framework mean for the HEO assessments?

The 2024 Capability Framework describes the behaviours and competencies the civil service assesses at each grade. At HEO level this includes things like: leading and developing people, delivering results through others, communicating clearly and persuasively, and managing resources and risk.

The SJT and the interview are both designed to surface these behaviours. That means vague or generic answers - the kind that would satisfy a standard competency interview - are not enough. You need to understand the specific language and priorities of the Irish public service at management level.

This is the gap that most generic prep tools miss entirely. UK-focused SJT practice uses different scenario types, different answer formats (usually multiple choice rather than ranked), and different competency language. If you prepare on those tools, you are practising for a different test.

FAQ

How often do open HEO competitions run?

Open HEO competitions are less frequent than EO or CO campaigns. There is no fixed schedule, so checking publicjobs.ie and setting up alerts is the most reliable approach. Interdepartmental competitions for existing civil servants run more regularly.

What online assessments does the HEO competition include?

The assessments typically include verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and a Situational Judgement Test. The exact question counts and timings vary by competition - the information booklet published by publicjobs.ie for each campaign is the definitive source. Do not rely solely on third-party descriptions of the format.

Can I prepare for the e-tray exercise?

Yes, and you should. The e-tray is a multi-document exercise that tests your ability to prioritise, draft responses, and make decisions under time pressure. Candidates who have never seen the format before tend to struggle with pacing. Practising a similar format in advance makes a real difference.

Does being on a high OOM guarantee a faster job offer?

A higher order of merit position improves your chances of being called earlier from the panel, but it is not a guarantee. Panel clearance rates vary, and some panels expire before all candidates are called. publicjobs.ie states clearly that placement on a panel does not guarantee a job offer.

The HEO is a serious competition and the preparation it requires is more involved than the grades below it. The online assessments are the biggest filter, and the SJT in particular is not something you want to sit cold.

If you want to get a feel for the Irish format before committing to a prep plan, the free taster at psp-taster.pages.dev includes ranked-answer SJT practice and numerical questions in the euro-denominated Irish style. No card required. If you decide you want the full question bank, pricing starts at €39 a month with no minimum term.

Higher Executive Officer (HEO): How to Get In