Circular No 2008/2: APSjobs website enhancements

The www.APSjobs.gov.au website, launched in August 2007, provides a single entry point for Australian Public Service (APS) employment opportunities. The website now has a number of new features and enhancements. Attached is a summary of all features now available.

Agency deadlines

The deadline for agencies to lodge notices in the electronic APS Employment Gazette (APS Gazette) has been changed to midnight on the Monday prior to publication of the APS Gazette on Thursdays. This reduces agencies’ lead time from seven to two days.

Branching Out

The Branching Out facility on APSjobs has been enhanced to allow current APS employees to register their interest in mobility opportunities across the APS.

Employees who register are made aware of their obligations in relation to movements between and with APS agencies. When using the register agencies must ensure that all employment decisions are consistent with the requirements of the Public Service Act 1999.

Senior Executive page

The Government has announced new selection arrangements for APS agency head and statutory office holder positions. These vacancies, as well as Senior Executive Service APS Gazette notices, will now appear on a dedicated page incorporating all senior executive positions.

Reporting function

APSjobs now provides authorised agency users with various reporting functions. The reports include:

Hits per notice—allowing agencies to assess the effectiveness of advertising on APSjobs and obtain information on popular searches. On average employment opportunities are viewed approximately 450 times and since the launch of APSjobs we have seen an increase of approximately 3,000,000 hits per month on the website.
Related notices—allowing agencies to view the number of outcomes (employment decisions) related from an original employment opportunity.
Announcements usage—allowing agencies to report on the number of announcements placed on the site, including Branching Out and Campaigns.
User reports—a security feature allowing an agency administrator to report on the number of users of the system and their access rights.

Further advice

Further information on matters relating specifically to the APS Gazette or APSjobs is available by phone on (02) 6202 3556 or by email on APSjobs@apsc.gov.au.

Human Resource areas can obtain further information on any policy matters raised in this circular from the Commission’s Employment Policy Adviceline—by phone on (02) 6202 3859 or e-mail employmentadvice@apsc.gov.au. It may be appropriate for more complex or sensitive queries to be dealt with in writing.

Karin Fisher
Group Manager
Corporate Group

8 April 2008

Attachment: Summary of APSjobs features

The APSjobs website provides a single entry point for job seekers looking for APS employment opportunities, with enhanced facilities for both job seekers and agencies. It includes:

Find Jobs—an improved search function allowing job seekers to look for jobs in a specified category, classification or location
Saved Notices—allows a job seeker to save selected notices from their search results for future reference
Find Outcomes—an improved search function allowing agencies and job seekers to search for employment decisions (e.g promotions)
Email Me Jobs—a facility for job seekers to receive weekly email alerts of job vacancies of a nominated type
Ready Now—a register of former APS employees ready for short term work
Branching Out—a page for agencies to advertise mobility and movement opportunities across the APS and for current APS employees to register their interest in mobility
Campaigns—a page for agencies to advertise upcoming large scale recruitment initiatives (e.g Graduates) or campaigns targeting specific skills
Senior Executive—a section bringing together APS agency head and statutory office holder vacancies as well as all Senior Executive Service (SES) vacancies, promotions, engagements, and other employment actions
Check it Out—a new section on the home page that has links to some of the most popular features of the site which can also be used to advertise APS wide recruitment initiatives on the home page
Gazette downloads—a page that allows access to 12 months of Gazettes
Reports—allows authorised agency users to generate a number of agency reports on the websites features and Gazette notices.
Online Help—comprehensive online help that covers all the features of the site and allows users to search for keywords
resource section with information on APS employment conditions and links to Cracking the Code, a plain English guide to applying for jobs in the APS, as well as to other related websites.

April 2008

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