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Getting a job in the Australian Public Service
Call to Indigenous Australians
The Australian Government is looking for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work in the Australian Public Service (APS). As an Indigenous Australian you’re encouraged to apply for a job with the APS.
The idea of getting a government job might be strange and unfamiliar to you. But don’t be put off. Getting a job in the Australian Public Service aims to help you apply for and get jobs in the APS.
If you join the APS, you don’t have to work in an Indigenous area. People from all different backgrounds and cultures are employed in general mainstream government work.
APS employment levels or classifications
Jobs in the APS are graded into different classifications and paid accordingly. You need a certain level of experience and skills to be considered for jobs at different classifications.
- APS 1 and 2—general entry level positions, cadetships and traineeships
- APS 3 and 4—general administrative, technical, project & service positions, and graduate positions
- APS 5 and 6—senior administrative, technical, project & service positions
- Executive Level 1 & 2— middle management positions
- Senior Executive—high level management positions.
You don’t need public service experience or qualifications
You don’t always need specific work experience or formal qualifications to be in the running for a public service job. You may not have done that exact type of job before but you may have the skills required. Employers might be looking for people who have general life skills and are enthusiastic, reliable, good communicators and willing to learn. Don’t underestimate your skills. You may have relevant skills and experience that you have gained through doing voluntary work, being on committees or organising community events.
Think about your transferable skills, that is, skills you have used elsewhere eg organising skills, budgeting skills, communication skills, teaching skills, outdoor work skills or computer skills.
Where are APS jobs advertised?
Ongoing jobs are advertised in APSjobs (incorporating the APS Employment Gazette— www.apsjobs.gov.au
Each Australian Government agency also advertises its own jobs on its own website. Find a list of these at www.australia.gov.au/departments
The Australian JobSearch website includes jobs specifically for Indigenous Australians— http://jobsearch.gov.au/
Specific Indigenous-related APS positions are often advertised in Indigenous media eg the Koori Mail and National Indigenous Times.
APS jobs are also sometimes advertised in newspapers in the states, territories and regions where the jobs are located.
Job Network providers can help you locate job ads.
Identified positions
Some jobs in the APS are known as ‘identified positions’. These are ones which require specific knowledge and understanding of Indigenous Australian cultures and issues, and the ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Indigenous communities. You don’t have to be an Indigenous Australian to apply for these jobs, but you do have to be able to work appropriately with Indigenous people.
There are also ‘special measures provisions’ in the APS that allow some jobs to be advertised as restricted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants only in order to assist employment opportunities for Indigenous people.
APS job ads will state if the job is an identified or special measures position.
The APS recruitment process
This flow chart will help you understand the typical APS recruitment process. These times are an average and the process can be longer, shorter or slightly different than shown here.
| Job advertised in APS Gazette and newspapers  |
Closing date for written applications
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| Applications short-listed by selection team 4 weeks since job advertised
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| Short-listed applicants contacted regarding an interview 5 weeks since job advertised
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| Interviews or assessments held 6-8 weeks since job advertised
|
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| Preferred applicant selected and recruitment report prepared 8-11 weeks since job advertised
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| Preferred applicant contacted and offered position 9-11 weeks since job advertised
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| Unsuccessful interviewees contacted 10-12 weeks since job advertised |
Researching a job
If you see an interesting job advertised, do some basic job research. Get the selection documentation and recruitment information kit from the agency. Find out about the agency from its website. What does it do? Can you imagine yourself working there?
Call the contact person
The contact person can tell you more about what the job specifically involves. They are there to help you—so give them a call.
Ask them about the job. What tasks does it actually involve eg project work, public contact, outdoor work, writing, computer work, driving? Who are the clients? Who will you report to? Who will you be working with? Where is the job based? What are the opportunities for career development?
Understanding job words
What is selection documentation?
This is the package of information available from the agency that gives you more details about the job. It usually includes a duty statement and selection criteria.
What is a duty statement?
It lists the duties, roles and tasks you are required to perform in the job.
What are selection criteria?
These are the skills, experience and personal qualities that you need to do the job properly. You are assessed for the job in relation to the selection criteria. Your written application should explain how you meet each of the specific selection criteria.
What is a resume or CV?
It is a brief written description of your work experience, education and training, skills, achievements, interests and contact details. You should always provide a resume with your application.
What is a selection panel?
It is a small group of people who assess the applicants for a position and make a recommendation about the best person for the job.
What is short-listing?
It is the process that the selection panel goes through in assessing written applications and making a short list of the applicants they want to interview or further assess for the job.
Writing job applications
To apply for an APS job you have to submit a written application by the closing date. Most agencies these days prefer applications to be emailed or submitted through a website.
The purpose of the written application is to:
- Show how you meet the selection criteria
- Summarise your ability to do the job
- Show your writing ability
- Get you an interview or to the next stage of assessment
Your application should include:
- Your name, address and phone contact
- The job you are applying for
- Statement of how you meet each of the selection criteria
- Your resume, including any qualifications you have
- Contacts for referees—people who can vouch for your capacity to do the job
- Completed agency application forms
Present your application well as it will determine whether you get to the next stage:
- Proper spelling and grammar
- Good layout eg spacing, clear headings, neat and tidy
Ask someone to help you write your application if you are not sure about it. It is always useful to get someone to read each draft of your application, give you feedback and check the final draft for any errors.
Selection criteria
Selection criteria highlight the skills, experience and personal qualities needed to do the job.
Here are some examples of common APS selection criteria.
- Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively
- Good organisational and administrative skills
- Proven ability to work as part of a team
- Well developed customer service skills
What does it mean to ‘address selection criteria’?
To address selection criteria you need to provide evidence to show that you meet the criteria and can do the job. If you don’t show in your written application how you meet each of the selection criteria then you will not get to the next stage of the assessment process.
To address the selection criteria, write each individual criterion as a heading and write at least one paragraph under each heading saying how you have that experience, skill or quality. Highlight your relevant skills and experience by describing your major responsibilities in current or previous work, including unpaid work. You can use dot points if you like.
Addressing selection criteria
The most important aspect of addressing selection criteria is to provide evidence through relevant examples. Support your claims with actual, specific examples of what you have done and how well you did it. One way to do this is to use the STAR model:
1.Situation—Outline a specific circumstance where you developed the particular experience or used the required skills or qualities. Set the context of the situation.
2. Task—What was your role? What did you have to do?
3. Actions—What did you do and how did you do it?
4. Results—What did you achieve? What were the results of what you did?
Example of addressing selection criteria
Here is an example of using the STAR approach to address selection criteria.
Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively
‘My ability to communicate effectively with a range of people was demonstrated in my position as receptionist with the XYZ community organisation. I dealt with members of the general public, officers from the local council and government departments, and representatives from private businesses on a daily basis.
I communicated with these people face to face, over the phone and through use of email. As I was the first point of contact for the organisation it was very important that I was professional, courteous and helpful in my interactions. In recognition of my positive interpersonal skills my temporary position was extended for nine months beyond my initial contract.’
The interview
If the selection panel short-lists you based on your written application you will probably be invited to an interview—to talk about how you meet the selection criteria. If you live a long way away, the interview might be conducted by phone.
Practise how you will tell the selection panel about yourself. Think about what sorts of questions they might ask. Practise answering example questions with someone you know.
The selection panel wants to know about you, what experience and skills you have, and what you can offer in the job. Try to relax and have a chat. If you don’t understand a question, ask for it to be repeated or explained. It is okay to take notes with you to the interview to remind you of the main points you want to cover.
Present yourself well—be neat and tidy when you go for an interview. And always be on time.
Behavioural based interview questions
Many questions asked in interviews are behavioural based. Behavioural questions usually begin with a statement like: ‘Tell us about a time when...’ or ‘Describe a situation where...’.
You need to be specific in answering these questions. Through giving specific examples what you did you demonstrate, rather than just claim, that you have the skills required.
Here is an example of how to answer a behavioural based question using the STAR method.
Can you tell us about a situation that demonstrates your organisational skills?
‘Last year I organised the local Aboriginal community organisation’s first art exhibition. My job was to coordinate the whole event including getting artists to participate, organising venue hire, promoting the event, managing the opening and organising volunteers to help. I set up a team of 12 volunteers and gave them all their own roles and tasks. I prepared project plan for the whole event with deadlines so we kept on track. I networked with Aboriginal people from across our region including at high schools, the TAFE and community centres, to encourage them to exhibit their work. I managed to get a local sporting hero to open the exhibition, and also to do local radio and newspaper ads to promote it.
This really helped raise the profile of the exhibition. We had 60 artists exhibit work, with over 2,000 people through the doors during the two weeks it was on, and we made $8,000 for our organisation. The exhibition was such a success that we are planning on holding another one next year.’
Hypothetical scenario interview questions
You might also be asked hypothetical scenario questions at the interview. These are questions that set up imaginary work-related problems, and require you to come up with solutions. Hypothetical questions create the scenario then ask something like: ‘How would you respond to this problem?’ Here is an example of a hypothetical scenario question.
You answer a phone call from a client who is extremely rude and angry because their overdue payment has not come through. How would you deal with this situation?
‘I’d ask the person to calmly explain their problem so I can help them. I’d stay polite and helpful. I’d allow them to have their say and I’d acknowledge their concerns. This can help to diffuse a heated situation. I would ask them for their specific details and tell them that I will look into their case, and get back to them soon. I’d keep them informed of progress and make certain that it was properly resolved.’
Assessments
You could be asked to participate in work sample tests as a way of assessing whether you are suitable for a job. Work samples involve applicants doing exercises that they might be required to do as part of the job eg a writing exercise or computer skills test.
Sometimes work sample tests are done at an assessment centre. Assessment centres involve getting a number of the applicants together for various activities such as job simulations, role-playing and group discussions.
Your actions and behaviour are observed and assessed. Skills and attributes such as client service approach, teamwork, interpersonal communication and building relationships can be assessed through group activities.
Assessment centres are often used if a number of jobs are being filled through the one selection process eg Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cadetships, traineeships or graduate positions.
Don’t give up
Be persistent—you may not get the first job you go for but don’t give up. If you are serious about getting a job and apply for a few then you are more likely to get one.
Once you have written one application and been for one interview you will be more familiar with the process and it will be easier doing it the next time.
Want more info?
For information about jobs see:
Australian Public Service Commission website:
www.apsc.gov.au/indigenous
Department of Education, Science and Training website:
www.dest.gov.au/sectors/career_development
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations websites:
www.dewr.gov.au
www.jobjuice.gov.au
www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Individual/IndigenousAustralians
Want to talk?
To talk to someone about jobs with the APS, phone the Indigenous Employment Team at the Australian Public Service Commission on 02 6202 3593.
For more help in finding and applying for jobs, talk to your school, TAFE or university teachers or counsellors, or your Job Network officer.
