I've just realised that Australian Federal Government grad applications are closing for the most part over the next two to three months. I thought I had until August and I am FREAKING out. I know it's a long shot, but does anyone have any idea about the application process?

I'm looking for advice on:
* Formatting my resume
* The kind of experience they are looking for (not that there's much I can do about it now!)
* Whether my GPA is taken into account, and in which case, which GPA? (I've completed a Bachelor's degree and am currently six months off finishing grad school)
* What is the best way to address selection criteria?

I've been shortlisted for a government grad program in the past, but never got an interview. I'm PANICKING, YOU GUYS. Help???

I've got zero clue on what the requirements are, but my husband would know, as he works for the APS and has done so for a decade as he had a graduate position. I shall ask him and hopefully he will be able to help.

Edit:

My husband wrote:



(Husband here)

First of all, a caveat: I was a grad in 2002 - things have changed since then, and while I've been involved in recruitment since then, it hasn't been for grad positions but general intake so take my advice with a grain of a salt.

Resume should be 2-3 pages at the most. It's a grad position so work experience is not expected to be extensive but demonstrated ability to both follow orders and think yourself is a plus. If you've been a shift supervisor a fast food joint for example, that's a good start.

Experience itself doesn't matter so much. They will generally be looking for people that will work well in an office environment and have studied degrees with relevant experience, either technical skills or softer skills like reading, writing and comprehension.

GPA in and of itself isn't generally taken into account by anyone, public service or otherwise. The important thing is the degree which demonstrates that you've been able to stick to something for a number of years with a demonstrated degree of success. A good GPA won't hurt but a degree is a degree. Include both courses of study in any application. Word of warning though - the market for grad jobs is competitive and you will be up against people who have already finished their post-grad degree. It wasn't until my third year of applications that I got an offer (and ended up being offered two and pulled out in the final stages for two other roles). The offers didn't come in until I had actually completed my Honours year. You might not go far this year but do very well next year. Don't be discouraged.

In addressing criteria, the recruitment packs used to provide some tips about what to do. If the pack still has this, FOLLOW THE TIPS (you'd be stunned by how many people don't and have terrible applications as a result). In a general sense, don't have answers that are too long. Try to keep it to a page per criteria if you can, and use concrete examples from your work history. It's a grad position so they will generally be forgiving of weaker examples as they aren't expecting an extensive employment background. Try and keep examples to two or three per criteria. It can help to use some of the first paragraph to define the given criteria in such a way that fits your examples.

That's the best I can do with general advice without having seen the criteria or being familiar with education and work history.

Good luck!

There you go. Hope that helped.

Helen

Helen, I cannot thank you and your husband enough, his advice was wonderful!

I've made the mistake of reading a couple of Whirlpool forums, which all make it look like the people who get the (apparently very limited) spots are all law graduares with 6.0 GPAs and resumes that included UN internships and similar. I'm neither of these things- I have a Social Science/Psychology undergrad and will have a Communications Masters, with a GPA hovering somewhere around 5.0, and around 7 years' customer service experience with a broad spread of completely unrelated work expreince.

That said, your hubby's advice was very encouraging, so please thank him for me!

Lux, if it make you feel any better, I have a couple of friends who have successfully gone through the whole process (not me, so I don't know the details), and I know for a fact only one of them had anything higher than a Bachelors degree and they were all in things like Arts, Philosophy and History. So don't let others psych you out

Our very own PureTap also works for the APS and probably has some advice for you. I will PM her a link to this thread for you

Erin.
::righteous babe::

Thanks, Erin!

Lux, what Helen's husband said is pretty well right on the money in just about every aspect. Probably my biggest recommendation to you is to trawl all tha APS Agency's employment pages you are interested in working for (unfortunately one of the things the APS has an issue doing is making it one application for all Agencies! ) and find their Graduate Recruitment pages. These usually have a wealth of information about what they do, their conditions/pay, the Application process, etc. a good place to start is the main APS Recruitment website at apsjobs.gov.au and go from there.

Unfortunately I don't have any direct experience with Graduate Recruitment, because specialist teams in each Agency looks after their own Graddie Gaggle, but I do have experience with general APS recruitment so if you'd like me to give your Resume a quick look over, or give you some specific pointers about Selection Critera, feel free to PM them through to me. The only stipulation is that you give me at least 3-4 days lead time, because with working full-time, having my secondary job of parenting and then squeezing dancing in can sometimes mean it is a couple of days before I get enough time up my sleeve to give it the care and attention it deserves.

Which reminds me, I have a job app to do that is due to be submitted by COB Thursday that I haven't even started yet...doctor heal thyself!!!!

Cheers
Di

Oops, looks like I missed PureTap's amazingly helpful reply! Thank you so much, Di. I may actually send my CV along to you closer to the application date. Of course, I'll PM you a head's up well in advance.

At this stage, due to both family and study commitments, I'm unsure as to whether I'll apply within this cycle and the next. That said, everyone's advice will serve me well regardless of which year I begin to apply (Helen, I've heard a number of other people echo your husband in saying it may take several shots).

Thank you all again!