Application Process & Interviews at Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business

Resume, responses to key selection criteria, "assessment centre" (an interview and a short written piece.

Undertook one interview and one written assessment.

The assessment process was targeted to a generalised IT discipline and didn't really take specialisations into account.

Submission of application, resume and selection criteria. Three months later I received an offer to be interviewed. The interview involved a written assessment requiring me to write policy advice for a specific question. This was immediately followed by an interview. Four months after the interview I was offered a position.

The recruitment process involved an application, assessment centre which involved a short interview and written assessment.

The interview process was very supportive. Unlike other departments, there is no psychometric testing. The graduate team genuinely want to read your application and get to know you. The interview itself involved a 1 hour panel interview and a short written assessment tailored to the kind of work a graduate is expected to do.

Written application Assessment centre - Panel interview and writing task

The first stage of the application process was submitted an application with selection criteria. Unlike other Departments, there was no online testing for this selection process so the next stage was the Assessment Centre. The Assessment Centre contained an interview and a written task.

The assessment centre consists of a panel interview and case study. The panel interview is usually conducted with 2-3 people in the room. The panel ask you approximately 4 questions. In regards to the case study, you will receive an article which you will need to analyse and then discuss. You will have approximately 30 minutes to complete this exercise.

I went through the remote interview process so everything was done through Skype, Email and Telephone.

First step was addressing a selection criteria. Then a face to face interview and lastly a written scenario based test.

After the initial application, we went straight to the Interview/assessment process. Nice and easy process, unlike other departments which have several online tests followed by video interviews, assessment centres and final panel interviews.

Initial Job Application with Response to Criteria, Job Interview and then Offer if successful

1st step, apply online 2nd step, writing test & face to face interview with panels of 3 3rd step, notified being shortlisted 4th step, offer given over the phone and sign the hardcopy 2-3 weeks later

The process was one of the better ones in the APS. I really valued not having an group based assessment centre but I think panel interviews are an important step in the recruitment process. The Department made the process as calming as it could be.

The selection process consisted of a written selection criteria, before being asked to participate in a face to face interview. The interview consisted of a panel interview and a writing task.

Application, interview and written task.

A mix of behavioural questions (e.g. describe a time when you worked in a team, hypothetical "what would you do if") and technical questions

Mainly behavioural questions. Very few questions targeted my ability in software development which is my area of training.

Interests, experience, your biggest achievement so far.

Tell us about yourself, why did you want to work at the Department, what setbacks did you experience in work/uni and what did you learn from it.

Interview questions were based on the selection criteria, and were an opportunity for me to apply my studies and experiences to the work of the Department. I was asked to explain some of the recent work the Department has undertaken and it's legal ramifications, as well as apply my experiences on team projects, meeting deadlines and working with colleagues.

Mostly scenario questions drawing out your skills, and then one about key issues facing the Department

Why do you want to work for the Department of Employment? What do you know about departmental policy?

There were written assessment and verbal assessment. Written assessment asked you to analyse an article where verbal assessment asked you about teamwork and relevant work experience.

IT related, team work, prioritising tasks etc.

They were quite technical questions, asking about the Stream I chose specifically, which was a nice change. I felt more comfortable answering those types of questions.

Specific to area specialisation

Why do you apply? Biggest challenge in your life How to deal with a hard manager?

Tell us about yourself? What is your understanding of the work the department does? What skills will you bring the department? Describe a time you've worked in a team? Describe a time you overcame a challenge? What appealed to you about the department?

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Please provide an example of a time when you had to manage or adapt to a particular work or management style. What challenges were there and what approaches did you use? Please tell us about a work or university related setback you have faced. How did you deal with it?

Read about how to write a government application and how to address criteria. There is a formula for how to do this. Plan to spend several days writing the application. It is very difficult to write a great application in a day, and graduate programs can be quite competitive.

Prepare your questions, prepare your responses. Practice, practice and practice because under pressure you don't want to forget what you are really good at.

Research the Department, read the Minister's press releases and recent media coverage on Employment/WR issues.

I recommend cultivating your extra-curricular activities to ensure you are exposed to a variety of circumstances and to make sure you have developed skills in things like teamwork and communication that will complement your university studies, so that applicants are best placed to apply their own experiences to behavioural questions.

Read everything you can about the Department (major pieces of work, values, annual reports) and try and work your knowledge into your selection criteria and interview responses. Find things about the work that excite you and that you are passionate about, and make sure that passion shines through in your interview.

Know your stuff and come prepared. Know your strengths and play to them, be honest about your weaknesses and know how you want to improve them

Know what makes them passionate about what they want to do.

Be yourself. The dept interview panels want to know you in person and see real passion about working in public service. They do expect someone mature, responsible, reliable and willing to share. You need to take the interview really serious and honestly show them who you are and why you are here. Checking the website and try to know what Dept of Employment is doing and how you can contribute and grow at the same time. Being positive.

Be yourself. From my experience the department tends to recruit staff who are personable.

Don't focus on knowing the ins and outs of the departmental executive, the mission statement, it's objectives and the like. Understand broadly what the department does, but focus on rehearsing the reasons you want to join and the value you'll be able to bring.

Do a little research, read the annual report, look at upcoming programmes or projects that may interest you. It's important to show that you have a genuine interest

Be yourself and honest at the interviews, make sure your Resume outlines your current careers

Know why they want to work for the department and what they can contribute. Be enthusiastic but genuine.