Resources
November 21, 2025 - By Monique Thompson
When applying for Australian Government roles, your résumé must pass two key gatekeepers. First, the Applicant Tracking System filters for keywords, capability terms and essential criteria. Next, your résumé is often reviewed by an HR officer or recruitment administrator who may not be familiar with the technical nuances of your profession. Their job is simple, to determine whether your document clearly reflects the required capabilities, experience and behaviours outlined in the APS or State Government framework.
This means your résumé must make it incredibly easy for both the system and the human reviewer to match your experience with the job’s requirements. Government hiring is merit based, so clarity, structure and alignment with the role description are critical.
Moniques’ Hot Tip: Study the entire role description, including the focus capabilities and key accountabilities. Mirror the terminology used, reflect the behavioural descriptors and demonstrate proven accomplishments that align with the job’s priorities. The stronger the alignment, the stronger your competitive positioning.
Submitting an online application through APSJobs, I Work for NSW, SmartJobs or local council portals is essential, but it should never be the only step in your job search. Government recruitment is competitive and often attracts hundreds of applicants. To stand out, you must do more than upload documents and hope for the best.
Build connections with people working within the department or agency. Reach out to officers in similar roles, connect with HR advisors or talent specialists, and seek short informational conversations. When a hiring manager hears your name before shortlisting even begins, your application becomes more visible, memorable and credible.
Moniques’ Hot Tip: Internal referrals and positive impressions matter in government recruitment. Candidates who build professional rapport with agency staff often move to the interview stage ahead of equally qualified applicants who rely solely on the online submission process.
In government recruitment, professionalism is essential, but many candidates misinterpret this as a requirement to sound generic, flat or overly safe. This approach blends you into the background. Agencies want candidates who are polished, genuine and capable of articulating their value confidently.
Avoid clichés, empty statements and formulaic wording. Instead, communicate with clarity, personality and genuine impact. Selection panels remember applicants who present with authenticity and demonstrate unique strengths, achievements and insights.
More than 90 percent of recruiters, including those in government contracts, external recruitment firms and public sector talent pools, rely heavily on LinkedIn to search for candidates. If you are not active on LinkedIn, you significantly reduce your visibility to government employers.
A strong LinkedIn profile reinforces your résumé, builds credibility, and positions you to be found for short term contracts, talent pools and future merit lists. When a recruiter searches for your skillset and you are missing, they simply move on to someone else who is present and active.
Moniques’ Hot Tip: Make Linkedin a core part of your government job search. Use it to connect with departments, follow agencies, network with leaders and position yourself for opportunities you may never see advertised.
Many candidates underestimate the power of a thoughtful, genuine thank you email after a government interview. In merit-based hiring, panels assess communication skills, professionalism, stakeholder engagement and cultural fit. A sincere, well-crafted thank you message reinforces your strengths and demonstrates courtesy, emotional intelligence and follow-through.
I once supported a candidate competing directly against an equally qualified applicant. The deciding factor was the candidate who sent personalised thank you emails to each panel member shortly after the interview. The gesture was simple but impactful, and it distinguished him in a tight decision.
Moniques’ Hot Tip: Send individual, authentic thank you emails to each panel member within a few hours of your interview. Keep the message warm, professional and succinct. It creates a lasting positive impression.
And finally, remember that government interview panels are focused on one key question, how will you deliver value for the agency. Once you demonstrate capability, alignment with the role description and a clear understanding of the department’s priorities, your own preferences and career goals will naturally become part of the discussion. Until then, concentrate on showing why you represent a strong, sensible and merit based hiring decision, backed by evidence, outcomes and behavioural examples.
Now, step confidently into your government job search and take control of your career direction with clarity, strategy and purpose.