Resources
September 3, 2025 - By Monique Thompson
As the Director of Government Resumes, and with more than thirty years of specialist experience supporting applicants across the Australian Public Service (APS), state government and local councils, I understand exactly how competitive government jobs in Australia have become. Australians pursue public sector careers for their stability, structured progression, generous entitlements and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful outcomes that shape communities. With millions of employees across federal, state and local government, the public service remains one of the most desirable employment sectors in the country. However, the competitiveness of APS jobs, state government jobs and local government careers means that securing a position requires far more than a standard resume. You must demonstrate capability, relevance, merit and alignment with the agency’s priorities, and you must present your experience in a way that meets strict recruitment standards. A high-quality government resume, targeted cover letter and strong selection criteria responses are essential.
This comprehensive guide outlines practical insights, proven strategies and expert recommendations to strengthen your application and significantly improve your success in public sector recruitment.
Understanding where to find public sector opportunities is the first step to securing a government job in Australia. Federal, state and local government positions are advertised across several dedicated platforms:
Each state and territory has its own career portal:
Local councils publish jobs on:
Many agencies create:
Setting alerts ensures you are notified of opportunities immediately.
A recent example is the creation of 240 new government jobs in Queensland to support Apache helicopter maintenance in Townsville, demonstrating the breadth of public sector opportunities across:
Government jobs are available for school leavers, graduates, career changers, professionals and senior leaders.
A public sector application starts with a strong government resume that clearly aligns your experience to the role’s capability requirements.
Government resumes must:
Key capabilities typically assessed include:
A public service resume should never read like a generic private-sector CV. Without government-aligned formatting, structure and language, many applications fail at the shortlisting stage.
Selection criteria remain one of the most critical components of government job applications. They are used at all levels across:
Every criterion must be answered thoroughly using STAR:
Panels assess:
Strong criteria responses demonstrate:
Even highly skilled candidates often struggle with selection criteria because they underestimate the level of detail required. Investing in professionally prepared responses can dramatically improve your merit ranking.
Unlike private-sector recruitment, government hiring places significant weight on:
A government application may require:
Each document provides evidence of:
Panels consistently report that well-written applications often outperform experienced candidates with poorly prepared documents.
Government interviews differ significantly from private-sector interviews. They are highly structured and assess behavioural performance through evidence-based responses.
You should expect:
To prepare:
Strong interview performance directly influences your placement on the merit list or pool.
Government recruitment can take:
Do not be discouraged by delays.
Many applicants receive offers months after:
Because agencies hire from merit pools, candidates often receive opportunities long after the initial assessment phase.
Consider starting with:
These provide accessible entry points into the sector.
Understanding current public sector recruitment trends helps you tailor your application and anticipate opportunities.
Recent trends include:
Several councils have also clarified that private-sector experience is valued, highlighting the importance of demonstrating transferable skills in your application.
Government recruitment is rigorous, structured and merit-based. A professionally written government resume, tailored cover letter and strong selection criteria responses significantly improve your competitiveness.
Professional government resume writers understand how to:
Government Resumes provides:
Tailored to APS, state and local government roles at all levels.
A public sector career offers stability, purpose and meaningful contributions to the Australian community. With the right strategy, high-quality documents and a well-planned approach, you can significantly increase your chances of securing a government job in Australia. If you are applying for APS, state or local government roles and want specialist assistance with government resumes, cover letters, capability statements or selection criteria writing, Government Resumes can help you submit a strong, competitive and professionally crafted application that stands out in merit-based recruitment.
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