Resources
January 6, 2019 - By Monique Thompson
A new year is the perfect time to reset your professional goals and take meaningful steps toward a more fulfilling career. If you are among the many Australians resolving to secure a new government job this year, you are in excellent company. Public sector careers continue to attract high numbers of applicants due to their stability, purpose-driven work, attractive benefits and clearly defined career pathways. But while setting a New Year’s goal is admirable, achieving it requires a structured, strategic and capability-aligned approach, particularly in such a competitive environment.
Whether you are targeting a role in the Australian Public Service (APS), NSW Government, QLD Government, Victorian Public Service (VPS) or local council, the key to success lies in entering your job search with a clear plan, strong application documents and an understanding of how merit-based recruitment works.
Just as there is no universal approach to weight loss, there is no single method that guarantees success in government recruitment. Every applicant brings a different mix of experience, qualifications, capabilities and aspirations. Effective job searching requires a plan that is tailored to your individual circumstances.
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A strong career plan includes:
Defining your long-term government career goals
Identifying specific APS or state government classifications you are targeting (APS 4, APS 6, EL1, Grade 7/8, VPS5 etc.)
Understanding capability expectations such as communicating with influence, working collaboratively, and achieving results
Assessing your readiness to map your skills to government selection criteria
With the right preparation, your New Year job search immediately becomes more focused and achievable.
A common mistake among job seekers is applying for dozens of roles using the same résumé and cover letter. This scattergun approach (often referred to as carpet bombing) rarely works in public sector recruitment. Government applications are carefully assessed against capability frameworks such as the APS Work Level Standards, NSW Public Sector Capability Framework, QLD Leadership Framework and VPS Capability Framework.
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To succeed, you must:
Tailor each résumé and cover letter to the role
Address the specific capabilities listed in the job description
Demonstrate measurable achievements using STAR examples
Avoid generic statements that fail to show capability alignment
Submitting a generic document reduces your chances of being shortlisted and can lead quickly to burnout or frustration.
Government recruitment is rigorous, and every application requires effort. To avoid wasting valuable time and energy, begin by listing roles you genuinely want, roles you will accept and roles that are completely off your list.
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To refine your search:
Identify relevant agencies such as Services Australia, ATO, Defence, Home Affairs, Transport, Education or Justice
Review job ads and shortlist roles aligned to your strengths
Call the listed contact officer to clarify requirements, team culture, and whether the role is newly created
Determine whether the job aligns with your minimum salary expectations or classification level
This prevents you from entering roles that will not meet your career goals or personal interests.
Government roles use transparent classification structures, so it is essential to determine the lowest level you would accept. For example:
APS 3 or APS 4 for entry-level or administrative roles
APS 5 or APS 6 for mid-level specialist roles
EL1 or EL2 for managerial roles
NSW Grade 5/6, 7/8, 9/10
QLD AO4, AO5, AO6
VPS4, VPS5, VPS6
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Also decide:
Do you want local, hybrid or remote work?
Are you open to relocating for regional government roles?
Would you consider temporary, ongoing or non-ongoing contracts?
Defining these factors significantly narrows your search into a more strategic, manageable list.
If your New Year’s goal is securing your dream government role, understand that these roles are highly competitive and may require additional preparation. You may need further training or capability development to strengthen your application.
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Start by:
Analysing the role description and identifying required capabilities
Reviewing previous job ads to understand recurring expectations
Taking short courses or certifications to fill skill gaps
Strengthening your experience in policy, compliance, stakeholder engagement or project support
Dream roles often require perseverance and continued capability development, but with a clear plan, they are absolutely achievable.
Government résumés and cover letters are different from private-sector documents. They must be structured, concise and aligned with the capabilities listed in the role description. Recruiters want to see evidence, not vague claims.
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Your documents must:
Demonstrate measurable achievements
Use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) examples
Be written in formal Australian English
Incorporate relevant skills such as compliance, policy development, stakeholder engagement and data analysis
Reflect APS values such as integrity, accountability and service
High-quality documents significantly increase your chances of being shortlisted.
While merit-based recruitment focuses on evidence and capability, having a polished professional presence can support your application.
Consider:
Updating your LinkedIn profile with APS-aligned content
Uploading capability statements or project summaries
Ensuring your digital footprint is professional and consistent
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With a strategic plan, strong documentation and a realistic understanding of capability-based recruitment, your New Year government job search becomes significantly more effective. You avoid burnout, improve your application quality and position yourself strongly for roles across APS, state government and local council sectors.
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Government Resumes has prepared thousands of successful government résumés, cover letters, selection criteria responses, pitch documents and LinkedIn profiles across all government levels. With expert support, you can elevate your application, increase your interview success rate and move closer to your public sector career goals.