Never worked a day in the public service? Follow this 30-day sprint—tailored resume, STAR criteria answers and proven interview hacks—to secure that first APS role.
Where APS roles hide: Beyond the official job boards
Many aspiring public servants make the mistake of only checking the official APSJobs website, often just once a week. To truly get ahead in your job search and uncover opportunities faster, successful applicants leverage more proactive strategies. Setting up immediate alerts and exploring broader networks can give you a significant edge.
- APSJobs RSS Feeds: Don't just browse; subscribe to RSS feeds for specific classifications or keywords. These provide instant updates, allowing you to be among the first to apply. Consider piping these into a team communication tool like Slack if you have a job-hunting buddy for shared accountability.
- LinkedIn Saved Searches: Utilise LinkedIn's powerful search filters. Beyond selecting "Australian Public Service" as an industry, refine your searches with keywords like "program support officer" or "administrative APS3" and crucially, toggle the "Remote" option if that aligns with your preferences. This uncovers roles often missed on government-specific sites.
- Direct Department Career Pages: Agencies like Home Affairs, Services Australia, and Defence often list new roles on their own career portals before they appear widely. Graduate-equivalent roles, in particular, are frequently prioritised on these direct sites. Regularly check the 'Careers' or 'Work with Us' sections of departments you are interested in.
- Professional Networking Events: Attend online or in-person public service networking events. Many departments host information sessions or career fairs that are not widely advertised but offer direct access to recruiters and hiring managers.
Build a 2-page government résumé: Your ATS-friendly blueprint
The reality of APS recruitment is that initial screening often relies on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which scan resumes for keywords and specific formatting. Recruitors typically spend a mere six seconds on their first pass. Your résumé must therefore be a laser-focused document, directly addressing the role's selection criteria rather than serving as a comprehensive career biography. Download our free public-sector template, which is designed to be ATS-friendly, and ensure every bullet point is concise, impactful, and under 20 words to maximise readability and keyword density.
Résumé Sprint Checklist
Nail STAR in 200 words
Agencies cap word counts to weed out waffle. Structure each criterion answer using Situation-Task-Action-Result in 200 words. Borrow examples from volunteer or retail work—impact beats seniority.
- Situation: Paint the context in one sentence
- Task: Define what you had to achieve
- Action: Describe the 2-3 actions you took
- Result: Quantify outcome—numbers, savings, satisfaction
See copy-ready examples in our selection-criteria cheat sheet post.
Interview day checklist
Expect a three-person panel, behavioural focus and one curve-ball policy question. Bring printed résumé, ID and arrive 15 minutes early.
APS3-APS5 Panel Prep
Your 30-day roadmap
Stick to this timeline and you'll submit 10 high-quality applications—statistically yielding at least one offer based on 2024 APS recruitment ratios.
30-Day APS Job Plan
Tools & resources
Consider seeking out mentors already in the APS. Their insights can be invaluable for navigating the system, understanding departmental nuances, and identifying unadvertised opportunities. Many departments offer formal mentoring programs, or you can connect informally through professional networks. Continuous learning and adapting your skills to the evolving needs of the public service will also ensure long-term career success.
Break into the Australian Public Service faster by mastering the language and metrics that matter. With a targeted résumé, crisp selection-criteria answers, disciplined interview prep, and a strategic approach to finding opportunities, your first offer is closer than you think. Stay persistent, refine your approach with each application, and leverage all available resources to stand out in a competitive job market.