Comprehensive career guidance, resources, and tools designed specifically for Australian public service professionals
Support to fast-track your journey into a rewarding Government career
Advance faster in your career with expert coaching, tools and tactics
Support and expertise to help you develop a high-performing team
Our products are the result of decades of sector experience.
Individualised coaching from Australia’s leading Government careers experts.
Plan your pathway and understand the skills and experience you need to thrive in the unique public sector context.
Blow your next interview panel away with our battle-tested preparation program.
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Our coaches will take you through real-life interview simulations to get you sharp.
Craft compelling job applications following our industry-leading guidance.
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Have one of our specialist KSC writers take care of the whole application for you.
Explore practical courses designed to help you succeed in government job applications. Learn how to approach interviews and understand the public sector job process.
Access helpful guides covering topics such as improving your LinkedIn profile and easy access to the Interview Toolkit.
These resources are designed for public sector job seekers.
Learn how to respond to selection criteria with clear examples and structure.
Our approach helps you explain your skills and experience in a way that matches public sector expectations.
Join Australia’s most successful public sector professionals who’ve accelerated their careers with our proven strategies, expert guidance and comprehensive resources.
95% success rate with clients securing roles across all major Commonwealth and State Departments, as well as local Governments and specialised agencies.
Learn from former senior executive public servants and Government HR professionals who understand the recruitment process inside-out.
Average salary increase of $15,000+ within 12 months of completing our programs and securing new positions – along with increased job satisfaction.
Reach out to talk through your career goals and discover the PSCareers program that fits you best.
Over a decade of helping Australians succeed in public sector careers
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Because the results speak for themselves.
We’ve developed two specialised downloadable guides, based on longstanding demand for specific help with sharpening up your LinkedIn profile (nobody’s idea of fun!) and a ready reckoner for getting ready for an urgent interview.
Ace your public service interview with this expert designed, time saving toolkit, your fast track guide to mastering STAR stories, selection criteria, and confident responses
Build a standout LinkedIn profile with this step by step guide tailored for Australian public servants perfect for boosting visibility, refining your presence, and reaching the right recruiters with confidence.
Explore our comprehensive range of career development resources and tools
If you’re looking to secure a teaching position, having a well-structured and compelling resume is essential. Your resume should showcase
When it comes to job application, it isn’t just your academic accolades or work achievements that matter, it is also
Whether you’re applying for your first role, or for a promotion, one area which can often be confusing is the
Get answers to common questions about public sector careers and our services
There is no general rule for how long it takes to secure a job – similar to the private sector, a universe of variables exists beyond just a person’s desire to get a job. And often, we don’t even know what these limitations and risks are – which is why it’s important to keep putting irons in the fire, and refining our approach until we achieve success.
Having said that, the timeframe depends on all kinds of factors; budgets, priorities, internal approvals – we’ve seen offers come in 12 or even 18 months after interview! So make sure you don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Once you get an offer, it generally takes a minimum of 4 to 12 weeks depending on the type of job, the agency’s recruitment timeline and required checks. Jobs that require security checks will take significantly longer.
APS levels reflect the complexity, responsibility and experience required for a role. APS 1 to 4 are generally administrative or operational roles, APS 5 to 6 are more technical or specialist, while EL1 and EL2 involve leadership and strategic responsibilities. You should target the level that aligns with your skills, experience and career goals. If you aren’t sure, you can shortcut the process by speaking with a career coach who can benchmark you.
Much like any organisation – often, but not always. In general, managers will place greater emphasis on relevant experience and demonstrated capability than formal qualifications. Of course, many technical roles (e.g. legal officers) do require a degree.
There is no requirement to have public service experience – however, it can be extremely useful to understand the language and conventions of Government.
Absolutely critical. Your responses to Key Selection Criteria must clearly and comprehensively address each criterion with strong examples, or you will not be considered suitable in a recruitment process.
If you are coming from outside Government, you may find the structure and regimentation quite strange. While the process typically involves a structured panel interview using behavioural questions based on the STAR method, the nature of scoring and ranking candidates is such that if you fail to say certain words, or spend an adequate amount of time answering a question, you might inadvertently rule yourself out.
Yes, many professionals successfully move into government roles. However, it’s often not straightforward. Panels usually view internal candidates as lower-risk than those entering from outside – so there is an inherent deficit to overcome. It is critical to focus on highlighting transferable skills and framing your experience using the language and behavioural focus of the public sector, to give your panel adequate confidence that you can successfully make the switch.
A lack of public sector experience is a big hurdle in targeting senior roles in the APS; however, if you focus on the role’s specific selection criteria and make a strong pitch in every aspect of those criteria, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance of success. This is achieved by orientating your CV, selection criteria examples, and interview preparation with a laser-sharp focus on the role requirements and capabilities. You may also require a career strategy to achieve your objective, which can include an interim role that builds experience in areas which you lack, or gives you the necessary exposure to the public sector through a consulting or contracting role. Career coaching is invaluable to perform a gap assessment and develop a plan to reach this goal.
There is a lot of truth to the saying “One career, hundreds of opportunities”. An almost limitless array of options exists among hundreds of Agencies and Departments all over the country and overseas. The public sector offers clear career pathways, with opportunities to move up through APS levels, apply for internal promotions, take on acting roles, or explore secondments and professional development programs.
Clearance is arranged by the hiring agency after a job offer and involves background checks based on the role’s assessed security risk/sensitivity.
Depending on the level of clearance required and the complexity of your life, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to many months or longer.
Yes we do, and we’ve worked with clients in every State and Territory and at every level of Government, and have an in-depth knowledge of hiring practices and standards in the NSW and VIC State Governments. APS standards and protocols are generally reflected from Federal to State-level but anecdotally, the application of standards as applied to procedural fairness and transparency are often less stringently applied in some States.
Yes – the techniques and best practices for responding to selection criteria, preparing for interviews, and writing CVs and cover letters, all apply directly to appointments for Local Government roles. Often the hiring processes and protocols are not as mature at a Local Government level; however, the standards for merit-based recruitment, transparency and fairness are.
PSCareers.com.au was founded by executives from the APS who wanted to share their knowledge and advice based on decades of experience. Together with career coaching experts, the mission of PS Careers is to empower people to excel in their APS career pathways by unlocking some of the secrets and mysteries of APS recruitment and career progression.
Of course. Everyone has to start somewhere and there are career pathways and entry points that are accessible for everyone. Whether you’re entering a Graduate program, targeting an entry-level role, or looking at transferring from the private sector to an equivalent level in the public sector, we’ve got you covered. If you’re not clear on your options, a career coaching session can help you identify which level to target for your first job, and map out a pathway with a career plan. Talk to us if you’re not sure where to start and we’ll guide you on making the first steps.
This part is ultimately up to you. While we can prepare you with the highest possible standards of CV, selection criteria responses, cover letters, LinkedIn profile content and interview preparation, a lot depends on you, and who you are competing against. We can give you the best possible chance of success and a competitive advantage over other candidates who simply won’t have the insights, skills and techniques that you’ll learn from working with us.
Yes – while at the Commonwealth level individual agencies determine whether they will employ non-citizens (some do, some do not), State and Local Government roles are typically accessible for people who are not yet citizens, but do have full working rights under an Australian Permanent Resident (PR) visa or other type of working visa.
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