Application Process & Interviews at Services Australia

It was just doing online tests, group interview then one on ones.

The interview process and the recordings were really good. I was excited to do the interviews.

There is a huge gap in recruiting multicultural staff at the lower level and higher level. This gap should be reduced.

The process was a lot less painful than other graduate programs some of which I stopped midway through.

It's been a while. They have a panel with someone from a team that is hiring, someone from the grad team, someone random to check how understandable you are to an outsider, and someone from HR.

The graduate interview process took a long time. The interview was good because there were actual people on the videocall but I would not like it if I had to talk to myself for an interview.

The interview process was straightforward and well explained to us beforehand so there were no surprises. The panel was lovely and asked good questions. The assessments were also pretty standard - a one-way interview and one-page written response to a question that we had 3 days to complete. Recruitment was conducted by Hudson, an external company.

Thorough and outsourced, but extremely slow - took over 8 months and the communication was lax.

Assessments were relevant. Length of time from application to offer was ridiculously long.

There was poor communication when I was being recruitment. I know this has improved greatly.

1-on-1 interview as well as a group interview

The process is easy and straight forward. No in person interviews required except for in the graduate program.

I found it exceedingly difficult. The psychometric testing made no sense to me and was quite demoralising.

Took extremely long.

Quite a few stages and full on, e-interview, IQ assessment, group assessment, written assessment, formal interview

Slow, dont hear anything for months. Assessments were outsourced and involved trick questions.

The hiring process was extremely long. Almost 8 months with no promise of a job at the end of everything.

Extremely slow - Applied in March and got the official offer in December! Communication was lax and the interview process was extremely impersonal, often conducted via video response (responding to test prompts - no human).

It (grad program app) was convoluted and difficult, but I'm not sure where or how the process could be refined. I think a little more intermediary communication via email / text / phone would go a long way.

It was slow but not surprising given the graduate program had many applicants. The interview was an online group and individual process with standard questions.

Can't remember, but mainly towards empathy towards customers, team skills, technical skills, how well can u explain technical terms to a non technical person.

How I would tackle different issues, i.e. with staff dispute resolution, customers, problem solving etc.

Can't remember interviews but here are some questions from the written assessments beforehand: We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service to the Australian community. Please provide an example of a time you have gone out of your way to help someone. Sometimes things don't always go to plan. Describe a time when you failed to meet a deadline or personal commitment; what did you do? Improving our services means listening to our customers and staff feedback. Please share an example of where you took a fresh approach to improve the way things have been done. We keep evolving to deliver better outcomes. Describe a situation where you turned a problem into a potential opportunity; what did you learn from this? Tell us what has been your best work achievement to this point in your career. What made this achievement important?

To be honest I don't remember the specific questions (it was four years ago) but they were on topic for what was provided in the job pack/description and what I knew of the organisation, so I had a positive experience in the interviews. I was able to provide lots of examples from my work history to answer the questions.

All generic questions about previous work, including different scenarios you may face at work.

Questions relating to things we have done in the past that matches with the agencies views and questions to gauge if our personality matches the agency priorities

I was asked to provide situational examples of typical qualities like collaboration, communication, problem solving etc using the STAR method to respond. I anticipated this thanks to the pre-interview information provided.

Can't remember but standard ones e.g. group work, or situations when something was going off track etc.

How do you do?

All the typical questions - "name a time you have ___", "describe a time when you have____"

I cannot remember - Im not sure if there was a formal interview? Or if it was recorded

Cannot remember the interview questions but these were the questions for the written application. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service to the Australian community. Please provide an example of a time you have gone out of your way to help someone. Sometimes things don't always go to plan. Describe a time when you failed to meet a deadline or personal commitment; what did you do? Improving our services means listening to our customers and staff feedback. Please share an example of where you took a fresh approach to improve the way things have been done. We keep evolving to deliver better outcomes. Describe a situation where you turned a problem into a potential opportunity; what did you learn from this? Tell us what has been your best work achievement to this point in your career. What made this achievement important? From your point of view, what are the key considerations for ensuring collaboration and mobility across the Australian Public Service (APS), in order to: Address surges and peaks in demand; Solve complex problems; and Develop employees. In your response, include any key challenges or barriers specific to Services Australia, as well as any recommendations for how these challenges might be addressed.

I genuinely can't remember. But they were probably general interview questions that everyone gets asked.

Over the course of the process we were asked behavioural questions, what would you do questions, conflict resolution questions and what do you bring type questions.

Varies on type of role hired for and level. Entry level service officer back when I started was an online application and a phone call offering the job where they asked if I was confident using a computer. Higher levels involve virtual IQ assessment and personality tests and virtual recorded interviews.

I varies depending on the roles and it is difficult to recall the graduate program as that was in 2020. I believe I was asked about my previous work experience, why I wanted to work for Services Australia, was I prepared to relocate for the role and mostly likely a behavioural/scenario-based question. Recently I was applying for an EL1 position which asked behavioural questions around driving team performance, managing conflict etc.

You may be asked about the organisation itself or something about the role you have applied for. It is good to prepare some examples of key achievements you can point to that reflect your understanding of the organisation and being capable in the role you are interested in.

Behavioural mostly

What was the four key principles of the company? Answer: Simple Helpful Respectful and Transparent. We were asked to select from a series of task what were the highest to the lowest priority. (Group Exercises) What could Services Australia do to improve its clients into the next 20 years.

We did problem solving activities and I found I had to articulate what my previous experiences were.

Do it cause you want to serve the people of australia.

Be willing to go beyond what you believe is required and to think outside the square. Be innovative and curious and embrace learning continually.

Gather good STAR examples that could apply to multiple questions. Tailor these examples when asked a question. Google common interview and common graduate interview questions.

Be patient; the whole process takes several months.

Know the values of Centrelink and have a good understanding of the values of the APS.

Familiarise yourself with the job pack/description and understand what core competencies the role is focused on. Specific to APS as well, it is good to know what level/classification you are applying for and what the expectations are for that level based on the Integrated Leadership System.

Talk about your transferrable skills and use the STAR method.

I wouldn't recommend it

STAR method, and working out what THEY bring to the table and have achieved.

Have a read of the master plan for the agency and agency values.

Do psychometric testing practice exams to help you relax during the actual exam. You will not get better at them, but you will learn to relax which will improve your score slightly. Besides that, ignore your psychometric test.

Read about the agency's vision and mission.

Lots of examples for interviews and be yourself

Try to be normal. Make sure your webcam works.

Don't do it. Seek employment elsewhere.

Be familiar with Services Australia's mission, values, and master plan.

To do everything as early as possible - assume there will be constant hiccups and issues, and applying early leaves you best prepared to deal with them

Compile an interview question bank with sample answers using the STAR structure.

Understand the role of government, that they ultimately are trying to help society and Australia and not to make profit like private companies.

The first initial phases are the standard cognitive tests that companies use to thin down numbers. My advice would be practice those as even if you're a fantastic candidate, if you mess those up you can't even get your foot in the door.