How to apply for a job
Contents
Where are Vacancies Advertised?
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) advertises all on going and some non-ongoing vacancies:
- in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
- on the AEC internet site
In addition, some jobs are advertised in local newspapers, vocation-specific journals and websites and in regional/interstate media.
Eligibility
To be eligible for engagement as an Australian Public Service employee you must be an Australian citizen. Exemptions apply only in exceptional circumstances. In addition, you may not be eligible to apply if you have received a redundancy benefit from an APS employer in the last 12 months. Please contact AEC Recruitment Servicesfor more info.
Obtaining Information
Once you have selected a job vacancy you are interested in and read the selection documentation, it is in your own interest to telephone the contact person listed in the advertisement to gain more information about the job and to gain answers to any questions you may have about the nature of the vacancy. This may help you decide whether to apply for the job and which of your skills and experience to emphasise in your application. It is a good way of introducing yourself to your prospective employer and expressing an interest in the job. It will also help your written application and your performance in the selection process, if you find out as much as you can about the job you are applying for and the work of the area.
To apply for a vacancy in the AEC you need to submit a written application, which addresses the selection criteria (found in the selection documentation). For help on how to do this see Claims Against the Selection Criteria.
Why Your Application Is Important
In the AEC, selection is made in accordance with the merit principle, that is, having regard to your knowledge, skills, and qualifications against the selection criteria, and your potential for future development.
Your application is the first crucial step in showing that you possess superior merit to the other applicants, and its function is to bring you to the selection advisory panel's attention. So it is important that it makes the best possible impression.
The primary purpose of your application is to display that you are a suitable applicant for a vacancy, by showing that you meet the requirements of the selection criteria. That is why you should obtain the duty statement and selection criteria before applying for an AEC vacancy.
You must be able to demonstrate that you meet the requirements of the selection criteria sufficiently to warrant being shortlisted for further assessment. Missing information can mean the difference between being further considered or not.
What Information Should My Application Contain?
You application should contain:
- A completed Job Application Cover Sheet [Word 99KB]
- Your claims against the selection criteria
- Your curriculum vitae (cv) or resume, and
- The names and contact details of at least two referees.
- A completed Workplace Diversity Form [Word 29k] (optional)
Claims Against The Selection Criteria
This is where you show and demonstrate specifically how your knowledge, skills and experience make you eligible for the vacancy.
Before applying for the vacancy, you should obtain the full selection documentation. The information provided in the job advertisement does not fully detail the selection criteria and is not sufficient to frame an application around.
Your response to the selection criteria can be in its own section (separate from the CV), and be titled ' Claims Against Selection Criteria '. In this section you should:
- display your competence or suitability in meeting all selection criteria, and
- provide any information necessary to demonstrate your claims of competence and suitability. Useful information could include examples of tasks undertaken in paid or voluntary employment and these examples should be linked to the relevant selection criterion. Note: It is not sufficient to state you meet a selection criterion without supporting evidence detailing how you meet it.
To be considered for the vacancy you must:
- meet all selection criteria, and
- give sufficient information to demonstrate that you meet all selection criteria.
Note:
Do not include copies of qualifications, certificates for short courses or written references at this stage, as these can be presented at a later date, if required.
Referees
Include the names of at least two referees at the end of your cv/resume. Make sure you provide their full names, addresses, titles and current contact details.
In most cases family members or friends would not be suitable. Your current or most recent supervisors are preferable as referees. You should check that the people you choose are willing to be referees for you, and provide them with copies of the selection documentation.
It should be noted that referees may be contacted at the shortlisting stage. As an applicant you should tell us in your application if this is not appropriate for you, due to confidentiality.
What If I Am Applying For Two Or More Vacancies?
If you wish to be considered for more than one vacancy in the AEC, you must send a separate application for each vacancy.
Final Check
Before you send your application, you should check to make sure:
- you have completed and attached the Job Application Cover Sheet [Word 99KB]
- the information in your cv/resume is up-to-date and accurate
- your application details your skills and merit for the vacancy without exaggeration or understatement
- the selection criteria are addressed in full
- the application is well presented and clearly presented
- the application provides all of the information relevant to the vacancy being applied for
- the application does not present any ambiguous information to the selection advisory committee
- there are no spelling or grammatical errors
- any gaps in your employment history are accounted for (eg breaks for study or travel)
- you have completed and attached a Workplace Diversity Form [Word 29k] (optional)
It is a good idea to ask another person to do a final check of your application.
Submitting Your Application
Your application must be received by the advertised closing date. It is your responsibility to ensure the deadline is met, and if an extension of time is required, you must seek permission from both AEC Recruitment Services and the advertised contact person. An extension may be granted at the discretion of the selection committee, but this is not guaranteed.
You can either mail, fax, email or hand deliver applications to:
By Hand
The Recruitment Officer
West Block Offices
Queen Victoria Terrace
Parkes, ACT 2600
By Post
PO Box 6172
Kingston ACT 2604
By Fax
Fax: (02) 6271 4557
By Email
