Government roles offer work life balance

Karalyn Brown

A government graduate career will generally provide a variety of career opportunities and flexible work arrangements. Depending on your employment agreement some offer staggered start and finish times, rostered days off, working from home arrangements, compressed working weeks or purchased annual leave.

Salaries for government graduate schemes are competitive with the private sector and vary between tier, agency, and profession. In 2009 salaries ranged between $43,000 – $70,000 per annum. Graduates in the defence force earned the highest salaries.

For DFAT graduates commencing in February 2009 the starting salary was $52,545. They also offer flexible working hours based on a 37.5 hour week, 22 days annual recreation leave, cumulative personal/sick leave (20 days per year), an on-site childcare facility and an in-house gymnasium.

The Brisbane City Council offers a starting salary of around $51,000 per annum, plus 14% superannuation, flexible working options, study assistance, mentoring and ongoing learning and development programs and access to Council’s free gym.

The public sector offer graduate positions as an investment in their professional future so the organisation can benefit in the long term from that investment. Training is often targeted around fast-tracking graduate’s managerial skills and developing technical expertise.

The Auditor General’s office of South Australia, for example, offers graduate accountants support to pursue a CPA.

Skills required for each

Each government employer will have their own specific requirements for technical skills or qualifications they require. However there are common skills graduate employers will seek. These include: communication skills, problem solving and analytical skills, interpersonal skills, an ability to work well in teams, time management skills and an ability to quickly grasp new concepts.

DFAT looks for graduates who are talented and highly motivated, good communicators, strategic thinkers and practical problem solvers. They want team players, people who are flexible, adaptable and resourceful and who are sensitive to, and appreciative of, difference and diversity.

The Auditor General’s Department of SA looks for graduates with qualifications in accounting, commerce or economics who possess good interpersonal skills, are keen to learn, have competent computing skills, demonstrate well developed analytical skills, have good time management abilities, are quick learners, and who will fit into the department’s team culture.

The Brisbane City Council looks for smart learners who can form and maintain effective and supportive relationships. They want graduates who are willing to move out of their comfort zones by rotating to different areas in the organisation and who are confident contributing as valuable team members. They want their graduates to actively participate in the development program to grow beyond their technical and professional competence to become future Council leaders. They also look for effective communicators who always seek and give feedback and who are proactive and strive for continuous improvement

The recruitment process and how to apply

Graduate careers websites will have instructions to apply online. For some roles you may need to address selection criteria along with your resume. As part of the recruitment process you may also undergo psychometric testing, or participate in an assessment centre. Other agencies use more traditional behavioural or panel interviews. Some use both assessment centres and interviews. Some organisations conduct their campaigns using recruitment agencies.