Govt sector offers grads huge range of opportunities
Lucy Kippist
Looking for a graduate position that offers great benefits and career progression?
The public sector is one of Australia’s largest employers covering three tiers of government ““ local, state and federal.
The range of job roles with the various departments, government agencies and public institutions is as enormous as the impact you could make in a government career.
Architects, heritage experts and urban planners, medical and health professionals, social workers, police officers, teachers, public defenders and prosecutors, diplomats ““ the possibilities are seemingly endless.
To give you just a taste, CareerOne spoke to the Australian Tax Office, Local Government Association of South Australia, and the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation.
Australian Tax Office
The Australian Tax Office runs a one-year graduate program that features a challenging learning environment, a competitive starting salary and flexible working hours.
“Our graduate opportunities cross auditing, accountancy, marketing and communications, design, human resources, learning and development and IT,” said Debra Kuhne, the ATO’s Assistant Commissioner, Professional Excellence.
In addition to working in a well respected training ground, the ATO’s employee benefits include:
- Flexible working hours
- The ability to purchase up to four weeks extra leave a year at a reduced rate of pay.
- The ability to apply for continuing education.
On the flip side, the ATO has a screening process to ensure it recruits the most suitable candidates. The process includes receiving resumes and selecting candidates for interview. Those candidates interviewed are then short listed and those who make it through sit a “capabilities test” , which standard for Federal Government departments.
“We look for graduates with a credit-average and conduct an interview-based assessment that considers each candidate’s professionalism, integrity, communication skills and problem solving abilities,” Ms Kuhne said.
Ms Kuhne recommends grads come well-prepared to the job interview with the ATO.
“It’s important to do research on the ATO and understand our terminologies,” she advised.
“Look at things like our annual report as that gives a good overview of what we are about and it will also help grads decide if they will be a good fit for the organisation,” she said.
Local and State grad role in SA
Make a note in your diary ““ from June this year candidates will be able to look for grad role at both a local government and state level in SA through the one website.
Called “Shape Your World” the website currently lists local government jobs and general career information.
From mid-year role at local and state level for grads will include civil engineering, planning, environment, health and finance.
Candidates will be able to register their details on a database and departments from local council and state government can then view those details and select suitable grads to contact.
The graduate programs offer a range of benefits including a “no forced redundancy” policy and an emphasis on maintaining knowledge and expertise.
Suitable graduate candidates will be able to demonstrate strong communication and people skills. Government employers look a candidate’s “community engagement experience” . This could include team based activities including sport, volunteering and working with the community.
Robert Wallace, human resources manager of Local Government Association of SA says salaries are based on the award system although “most local councils tend to pay slightly more than this” as well as an annual 10 to 20 per cent increment.
Grad salaries range from $36, 375 for a three-year degree to $39,191 for a four-year degree.
Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation
From generic administration positions to IT, Legal and entry ““level analysts, ASIO has a variety of roles for graduates from “all backgrounds” .
According to ASIO, recruitment applicants need to be “well-rounded” “flexible” , “motivated” and able to demonstrate ASIO’s core values of excellence, integrity, cooperation and accountability” .
ASIO’s job opportunities are divided into six categories.
When looking at the six categories, grads are advised to keep an open mind:
A spokeswoman from ASIO recruitment told CareerOne: “ASIO offers the opportunity to work in a diverse range of areas, utilising your skills and talents and developing your expertise for a role you may have never previously considered.”
ASIO recommends candidates outline their “skill sets and experiences” , particularly any language skills.
For more information on working for ASIO visit their website.
