Many job seekers not employed within Government Departments are sceptical about applying for these jobs, not only because of the lengthy application process, addressing key selection criteria, panel interviews and the like. Many, particularly at the more senior level may have dealt with Government Departments before and know the drill! As a result they don’t want to waste their time applying for jobs that they are never going to get because they know internal applicants have been ear marked and basically given the job. Is the Australian Government therefore missing out on talent, one would have to think they are, by recycling internal applicants for so many of their appointments.
We all know that Government Departments have to go through the protocol of advertising the job publicly – potentially knowing that non-government employees don’t have a chance of making the shortlist. For many job seekers this is clearly a waste of their time and incredibly frustrating and deceptive even. Is this a policy that perhaps needs to be addressed to move with the times and to open up the Governments Talent Pools?
What percentage of government advertised jobs are filled externally?
What has been your experience in hiring for Government jobs or applying for them?
4 Comments
What percentage of government advertised jobs are filled externally?
Interesting question this.
Many of the EL1, EL2 & SES positions are actually promotions.
You may get 5% or so that are filled externally, despite the various departments and ministries stating the contrary – The APS Gazette disproves their protestations of impartiality though.
I think that many will find the application process a complete waste of time so basically, the Government are missing out on vast amounts of talent.
Hi Kelly,
Yes I have found this time and time again and I wonder whether I am doing something wrong in answering the selection criteria, but I believe it is more what you have said about giving the jobs internally. It is a huge waste of people’s time; I know I spent a whole week on one application swearing I would NEVER apply for a job with selection criteria again. These advertisers should be made accountable and I would love to be able to know whether a job I applied for was actually filled internally.
I agree with Liz and felt the same way. I asked one agency why I didn’t get the job but got no response. I now know why.
I did have a nibble at one stage but think I lost it when the manager insisted on getting *written* references. Commercial employers simply don’t do this anymore.
What percentage of Govt jobs are filled externally?
The thread here is a sad testament to the fact VERY few jobs are offered externally. Near to all are ear-marked for either an informal insider (friend, trusted associate, sycophant to the coordinator) or a more formal insider (one groomed for the position by often very senior people responsible for policies of probity and the like.)
Graeme is right about Clth jobs – here the corruption is simply abysmal.Liz, you can see who got the job as it is mandatory they are advertised in the Gazette. The states are just as bad but the opportunities are greater outside Canberra and the pay and conditions usually better. Victoria is anomalous here though – the arrogance of panel coordinators is breath-taking in the extreme. It is routine for less than qualified people to get the jump on you and there is simply no redress. It’s little wonder we don’t want a corruption commission here …