Government Application Guides & Career Advice
Worked examples and practical tools for government resumes, pitches and selection criteria, plus Australian career advice.
Application guides
How to write a 600-word APS6 pitch
Plan a vacancy-specific 600-word APS6 pitch with a fictional worked draft, an evidence map and an editable word budget. Keep claims accurate.
Queensland suitability statements
If your Queensland vacancy asks for a two-page suitability statement, map requirements to evidence, plan examples and check the exported pages.
Translate private-sector experience
Translate private-sector experience into government application evidence without changing titles, scope or results. Explore three fictional examples.
Using AI in government applications
Check agency rules before using AI for a government job application. Compare ATO and Education guidance, protect information and verify your draft.
General APS pitch guide
Structure your pitch around the actual vacancy requirements.
Selection criteria guide
Use STAR examples to show your own contribution and results.
Government resume guide
Plan the structure and presentation of your government resume.
Career Decisions
What Should I Wear to a Job Interview in Australia?
A role-aware outfit guide for government, corporate, tech, trades, healthcare, retail, and video interviews.
Is It Too Late to Change Careers at 30?
Map transferable evidence, financial runway, and low-risk experiments without pretending you are starting from zero.
How Do I Network If I’m an Introvert?
Build useful professional relationships through interaction modes, weak ties, thoughtful scripts, and a sustainable pace.
Should I Quit My Job Without Another Job Lined Up?
A safety-first Australian framework for financial runway, notice, references, and next-search readiness.
Am I Burnt Out, or Am I in the Wrong Job?
Test recovery, resources, role design, and environment without turning an online quiz into a diagnosis.
Should I Accept a Counteroffer from My Employer?
Check whether the offer repairs the reason you wanted to leave or simply delays the same decision.
How Do I Explain a Career Gap in an Interview?
Choose a privacy boundary and build an honest, forward-looking answer that connects your readiness to the role.
Should I Take a Pay Cut for a Better Job?
Compare after-tax cash, super, commuting, hours, flexibility, wellbeing, and two-year capability.
Should I Go Back to My Old Job After Quitting?
Use a six-part return test to verify what changed, negotiate new terms, and avoid repeating the old problem.
How Do I Quit My Job Without Burning Bridges?
Plan the conversation, notice, resignation letter, handover, references, and safer boundaries.
Featured Articles
Is It Normal to Feel Like You Made a Mistake After Starting a New Job?
A calm, practical guide to first-90-days doubt—how to separate normal adjustment, a fixable issue, and a red flag that needs earlier action.
How to Spot a Toxic Workplace in a Job Interview
7 catchphrases that sound great in interviews but signal trouble — and what to ask instead.
Is a Government Job Worth It in Australia? (The Real Answer, With Data)
The salary is lower, the super is higher, the security is real. Honest breakdown of government vs private sector — with the numbers.
What Makes a Strong Job Reference? (And How to Choose References That Get You the Offer)
Your resume gets you the interview. Your references get you the offer — and most people botch this step without knowing it. The test question, email templates, and APS-specific guidance.
Got Two Job Offers? Here's How to Actually Decide
Most people pick the highest salary — and regret it. Data-backed framework using HILDA Survey, Gallup, and Australian research to help you choose the right role.
APS Jobs & Workforce Guide 2026
Comprehensive analysis of the Australian Public Service workforce, salary scales, graduate programs, and recruitment trends for 2026.
APS Salary Guide 2026: What You'll Actually Get Paid
Real pay rates from current enterprise agreements for every APS level. Plus super, leave, benefits, and career progression timelines.
How to Get a Government Job in Australia
The complete 2026 guide — from finding jobs on APSJobs to writing a winning pitch, understanding merit, acing the interview, and leveraging merit pools.
APS Graduate Programs 2026: How to Actually Get In
Every agency, the full application process, psychometric tests, assessment centres, and what life is really like as a graduate.
How to Ace Your APS Interview
What panels actually score, STAR-R answers, common questions by level, virtual interview tips, and a 7-day preparation plan.
Mastering the STAR Method
The golden rule of government applications. How to structure your behavioral examples for maximum impact.
Structuring a Statement of Claims
A step-by-step guide to addressing selection criteria when you have multiple pages to work with.
Categories
Tailor your next application
Use Govy to tailor your resume, pitch and selection criteria to a specific role using your genuine experience. Check the vacancy instructions and review the draft before submitting.