Working with clients during 2022 has highlighted the most common areas people need to focus on to improve their public sector applications and resumes.
1. Research the role
Relying solely on the role description as the basis for an application is fraught with dangers. Role descriptions tend to be written in generic language, glossing over important details. They can fail to include details, such as what is actually required in the application, and can be ambiguous as to what the basis for deciding merit is, by making reference to ideal candidate requirements, Work Level Standards, and capability frameworks.
For more senior roles, such as EL 1 and 2 in the APS, researching background detail is essential to understanding the context of the role, particularly if you are new to the department or agency.
Basic information to consider includes:
- If the role and/or work area is new, find out why the change came about and what stage of development the area is at. Part of the role may include contributing to the development of the area, team, strategy, or change process.
- Read key documents such as corporate plans, annual reports, relevant policies and frameworks (such as fraud, ICT, risk management).
- Check the online application form so you know what the application requirements are.
An article about knowing contextual details may be of interest.
2. Speak with the contact person
Contact people vary in how skilled and knowledgeable they are and how contactable they are. Having completed your research of the role, there are likely to be further questions that only the contact person can answer. While an email is practical, a phone conversation enables questions to explore further detail.
Speaking with the contact person enables you to clarify details about the role and deepen your understanding of the role context, based on your research. Potential questions include understanding the immediate challenges regarding problems to solve, duties, staff, and stakeholders, as well as management expectations.
3. Answer the pitch request
Many job applications now ask for a pitch with page or word limits. It is vital that you respond to what the pitch asks for, otherwise you could easily be removed from further consideration.
Typically, pitches ask why you are interested in the role, in the department, and why you think you have the skills, capabilities, knowledge and experience to deliver desired outcomes in the role.
To respond effectively, applicants need to write an opening paragraph that summarises what they offer, what their strengths are based on the role, and what value they will deliver based on the desired outcomes. In other words, what do you offer, what value is, and why should we be interested. This is essentially a marketing exercise that requires a different style to responding to selection criteria.
You may find these articles of use:
- How to avoid misreading application instructions.
- Eleven tips on writing APS short-form applications.
4. Write in the past tense
When writing about examples that demonstrate your experience, write in the past tense, as these examples are now history. Writing in the present tense, describing what you do, introduces ambiguity as to whether you are talking about an actual example and whether you actually did what you are claiming.
For example, you’re writing about how you manage and lead a team.
Describing what you do, you write: “When leading my team I ensure that they understand the purpose of the project, delegate tasks based on strengths and potential for development, provide ongoing coaching where needed, and monitor progress …”
This reads as a generic description of what you think you do, rather than what you actually did in a specific situation.
In the past tense, you write: “When I led my team to implement the introduction of a new data entry system I explained the purpose and timeframe at the outset, discussed the challenges, and together we identified how to schedule and manage the project. I delegated tasks based on individual strengths and potential for development, provided coaching when needed, and monitored progress using project software and weekly meetings…”
This reads as a specific situation where relevant and appropriate skills and knowledge were applied.
5. Use the SAR structure for examples
Applications continue to fall down because examples are not well structured. In particular, examples may be unclear as to their context, may list irrelevant or low-level actions, and may not include the results or outcomes delivered.
The SAR structure, which includes ‘Task’ from the STAR structure is:
S = situation/context, your role, who was involved, what made it complex, what were the challenges, problems you were facing
A = actions, approach taken to the situation
R = results that flowed from actions, flow on outcomes, links back to the challenges in the context to close the story (i.e. a ‘happy’ ending) or lessons learnt.
Other reading that may help:
6. Include results in examples and resumes
Applicants may fail to include the full range of results or outcomes that they deliver. While specific examples may have specific outcomes, this may overlook unintended or complementary outcomes, such as team capability development, team culture improvement, stakeholder relationships established or improved.
Results also need to be included in the resume. For each role performed, list the key and relevant results delivered. Capability frameworks refer to achieving results, so it’s important to include them in the application and resume.
This article may help with identifying types of results.
7. Include a tailored, career profile in your resume
Applicants may reduce the impact of their resume by either not including a career profile or including one that is generic, that does not directly relate to the role applied for.
People assessing applications tend to read documents quickly, so the first page of a resume needs to grab attention. A tailored career profile that summarises the value of relevant skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications will encourage a reader to keep reading.
This article may help with preparing a career profile.
You may also wish to read: Eight lessons from 2022 about public service job interview preparations.