How to Apply for APS Jobs: Complete Guide

The Australian Public Service (APS) is one of the country's largest employers, spanning dozens of federal agencies and departments. The application process is different from most private-sector hiring — understanding how it works before you apply saves a lot of wasted effort.

Understanding APS Levels

APS roles are classified into levels that broadly indicate seniority and responsibility:

• APS1–APS3 — entry-level roles, typically process-driven with close supervision.
• APS4 — some independent judgement within established guidelines.
• APS5 — more autonomy, coordinating discrete pieces of work.
• APS6 — specialist expertise, program coordination, and often informal team leadership.
• EL1 / EL2 (Executive Level) — formal management roles with accountability for a team's results.
• SES (Senior Executive Service) — senior leadership across an agency or department.

Job ads always specify the level, and understanding roughly where a role sits helps you calibrate the depth and type of evidence your application needs — see our selection criteria examples by APS level for the specific differences.

Where to Find APS Jobs

The primary source for APS vacancies is the APSJobs website, which lists roles across all federal agencies and departments. Individual agencies sometimes also advertise on their own careers pages or on general job boards like SEEK, but APSJobs remains the most comprehensive single source.

The Typical Application Process

1. Find the role and read the job ad thoroughly, including the position description document, which usually contains the full selection criteria and any specific application instructions.
2. Prepare your application documents — typically a resume/CV and a written statement addressing the selection criteria, sometimes combined into a single "pitch" document depending on the agency.
3. Submit before the closing date, which is usually strict — late applications are rarely accepted for government roles.
4. Shortlisting — the panel reviews written applications against the criteria and shortlists candidates for interview.
5. Interview and/or assessment — often includes a structured behavioural interview, sometimes with a written or scenario-based component.
6. Reference checks and offer — final checks before a formal offer is made.

The whole process, from closing date to offer, often takes six to twelve weeks or longer, particularly for competitive roles or senior positions requiring additional security clearance processes.

Writing a Strong APS Application

Two things matter most in an APS application: the resume and the written response to selection criteria.

Your resume should be clear and chronological, use standard section headings, and avoid excessive design elements that can cause parsing issues if submitted through an online portal. See our guide on writing a resume for the Australian job market for more detail.

Your selection criteria response should follow the STAR method — Situation, Task, Action, Result — for each criterion, using specific, real examples rather than general statements about your skills. Read our full guide on how to address selection criteria for a detailed walkthrough.

Security Clearances

Some APS roles, particularly in defence, intelligence, and certain policy areas, require a security clearance (Baseline, Negative Vetting 1, or Negative Vetting 2) as a condition of employment. The clearance process can add significant time to onboarding, so if a role mentions this requirement, be prepared for a longer timeline between offer and start date.

Common Mistakes APS Applicants Make

Not reading the position description document. The full selection criteria, reporting lines, and sometimes specific application instructions are often in this document rather than the shorter job ad summary — skipping it means missing requirements that could disqualify your application.

Missing the closing date. APS application portals typically close automatically at the stated time — there's usually no leniency, so submit well before the deadline rather than at the last minute.

Underestimating the written statement. Some applicants treat the selection criteria response as a formality and rush it — but for most roles, this document is what actually determines whether you're shortlisted, often mattering more than the resume itself.

Applying at the wrong level. Applying for an EL1 role with examples that only demonstrate APS6-level autonomy (or vice versa) signals a mismatch to the panel — be honest with yourself about which level your experience actually supports.

Getting Started

If you've found an APS role you want to apply for, start by reading the full position description and identifying every selection criterion. Draft each response using the STAR method, and use our AI selection criteria writer if you want help turning your real experience into a structured, submission-ready draft.