1. No category

Applying for Victorian
Public Service Graduate
Program
Diana Edwards – Careers Consultant
Naomi Burchett – VPS GRADS 2015
Slides available:
http://careers.unimelb.edu.au/student/online
_career_tools/exploring_your_options
(Seminar Presentations – All Students)
VPS Programs
• GRADS – generalist, accounting and finance, business and
technology, education; Aboriginal Pathway
• Other grad programs:
– Dept of Environment and Primary Industries – Science
Graduate Program - opening around July (Science, Natural
Resource Management, Agriculture, Ecology, Conservation or a related field):
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/about-us/careers/science-graduate-program
– Vic Roads – closing 31st March (Civil Engineering,
Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Accounting,
Communications and Media): https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/careers/employmentprograms-and-traineeships/graduate-program
What we’ll cover
• Written application (due 10th April)
– Open-ended questions on online application; 3
questions which align with particular selection
criteria
– Resume
• Online Testing and Assessment Centre
Candidate’s Guide
Excellent information on all aspects of the
application and selection process:
http://graduates.vic.gov.au/apply/applying-for-the-graduaterecruitment-and-development-scheme
Question 1
Why do you want to work for the Victorian Public
Service as opposed to other graduate opportunities?
What do you feel you could contribute to the work
done by the Victorian Public Service? (Please limit your
response to 250 words or less)
Question 1: Tips
• Selection Criterion: VPS values
• Background reading to imbibe the ‘ethos’ of the
public sector – examples:
– VPS Values: http://www.ssa.vic.gov.au/behaviours-aampculture/public-sector-values.html
– Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities – sets out relationship
between government and its people:
http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/index.php/thecharter
– Public Service Commission site, include State of Public Sector Annual
Report and various webpages on role of government in Victoria
– http://www.ssa.vic.gov.au/public-administration.html
Question 1: Tips
Part 1:
o Clearly explain motivation to be a public servant, and
consider points of difference between VPS and APS grad
programs and/or programs outside government sector
o Refer to understanding of values, perhaps one or two in
particular – and if possible, refer to an experience where
these values important and/or illustrate your interest in
community/public service
Question 1: Tips
Part 2:
o Pick a limited number (perhaps two) and give some depth
in response (rather than longest list possible); select types
of contributions relevant to work of the PS - a value (eg
integrity); a skill (eg analytical/conceptual skills);
experience/knowledge of (eg Asia)
o Again, reference an example where you displayed the
value, or demonstrated the skill, or acquired the
experience/exposure
Question 1: example response
• Listen to an example response
• What were some aspects included in the response?
What did you think was effective/persuasive? What
didn’t work quite so well?
Behavioural Questions
• Questions 2 and 3 are behavioural questions ie you are asked
to describe a time/situation where you demonstrated the
competency/quality
• Examples can come from work, study, community/extracurricular; community service valued by VPS – so try to
include example in the mix
• Not so much how ‘starry’ your example, but how appropriate
to the issue and how well you show understanding of the
processes at work
Using STAR Model
• Situation – what was the situation – who, what, when,
where?
• Task – what was the task or challenge that had to be dealt
with?
• Action – how was the task or challenge dealt with? what
actions were taken, what strategies were used, and what was
your particular contribution?
• Result – what was the outcomes – was the task achieved?
what did you learn? and what was the impact on
relationships?
Using STAR model: Tips
• Examples should be relatively recent eg within 1-2 years
• Action and Result sections are most important
• Action – make explicit what you did and why – show you
understand the processes involved eg for teamwork
question, your description should show that you understand
what makes a team work well
• Result – don’t just think in terms of the task outcome, but
perhaps also learning outcomes, relationship outcomes
Question 2
Please describe a time when you invested more effort
than was required to achieve a goal. Include a detailed
description of the steps you took, why you felt the
additional effort was worthwhile, and what it allowed
you to achieve. (Please limit your response to 250 words or less)
Question 2: Tips
• SC: ‘initiative and accountability’
• See p 5 of Candidate’s Guide for break-down of what is meant
by ‘initiative and accountability’
– proactive and self-starting
– seizes opportunities and acts on them
– takes responsibility for own actions
• Essence of this question – demonstrate initiative…a time
when you saw an opportunity to extend or adapt what you
were doing in working towards a goal (eg to achieve better use of
resources, to get better outcome....)
Question 3
Please describe a time when an unexpected setback
required you to change your approach to a situation or
problem. Include a detailed description of your initial
reaction to the setback, what steps you took to
respond, and what you were able to achieve despite
encountering challenges. (Please limit your response to 250 words
or less)
Question 3: Tips
• SC: ‘Flexibility’
• See p 5 of Candidate’s Guide for break-down of what is meant
by ‘flexibility’
–
–
–
–
has strategies and mechanisms for adapting to change and stress
is open to new ideas
accepts changed priorities without undue discomfort
recognises the merits of different options and acts accordingly
• Essence of this question – being able to change what you are
doing/invested in, when priorities in a situation/organisation
change
Behavioural questions:
example response
• Listen to the response and see if you can identify
the STAR model in action
• What ‘actions’ and what ‘results’ can you identify?
Resumes
• Key features of a good resume:
– concise
– targeted to suit the particular position and/or context,
and
– professionally laid out
• Refer to the format on Melbourne Careers Centre website:
http://careers.unimelb.edu.au/student/applying_for_work/resumes
Resumes for VPS application
• Make the most of:
– your community experience (interested in communitymindedness – seen as predictor of public service
orientation)
– any Asia-relevant knowledge or experience
• Since cover letter not required, include an objective
or profile on your resume to convey motivation for
public sector
Online Testing
An aptitude assessment package which includes:
o Verbal reasoning – thinking in words
o Numerical reasoning – thinking with numbers, not
necessarily sophisticated mathematics eg interpreting
graphs and tables
o Abstract reasoning – thinking without words or numbers
– using shapes, angles, space
Previous years - five scenarios presented, each with 4 or 5
questions – to be completed in 20 mins
VPS on why Aptitude testing?
We administer these assessments because they help
the VPS to predict:
• how quickly you will learn new information…and
• how effectively you will utilise information,
sometimes in ambiguous situations, to solve
problems’
Tips (Naomi)
• Practice nearly does make perfect – I did as many
practice sites as possible (next slide)
• Prepare/set yourself up well for the session – revise
basic calculations (%’s, tables); have what you need timer, pen and paper, calculator
• Be prepared that tests get harder as you go on
Practice Sites
Melbourne Careers Centre website:
http://careers.unimelb.edu.au/student/interviews/psychometric_testing -
SHL; Assessment Day
Naomi also suggests:
• http://www.aptitude-test.com/aptitude-tests.html - simple questions
and good for learning - has both a timer and explanations for
why the answer is correct.
(Numerical: choose Numerical Reasoning + Data Interpretation)
• http://www.psychometricinstitute.com.au/Free-Aptitude-Tests.asp
Numerical is particularly good for starting to learn, has good
explanations at the end.
Assessment Centre
• Likely activities
– Behavioural interviews (though last year ‘why did you
apply for the VPS’ was asked also)
– Group activity
– Case study/written exercise
• Refer to Candidate’s Guide – examples of group activities
and written exercise
http://graduates.vic.gov.au/opportunities-forgraduates/grads-overview
Tips (Naomi)
• Be prepared – be up with the news, and read
about Victorian Government
• Assessors are there to help you – they’ll be
watching but that’s the process
• Be yourself!
Assessment Centre: further
resources
• Behavioural Interviews, Assessment Centres
http://careers.unimelb.edu.au/student/interviews
• Assessment Centre video – ‘At the Assessment
Centre’
http://careers.unimelb.edu.au/student/online_career_tools
/preparing_for_next_steps
Drop-in service: feedback on
applications
Drop-in service each day at each of three Student
Centres: Arts and Music, Science, Business and
Economics
Drop-in @ Arts Student centre: Mon-Fri 2-4pm
For times and details:
http://careers.unimelb.edu.au/student/come_and_see_us