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Interview with a Government
Recruiter
Have
you ever wondered what government selection panels complain most about
when it comes to applicants? What are their biggest interview
gripes? Or what piece of advice a government recruiter would give to an
applicant? Find out in our interview with Vanessa Jordan, Government
Recruitment Consultant and regular independent member of selection
panels
Q. What do you think
is the biggest misconception from applications regarding government job
applications?
A.
The biggest misconception I come
across is
applicants thinking that by just showing that they meet the selection
criteria
means they will get an interview. I was on a government recruitment
panel last
month for an APS Level 6 Technical position where 28 out of 30
applicants
showed that they met the selection criteria to a good standard. Unfortunately it is
isn’t practical to
interview 28 people for one job, so only the top three got a
shot. I
think
that is a perfect example of the importance of a well written
application and
proves the point that not only do you have to show that you meet the
selection
criteria, but you met them better than everyone else!
Q.
What is the number one applicant criticism from selection
panels?
A.
In general, selection panels are disappointed with the amount
of preparation that applicants put into their written applications and
their interviews in terms of researching the position. Most
panel
members come from the work area where the vacancy exists, enjoy their
jobs and are passionate about what they do. They are looking
for
people to join their team who have similar drives. They find
nothing
worse than asking an applicant what they know about the organisation to
be confronted with a blank face. Or asking the applicant if
they have
any questions to find the applicant asking “what do you
actually do
here?” This does not impress a panel at all!
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