How to Read an Australian Application Pack Before You Write

The Australian Public Service Commission notes that agencies may ask you to address several criteria separately or to write one general statement. Don’t assume — use the format the agency asks for.

• Requested documents (résumé, cover letter, pitch, criteria responses, referees)
• Word, page or character limits for each document
• Closing date, time and time zone
• Mandatory conditions such as citizenship, clearances, licences or checks
• Who to contact with questions

Words like “essential”, “must” and “condition of employment” signal a requirement. “Desirable” or “highly regarded” usually signal a preference. When the wording is unclear, ask the contact officer rather than guessing.

A closing time of 5:00 pm AWST is three hours later than 5:00 pm AEDT on the same day in summer. Convert it to your own time and leave a margin for upload problems.

A government or council role often has several documents: the advertisement, a position description, a candidate information pack and sometimes an application form. Information can be spread across all of them. A word limit might be in the pack, the closing time in the ad and a mandatory check in the position description. Read every document before you decide what to write, and keep a short list of where each instruction came from.

If two documents disagree — for example the ad asks for a two-page pitch and the pack asks for 750 words — don’t pick one quietly. Contact the person named in the ad and ask which applies. Keep a note of the answer and the date you received it, in case anything is queried later.

• Advertisement: role title, classification or level, location, closing time and contact
• Position description: duties, reporting lines and selection criteria
• Candidate pack: how to apply, document formats, limits and the assessment process
• Application form: questions that must be answered in the form itself rather than in an attachment

Employers ask for responses in different shapes. Some want a one-to-two-page pitch addressing the role as a whole. Others want each criterion answered separately with its own word limit. Some ask for responses inside an online form with a character limit. The APSC notes that applications should be completed in the way the agency requires, so treat the instructions as part of the assessment rather than a suggestion.

Where a page limit is given without a font, size or spacing convention, don’t shrink the text to fit more in. Use a readable size and normal margins, and if you’re unsure, ask the contact officer whether they have a preferred format. A response that is hard to read can work against you even if it technically fits.

Mandatory conditions — such as Australian citizenship, a current driver licence, a professional registration, a security clearance or a Working with Children Check — are usually checked before or after the merit assessment. If you don’t hold one, look for wording about whether it can be obtained before starting, whether the employer will sponsor it, or whether it is a condition of ongoing employment.

Be accurate about your status. If your check is in progress, say so and give the expected date. If you don’t hold a qualification, don’t imply that you do. A missing requirement found later can end an application or an offer.

Once you know what’s needed, write a short plan before drafting. For each requested document, note its limit and format. For each criterion, note one or two real examples from your experience that could support it, and mark any criterion where you don’t yet have a good example. That gap list tells you where to spend your time.

• Every requested document listed with its limit
• Closing time converted to your own time zone
• Mandatory conditions checked against your actual status
• Unclear instructions sent to the contact officer
• One real example noted for each criterion, or the gap marked

Finally, set yourself a personal deadline at least a day before the closing time. Online systems can be slow near the deadline, and some don’t accept late uploads for any reason.

Most ads name a contact person. Short, specific questions are welcome and can save you from a costly misunderstanding. Ask about the format, the limits, whether a condition can be met after starting, or what the team’s day-to-day work involves. Avoid asking for information already in the pack, and keep a record of any answer that changes how you apply.

Save the ad and pack when you start. Ads are often removed after closing, and you’ll want the original wording if you’re invited to interview.