How to apply for a job
Why your application is important | What information should it contain | Addressing the selection criteria | Curriculum Vitae/Resume | Referees | What if I am applying for two or more vacancies? | Final Check | Submitting your application
Why your application is important
Your written application is the first contact between you and your prospective employer. It is important that it makes the best possible impression.
You must be able to demonstrate that you meet the requirements of the selection criteria sufficiently to warrant being shortlisted for further assessment. Missing information can mean the difference between being further considered or not. The primary purpose of your application is to display to a prospective employer that you are a suitable applicant for a vacancy by addressing the full selection criteria.
That is why you should obtain the full job description and selection criteria before applying for an Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS) vacancy.
In the NTPS, selection is made in accordance with the merit principle, that is, having regard to your knowledge, skills, and qualifications against the selection criteria, and your potential for future development.
Your application is the first crucial step in showing that you possess superior merit to the other applicants, and its function is to bring you to the selection advisory panel's attention.
What information should it contain?
Your application should contain:
- completed cover sheet
- claims against the selection criteria
- your curriculum vitae (cv) or resume
- the name and contact details for at least two referees
Addressing the selection criteria
This is where you show and demonstrate specifically how your knowledge, skills and experience make you eligible for the vacancy.
Before applying for the vacancy, you should obtain the full selection criteria from DCIS. The information provided in the job advertisement does not fully detail the selection criteria and is not sufficient to frame an application around.
Your response to the selection criteria can be in its own section (separate from the CV), and be titled ' Claims Against Selection Criteria '. In this section you should:
- Display your competence or suitability in both essential and desirable selection criteria.
- Provide any information necessary to demonstrate your claims of competence and suitability. Useful information could include examples of tasks undertaken in paid or voluntary employment and these examples should be linked to the relevant selection criteria.
Note: It is not sufficient to state you meet a selection criteria without supporting evidence detailing how you meet it.
To be considered for the vacancy you must:
- meet all essential selection criteria
- give sufficient information to demonstrate that you meet all essential criteria.
A guide on how best to write a job application for a NTPS Vacancy is provided to assist applicants.
Curriculum Vitae/ Resume
The cv/resume generally has at least three sections of information:
1. Personal Details
Generally this section includes your name and contact details.
2. Education Details
In this section you should include:
- details of the highest level of education attained (secondary or tertiary), with the name of the institution/s attended, and the dates of attendance;
- details of apprenticeships, training courses, etc; and
- details of qualifications.
Note: It is the applicants' responsibility to have their overseas qualifications assessed by an appropriate organisation such as the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR).
For more information: www.dest.gov.au/audience_segments/for_intern_students.htm
3. Employment History
In this section you should include details of your employment history, starting with your most recent job and working back.
Employment history should include your employer's name, your dates of employment, your job title (and level if appropriate), and a summary of your duties and responsibilities. You should also include any major achievements in your most recent jobs.
4. Recreation Details
A fourth section listing hobbies and recreational details, is optional, but may help the selection advisory panel by giving some idea of who you are as a person.
Information could include:
- hobbies and interests
- sports and clubs
- membership of societies and positions held
You can give too little information in an application, and it is usually better to give more. The information you give however, must be relevant to the vacancy, as irrelevant detail may frustrate the selection advisory panel.
Your cv/resume will probably be anything between two and five pages long.
Note: It is not necessary to include copies of qualifications, certificates for short courses or written references at this stage as these can be presented at a later date if required.
Referees
It is advisable to include the names of at least two referees at the end of your cv/resume. Make sure you provide their full names, addresses, titles and contact details.
In most cases family members or friends would not be suitable. Your current or most recent supervisors are preferable as referees. You should check that the people you choose are willing to be referees for you, and provide them with copies of the job description and selection criteria.
It should be noted that referees may be contacted at the shortlisting stage. As an applicant you should make a note in your application if this is not appropriate for you, due to confidentiality.
What if I am applying for two or more vacancies?
If you wish to be considered for more than one vacancy in the NTPS, you must send a separate application for each vacancy.
Final check
Before you send your application, you should check to make sure:
- you have completed and attached the application cover sheet
- your cv/resume contains the three main sections (personal, education and employment details) and that the information is up to date and correct
- your application details your skills and merit for the vacancy without exaggeration or understatement
- the selection criteria are addressed in full
- the application is well presented and clearly laid out
- the application provides all of the information relevant to the vacancy being applied for
- the application does not present any ambiguous information to the selection advisory panel
- there are no spelling or grammar errors
- any gaps in your employment history are accounted for (eg breaks for study or travel)
It is a good idea to ask a friend or relative to do a final check of your application.
Submitting your application
Make sure you send your application by the closing date shown in the advertisement. Once DCIS has received your application you will be sent a written acknowledgment of receipt.
You can either send, fax, email or hand deliver applications to DCIS.