Application Process & Interviews at Department of Defence - Civilian Engineer Development Program (Navy)

Standard interview process which is streamlined with all Defence Graduate programs. Initial application, standardized testing, group interview, individual interview and written assessment piece.

The recruitment process involved several assessments - psychometric testing, a written task and an assessment centre in addition to the interview.

Online testing + psychrometric test, written assessment, group interview, security clearance.

Initial 1 page application cognitive testing assessment centre Timed written task

Lengthy interview process that ran over approximately 4 months (from resume submission to offer received). Recruitment process was as follows: -Recruitment account creation -Resume submission -600 word written pitch addressing certain questions in the recruitment ad - Online IQ test - 1 hour online written examination - Online EQ test - 1 day Online Assessment Center: 3-5min presentation to interview panel (15 minute preparation), 20-30min interview, 30min group activity - Offer

Online written assessment & Interview

It's quite tedious as all the steps in the interview process is spread out over a few months. Can be tough for someone who works full time already, to balance the interview process with their usual work.

Online application form initially Interview involved a group interview and an individual assessment. The individual assessment included a writing task and traditional interview

Quite extensive, firstly revelian testing, then revelian emotional testing, then a 600 word written assessment. After this there was a timed writing assessment, and then a group interview, with a topic we had to solve as a team. I then had to provide a presentation based on my timed writing assessment to a board of interviewers.

Written assessment, aptitude testing, presentation, group exercise and interview

Several rounds of testing and 2 interviews.

Answers to basic questions about life experiences followed by a timed written assessment. Afterwards you move onto an individual interview and a group behavioural interview/assessment as the final tasks.

1. Submit resume and write 400 word summary of why you deserve the job etc. 2. Online assessment - math, grammar, emotional etc. 3. Online essay question 4. Online group assessment and interview panel

The interview and assessment process was very long. After applying there was a written test, some personality testing and then an assessment centre and interview conducted over zoom.

Apply, assessment centre / interview. Group task having to make decisions as a group.

The interview process was quite long, involving a written application, written assessment, aptitude test, interview, presentation, personality / workplace habits assessment and group interview.

Understand if and why you want to work for Defence. Prepare by understand the role of Defence and understanding Defence Strategic Policy.

Address the selection criteria using the STAR method with your past experiences.

Understand the purpose of the organisation and the environment, have examples of situations to behavioural questions.

Reading the white paper was very helpful Experience with assessment centres

Interview: - Spend time preparing AND practising responses to relevant interview questions using the STAR method. Write notes for these questions and take these in with you during the interview. - Don't be afraid to pause and take some time to think/refer to your notes about a question given. Ask to get back to that question if you are still stuck. - Speak honestly. Don't try to give responses that you think the interview panel will like to hear. The grad application provides documents that outline tips to succeed throughout the entire application process. Don't forget to read over these.

Do practice interviews with yourself and think about how you would answer common interview questions.

Understand the company, its history, its purpose and the goals of the company.

Research about what kind of work Defence does, what projects are ongoing. My feedback was that I didn't really know enough about what Defence does.

No a little bit about the navy and the systems that you might be involved in.

Be confident and learn how to write a complex matter in a short and succinct way. Communication is very important for the role so they test that continuously throughout the interview process, team skills and talking and explaining complex things into easily digestible pieces. And view any tasks as neutral as possible with no preconceived notions.

Read the white paper before essay question. Other than that, general interview prep.

Make sure to have a good understanding of Navy and the current naval landscape in Australia. This will help you in the assessments and also give you some conversation topics in the interview. Also make sure you have some good responses ready about projects you've worked on and experience that you have and how these have allowed you to develop your broader engineering skills.

Read up on all things Navy. What are the current things coming up in the news and how do they relate to your degree.

The best way to prepare for assessments would be to familiarise yourself with the programs that Defence is currently engaged in and to think of why you would be a good fit for working in Defence.