The Assessment Centre is a standardised process that is researchable with a Google search. The questions change, of course, but you can settle some of that anxiety around the unknown by familiarising yourself with what the process is going to involve.
Graduate, Adelaide
Be patient the process takes a long time and even when you are rated suitable to actually get the role it may take you a while.
Graduate, Canberra
Don't join the graduate program. Do a cadetship and keep your options open.
Graduate, Adelaide
Read about the agency's Master Plan and link your answers to this. Keep the customer at the centre, and demonstrate your ability to work as a team and problem solve.
Graduate, Adelaide
Just be yourself.
Graduate, Perth
Get 9+ hours of sleep! Don't do what I did. Also, researching what exactly we do is a good idea generally: you'll never be expected to be on top of all of it, but knowing the three branches exist and roughly what they cover is a good idea. Also, if you're on Youth Allowance or have an underlying medical condition, you can talk about how you've already used our services, because most Australians have at some point.
Graduate, Adelaide
Being prepared for traditional interview questions will only get you so far. Be prepared to undergo activities that will in no way reflect your ability to conduct yourself professionally and/or complete given tasks.
Graduate, Adelaide
Research and be able to answer why you want to work here
Graduate, Brisbane
Read the instructions carefully.
Graduate, Perth
Be yourself and back your judgement in any written assessments. Just explain your work
Graduate, Canberra
Nothing specific. I don't recall the process having any major differences to other corporates.
Graduate, Melbourne
Focus on the STAR methodology, highlight any experience you have where to tried to improve customer experience
Graduate, Brisbane
Apply somewhere else.
Graduate, Brisbane
Relax. The most important part of being in government is being able to talk confidently. This applies to most job interviews I think.
Graduate, Brisbane
Do research and learn about what your company does. Figure out why you want the job.
Graduate, Other (Please specify) - Dubbo
Do not apply for the graduate program as you are financially disadvantaged compared to new starter colleagues doing the same work. The training and opportunities provided in this 10-month program are not enough to compensate.
Graduate, Other (Please specify) - Tweed Heads
The best way to approach the group interview, in my opinion, is to focus on creating a team dynamic in the discussion, rather than finding the best solution. The people that really tried to find the best solution by shutting down other peoples ideas did not advance.
I also remember the individual interview being very closely based on the position description and type of person they were looking for that was available in the graduate program web page. I generated a few situations based on the type of person they were looking for, and ended up being able to use them almost ver batim.
They want you to respond using STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result
Graduate, Melbourne
I'd tell them to remember this company at its core, deals with people. So make sure your responses and ideas come from the angle of what is best for the customer. The rest just falls into training the specifics of a role, but at its heart, we help people in need and deal with a lot of sensitive information, so be professional, friendly, and think about 'why' you're doing what you're doing.
Graduate, Brisbane
Understand the Agency's Master Plan and focus responses on customer service delivery.
Graduate, Canberra
Be the honest self and tell their experience.
Graduate, Canberra