An APS resume should show, quickly and clearly, that you meet the level, capability, judgement and delivery expectations of the role. It is not enough to list duties. APS recruiters and selection panels are looking for evidence: what you handled, who you supported, what decisions you made, what policies, systems or stakeholders you worked with, and what changed because of your work. The strongest APS resume examples are targeted to the job pack, written in plain Australian English, and aligned with the classification level. A good APS 4 resume does not try to sound like an EL1 resume. A good APS 6 resume does not hide behind vague teamwork language. It proves complexity, judgement and outcomes.
An APS resume is not just a career history document. In a public sector application, it usually works alongside a pitch, statement of claims, selection criteria response or application form. That means the resume has a very specific job: it needs to give the panel confidence that your background supports the claims you are making elsewhere.
This is where many candidates get it wrong. They treat the resume and pitch as two separate pieces of writing. The resume says one thing, the pitch says another, and the panel is left doing detective work. Panels do not enjoy detective work. They already have enough paperwork, scoring grids and applicants who have written “strong stakeholder engagement skills” with the emotional commitment of a wet paper towel.
Your APS resume should make the selection panel’s job easier. It should show:
Your relevant employment history
Your classification level or equivalent experience
The type of work you have handled
The scope and complexity of your responsibilities
Your achievements and measurable outcomes
APS recruitment is more structured than many private sector hiring processes. That does not mean it is perfectly objective. It means your application needs to give the panel clear, assessable evidence.
Panels usually look for alignment across four areas.
The first question is simple: does your experience match the job?
This does not mean you need identical APS experience. Private sector, state government, local government, university, healthcare, not for profit and consulting experience can all translate well. But the connection must be obvious.
A vague resume forces the panel to guess. A targeted resume shows the connection clearly.
Weak Example
“Responsible for administration, customer service and team support.”
This tells me almost nothing. What kind of administration? What customer group? What systems? What volume? What level of accountability?
Good Example
“Provided administrative and client service support for a high volume government funded program, managing applicant enquiries, updating case records, preparing correspondence and escalating complex matters in line with policy and service standards.”
That gives the panel something to assess.
APS classification matters. An APS 3 role usually expects a different level of judgement from APS 5. APS 6 is different again. EL1 is not just “APS 6 but busier”. It usually involves broader leadership, judgement, stakeholder management and delivery accountability.
One of the most common mistakes I see is candidates writing at the wrong level.
A strong APS resume is usually clean, structured and easy to assess. It should not look like a graphic design experiment. Public sector recruiters are not sitting there thinking, “Wonderful, a teal sidebar.” They are looking for evidence.
Use a simple format.
Name and contact details
Professional summary
Key capabilities
Employment history
Selected achievements
Education and qualifications
Technical skills, systems and clearances if relevant
This example suits candidates applying for APS 3 or APS 4 administration, client service, operations support, grants administration, compliance support or customer service roles.
Resume Example
Simone Taylor
Canberra ACT
0400 000 000
Australian citizen
Professional Summary
Reliable administration and client service professional with experience supporting high volume operational teams, maintaining accurate records, responding to enquiries and working within structured policies and procedures. Skilled in managing competing priorities, preparing correspondence, updating databases and supporting consistent service delivery. Known for calm communication, attention to detail and practical problem solving in busy environments.
Key Capabilities
Administration and operational support
Client and stakeholder enquiries
Records management and data accuracy
This example suits APS 5 program officer, project officer, grants officer, stakeholder officer, compliance officer or service delivery roles.
Resume Example
Daniel Nguyen
Melbourne VIC
0400 000 000
Australian citizen
Professional Summary
Program and operations professional with experience supporting government funded initiatives, managing stakeholder enquiries, monitoring program activity and contributing to reporting, compliance and process improvement. Skilled in interpreting guidelines, coordinating information across teams and preparing clear documentation for decision makers. Brings strong attention to detail, practical judgement and a service focused approach to program delivery.
Key Capabilities
Program administration and coordination
Grants and funding support
Stakeholder communication
This example suits APS 6 policy officer, senior program officer, senior project officer, compliance officer, governance officer or advisory roles.
Resume Example
Amelia Brooks
Sydney NSW
0400 000 000
Australian citizen
Professional Summary
Policy and program professional with experience developing advice, coordinating stakeholder input, analysing operational issues and supporting the implementation of government programs. Strong capability in preparing briefs, interpreting policy settings, managing competing priorities and delivering high quality written material under tight timeframes. Known for sound judgement, clear communication and the ability to translate complex information into practical recommendations.
Key Capabilities
Policy analysis and advice
Briefing and ministerial support
Program implementation
This example suits EL1 assistant director, policy manager, program manager, governance lead, operations manager or senior advisory roles.
Resume Example
Priya Raman
Brisbane QLD
0400 000 000
Australian citizen
Baseline security clearance
Professional Summary
Senior policy and program leader with experience managing complex work programs, leading teams, advising executives and delivering outcomes across government, regulatory and stakeholder environments. Skilled in translating policy intent into practical delivery, managing risk, preparing high quality advice and building collaborative relationships across agencies and external partners. Brings strong judgement, calm leadership and a clear focus on accountable public sector outcomes.
Key Capabilities
Team leadership and capability development
Strategic policy and program advice
Executive briefing and decision support
The job pack is not decoration. It is the marking guide hiding in plain sight.
Before writing your APS resume, read the job advertisement, candidate information pack and duty statement. Look for repeated language around:
The role purpose
Key duties
Required capabilities
Classification level
Stakeholder groups
Policy, program, compliance or service delivery context
Systems, legislation or frameworks
Most APS resume mistakes are not dramatic. They are quiet little problems that make the panel less confident.
A broad resume feels safe, but it usually performs badly. Candidates try to include everything they have ever done because they are afraid of leaving something out.
The problem is that broad resumes dilute the strongest evidence. The panel has to search for relevance. That is risky.
A targeted APS resume should make the most relevant experience impossible to miss.
“Responsible for managing stakeholders” is not evidence. It is a duty.
Evidence explains the situation, action and result. Even in a resume bullet, you can show this briefly.
Weak Example
“Responsible for reporting.”
Good Example
“Prepared weekly reporting dashboards for senior managers, highlighting processing volumes, overdue actions and emerging risks across three regional teams.”
Now I can see what you reported, for whom and why it mattered.
Government applications attract vague phrases like moths to a fluorescent office light.
Avoid phrases such as:
A strong APS resume bullet usually includes three things: action, context and outcome.
Use this simple structure:
Did what, in what context, with what result or purpose.
You do not need every bullet to be long. But every bullet should earn its place.
Administration
Program Delivery
Policy
Stakeholder Engagement
Keywords matter, but they are not magic dust. Sprinkling “stakeholder engagement” ten times across your resume will not save a weak application.
Use keywords where they reflect real experience.
Relevant APS resume keywords may include:
Policy advice
Program delivery
Service delivery
Stakeholder engagement
Governance
Risk management
Compliance
One of the most useful things you can do is calibrate your resume to the classification level.
At APS 3 and APS 4, panels usually look for reliability, accuracy, service delivery, procedure following, communication and escalation judgement.
Your resume should show:
Administrative accuracy
Customer or stakeholder service
Records management
Routine correspondence
Ability to follow policies and procedures
Team support
You do not usually need full STAR examples in your resume unless the application specifically asks for them. Full STAR responses belong more naturally in selection criteria, a statement of claims or a pitch.
But your resume bullets can still carry STAR logic in a compressed way.
Think of resume bullets as mini evidence statements. They should show enough context and result to make the panel interested.
Weak Example
“Managed competing priorities.”
Good Example
“Managed competing reporting, inbox and stakeholder tasks during peak program periods, using priority trackers and escalation processes to maintain service timeframes.”
That is not a full STAR response, but it gives useful evidence.
The mistake is copying long selection criteria paragraphs into the resume. That makes the resume heavy and hard to scan. Keep the resume sharp. Use the pitch or selection criteria response for deeper examples.
Your resume and pitch should support each other, not repeat each other word for word.
The resume gives breadth. The pitch gives depth.
Your resume should show the full pattern of your relevant experience. Your pitch should select the strongest examples and explain them in more detail.
For example, if your pitch discusses a project where you improved a reporting process, your resume should also mention that achievement under the relevant role. That way, the panel sees consistency.
Think of it like this:
The resume proves you have the background.
The pitch proves you understand the role.
The examples prove you can perform at the level.
When these three pieces align, the application feels credible.
When they do not align, the panel starts questioning the application. And once doubt enters the room, it tends to bring snacks and stay there.
Before submitting your APS resume, check it against the role requirements.
Your resume should answer these questions:
Is the most relevant experience on the first page?
Does the professional summary match the role, not just your general background?
Are the key capabilities aligned with the job pack?
Does each role include context, not just duties?
Do the bullet points show evidence and outcomes?
Is the language clear, plain and specific?
Have you shown the right level of judgement for the classification?
Written by Simar Malhi, a recruiter and headhunter with international recruitment experience. I write about CVs, job applications, hiring decisions, and the reality behind recruitment processes. My goal is to help candidates understand more honestly how employers, recruiters, and hiring managers actually select candidates.
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Create ResumeYour policy, program, service delivery, administrative or operational exposure
Your stakeholder groups
Your ability to work within government, regulatory, legislative or procedural environments
Your readiness for the level you are applying for
The real purpose is not to impress people with fancy wording. It is to reduce doubt.
When I read an APS resume, I am not thinking, “Is this person lovely?” I am thinking, “Can I see enough evidence to justify progressing this person to the next stage?” That is a different question, and your resume needs to answer it directly.
Some under pitch themselves. They apply for APS 6 but describe their work like task completion. Others over inflate everything. They apply for APS 4 and write as though they were responsible for national policy reform when they were actually updating spreadsheets and responding to inbox enquiries.
Panels can usually see through both.
Your resume needs to match the level honestly and strategically.
APS resumes often become duty lists. Duties matter, but achievements show impact.
A duty tells me what you were supposed to do. An achievement tells me what you actually improved, delivered, solved or contributed.
For APS roles, achievements do not always need to be dramatic. Government work can be procedural, slow and heavily governed. That is reality. But you can still show value through:
Improved processing times
Better record accuracy
Reduced backlog
Clearer reporting
Stronger stakeholder communication
Better compliance
More consistent service delivery
Support for policy or program implementation
Effective handling of sensitive or complex matters
The best APS resumes show practical outcomes without pretending every task saved the nation.
APS hiring panels care about judgement. They want to know you can work within rules, policy, legislation, confidentiality, probity and public accountability.
This matters even in roles that look administrative. In the APS, basic tasks can carry public consequences. A poorly handled record, a missed escalation, an incorrect payment, a vague briefing or a careless email can create real problems.
So your resume should show that you understand structured decision making, not just task completion.
Referees available on request
For most APS applications, two to four pages is usually enough, depending on your experience level and the job requirements. Always check the job pack because some agencies specify page limits.
The resume should be readable, ATS friendly and panel friendly. Those are not always the same thing, but they overlap. Avoid tables, text boxes, icons, photos, columns and decorative formatting that can create parsing issues or distract from the content.
Use this structure as a practical template.
Name
Phone
Location
LinkedIn, if relevant
Professional Summary
Three to five lines summarising your relevant experience, level, sector exposure and strengths.
Key Capabilities
Six to ten targeted capability areas matched to the role.
Employment History
Include job title, organisation, location and dates. Under each role, include a short scope statement, then achievement focused bullets.
Education and Qualifications
Include degrees, diplomas, certificates and relevant training.
Technical Skills and Systems
Include systems such as Microsoft Excel, SharePoint, SAP, TRIM, Objective, ServiceNow, CRM platforms, case management systems, reporting tools or finance systems where relevant.
Additional Information
Include baseline clearance, citizenship status, languages, licences or professional memberships only where relevant.
Inbox and correspondence management
Policy and procedure compliance
Case file updates and documentation
Microsoft Office and SharePoint
Time management and prioritisation
Escalation of complex or sensitive matters
Team coordination support
Employment History
Administration Officer, Community Services Provider, Canberra ACT
March 2022 to Present
Provide administrative and client service support for a government funded community program, assisting with enquiries, records, correspondence and operational coordination.
Manage a shared inbox, triaging client and stakeholder enquiries, responding to routine matters and escalating complex requests to senior staff.
Maintain accurate client and program records in the case management system, ensuring documentation is complete, current and aligned with internal procedures.
Prepare routine correspondence, meeting notes and program documents for review by senior officers.
Support weekly reporting by collating service data, checking spreadsheet accuracy and following up missing information with team members.
Assisted with a file clean up project that improved record completeness and reduced duplicate entries across active client files.
Liaise with internal teams, service providers and clients to clarify information and support timely service delivery.
Follow privacy, confidentiality and escalation procedures when handling sensitive client information.
Customer Service Officer, Local Council, Queanbeyan NSW
January 2020 to February 2022
Supported residents and internal teams by responding to enquiries, processing service requests and maintaining accurate customer records.
Responded to phone, email and counter enquiries across council services, providing clear information and escalating issues where required.
Entered and updated service requests in the CRM system, ensuring accurate notes and correct allocation to operational teams.
Assisted customers to understand application requirements, payment processes and service timeframes.
Helped reduce repeat enquiries by improving the wording of standard response templates used by the customer service team.
Worked calmly with frustrated customers and maintained professional communication in line with service standards.
Education
Certificate IV in Business Administration
Canberra Institute of Technology, 2019
Technical Skills
Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams
SharePoint
CRM and case management systems
Records management
Data entry and reporting support
Referees
Available on request.
This resume works because it does not try to make administration sound like executive leadership. It shows the right level of evidence for APS 3 or APS 4 work: accuracy, procedure, communication, service delivery, escalation and reliability.
For these levels, panels want to see that you can follow processes, manage routine work, recognise when something needs escalation and communicate professionally. They are not usually expecting you to have designed national strategy. They are looking for someone who can do the work properly without creating chaos in the team.
The strongest part of this example is the way it describes context. “Managed inbox” is average. “Triaging client and stakeholder enquiries, responding to routine matters and escalating complex requests” is much stronger because it shows judgement.
Guideline interpretation
Reporting and data analysis
Compliance monitoring
Process improvement
Risk and issue escalation
Briefing and correspondence support
Cross functional coordination
Employment History
Program Support Officer, Education Services Organisation, Melbourne VIC
June 2021 to Present
Support the delivery of a state funded education access program, working with internal teams, schools, community providers and funding recipients to coordinate program activity and maintain accurate reporting.
Review funding documentation and supporting evidence to check completeness, accuracy and alignment with program guidelines.
Respond to provider enquiries about eligibility, reporting requirements, payment timeframes and acquittal processes.
Prepare weekly program status updates, including application volumes, outstanding documentation, processing risks and emerging stakeholder issues.
Work with senior program officers to identify inconsistent application patterns and clarify assessment processes.
Contributed to a revised provider guidance document that reduced repeated enquiries about evidence requirements.
Maintain accurate records across SharePoint, Excel trackers and internal reporting systems.
Support the preparation of briefing material by collating data, checking facts and summarising operational issues for senior review.
Coordinate meetings with internal policy, finance and delivery teams to resolve payment and eligibility questions.
Project Administrator, Health Not for Profit, Melbourne VIC
February 2019 to May 2021
Provided administrative and project support for health promotion programs delivered across community partners and regional service providers.
Monitored project milestones, updated registers and followed up outstanding actions with internal and external stakeholders.
Prepared meeting agendas, minutes, project updates and correspondence for program leads.
Supported reporting to funders by collecting service data, checking accuracy and identifying missing information.
Maintained strong working relationships with service providers, helping clarify timelines and documentation requirements.
Assisted with the rollout of a new project tracking process that improved visibility of overdue actions.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Public Policy and Sociology
University of Melbourne, 2018
Technical Skills
Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams
SharePoint
Program registers and reporting trackers
Data quality checks
Stakeholder correspondence
Briefing support
Referees
Available on request.
APS 5 is where panels start looking for more than task completion. They want evidence that you can interpret information, manage competing priorities, communicate with stakeholders and contribute to delivery without needing constant hand holding.
This example works because it shows program context and decision support. It does not say “I am a strategic thinker” and then hope everyone claps. It shows the candidate reviewing evidence, identifying inconsistent patterns, preparing updates, clarifying guidelines and supporting briefs.
That is the kind of evidence that helps a panel see APS 5 readiness.
A common APS 5 mistake is writing too passively. Candidates say they “assisted with program delivery” but never explain what they actually handled. Assisted how? With what? For whom? Under what guidelines? With what result? The more precise you are, the less the panel has to guess.
Stakeholder consultation
Governance and risk management
Written communication
Data informed decision making
Issues management
Cross agency coordination
Process and service improvement
Employment History
Senior Policy Officer, State Government Department, Sydney NSW
August 2021 to Present
Develop policy advice and implementation material for a public service program involving community stakeholders, service providers and internal delivery teams.
Prepare policy briefs, discussion papers and executive correspondence on program delivery issues, emerging risks and implementation options.
Analyse stakeholder feedback, operational data and policy requirements to identify practical recommendations for senior decision makers.
Coordinate input from legal, finance, communications and regional delivery teams to support timely and accurate advice.
Led the review of internal guidance material, improving consistency in how regional teams interpreted eligibility and escalation requirements.
Draft responses to ministerial and executive enquiries, ensuring advice is accurate, clear and aligned with current policy settings.
Support governance meetings by preparing agenda papers, tracking actions and briefing senior officers on unresolved risks.
Build constructive relationships with service providers and internal stakeholders to clarify concerns, manage expectations and support implementation.
Identify process gaps and recommend improvements to reduce duplication across reporting and approval workflows.
Policy and Projects Officer, University Sector, Sydney NSW
March 2019 to July 2021
Supported policy development, project coordination and governance reporting across student services and compliance related initiatives.
Researched policy issues, prepared summary papers and contributed to recommendations for senior committees.
Coordinated stakeholder consultation sessions and synthesised feedback into clear themes and action items.
Supported the implementation of revised procedures by preparing communication material, updating guidance and responding to staff questions.
Maintained project documentation, risk registers and status reports for multiple concurrent initiatives.
Improved reporting templates to make decision points, risks and responsibilities clearer for committee members.
Education
Master of Public Policy
University of Sydney, 2018
Bachelor of Communication
University of Technology Sydney, 2016
Technical Skills
Policy research and analysis
Briefing papers and executive correspondence
Microsoft Office and SharePoint
Governance documentation
Consultation synthesis
Risk and issue registers
Data interpretation and reporting
Referees
Available on request.
An APS 6 resume needs to show judgement, complexity and ownership. Not just “I wrote documents”. Plenty of people write documents. The question is whether those documents helped decision makers understand issues, risks and options.
This example works because it shows the candidate operating between policy, delivery, governance and stakeholders. That is often the reality of APS 6 work. You are rarely working in a neat little box. You are translating messy information into something useful.
The strongest APS 6 resumes usually show:
Ownership of a defined workstream
Ability to prepare advice with limited supervision
Stakeholder coordination across different interests
Understanding of risk, governance and implementation
Written communication that supports decisions
Practical judgement when information is incomplete
A weak APS 6 resume often reads like an APS 4 resume with more adjectives. “Highly developed communication skills” does not prove anything. Evidence does.
Complex stakeholder management
Governance, risk and assurance
Program delivery and implementation
Cross agency collaboration
Ministerial and parliamentary support
Workforce planning and prioritisation
Continuous improvement
Employment History
Assistant Director, Program Delivery, Queensland Government, Brisbane QLD
January 2022 to Present
Lead a small team responsible for program governance, reporting and delivery support for a statewide public service initiative involving regional teams, service providers and executive stakeholders.
Lead and coach a team of six staff, setting priorities, reviewing work quality and supporting capability development through regular feedback and guidance.
Provide strategic and operational advice to senior executives on delivery risks, stakeholder issues, reporting trends and implementation options.
Oversee preparation of briefs, dashboards, correspondence and governance papers, ensuring advice is clear, accurate and decision ready.
Manage competing priorities across reporting, stakeholder engagement, issue resolution and executive requests.
Led a review of program reporting processes, reducing duplication and improving the visibility of high risk delivery issues for senior leaders.
Chair internal working groups to resolve cross functional issues involving policy, finance, operations and regional delivery teams.
Build and maintain relationships with external partners, helping manage expectations and resolve complex implementation concerns.
Support workforce planning by monitoring team workload, reallocating priorities and identifying capability gaps.
Ensure program advice and documentation aligns with governance requirements, funding obligations and public sector accountability standards.
Senior Policy Officer, Federal Government Contractor, Brisbane QLD
May 2019 to December 2021
Provided senior policy and project support for a Commonwealth funded service delivery program.
Developed briefing material, implementation updates and options papers for senior government stakeholders.
Coordinated input across legal, communications, data and operations teams to support timely advice.
Managed consultation activities with service providers and synthesised feedback into practical recommendations.
Supported issue resolution during implementation by identifying risks, clarifying accountabilities and preparing escalation advice.
Mentored junior team members in briefing quality, stakeholder communication and policy analysis.
Education
Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management
Queensland University of Technology, 2021
Bachelor of Laws
Griffith University, 2016
Technical Skills
Executive briefs and ministerial correspondence
Governance papers and dashboards
Program reporting and assurance
Risk management
Stakeholder engagement
Microsoft Office, SharePoint and Power BI
Team leadership and performance feedback
Referees
Available on request.
EL1 resumes need to show leadership, judgement and accountability. This does not always mean managing a huge team. It means operating with a broader view of the work, making decisions, advising upwards and helping others deliver.
A good EL1 resume shows that you can handle ambiguity. That matters because EL1 roles often sit in the uncomfortable middle: senior enough to be accountable, close enough to the work to know when things are messy, and not always senior enough to control every decision. Delightful little sandwich of responsibility, really.
This example works because it shows:
Team leadership
Executive advice
Risk management
Governance
Stakeholder complexity
Delivery accountability
Improvement of systems and processes
The resume does not just say “led a team”. It explains what leadership involved: setting priorities, reviewing quality, coaching staff and managing workload. That is much more useful to a panel.
Written communication expectations
Leadership requirements
Security, citizenship or clearance requirements
Then adjust your resume so the most relevant evidence is easy to find.
This does not mean stuffing the resume with keywords until it reads like a government word salad. It means using the same language where it genuinely matches your experience.
For example, if the job pack mentions “briefing material”, do not hide your briefing experience under “documents”. If it mentions “stakeholder engagement”, show the actual stakeholders and purpose. If it mentions “program assurance”, show your reporting, compliance, risk or governance experience.
The panel is not awarding points for mystery.
Mirror the employer’s language where it is accurate.
If the job ad says:
Policy advice
Program delivery
Case management
Stakeholder engagement
Ministerial correspondence
Governance support
Data analysis
Compliance monitoring
Service delivery
Risk management
Use those terms naturally in your resume, but attach them to evidence.
Weak Example
“Excellent stakeholder engagement skills.”
Good Example
“Engaged regularly with regional service providers, internal policy teams and finance officers to clarify program requirements, resolve documentation issues and support timely payment processing.”
That is the difference between a claim and evidence.
Demonstrated ability
Highly developed skills
Proven track record
Results driven professional
Excellent communication skills
Strong stakeholder engagement
Works well independently and in a team
These phrases are not always wrong, but they are incomplete. If you use them, support them with specific evidence.
For APS 5, APS 6 and EL1 roles, complexity matters. The panel wants to know what made the work difficult.
Was there policy ambiguity? Competing stakeholder views? Tight timeframes? Sensitive information? Legislative constraints? High volume delivery? Public scrutiny? Incomplete data? Cross agency coordination?
Do not just say the work was complex. Show the reason.
Private sector experience can be valuable for APS roles, especially in operations, finance, HR, technology, project management, communications and customer service. But you need to translate it.
For example, “sales targets” may be less relevant than stakeholder management, reporting, compliance, service quality or process improvement. “Account management” may translate into client relationship management, issue resolution and contract support.
Do not erase your private sector experience. Reframe it for APS relevance.
Leadership
Governance
They are specific. They show context. They help the panel understand the work.
Weak bullets usually sound like job descriptions. Strong bullets sound like evidence.
A good test is this: could another candidate copy your bullet and use it without changing much? If yes, it is probably too generic.
Case management
Briefing material
Ministerial correspondence
Executive support
Data analysis
Reporting
Procurement
Grants administration
Records management
Legislative frameworks
Public sector accountability
Continuous improvement
Written communication
Team leadership
Cross agency collaboration
The better approach is to connect keywords to proof.
Instead of writing:
“Strong governance experience.”
Write:
“Prepared governance papers, maintained action registers and briefed senior officers on unresolved delivery risks across a multi stakeholder program.”
That gives the keyword a job.
Time management
Escalation of complex matters
Do not overcomplicate it. Show that you can do the work well and understand the environment.
At APS 5, the panel expects stronger judgement, more independence and the ability to contribute to program, policy or operational outcomes.
Your resume should show:
Interpretation of guidelines or procedures
Stakeholder coordination
Reporting and analysis
Problem solving
Contribution to improvements
Management of competing priorities
Clear written communication
Support for decision making
APS 5 candidates often fail when they only describe routine tasks. Show that you can think through issues, not just process work.
At APS 6, the panel wants evidence of ownership, complexity and sound judgement.
Your resume should show:
Policy or program advice
Workstream ownership
Briefing and written communication
Stakeholder consultation
Risk identification
Implementation support
Governance awareness
Ability to work with limited supervision
Coaching or informal leadership where relevant
APS 6 is where vague claims become especially risky. The panel needs to see the level of responsibility clearly.
At EL1, your resume should show leadership, accountability and strategic judgement.
Your resume should show:
Team or function leadership
Executive advice
Complex stakeholder management
Governance and assurance
Risk management
Program or policy leadership
Workforce planning
Decision support
Delivery accountability
Coaching and capability building
EL1 resumes should not read like a list of tasks. They should show how you shaped work, supported decisions and improved outcomes.
Have you included relevant systems, frameworks, policy or program exposure?
Is the resume easy to scan?
Does it support the claims made in your pitch or selection criteria?
Have you removed generic phrases that do not add evidence?
Have you checked the page limit and application instructions?
A strong APS resume does not need to be dramatic. It needs to be useful. It needs to help the panel see, quickly and confidently, that your experience fits the role and level.
That is what gets candidates shortlisted.
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