Graduate Recruitment Programs

1
Graduate Recruitment Programs

• Career Workshop 6
• University of Canberra
• www.canberra.edu.au/careers

2
Who are they for?

• Students in their final year of study at
  university
• People who graduated in the past 3-4 years

3
Who offers them?

• The public sector (ie government)
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• NSW Department of Education
• ACT Department of Treasury
• Australia Post
• Medicare
• The private sector (ie large companies)
• Ernst and Young
• Onesteel
• IBM
• Macquarie Bank
• Bovis Construction

4
Who are they looking for?

• Many departments and companies invite
  applications from All Disciplines Human
  Resources, Accounting, Commerce, IT, Arts,
  Science, Law etc
• Every dept, company, bank etc needs corporate
  functions such as IT, accounting, finance, HR.
  The Dept of Defence is not looking only for
  soldiers!! The ANZ bank needs IT and HR personnel
  in order to operate.
• Specialist companies perhaps only engineers, or
  construction management or IT or Accountants

5
Government GRPs

• Only Australian citizens can work for the
  Commonwealth Government.
• Many State governments accept Permanent
  Residents.
• Research and bookmark the departments/agencies
  you are interested in. Check regularly to find
  the GRP dates.
• Applications usually open March/April each year
  for a month or so. Applications for smaller
  departments might open later in the year. ACT
  Govt GRP dates are mid-year.
• Applications are online you need an up-to-date
  CV.

6
Government GRPs contd.

• The whole process can take ten months or so.
• Successful graduates will start the following
  February.
• GRP gives a 12-month induction into the dept or
  agency to familiarise you with its work. You
  might work in several areas in that time.
• Then, you are offered a full-time position. There
  is no guarantee you will be offered a position
  that aligns with your degree, however.

7
What do I do first?

• Written application
• Behavioural questions!!
• What was the Situation? What was the Task? What
  Action did you take? What was the Result?
• The STAR technique! (You met this technique in
  the workshop on Selection Criteria.)

8
Examples of questions ..

• Describe a time when you had several projects
  with competing deadlines. How did you handle it?
  What was the result?
• Tell us about a time when you had to use your
  initiative or think outside the square to
  produce a good outcome.
• Provide an example of when you have been most
  productive. What motivated you? Were you
  successful?
• Do you undertake any community work? If so, what
  do you gain from this activity?
• Why do you wish to work for Medicare/ANZ/Dept of
  Defence?

9
What happens next?

• If they like your written application, they will
  invite you to do some online tests...
• Psychometric tests literacy test, numerical
  test, problem-solving exercises, reasoning etc.
  You will be given a set time to complete these
  tests.
• Sorry, you cant really prepare for these!
• Want more info? Google psychometric tests
• http//www.graduatecareers.com.au/content/view/ful
  l/125

10
Assessment Centres

• Great! You did well on the online tests! You
  could be invited to attend an Assessment Centre!
• Assessment Centres - a number of potential
  candidates are brought to one place, often for
  most of the day, to go through several group
  exercises. Can include a panel interview with the
  recruitment personnel.
• You are being assessed all day long! Be aware of
  this but also do not be stressed by it.

11
Private Sector GRPs

• Essentially work the same way as the government
  GRPs.
• Online written application, online tests,
  assessment centre, personal interview.
• Usually, the selection process is shorter than
  with government GRPs.

12
How many GRPs can I apply for?

• You can apply for as many as you like in both the
  public and private sectors!
• Make sure you keep track of them and know where
  you are up to with each one!
• Dont be discouraged if you are not asked to
  continue with the GRP process you might be
  accepted into other GRPs. Different departments
  or companies are looking for different people and
  different academic disciplines.

13
And if I dont get a position?

• You can do it all again next year!
• This doesnt help you with a job for the year
  after you graduate, but at least you have another
  chance with the company or department you are
  really interested in.
• Remember GRPs are very competitive but do not
  count yourself out.