APS1 · Resume guide
APS1 Resume Guide: Your Foot in the Door of the Public Service
APS1 is the lowest substantive band in the Australian Public Service — typically administrative or clerical work performed under close supervision. Most APS1 candidates are recent school leavers, mature-age career changers, or people moving from operational work in retail, hospitality, or community services. The challenge is signalling reliability and basic capability without over-claiming.
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APS1 salary range
Approximately A$56,000 – A$63,000 per year (Commonwealth APS1, 2026 indicative).
What an APS1 actually does
APS1 officers perform routine clerical, administrative, or operational tasks under close direction. They follow established procedures, contribute to team workflow, and develop basic understanding of agency systems. The work is structured, supervised, and predictable — panels are looking for candidates who can follow instructions accurately, show up consistently, and develop into APS3 within 12–18 months.
What hiring panels weight at APS1
- Reliability evidence: attendance, punctuality, completing tasks accurately. Even retail or hospitality work counts strongly here.
- Basic written and verbal communication. Plain English, accurate, professional in tone.
- Comfort with following procedure. Show that you can pick up a process and execute it consistently.
- Customer service in any context — APS1 work often involves citizens calling or emailing in.
- Willingness to learn, evidenced by short courses, certifications, or specific examples of skills picked up.
Weak vs strong: APS1 language
Same underlying experience, framed two ways. The first is what most candidates write. The second is what scores at APS1.
Generic / over-claiming
“I am a passionate and motivated individual who is looking to make a difference in the community.”
APS1-style (band-appropriate)
“Worked 25 hours per week for two years at Coles Glenelg, balancing study commitments with a perfect attendance record. Trained four new team members in checkout and stock procedures, and was the team's nominated lead for closing-shift cash handling.”
Common reasons APS1 applications get rejected
- 1Over-claiming. APS1 is genuinely entry-level; using leadership language reads as either dishonest or naive.
- 2Listing degrees without showing capability. APS1 panels are not impressed by qualifications that aren't backed by experience.
- 3Generic personality claims ("hard worker", "team player"). Show, don't tell.
- 4Underselling part-time or casual work. Three years in a busy retail environment is real evidence of reliability and customer service.
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