I found the recruitment process really great. I have applied for quite a few graduate roles and have been knocked out in the second or third round, so I was very excited and surprised when I made it through to the final round. I have had some negative experiences with some other graduate programs, and I particularly liked that I didn’t need to do any problem solving activities (these are valid for one year so this can impact on if you are able to get through to the third round of a graduate program! I have found this to be really exclusive in the past.) Throughout the whole process, I really felt that the values of the NIAA shone through; it felt like an authentic process, and I felt that my perspective was really valued. I think graduate programs that operate on preferencing people with the highest GPA or the best IQ scores can at times ignore the whole story and undervalues the other important experiences and skills that people might bring to a graduate program. It also ignores other factors maybe someone’s GPA isn’t as competitive because they needed to work while completing their studies, or raise children, or care for a sick loved one, or manage an ongoing health concern, for example. I felt like the recruitment process of NIAA was designed to be inclusive and to be focused towards acknowledging these differences in people’s lives. Throughout the process, I felt that I was able to really put my most authentic self forward, and all of the activities really lent themselves to this. I had some troubleshooting issues with my laptop for one of the rounds, and the recruitment panel were very understanding and made some time for me to have an interview via video phone call instead. I also had some trouble with attachments not uploading, so I was very appreciative that the recruitment panel were able to give me every chance to succeed, all rounds were set up in a way that really tried to minimise any accessibility and usability barriers so I could just focus on what I wanted to say/transfer in the process. I found the interview with the panel particularly encouraging, the questions were very focused and I enjoyed getting a sense of what the agency values through the panel. Throughout the process, I really felt that my experience and what I could bring to the program was valued, and that I was heard and seen.
I was asked about cultural competency, my ability to manage priorities and competing deadlines, and about why I wanted to work for the Agency.
If my experience is anything to go by think about your values and if these align with the agency's. If they do, think about how the experiences in your life lend themselves to some of the activities you go through, and try to apply some examples. Have a look at the graduate page and look at some of the experiences of other grads to give yourself some idea of what your work might look like if you're offered a position. I felt it was important to bring myself to each round, let this shape the way you respond to each activity, instead of how you think you should respond. Above all, think about the purpose of the NIAA how will you contribute to the agency by working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, how will you contribute to the aim of enabling the self-determination of First Nations communities and to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a say in the decisions that affect them across government? In what ways does your experience lend itself to this purpose?