Help Centre
The JobsNSW website is the search engine for vacancies within the NSW Government. This website amalgamates all advertised roles from agencies within the public sector.
The next sections on this page gives information on NSW Government careers related queries, tips on using the search engine and general enquiries regarding online applications
For information about applications lodged with specific agencies, please select the appropriate option below.
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JobsNSW (All other agencies)
Applying
How do I obtain the status of my job application?
You will receive email updates throughout the recruitment process and you can phone the contact officer specified within the advertisement. The contact officer will be able to provide you with any relevant information regarding your application.
What time does a job close?
Generally, you will be able to submit your application for a position until 11.59 p.m. on the final day that the role is advertised. However, the job advertisement may specify a different closing time. Please ensure that you are aware of the closing time and date if are interested in applying for a role.
Applications cannot be submitted through the website after the job has closed. This includes DRAFT applications. The ‘submit’ button will be disabled if you have not completed the application by stated closing time.
If the job advertisement does not specify when the job closes please phone the contact officer specified in the advertisement.
How do I log in to access my previous applications?
For information about applications lodged with specific agencies, please select the appropriate option below.
If you are unsure of which agency or department you have submitted your application to, refer to the confirmation email received upon submission and log in as appropriate.
How can I get more information about an advertised vacancy?
Each advertised vacancy should provide an information package or Link related to the position that will provide you with more information. If you would like further information on any aspect of the role, please refer to the contact officer listed within the advertisement.
Common NSW Government Questions
What experience do I need to work for NSW Government?
This depends on what type of work you are interested in. Each role advertised identifies Knowledge, Skills, Capabilities and experience required to undertake the role. Each recruitment action will involve various methods of assessing any qualifications, work experience, knowledge and skills or abilities needed.
The NSW public sector offers a very wide range of job types and we have jobs for people at all levels of their career - from entry level jobs and frontline jobs through to supervisory and management roles to executive level and many in between.
Can I apply for NSW Government vacancies if I am not an Australian citizen?
For permanent jobs in the NSW Public Sector, you need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. For most temporary jobs, you need a visa that gives you permission to work in Australia for the term of the contract..
See Department of Immigration & Citizenship for information about requirements for Visas, Working Permits and Australian Citizenship.
Can anyone do work experience with a government organisation?
Generally yes, however, individual agencies decide if they will offer periods of work experience. All enquiries should be directed to the organisation you are interested in doing work experience with.
What is merit based Employment? How does this affect the recruitment process?
The NSW Public Sector recruits people based on merit, which means that from a field of applicants, we need to select the best applicant suited to the requirements of the role and the needs of the Public Service agency in which the person is to be employed.
To do this we compare all applicants’ skills, experience and abilities against the capabilities, knowledge and experience standards for the role. We use various assessment methods including written applications, capability-based assessments,behavioral interviews and referee checks, to collect the evidence needed to make a merit-based decision.
The NSW Public Sector Capability Framework provides a common foundation for creating and recruiting to roles [link to Capability Framework], which can be supplemented by occupation / profession specific capability sets.
What is an Assessment Panel Process?
This process includes:
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Review of your application i.e. your cover letter (including responses to targeted questions); and your resume /CV review;
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At least 3 capability-based assessments, one of which is a behavioral interview; and
- Rigorous ‘fit-for-purpose’ reference and background checking (which may include 360° reference checks to verify your employment and performance claims (as discussed above).
This approach allows the full spectrum of capabilities for the role to be assessed using different tools or methods, and at different stages of the assessment process.
Using the Search Engine
How do I search?
Getting started with your search
Step 1. In the keyword or Job Reference/ID field, type a description of the kind of job you are looking for - such as a job title and or a skill or qualification.
This search is a keyword search. This means that when you type your search words without quotation marks around the phrase, the search will return job listings that contain at least one of those words in either the job title or description.
Step 2. You have the option to select search now. Alternatively you can complete more fields to narrow your search.
You can improve your search results by following our job search tips or refine your search by using the advanced search page.
Searching for exact phrases
To find jobs containing an exact phrase, put double quotation marks around the words.
For example, type "Policy officer" to search for all jobs containing that phrase either in the title or the description.
Searching for complex phrases
Alternatively you can use complex phrases, often called Boolean logic, to fine-tune your search.
For example, to return all jobs that contain the term healthcare and either the word manager or director, type the following in the keyword or Job Reference field:
(manager OR director) AND healthcare
To improve your results, you can continue to revise the search as follows:
(manager OR director) AND (healthcare) NOT sales
Narrowing your search
If your search returns a large number of jobs, you can try the following:
Try adding more terms to the keyword or Job Reference/ID field and search again.
Another great tip: exclude jobs containing certain keywords. Just type the word NOT before any terms you don't want. For example: contract NOT lawyer
Broadening your search
To find all jobs that fit your interests, you may need to broaden your keyword search. One way is to use the word OR between terms. If you are looking for a management position, for example, you could enter: manager OR director. This will return all jobs that contain either the word manager or the word director.
Step 3. Select the Salary band option that reflects the level of salary you would like.
Step 4. In the Location field, select the option(s) for where you want to find a job.
Step 5. Select the Job Category (ies) most closely aligned to the field you would like to be employed in.
Step 6. Select the Government Agency / Organisation / entity you are interested in. Select Search
Step 7. Select the type of employment arrangement you would like to have.
NB If you select fulltime the results will show full time on-going and full time contract / temporary as well as Graduate and Apprenticeship positions. However if you select fulltime and contract/temporary the search will return only temporary /Contract work with a fulltime hour load.
Step 8. Select the time period in which you would like to search for advertised vacancies by selecting the preferred option from the drop down list in the Advertising date field.
Complete as many fields as you wish to complete understanding that the more fields completed the more refined your search will be.
Teaching Service in NSW Schools.
To refine the search for vacancies in NSW schools a series of fields will be activates when NSW Schools is Selected in the Government Agency / Organisation / Entity field.
The Staffing Area field
This field allows you to select the area within NSW in which you would like to teach. The search will return schools with vacancies in the nominated area.
How do I access my previous applications?
For information about applications lodged with specific agencies, please select the appropriate option below.
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JobsNSW (All other agencies)
If you are unsure of which agency or department you have submitted your application to, refer to the confirmation email received upon submission and log in as appropriate.
Who do I contact if I need technical support?
Refer to the confirmation email received upon submission and log in as appropriate. Support or Help details will be displayed on the home page of the system. Technical support for the jobs.nsw search engine is available through email support@jobs.nsw.gov.au or telephone 1800 562 679