The right job for you

The NSW Government is Australia’s largest employer. We have jobs available in many different agencies and locations.We look for the right candidates for roles by focusing on your capabilities, experience, strengths and potential.

We want you to find a job that matches with your passions and interests. Think about these, along with your skills and experience, to decide which jobs are right for you.

Finding the right job

Understanding job ads

Our job ads have a lot of important information including some things you might not be familiar with. We describe employment based on its duration:

  • Ongoing employment – jobs where there is no end date.
  • Term employment – jobs for senior executives that are for a limited time or purpose.
  • Temporary employment – jobs for non-executives that are for a limited time or purpose.
  • Casual employment – jobs for non-executives that may:
    • be short-term
    • have irregular hours
    • have no guarantee of hours
    • have no paid sick leave or annual leave
    • end without notice.

The ad will also include information on:

  • the hiring agency
  • the job
  • what we are looking for in the ideal candidate
  • how to apply.

The contact person listed in the ad can help you with any specific information you need and answer questions about the role.

Flexible working

The NSW Government commits to flexible working for all roles. The availability of flexible working options will depend on the requirements of the job you are applying for. Flexible working means making a change to when or where you work, or how you arrange your work. Flexible working options are things like:

  • adjusting start and finish times
  • working remotely
  • job sharing
  • part-time work.

The job ad may mention options for flexible working. Otherwise, speak to the job’s contact person about options or opportunities.

Mobility and career development

We use the term mobility when employees move jobs within the NSW Government.

When you are in a role you may express your interest in other roles. These could be at the same or higher level and could be at the same workplace or a different one.

Moving to different roles can be a good way to broaden your skills and experience to develop your career.

Deciding to apply for a job

Once you have found a role that interests you and matches your skills and experience, there are some key steps you can take to make sure the role is right for you and prepare for your application.

Review the job ad

When you review the job ad it is important to consider whether you meet all the essential requirements, and whether the job fits with your skills and career goals.

Even if you don’t meet all the essential job requirements, it may still be right for you. It's important that you can show you meet the focus capabilities listed in the job description, other skills can be developed on the job.

Review our Capability Framework to get a better understanding of what core requirements are needed for the job.

Review information on the job and agency

Visiting the website of the agency you are thinking of applying for will help you to build your understanding of the job, and to get a feel for the work the agency does.

The job description has key information that may help you to decide whether to apply for the job. It explains the jobs purpose, deliverables, challenges, and interaction. The job description will also give you the essential requirements and capabilities needed for the role, and the knowledge and experience.

Use our Capability Discovery Tool to examine your knowledge, skills and abilities, and how they match up to our roles and grade system.

If you are applying for a digital role, our Digital Careers Pathway tool can help you better understand what digital roles currently exist in NSW Government and which agencies they sit in.

Speak to the contact person

Contacting the person listed in the job ad can help you know if you have the right skills and experience for the role. The contact person can answer questions about the role, explain the work of the agency, discuss flexible working options, and help you get any additional support you might need through the application process.

Your call to the contact person is an opportunity for you to make a positive first impression if you do decide to apply for the role.