GradAustralia surveyed 59 graduates working at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Read on to get an insider’s view on life as a graduate. 59 responses.
Interesting subject matter and travel opportunities.
Working with excellent and inspirational people, working on a very interesting subject matter that is highly relevant to high-profile national and international issues.
Work can be slow, travel and posting opportunities are diminishing by the year, opportunities for autonomy and innovation in work are minimal, work is largely reactive not strategic, most work is process-based, chronically under-resourced.
Long interview process over a period of months. Involves an initial phase of answering selection criteria, cognitive and psychological tests, online essay, and a face-to-face interview. I believe a video interview has also been introduced as a step in the process since I was recruited.
A range of questions, from views on Australian foreign and trade policy objectives, to national security priorities, to more personal and generic questions such as discussing times you faced adversity in the workplace or in your personal life and how you overcame them etc.
Invest a significant amount of time and effort in crafting responses to the selection criteria. The selection committee refer back to these at each step of the interview process, so they form a crucial part of your application. Obviously read key documents on the DFAT website prior to the essay and face-to-face interview, as you will be asked about current priorities.
Very flexible compared with the private corporate sector. Generally work 40 hrs per week. There, however, busy times and you're expected to work overtime. But this usually involves interesting work, so it's worth it.
Competitive pay, although progression through pay grades is slow. Trade off are the perks.
Diplomatic postings - generally for 3 years at a time, accompanied by generous allowances, immunities, and rent-free housing.
This depends on the managers. Most are good at internal communication, but not so much at feedback, praise and recognition.
In the graduate program we get an extensive training program in our first year, and there is a lot of additional training available throughout the year at DFAT.
So long as they meet probation and performance requirements, graduates move through several APS rankings at specified times. You enter the department as an APS 3, and can expect to move to APS 5 during your first posting (after 3-5 years in the department). You must then enter promotion rounds subsequent to that, which seem to reward people with promotions based on how long they've been in the department rather than merit. You can expect to wait 15 years to move to director level (EL2).
Most diverse workplace in which I have worked.
There is an indigenous traineeship programme.
Not sure of the programs. Aid programs have several requirements regarding ethical behaviour and procurement practices.
Given the amount of flying we do and paper we use, not great efforts in this area.