Application Process & Interviews at Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

I submitted an application online with a resume attached, then was invited to an assessment centre at the Melbourne office. The assessment centre involved three parts; a group task, a work task and an individual interview. I then had to complete online testing. My references were then called and I was offered the job.

Compared with other public service job applications, this one wasn't too bad. It involved three stages: (1) application, including answering a couple of short answer questions (2) assessment centre, including an interview, a written task and a group task (3) online aptitude test Applications were then assessed based on performance in all areas, with the assessment centre stage weighted the most. During the interview, staff were really friendly and encouraging.

While challenging, the interviewers made an extra effort to make you feel comfortable. This helped calm my nerves.

The interview process was rigorous but also quite stilted and inflexible. It could be improved - it wasn't reflective of the organization once I started working there, so don't be put off if it feels odd.

Assessment centre, interview, online testing

The interviews focused primarily around the work of the organization and some personal questions based on my experiences.

The interviewers asked broad questions about what and why the organisation does what it does.

I was asked what I (missing word) about the organization. Apparently responses to this question is an area interviewees seem to lack most.

A variety of motivational questions and some technical questions, designed to assess our interest in the area.

Firstly, make sure you know what the organization does and why. What does it do for society/consumers? How does it decide what work to take on? What have been its priority work areas in the last few years?

Read through the organisation website (both ACCC and AER) and learn about what they do. Learn about what the priority areas are for that year and peruse news items (either on the website or google) that relate to those priority areas. Think about how the work of the organisation relates to whatever study background you have (ie economics, finance, law). Prepare practice answers and practice saying them aloud.

Know what the organization does! If you've interned here before, don't assume the interview is a rubber stamp process. Be shiny!

Engage fully with the incredible breadth of work the ACCC does. You will rotate through lots of areas in your grad year so showing you have an interest in more than just one narrow area of our work is important for your success.