We want enthusiastic, talented people to join our professional and diverse organisation and share in the benefits and rewards that come with working in Local Government.
The following information is provided to assist you in understanding our recruitment and selection process.
Good luck with your application!
How and where to find a job
We advertise our jobs in the following locations:
- Bankstown City Council website via the Employment Opportunities page
- Sydney Morning Herald on either a Tuesday or Saturday
- Daily Telegraph Newspaper
- Local Newspapers, particularly the 'Torch' on Wednesdays
- Internet job search sites such as seek.com.au
Once you have found a job that you would like to apply for, you should collect as much information about the job as you can, using the following sources:
Advertisement: The advertisement for the role will provide you with the basic details of the role.
Position Description: The position description covers the details of the skills, knowledge and abilities (Qualifications and Experience) required for the role. You should read and familiarise yourself with the position description. The position description can be found on the Employment Opportunities page of our website.
Contact Person: Any queries you have regarding the position should be directed to the contact person as stated in the advertisement.
Council Website: The Council website can provide you with information about our community, services, functions and the Council in general. Use it to assist you in writing your application.
Applying for a job with us
There is no set format for your job application, however it must be clear, concise, and directly relate to the job applied for.
Your application should consist of:
1. Letter of application (covering letter)
2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Letter of application
The key to being selected for an interview is your application. Although there is no right or wrong way to format your written application, you must address the selection criteria (listed under "Qualifications and Experience" in the position description).
In your application letter provide examples, which demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria.
If you have transferable skills, ability or knowledge in areas relevant to the selection criteria but which have been developed as a result of your activities outside the workplace, you should include them as evidence of your capacity to meet the criteria.
Resume
Your resume should be clear and concise, and should include the following:
- Full name, address, telephone contact number
- A summary of your employment history, experience, education, and the name and telephone number of two (2) referees (people who have directly supervised you or who have knowledge of your capacity to perform the duties of the advertised position)
Points to remember
- Use spell-check
- Be positive in the language you use
- Include examples of your achievements and level of responsibility
- Avoid the use of plural, eg. we implemented. We are interested in hearing about you.
- It is essential that you clearly identify the Position Title and Position Number as quoted in the advertisement.
Closing date
All applications must be received by 5pm on the stated closing date.
Late Applications
Applications received after the closing date will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring they meet the closing date. The closing date appears in each position vacant advertisement.
The selection process
All applicants are given an equal chance to apply for a position with Council and our recruitment and selection process is conducted in accordance with the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity.
All of our selection decisions are made on the basis of merit. A merit-based decision is determined according to the nature of the duties of the position, which is assessed against the abilities, qualifications, experience and standard of work performance of the people who have applied for the job. Put simply, Council will select the best person for the job!
Selection process
After finding the job you are interested in and applying for it the selection process will commence as follows;
- Assessment
- Interview (sometimes a 2nd Interview)
- Reference checking
- Other checks: where relevant, a pre-employment medical examination, 'Working with Children' check, a copy of your driving record from the RTA maybe requested.
- Notification of appointment/unsuccessful
Note: Culling occurs after each step.
1. Assessment
We use ability assessments in the first stage of the selection process. The assessment will be selected depending on the requirements of the role and are used to measure the relevant ability required for the role.
Human Resources will endeavour to meet any special requirement(s) you may have to enable you to attend the assessment.
2. Interview
Interview questions will be designed to help the selection panel assess how well you match the selection criteria. All interviewees will be asked the same set of questions.
You will be asked behavioural-based questions in relation to how you have dealt with situations in the past. We want to know about the situation or task, what you did and what was the result or outcome.
3. Reference checking
These are only carried out for the interviewee who was the strongest overall performer during the interview. You should provide this information on your application. Ideally, your referees should be previous supervisors.
4. Other checks
Pre-employment medical examination
For relevant roles and in the interest of providing a safe and healthy workplace, our recruitment and selection process may include a pre-employment medical examination. The medical will take place at one of Council's chosen providers and will be conducted at the Council's expense.
Working with Children check
For relevant roles we may be required to conduct the 'Working with Children' check. Bankstown City Council provides many services in which employees may work directly with, or supervise children in our community. Those employees who are likely to be in such roles are subject to the 'Working with Children' check prior to their employment being confirmed. Results of checks are treated with confidentiality.
5. Notification of appointment/unsuccessful
As soon as a decision is made, the successful candidate will be notified. Candidates who were interviewed but were unsuccessful will be notified by email.
If you are applying for more than one position
If you wish to apply for more than one position at the same time, please complete a separate application for each position online.