Application Process & Interviews at Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Interview process was kinda long and assessments were thorough. I know a lot of tenant colleagues were employed through the ABS Graduate Recruitment process.

Resume and summary of work experience using STAR. Video interview. face to face interview. Clear communication on how the process is progressing

It was well explained and thorough. I understood what was expected of me.

COVID-19 style interview process - application (including multiple choice data-related questions), video questions and video interview (including preparation of a 20-min presentation on a key economic indicator). From start to finish, process was approx. 7-8 months.

Started an application with resume, research task and various other application details. Then into video interview, and then into face-to-face interview (Live-Video interview at local office).

Interview Process consisted of a structured response and answer required prior to interview with appropriate reasoning. Interview then occurred in front of numerous both virtual and in person staff.

There were applications, a recorded interview and a face to face interview.

Logical, kept people informed of the process and requirements and giving advice and support on how to prepare

Video interview was very nerve wrecking and stressful. The in-person panel interview was much more comfortable and the panel were very nice and welcoming.

1. Online application 2. Video interview 3. Panel interview

Online , video and in person

1. Initial application stage - had to write a short analysis on a social statistics question. 2. Online interview - quite lengthy and there was a curve-ball analysis question which also required a bit of existing knowledge/prior research. 3. Face to face interview - relatively simple, they gave me the questions before hand which I found a bit strange. I had 15 minutes or so in a room by myself to think about responses and then I was interviewed by 2 people who asked me the questions I had already created responses too. It wasn't too difficult.

Interview process for the graduate program was almost completely irrelevant for the data science stream. Questions not related to actual roles available. Roles available are generally related to SAS programming, not data science. Process was incredibly long. Outcomes announced later than other grad programs elsewhere.

Graduate recruitment involved an online application, a quiz involving the ABS website, a technical pitch, a one way video interview, and a panel interview.

Video interviews are unnatural and a lot of people do not show their true capability in them. The assessment criteria is usually too generic to the position and there is no swaying from the hard line framework that is in place, therefore people who are most suitable for roles do not get them if they make a single insignificant mistake.

Online questions, answering questions based on things on ABS website, online interview, Panel Interview

Describe what frameworks you are familiar with Why automated testing and when to use it What is DevOps And some behaviour questions.

Provide instances where you have demonstrated...... What are your strengths? Why do you want this position.

Which APS value resonates with you and why... I can't remember the others but that was one of them.

A time I demonstrated teamwork, leadership, etc. An ethical dilemma (how I dealt with a time my ethics were different to another's). To prepare a 20-min presentation on unemployment figures. To comment on a COVID-19 infographic (explaining the data, how it was presented etc.) A time I dealt with a workplace conflict/disagreement (how I solved this or contributed to finding a solution).

What area you might like to go into Given a few categories, choose one and explain how you might use it to provide value to the ABS (In I.T. for example, AI and machine learning was the one I chose)

Questions relating to the job role and company values/purpose

There were technical questions in both the video and the panel interview focusing on data interpretation and usage. Questions relating to problem solving and conflict resolution were also included.

3 problem solving ones and and 1 technical

1. Tell me about yourself 2. Why do you want to work at the ABS? 3. Some analysis questions based on data they had given me

Why did you choose to work at the ABS? What can you bring to the organization?

There were questions related to statistical modelling, version control (Git), machine learning, data wrangling, and some programming (R). With the exception of data wrangling, none of these topics are relevant to the work available within the data science stream currently. The roles involve transforming datasets using SAS (think of it as data engineering, but without the industry standard tools such as databases or cloud platforms).

Technical questions about coding experience, previous work experience. To describe how I would deal with issues in a dataset and describe past experiences dealing with similar issues

Note down your achievements that are relevant to the position . Prepare a few good examples .

Sell yourself. Be confident. Research the position and what is involved.

Understand the APS language, there is a good resource "Cracking the Code" that is helpful.

Look at the APS values and prepare examples when you demonstrated each of these. Look at the integrated leadership system at the level that you are coming into (and see what you would be expected to achieve/demonstrate).

Do some research into the ABS and the organization structure, and how you might apply and use your skills in which area you want to go into, to contribute to the organization. Otherwise, be prepared with some real-work examples/ideas you can use in the interview.

Look at the criteria, look at the role expectations for that level online as well and make sure you have STAR examples ready for each criteria, more then one if possible.

Familiarise with the organisation's values/purpose and prepare specific examples against job roles and selection criteria

Think about how data can be applied in different scenarios / agencies (i.e. funding, housing infrastructure) and how the ABS contributes to society.

Do your research about the ABS in general and make sure you can clearly explain why you want to work here.

Make contacts within the teams/areas you wish to work in. Find out as much as possible about potential roles available.

Be yourself, be honest. If you put experience on your resume, be prepared to prove your knowledge in the interview.

Get practise questions and come up with examples to check the criteria boxes