Digital Graduate Program eligibility and applying

The Digital Graduate Program has an easy-to-use graduate recruitment process, which doesn’t use assessment centres or cognitive testing.

You may want to apply for more than one Queensland Government graduate program . If you have registered on the Graduate Portal  SmartJobs, you may also be notified when other graduate program applications open.

Eligibility

We’re looking for graduates in all aspects of IT development, customer service, design and delivery of services to Queenslanders.

To be eligible for the Digital Graduate Program, you must:

  • have completed a bachelor's degree in IT or a related field within the last 3 years  , or expect to finish your studies by the start of the program in March of the intake year
  • have your bachelor, graduate certificate, or master’s degree in any of the following areas:
    • information technology, cloud computing, cyber security, computer science, data analytics, robotics, telecommunications, information management, mathematics
    • business, marketing, procurement, project management
    • law
    • creative industries, web and multimedia design, user experience design.
  • be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or have permanent residency in Australia
  • be available to start work in March of each intake year or sooner if requested.

Diversity and inclusion

The Queensland Government is a proud employer of a diverse range of people. We encourage people of different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply, including:

  • women
  • people with disability
  • First Nations peoples
  • the LGBTIQ+ community
  • people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
  • mature-age Queenslanders.

Support and reasonable adjustments can be provided to applicants throughout the selection process as required. Email our graduate manager at ictgradprog@qld.gov.au to discuss further.

The recruitment process

The recruitment process is conducted in 5 stages.

|

When applications open , we will provide instructions for completing an online application. You will need to:

  • create a profile
  • upload your resume and academic record
  • create a short video to introduce yourself
  • choose 3 roles you feel would suit your passion and qualifications.

Note: Don’t use your university email address, as it will no longer work after you’ve graduated.

Once you've completed your GradSift profile and applications have closed, applicant lists will be forwarded to the departments seeking those roles.

Each department is responsible for their own recruitment processes, including shortlisting applicants for interview (face to face or via MS Teams).

Departments will contact successful applicants directly for interview.

Interviews will be held in various locations in Brisbane, but mainly in the CBD. MS Teams interviews can be made available to those candidates that are outside the Brisbane region. Most interviews run for approximately 30 minutes.

You'll be asked multiple questions about your interests, abilities and knowledge of our business and strategic direction. Interview panels are usually made up of 3 government employees.

Selection is based on your experience, qualifications and performance at interview. An order of merit will be created, and the successful person will be offered the role. If that person doesn’t accept the role, the panel will refer to the order of merit and, if applicable, offer the role to the next successful candidate.

If you're successful, a representative from the interviewing department will call you to offer you a place on the program.

If you accept, you'll receive a letter of offer once you submit the necessary paperwork and it’s approved (this may include a criminal history consent form, identification and referee checks). This process can take weeks to several months to complete.

You can contact the panel chairperson if you have queries about your interview, timeframe or commencement.

Application and interview advice

Applying for your first job can be overwhelming. We have put together some tips to help you with our application process.

A good resume is vital for gaining an interview. Your resume lay-out should be clear and simple.

Here are a few tips for a good resume:

  1. List your full name, postal and email address and contact phone number (ensure your contact details are correct, or you may miss out on a job).  It’s a good idea to:
    • have a professional voicemail recording and email address (i.e., not hottie89@email.com)
    • not to use a university email address—once you graduate it will no longer be valid.
  2. Include a blurb about you and your work interests. (e.g. where your passion lies and what you really want to achieve at work).
  3. List your education, training qualifications and professional certifications, as well as any professional memberships.
  4. Outline your knowledge and experience using hardware, software, programming languages, databases, etc. This is the first thing employers will look for when filling a technical role.
  5. Include your professional work history and any other relevant work experience, whether paid or unpaid.
  6. List 2 contactable referees, including their name, job title and company (if relevant), email address, contact phone number and relationship to you. Remember to ask their permission before listing them on your resume.
  7. It’s not a good idea to include a photo of yourself, but you may choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile.

Preparing for an interview can improve your chances of making a good impression and securing the job. Here are some tips for your preparation:

  1. You will normally be given a few days' notice before the interview. Check if you're required to bring any documentation or work samples.
  2. Interviews for the public service are conducted by a small panel (usually 3 people).
  3. Interviews are based around set questions. Be prepared with examples that show your job knowledge or relevant experiences—this may be based on university projects, paid or volunteer work.
  4. Depending on the interviewing department, you'll usually have the opportunity to peruse the questions before your interview (generally for 10–15 minutes).
  5. Approach the interview in a confident, considered manner and engage with panel members when you speak. Eye contact is important!
  6. Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question.
  7. Research the organisation to understand their core business and clientele (e.g. the business of government is to serve the community).
  8. If you have any questions about the job or the organisation, note them down and ask them at the end of the interview.
  9. Think about what you will you wear to the interview. The Queensland Government is a professional work environment, so dress accordingly.

Most importantly, be yourself.