How to Apply

Who can work for the City of Busselton? 

The City employs people who can legally work in Australia. These include:

• Australian citizens
• New Zealand citizens
• Permanent residents
• Temporary residents with permission to work in Australia

Inclusive Careers

The City is committed to providing equal opportunities and promoting inclusive careers.

We welcome and encourage job applicants from a variety of diverse backgrounds to apply for our career opportunities, such as:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
• People living with disabilities;
• People from diverse cultural backgrounds; and
• People of all ages and experience

Your Application

Your application is important as it will determine whether you progress through to the next stage of the selection process. Carefully read the position description to make sure you understand the role and determine the suitability of your skills, experience and qualifications in comparison to what we are seeking.

Please ensure you check that the salary and entitlements match your expectations. (Being a local government with a set salary scale, there may be little room for negotiation).

Before starting the online application process, it would be helpful to have your documentation pre-prepared.  You will need to have:

Up-to-date resume:

• Your personal details including name, locality, telephone number and email address.
• A summary of your skills and relevant work history.
• Education, training courses attended and qualifications.
• Licences and professional membership.

Cover letter:

• This is a brief letter used to introduce yourself and highlight your motivations in applying to work for the City.
• Ensure your cover letter is relevant to the role that you are applying for.

Selection criteria:

• The selection criteria to address in your application will likely be listed in the advertisement. The full position requirements will be in the supporting position description attached to the advertisement.
• To respond to the selection criteria please ensure you list each selection criteria under a separate heading.
• Each point should be responded to in succinct paragraphs (keeping it under half page for each point).
• The STAR principle is a good way to address selection criteria

Situation – Provide an outline of the situation, setting or challenge you faced.

Task – Provide an outline of what you did.

Action – Explain how you handled the situation or overcame the challenge.

Result – Describe the outcome

Licences, Certificates and/or Qualifications:

• We may request these as attachments to support your application or ask to sight them if selected for interview.

Applicants living with a disability

The application process for candidates living with a disability is the same as it would be for any other candidate applying for a position at the City of Busselton. If you work with a Disability Employment Service, you can have them contact us directly to discuss any specific needs you may have. We can also advise your Disability Employment Service on the progress of the application.

The City is able to discuss adjustments/workplace modifications you may require.

The Selection Process

Shortlisting:

The Selection Panel will review and shortlist applications ideally within two weeks of the closing date. Candidates will be assessed against the selection criteria (therefore it is important that you address this if asked to do so), as well as general skills and experience.

If you are unsuccessful for interview, you will be notified by email.

Interviews:

We will contact candidates shortlisted for an interview by phone to arrange a suitable time to attend.

Interviews will typically be held with a panel of two or more members and questions will generally be based around the selection criteria and job requirements.

Our preference is to hold interviews in person (at a City of Busselton site). Alternatively we can arrange Zoom interviews where circumstances permit. Any costs to attend an interview will be at your own expense.

We appreciate that interviews can be a nerve wracking experience and we will do our best to make you as comfortable as possible. We have outlined some suggestions on how you can best prepare for an interview.

Helpful Interview Tips:

• Double check the interview confirmation email including date, time and where it will be held.
• Plan your travel time and aim to arrive at least ten minutes before your interview.
• Do some research on the City and the position. The advertisement will include a copy of the position description and it may be helpful to make notes or highlight sections you wish to query or discuss during the interview.
• Ensure you are dressed appropriately and well groomed. Smart casual is the best approach regardless of the position.
• During the interview, be aware of your body language.
• Each panel member may ask you questions. Ensure you listen carefully to the questions. If you are unsure or don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask for the question to be repeated or for clarification.
• The majority of questions are behavioural based. Try to provide an example of your actions in related situations and the resulting outcomes. This will help to demonstrate your experience and suitability for the role. Ensure you respond to all parts of the question.
• At the end of the interview, if you have any questions or information to help support your application make sure you mention this. 

Next Steps

If you are selected as a preferred candidate the next steps may include reference checking, pre-employment medical screening, background checks, psychometric or other skills testing.

All appointments must be approved by the CEO before an offer of employment can be made.

Any other queries please contact Human Resources on (08) 9781 1727 or human.resources@busselton.wa.gov.au