If you are applying for a Victorian Government role, your resume needs to do more than just list jobs and skills.
Victoria’s public sector recruitment process places heavy emphasis on Key Selection Criteria (KSC), STAR-format evidence, and the Victorian Public Sector Values. This guide answers the most common questions job seekers ask about Victorian Government resumes.
Do I Need to Follow a Victorian Government Resume Template?
There’s no single mandated template for all Victorian Government departments so you don’t need to follow a specific resume template.
However, department guidelines often recommend:
- Chronological structure (most recent role first)
- A professional summary tailored to the role
- Bullet-pointed achievements for each position
- Avoidance of overly creative designs that might confuse ATS parsing
How Should My Resume Work with Key Selection Criteria (KSC)?
This is one of the most common questions we get.
In Victoria, your application normally includes two documents:
- Resume – outlining your work history, qualifications, and achievements
- KSC Response – addressing each criterion using STAR examples
Don’t repeat your full STAR examples in your resume, keep them concise in the CV, and save the detailed STAR responses for the KSC document. Your resume should complement your KS document.
Should My Resume Still Use STAR Format?
Yes, your resume should use STAR format, but in a condensed form.
For each achievement bullet:
- Situation/Task: 1 sentence
- Action: 1 sentence
- Result: 1 sentence
This gives enough context without making your resume read like a selection criteria response.
How Long Should a Victorian Government Resume Be?
- Entry to mid-level roles: 2–3 pages
- Senior/executive roles: 3–4 pages
The focus is on relevance, not length. Don’t include unrelated roles unless they demonstrate transferable skills.
Do I Need to Address the Victorian Public Sector Values?
If the role description emphasises them, we recommend you weave the VPS values into your achievement statements.
The values are:
- Responsiveness
- Integrity
- Impartiality
- Accountability
- Respect
- Leadership
- Human rights
Example:
“Delivered project milestones transparently and on schedule, ensuring full accountability and compliance with governance requirements.”
Should I Tailor My Resume for Each Role?
Yes, you should tailor your resume for each role. Even within the same department, key accountabilities and focus capabilities differ.
Use the position description to select and reword your top achievements for maximum relevance.
Do Victorian Government Recruiters Use ATS?
In many cases, Victorian Government recruiters WILL use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
To pass ATS screening:
- Use keywords from the PD and KSC headings
- Avoid tables, text boxes, and images
- Spell out acronyms before abbreviating
Do I Include Referees?
Most Victorian Government roles request referees later in the process.
If not required in the job ad, “Referees available on request” in your resume is fine.
How Do I Handle Acting or Higher Duties Roles?
If you have been in acting or higher duties roles, you could show them under your main role entry in your resume:
Project Officer (Acting Senior Project Officer) — Mar 2024 to Jun 2024
Led end-to-end delivery of grant funding program, improving turnaround times by 15%.
Should I Explain Career Gaps?
If you have a significant career gap (3+ months), briefly note the reason — e.g., “Parental leave”, “Contract completed”, or “Study period”.
Where Do Mandatory Qualifications and Clearances Go?
Include mandatory qualifications in a dedicated section near the top or bottom of your resume.
Example:
- Victorian Driver Licence – Current
- Working with Children Check – Cleared (2025)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Copy-pasting KSC responses into your resume
- Listing responsibilities without achievements
- Using generic, non-measurable claims
- Overloading the resume with unrelated work history
- Ignoring Victorian Public Sector Values when they’re clearly listed in the PD
Final Word
A competitive Victorian Government resume will:
- Work alongside (not duplicate) your KSC responses
- Show measurable, relevant achievements
- Integrate the Public Sector Values where applicable
- Be ATS-friendly and tailored to the position description
Get these right, and your application will speak directly to both the selection panel and the automated screening systems used in Victorian public sector recruitment.
Need help with your Victorian government application? Contact our expert team of writers for a quote.
