Apply for the ATO Graduate program

Find out about how to apply for our Graduate program. Applications are now open.

If you have HR qualifications and are pursuing a HR career you should apply through the APS Human Resource (HR) Graduate Development programExternal Link.

On this page:

• Application process
• When to lodge
• Lodging your application
• How to lodge
• Reviewing your application
• Assessment activities
• Preliminary decision
• Final checks
• Offers

Application process

• Applications for the 2021 Graduate program open 9 March 2020.
• Lodge your application with us by 20 April 2020.
• We acknowledge applications received.
• We review applications.
• We inform you if you have progressed to the next stage.
• We assess you online and face-to-face.
• We make a preliminary decision (progression or rejection).
• We undertake final checks.
• We offer placements to successful applicants from September 2020.
• Graduates commence in the program February 2021.

When to lodge

• We accept Graduate program applications once a year.
• Applications for the 2021 Graduate program are now closed.
• Applications close on 20 April 2020. Late applications will not be accepted.

Lodging your application

When completing the online application we will ask you to provide:

• personal information
• details of your qualifications including your current academic transcript (as an attachment – maximum 3MB)
• a statement verifying recognition of your qualifications if you have overseas qualifications (as an attachment – maximum 3MB).

Tips:

• have this information ready when you start your application
• save your application regularly to ensure you don't lose any data (the page will time out if inactive for more than 30 minutes)
• we may request a resume and details of referees at a later stage if you progress through the assessments.

How to lodge

Applications for the 2021 graduate program will open on 9 March 2020 until 20 April 2020.

Once you've lodged your online application, you'll receive an email confirmation. If you don't receive an acknowledgement email, you can check we have received it by logging in to eRecruitment and selecting My profile then View emails.

After you lodge your application, you'll be able to log in to e-Recruitment and update your personal and referee details at any time. However, you will not be able to change any other details in your application.

Note: If there are significant issues that affect the information in your application, email us at EntryLevelPrograms@ato.gov.au

Reviewing your application

After lodging the initial application form, you will receive a notification email confirming your submission. This email will also contain a link that directs you to the first assessment activity.

Assessment activities

The assessment activities consist of three stages including:

• an online interview (automatic text conversation)
• an online in-tray exercise (employee simulation exercise)
• an assessment centre including a group activity, a presentation and a behavioural interview designed to further assess your suitability and interest in the ATO Graduate program.

You will need to perform strongly in each assessment in order to progress to the next stage.

Preliminary decision

At this point, we will review your performance from all assessment stages of the process and determine your suitability.

Feedback on your performance in the assessment centre will be available to unsuccessful candidates once the selection process has finished.

Final checks

If your application is successful:

• you will receive a phone call to confirm your availability for the Graduate program – this is not an official offer
• we will confirm you are or will be an Australian citizenExternal Link by 30 January 2021
• we will confirm you will have completed your university qualifications by 31 December 2020
• we will conduct a number of pre-employment checks – any offer of employment will be subject to the results of the enquiries being satisfactory
• you will need to have a satisfactory integrity check carried out before you start working with us checking police records, confirming your identity and asking you to complete a declaration of secrecy form and compliance with tax and superannuation obligations. Additional checks may also be necessary
• you may also need a formal security clearance assessment if the work requires you to have access to classified material.

Offers

We anticipate making offers of employment from September 2020.

After we have confirmed your availability and have obtained a satisfactory integrity check, we will send you a formal offer.

You must provide us with evidence of your completed, conferred or awarded university educational qualifications prior to 31 December 2020. We plan to start the program in early February 2021.