Graduate Trainees and Corporate and Financial Management Trainees
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a particular university degree or work experience increase my suitability for the graduate program?
We welcome applications from all disciplines for graduate trainee positions (foreign and trade policy). Corporate and Financial Management Graduates must have a major or minor in accounting.
DFAT looks for diversity amongst candidates and to ensure that diversity is maintained the department does not provide advice on what applicants should study or guidance about any work experience they should undertake. Rather than choosing a particular university course that you think may be relevant to DFAT’s work, you should select a discipline for which you have a particular interest and in which you are likely to perform well. This will broaden your career options and, at the same time, give you the opportunity to achieve the strong results which the department seeks.
The department considers a number of factors in selecting its graduate recruits. These include the quality of university qualifications and achievements, work experience, personal experience such as community activities, and extracurricular achievements, written and oral communication skills and the ability to work as a member of a team.
Most university graduates who join the department have either a combined degree, an honours degree or a postgraduate qualification, and a strong academic record.
You may find it useful to browse through the profiles of our current and former graduates included on our website.
Do I need to speak a second language?
No. While a valued skill, a second language is not essential to gaining a graduate position.
Can I apply if I’m not an Australian citizen?
Under the Public Service Act 1999 all applicants must be Australian citizens to be eligible for engagement as an employee of the department. Applicants must be Australian citizens by 31 May in the year they apply for a graduate position.
What if I graduated some time ago?
Graduate Trainees come into the department at a junior level and undergo an intensive two year training program. Some are recent graduates, others join us from the workforce. If you graduated some time ago and have substantial work experience, you may prefer to apply for other positions advertised by the department. The department does not discriminate on the basis of age when filling job vacancies.
Do I need to come back to Australia for the exam/interview?
The written exam will be conducted online in 2009 for the 2010 graduate intake. As a result candidates will not be required to travel to Australia or to any of our overseas posts to sit the written and psychometric exams.
If you reach the interview stage you will need to attend an interview at our head office in Canberra. An important component of the interview day is a group exercise. To be fair to all candidates we do not conduct interviews by telephone or video conference.
Are all graduate positions based in Canberra?
Yes. All graduate positions are based in Canberra. Successful applicants undertake a two-year professional development program in Canberra. On completing the program graduates are encouraged to apply to work in one of the diplomatic posts in the DFAT overseas network.
If I am offered a graduate position, can I defer my start until the next year’s intake, or start later in the year?
It is not possible to defer an offer of employment. All recruitment exercises are undertaken as separate comparative processes and intake numbers vary from year to year. It is possible that an applicant successful in a given year will not be successful in a future year if the pool of applicants in the future year is more talented.
All graduates commence work in the department on the same day, usually in mid-February each year. It is not possible to join the program on a different date to the rest of the graduate intake.
Can I just send in a resume or CV if I'm interested in a graduate position?
No. We don't retain expressions of interest, CVs or resumes. You will need to apply for a graduate position through our online application process.
Are there any programs for Indigenous students?
DFAT participates in the Indigenous Cadetship Program, offering Indigenous undergraduates assistance during their studies and practical work experience in the long summer break.
We encourage Indigenous students to apply for our graduate programs.
DFAT has a strong Indigenous Employee Network (IEN) and members of the IEN assist and mentor new Indigenous employees.
Are there any programs for Law graduates? Can I complete my legal traineeship with DFAT?
Graduate positions are broad foreign and trade policy positions or corporate and financial management positions. We do not offer practical legal traineeships as part of our graduate programs. After two years in Canberra graduates embark on an overseas posting. In nearly all cases their work overseas is policy, rather than legal work.
A number of graduates with legal qualifications join the department each year. They often complete a work rotation in one of the department’s legal areas. They may be able to use their work rotations for the practical legal work required should they want to qualify for admission. In most cases the department would not fund people on the graduate program to undertake their legal traineeship.
Outside the graduate program, the department employs legal specialists to fill specific legal positions. All vacancies are advertised on this website and in the Public Service Gazette.
What if I have a partner or children? Can they come with me on an overseas posting?
The department does not discriminate against staff with partners or children. We do, however, take into account an employee’s family composition, preferences and particular circumstances in allocating postings. When serving overseas, officers with partners and/or children may be entitled to additional payments and conditions to help them meet the challenges of moving and maintaining a family overseas.
Can I undertake work experience or vacation work with the Department?
We are unable to offer work experience or holiday work because of strict security requirements.
How can I apply for an internship with the Department?
The Australian National Internships Program is run by the Australian National University, in conjunction with all Australian universities. Applications and inquiries should be made to the ANU. For more information about the internship program (academic requirements and application forms etc) contact the University on Ph: (02) 6125 8540 or Fax: (02) 6125 8541 or visit their web site.
Are there other ways of joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade without being a Graduate Trainee?
Yes, there are other ways to join the department – you can apply for positions at several different levels for generalist or specialist work. All vacancies are advertised on this website and in the Public Service Gazette. Applying at a higher level, or for specialist work as a lawyer or economist, might be more suitable for graduates with professional experience.
I applied for last year’s intake but was not successful, can I reapply?
You may re-apply for the graduate program should you be unsuccessful in any given year. A number of DFAT graduates have been successful on their second or third applications for our graduate program.
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