This is a hard question to answer, but there is an answer.
You never know the exact number, but I’ve got plenty of data to help.
Below I’m sharing real stories of how candidates have landed government jobs quickly with zero government experience. All names have been changed.
First, the key info you need to work out your numbers
Start by answering this:
How many applications do you normally submit before you land an interview?
For example: 5.
Then:
How many interviews usually turn into a job offer for you?
Maybe 1 in 4.
Now multiply the two.
Applications needed for an interview x interviews needed for an offer.
In that example: 5 x 4 = 20 applications.
This number depends on a few things:
- how competitive you are
- how many applications you submit
- how good your applications are
Below, I’ll show you how three different candidates landed offers fast. All three had no government experience.
Three candidates. Zero government experience. Three job offers (actually, more).
In the past fortnight, three Priority Pass members received their government job offers.
They were all applying for completely different types of roles, but they shared the same starting point: zero government background.
Jane was looking to translate administration experience from a doctor’s clinic and the health sector into a government role.
Pauline was applying across multiple agencies at a similar level. She had experience supporting projects in the private sector, along with strong contact centre experience for major brands.
Ernie is an ICT professional with a strong academic background. He was between jobs and open to anything suitable. I worked with him to build a targeted strategy that put him in front of hiring managers who would see his private sector ICT skills as a real advantage.
So how many applications did it take to land a role?
Interestingly, despite their differences, they all landed roles within three months of starting the program, and a couple landed offers even earlier.
Even more interesting, they all applied for a similar number of roles during that period.
Across all three, the total ranged from 22 to 27 applications.
All three now have job offers. All three landed multiple interviews. And all three are still awaiting outcomes from very recent applications, because government recruitment can move slowly.
Other key insights
Ernie was exceptionally well qualified, just without direct government experience. My strategy was to target roles that clearly benefited from his ICT background, and also apply for roles in departments with strong regional connections. Having worked in large organisations with regional footprints, this alignment made him competitive.
Pauline had great experience supporting projects and working in high-pressure environments like call centres. This made her competitive for grade 3/4 and 5/6 roles. Working together, we pulled out strong STAR examples that matched what these roles needed, especially in teams where not everyone is a project specialist. She landed several interviews early, secured a talent pool position, kept applying, and now has job offers.
Jane applied the most widely (but not the highest number of applications). She had a diverse skill set and simply wanted to get into government as soon as possible. She landed multiple offers, and I helped her navigate the timing of accepting some and declining others.
I’m genuinely proud to be part of their journey. All three will make a real contribution to the public sector.
Want similar support?
All three candidates were part of my unlimited support plan, Priority Pass.
It’s a closed, invite-only level of support. With three spots now graduating, I’ll soon be opening the next cohort for 2026.
I’ll share more information soon. If you want early access when it reopens, just sign up below.
