Anyone Work At Centrelink?

[Ella's Mum]

Or know anyone that does?

Have seen some jobs in the paper for Customer Service Advisors and wondering what it is like to work at Centrelink?

[briggsy's girl]

conditions are great. the call centre jobs are fairly full on at times, but, if you're computer savvy, not too bad really. i wouldn't work in a contact centre if you offered me twice the money i'm on now! flexible employer, money is really good for what you do... have sent the employment link to atleast half a dozen people that i know are looking for work, and since i started there a couple of years ago, there have been about 30 people from my old job follow me across cos the conditions are so much better!!!

it's not for everyong though - as i said, you have to be computer savvy in windows based environment. problem solving and team work are important you will deal with people going through some pretty ordinary times in their lives, and it can be emotionally draining. you'll have days where you go home really deflated - but they're few and far between. it's the sort of job that you turn up, do your job, and leave, and most days you leave all of it behind

for anyone thinking about applying, i would suggest it's a good job - they are really family friendly (we have 230 staff at our centre, with two "carers rooms" where you can work if your kids have days off school and you can't get a carer - or they're a bit unwell, but not sick enough for you to have to stay home with them...) - and once you're in, unless you screw up royally, you pretty much have a job for life!

[Lulu2]

The Mat leave is good!

[Ella's Mum]

Thanks BG and Lulu. Sounds great.

I sent through my application tonight! I'm so nervous :0 I haven't had an interview in a very long time and have been with my current employer for nearly 14 years!

If I get a telephone interview and am successful at that stage, I believe I will have to go in to Centrelink for an 'assessment' before an actual interview? Do you guys know what's involved there?

[Lulu2]

I went through 1) phone interview, 2) Group Assessment 3) Final Interview.

None of it was scary or horrible, at the time they were looking for "people persons" lol so if you had half a brain and can handle people you should be ok.

The Group Assessment involved checking you can read and write (!), speed and accuracy, some computer tasks and it was all done at a recruitment agency in a friendly environment.

I'd go back to a call centre (not CSC) in a heartbeat, as you dont have cases dragging on, you can leave your work there at the end of the day etc etc. Moorabbin is just too far from Boronia across some of the worst roads EVER. ggrrrr

[briggsy's girl]

come work out at my call centre then Lulu!!! probably take the same amount of travel time each day! hehehe

for me (and i started about 2.5 years ago), the interview wa similar to Lulu - phone interview - where they ask you situational questions, group assessment (typing, basic maths, team work) and then individual interview - which wasn't really individual at all! we were handed the questions, given a while to answer the questions ourselves (so no pressure to "perform" as such) and then each person was asked to give their answer for one of the questions to the group and "elaborate" as it was. it was very relaxed, very calm, and didn't seem to be any pressure at all (and we had our assessment at the call centre, with the site manager dropping in!)


couple of little hints for you - with the phone interview, make sure you answer in the format of "situation, response, outcome" - so, they ask a question, you say WHAT the situation was, HOW you dealt with it, and the outcome. group interview - if they ask you to do a "team" building exercise (for us it was two people looking at a lego model, and going back to tell third how to build it) - make sure you work as a member of a team. in the scenario we had, i asked the builder what info she wanted, the other girl giving info was talking at her, not working with her - she didn't get a job - the other two of us did...


good luck!

[Lulu2]

Don't forget that's its ok to think about your response first. You are not expected to have the perfect answer straight off the bat.

In the group scenario BG described - watch out for those that will totally take over the entire thing and can't seem to let the group solve it. I sat back and waited until this silly tart stopped to draw breath and pointed out that someone else had a good point.....didn't see her again!

[Ella's Mum]

Thanks for all the tips BG and Lulu

[Lulu2]

Thats ok! Let us know how you go - I've decided to go for it as well. Eastlink seems to have cut down the travel time somewhat and I need the money!!

[Lulu2]

Have you heard anything yet?

[Jesstibb]

I worked for Centrelink (orDSSas it was back then) for 8 years straight out of school. I worked at a CSC in the North of Adelaide and was pretty full on - abusive etc from customers. I was promoted to Head office and worked off the counters for the last couple of years but actually had a nervous breakdown, in became alot more stressfull when it became Centrelink so I quit, travelled the world and sold shoes and ended up working for Freedom!

But having said that, the money is good and flex time so I'm considering applying for the alumni program. I'm a bit older and wiser now.