Careers at Inland Revenue: Advice to applicants

Advice to applicants

This page will give you information about applying for a vacancy, the documents we require, our selection process, and what you could expect during an interview.

Inland Revenue is an equal employment opportunity employer that values diversity and supports the development of its staff to reach their full potential.

On the current vacancies page we have listed the jobs we are currently recruiting for. We also advertise these on Government Jobs Online and in national newspapers. By clicking on the job title you can read (and print off) application information, the job expectation and self-assessment form for that role.

Application

Your completed application should include the following three documents:

• Application for vacancy form (IR811) (you can download this application form from the job vacancies in our Jobs at Inland Revenue section of our site)
  This form must be completed, signed and accompany any application.
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
  There is no standard format required for a CV. It should however, refer to your history and show that you have the skills, knowledge and attributes sought in the advertisement and job expectation. It should also include full details of your employment history, work experience (both paid and unpaid) and qualifications gained from formal education. You can also include other aspects of your life where you have developed relevant skills, eg charitable or community work.Your CV will be photocopied for the interview panel, so please:
  • Print your CV single sided on A4 white paper.
  • Do not enclose your CV in a folder, binder or plastic sheets.
  • Do not send in original documents - provide photocopies with your application.
  • Do not send any additional material.
• Self-assessment form
  In your answers to the self-assessment questions, we are looking for examples of work (or other experience) where you have demonstrated the best-suited criteria (which are listed in the job expectation). In your examples try to be clear and specific. Give more than one example if you can. They don't have to all be from work - you may have relevant experience from a role you have in your community or other groups you belong to.

Once the vacancy has closed we will use the information in your CV and self-assessment to determine whether we would like you to come in for an interview. If so, we will call you to arrange a time for the interview and send you another form - Advice to applicants (IR815) - which you will need to bring with you to the interview. You are welcome to bring whanau or other support people to the interview but please let us know before, so we can ensure the room is set up with enough chairs and space. Please also advise us of any special needs (eg accessibility). Applicants are responsible for making arrangements for whanau or other support people and meeting their costs. Inland Revenue will meet reasonable costs to accommodate any special needs (eg an interpreter).

Interview

The interview is an opportunity for you to identify and demonstrate the skills that you would bring to the job. It is usually about an hour long and the interviewers (usually three people) will ask a set of structured questions. They will most likely share responsibility for asking the questions and take notes of your answers. These questions will again be based upon the best-suited criteria from the job expectation.

In answering the questions, try to use real examples that show when and how you have used the skills or knowledge we're asking you about. Describe the situation, the task or action you personally undertook, and a description of the results or reaction you achieved. It often helps to practice before going to an interview. Talking out loud about the skills and experience you have helps you remember the different places where you've used those skills. You want to be able to give good examples and keep to the point.

For some roles additional selection tools that may be used include psychometric assessment and work sample exercises.

Reference checks

The Advice for applicants (IR815) form (we sent you) that you bring to the interview gives permission for us to contact your referees. It is important that these people know what job you are applying for and that we may call them. If we do call your referees, they will be asked a set of structured questions by one of the interviewers. Choose referees who can talk from experience about your skills, knowledge, and attributes - your current reporting officer or employer is always good. They will be advised that any information they give will remain confidential to Inland Revenue, the referee and the candidate.

If you are successfully selected for the position, one of the interviewers will call you and offer you the job. Good luck in your application.

Date published: 24 Mar 2009

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