Sometimes there is a department you would like to work for and nothing suitable advertised. Reaching out is reasonable, provided you are clear about what it can and cannot do.
What an informal message can achieve
Informal approaches work differently in the APS because appointments still need to follow the relevant recruitment process. An informal message is not a substitute for that process, and the person you contact may not have a vacancy or the authority to offer work directly.
It may still be useful. A short, well-judged message can lead to information about upcoming vacancies, advice on where roles in that area are advertised, a short professional conversation, awareness of a non-ongoing register, or a referral to the right recruitment channel. Those are real outcomes, and they are worth a few minutes of writing.
Other routes worth knowing about
Contacting the contact officer on an advertised role. The most direct option, and often underused. Where a vacancy is advertised and you are unsure whether your background fits, a short call or email to the contact officer is standard practice. Ask about the work of the area and what the role involves day to day.
Expressions of interest and temporary mobility opportunities. These may be available in some circumstances, often within government or within a particular department, and access varies. Where you are already in the APS, they are worth watching for; where you are not, they may not be open to you.
Merit pools. Where you have been assessed as suitable in a recruitment process, you may be placed in a merit pool that can be used to fill similar vacancies. How long the pool lasts and how it is used depends on the process. This is not something you can activate yourself, but if you have been through a process and were not offered the role, it is reasonable to ask whether you were placed in a pool and how it operates.
Agencies that fill non-ongoing and labour-hire roles. A substantial amount of departmental work is filled this way, particularly for specialist skills.
Job alerts. Straightforward, and they mean you see vacancies while there is still time to prepare a proper application.
Writing the message
Keep it short and give it a clear purpose:
- Why you are writing to them.
- The area of work you are interested in.
- A brief description of your relevant experience.
- A modest request: information, or a short conversation.
- A polite close.
You do not need a detailed example or an attached resume in every message. Attach something only where it is relevant and you have a reason to.
Example: informal enquiry
Dear [Name], I am writing because I am interested in data and reporting work in the [area] area, and I would like to understand more about how those roles are usually filled. I currently work in data analysis in the health sector, mostly on regular reporting for program areas. I have been following where this kind of work sits in the department and I am considering applying when something suitable comes up. If you have ten minutes at some point, I would appreciate a short conversation about the work of the area. If it is easier, I would also be glad to know where roles of this kind are usually advertised. Thank you for your time. [Name]
Focus on the work and the reason for contacting them rather than opening with personal praise. A message built on flattery reads awkwardly and gives the reader nothing to respond to.
Following up
If no timeframe was given, one brief follow-up after a reasonable period is enough. After that, leave the message with them. People are busy and a non-reply usually means nothing more than that.
Approaches like this belong at the edges of a job search rather than at the centre of it. Most APS roles are found by watching for advertised vacancies and preparing good applications for the ones that suit you.