APS reference checks aren't a phone call
Most APS reference checks aren't a phone call. They're a structured questionnaire, scored against the same criteria the panel used, often returned in writing within 48 hours. Your referee receives a list of questions in advance — sometimes the exact criteria from the job ad — and is asked to rate you against each one with examples.
This is fundamentally different from the chat-and-tick reference checks common in the private sector, and it changes how you should prepare your referees.
What a vague answer costs you
A referee who says "she's great, you'd be lucky to have her" is giving you nothing the panel can score. A referee who says "she led the consultation across 14 jurisdictions, achieved consensus in six weeks, and the resulting framework was endorsed by the Senior Executive Committee" is giving evidence that maps directly to the panel's grid.
What APS reference checks actually look like
- Templates are usually based on the *APS Recruitment Guidelines* and the agency's local procedure — they're structured, not free-form.
- Referees are typically asked to score capability levels and provide specific examples — vague positive answers literally cannot be scored.
- The panel chair signs off the reference check report alongside the rest of the merit decision — it's a formal selection document, not an HR formality.
- At least one current or recent supervisor is the standard requirement — peer-only references are usually rejected.
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Start your free trialWhat to send your referee
The same briefing pack you'd give a co-presenter:
- The role title and selection criteria
- One or two specific examples you used at panel for each criterion
- A reminder of the timeline and what format the reference will take
This isn't coaching — it's making sure your referee has the information they need to do justice to your work.
Spot the red flags early
If a referee hesitates when you ask permission, choose someone else. A lukewarm reference can lose you the role even after a strong interview. Brief your referees as carefully as you prepared yourself.
How GovPrep helps
GovPrep's per-criterion STAR library is the perfect briefing pack for your referees — share the responses you used at panel, and your referee can reinforce the same examples, with the same evidence, on the same scoring grid.