APS One Page Pitch Example: An Annotated Walkthrough

Many Australian Public Service (APS) job ads ask for a short statement in place of answers to selection criteria. This post gives you an APS one page pitch example for a fictional APS 5 role, then breaks down what each paragraph is doing and why. You can use the structure today, but every claim you write must be something you have actually done.

One caution first. Agencies set their own rules. Some ask for one A4 page, some set a word limit such as 500 or 750 words, and some ask for responses to specific criteria. The job pack always overrides any general advice, including this post.

What an APS pitch is actually for

The pitch is your evidence that you meet the role's requirements. It sits alongside your CV and is usually read against the position description, the key duties and the capabilities for that classification level.

APS recruitment is based on merit. A selection panel compares candidates against the requirements of the role. That makes the pitch less like a cover letter and more like a short, structured argument: here is what the job needs, and here is proof I have done it.

Before you write anything, read these documents from the job pack:

• Position description or job information pack: duties, classification (for example APS 5 or EL1) and "about you" requirements.
• Capabilities: many agencies refer to the Integrated Leadership System (ILS) or the APS Work Level Standards for the classification level. These describe what is expected at that level.
• Application instructions: page or word limit, format, and whether specific criteria must be addressed.
• Eligibility: most APS roles require Australian citizenship, and many need a security clearance. Check the ad and official sources such as APSJobs and the Australian Public Service Commission. This post is general information, not legal or eligibility advice.

The role used in this example

The example below responds to a fictional ad. The key requirements are:

1. Research and analyse policy issues and prepare briefs for senior executives.
2. Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
3. Manage competing priorities and deliver to deadlines.
4. Strong written communication.

The classification is APS 5, Policy Officer. The page limit is one A4 page, or a maximum of 750 words.

The candidate, "Priya", is fictional. She has three years in a state government agency and some earlier community sector work. The details are illustrative. Your figures must come from your own records.

APS one page pitch example (annotated)

The pitch appears paragraph by paragraph. An annotation follows each one, explaining what the paragraph is doing.

Paragraph 1: Opening and fit

I am a policy officer with three years' experience in the Victorian Department of [X], where I research emerging issues, prepare briefs for executives and coordinate input from regional teams and community organisations. I am applying for the APS 5 Policy Officer role because it matches the work I do every day and would let me apply those skills at a national level.

What this does:

• It answers "who are you and why this role?" in two sentences.
• It names the duties from the ad (research, briefs, stakeholders) without copying the ad word for word.
• There are no adjectives such as "passionate" or "dynamic". The panel learns nothing from them.

Paragraph 2: Research and briefing (requirement 1)

In 2023 my director asked for advice on the impact of proposed changes to a grants program. I reviewed program data, two independent evaluations and feedback from 14 funded organisations. I then drafted a four-page brief setting out three options with risks and costs. The brief was cleared with minor edits and used by the Deputy Secretary in a meeting with the Minister's office. I now use the same structure as a template for my team's briefs.

What this does:

• It follows a compressed STAR shape: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Action takes up most of the space. Panels want to know what you did, not what the team did.
• The result is concrete but modest. It does not claim the brief "changed government policy". It says what verifiably happened.
• The numbers (14 organisations, four pages) are the kind you can check against your own files. If you don't have a real number, describe the scale in words instead.

Paragraph 3: Stakeholders (requirement 2)

I am the main contact for six regional offices on reporting requirements. When a new reporting system caused delays, I set up a fortnightly call, wrote a two-page guide based on the questions offices were asking, and escalated two recurring system faults to the vendor through our IT team. Late reports fell over the following quarter, and two offices asked to keep the call running after the issue was fixed.

What this does:

• It shows relationship building through actions (calls, a guide, escalation), not through claims like "excellent interpersonal skills".
• "Late reports fell" is honest and unquantified. If Priya had the actual figure from a report, she could use it. Without one, she doesn't invent a percentage.

Paragraph 4: Priorities and deadlines (requirement 3)

During budget season I typically manage several briefs, correspondence and data requests at once. I keep a shared tracker with my manager, agree on priorities at the start of each week and flag early when a deadline is at risk. Last year this let me deliver all my Estimates briefs on time while also covering a colleague's portfolio for six weeks.

What this does:

• It describes a method (tracker, weekly priorities, early flagging). A method is more convincing than "I work well under pressure".
• It links to an APS-relevant event (Senate Estimates). That shows the candidate understands the environment without overclaiming federal experience.

Paragraph 5: Written communication (requirement 4) and close

Most of my work is written: briefs, ministerial correspondence and plain-English guidance for community organisations. My manager regularly asks me to review drafts from newer staff. I would bring this experience, and a habit of checking work against the reader's needs, to the team.

What this does:

• It gives evidence of writing quality through what others trust her to do.
• It ends quietly. There is no "I look forward to hearing from you". The space is better used for evidence.
• The pitch itself is the writing sample. A clean, well-structured page is the strongest proof here.

The full example is roughly 480 words. It fits on one page with standard margins and an 11 or 12 point font.

A reusable template

Copy this skeleton and fill it with your own real examples:

1. Opening (2-3 sentences): current role, years of relevant experience, the main duties that overlap with the ad, and why this role.
2. Requirement 1 (4-6 sentences): one specific example. Give one line of context, most of the space to your actions, and one line on a verifiable result.
3. Requirement 2: same pattern, using a different example.
4. Requirement 3: same pattern, or describe a repeatable method with one illustration.
5. Close (1-2 sentences): what you would bring, tied to the agency's work.

If the ad lists more requirements than you have space for, group related ones into one paragraph. Prioritise anything marked essential.

To identify which words and duties matter most, work through the ad systematically. Our guide on how to find keywords in a job description explains a four-pass method. Use the agency's terminology only where it truthfully describes your experience.

Common mistakes that weaken a pitch

• Restating the ad. Writing "I have strong stakeholder engagement skills" without an example adds nothing.
• Using "we" throughout. Credit the team where it's due, but make your own role clear.
• Inflating results. Panels often explore examples at interview, and referees may be asked about them. Overstating your role can unravel quickly.
• Recycling one pitch for every job. An APS 4 and an EL1 role need different levels of responsibility in your examples. Check the work level standards for the level you are applying for.
• Ignoring format rules. Going over the page or word limit can count against you. Some agencies say applications that don't follow instructions may not be considered.
• Leaving your CV out of step with the pitch. The dates, titles and duties in both should match.

On referees, APS processes commonly ask for them at application or shortlisting stage. Our post on Australian CV referees covers how to handle them.

How this differs in other countries

If you're applying to public sector roles elsewhere, the format changes:

• UK: NHS and council roles usually ask for a supporting statement against a person specification. It is often longer and addresses each criterion. See how to write a supporting statement.
• US: Federal jobs on USAJOBS usually rely on a detailed federal resume and assessment questionnaires rather than a one-page pitch. Check each announcement.
• Canada: Federal government applications often use screening questions in which you give examples for each essential qualification.
• Nigeria: Federal and state civil service recruitment often runs through formal application forms and examinations, and processes vary widely. Follow the official advertisement and treat unofficial "agents" with caution.

The common thread is evidence against stated criteria. That skill transfers, even when the format doesn't.

Pre-submission checklist

• I have read the position description, duties and capability level.
• My pitch meets the page or word limit exactly as stated.
• Each essential requirement has at least one specific, real example.
• Most of each example describes my actions.
• Every number can be backed up by records or a referee.
• My CV dates and job titles match the pitch.
• I have checked eligibility (citizenship, clearance) against official sources.
• Someone else has proofread it, or I have read it aloud.

If you're shortlisted, expect the panel to probe the same examples in more depth. Prepare a fuller version of each one, including what you'd do differently. The interview preparation tool can help you practise STAR answers. A strong pitch doesn't guarantee an interview, but a clear, honest one gives the panel what it needs to assess you fairly.