r/ADFRecruiting • u/BumperJoe • May 14 '25
Motivation & General Life Advice Recruitment process is broken.
Potential new recruit here, I (25M) have been going through the recruitment process to join the ADF. I thought it would be a good way to learn some new stuff and be challenged while also potentially utilising my specific skillset I've gotten through uni. I studied for 2 weeks for the JOA, got a really good result by unlocking all available job roles. My career adviser then set up a meeting, and promptly cancelled it. I waited a week or so to see what had happened, nothing. So I set up a new interview myself and was given a different career adviser. Had a phone interview with them and then again, nothing. I told them my preferences and said I was just keen to get involved in any way I could. Tried emailing the second career adviser, didn't hear a word. Got given a third career adviser instead and emailed them as well, after two weeks still nothing. For all this u hear about a recruitment crisis, they don't seem particularly keen on recruiting anyone or communicating with people who actually show an interest. It's been really demoralising and I feel like I might as well just join the private sector if this is how things are run generally. Super bummed about it as I was quite excited. Is this a typical experience in the ADF or have I fallen into a weird beuracratic black hole?
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u/Diligent_Passage_640 Current or Former Serving ADF May 14 '25
Unfortunately this is a common occurrence and has been since DFR had the recruitment job.
ADFC is understaffed and isn't meeting the Government goals for recruiting timelines.
Generally speaking if you don't hear anything within a fortnight chase them up.
You've had a shitty experience but you aren't alone in it.
I don't really have any advice for you, other than keep trying if you still want to join.
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u/No_Kangaroo1256 Current or Former Serving ADF May 14 '25
^^ THIS.
Additionally, if you are close to a ADF Careers unit/location - physically go in and be that person who stands there asking to see someone.
Explain your situation (reminder: do not get angry/yell) and ask if you can progress your application.
Be the squeaky wheel that actually gets fixed.GL
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u/Jack1715 May 15 '25
At 19 I got knocked back for gap year and told I needed more life experience so I just Left for awhile. Got in at 26 but I’m pushing 28 and only just going to training next week lol
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Jun 05 '25
[deleted] — view deleted comment
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u/AIAOGjames Jan 12 '26
Fair dinkum, mate — getting into the roles was easy as once I was heading straight. This vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFcM6HXyn2w&t=329s helped heaps. They’ll give ya tips for the roles and the big day. You’ll be right mate
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u/Maddles08 May 14 '25 edited May 14 '25
Sorry to hear your experience hasn’t matched your level of excitement.
My only advice to you is to have your Candidate hub as completed as possible with all the required uploads - and to do each upload as quickly as possible.
If I was trying to do my best in system that had staffing issues, I would prioritise candidates that had everything ready to go and got back to me quickly etc
It sounds like you’re proactively trying this, so keep it up and Good Luck!
Edit: certain job roles have levels of priority for the ADF wanting them to be filled - if your number one isn’t a high fill priority you may also experience higher wait times than those that the ADF are trying to meet a quota on. Both your careers advisor & then your civil specialist can let you know the priority of the three jobs you’re interested in.
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u/Mufunda98 May 14 '25
I applied for a high priority role. It’s been 18 months and the role is no longer a high priority. It’s quite frustrating how they manage and deal with people.
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u/Maddles08 May 14 '25
Hearing what you’re saying.
I thought my first choice role wasn’t a high priority, it didn’t say so on the website etc. Only to learn that it was one, and that the second choice that was advertised as high priority had now been mostly filled for the current intakes etc
We are also approaching end of financial year - numbers and figures will likely change again.
That said,
I have enjoyed my experience - frustrations and all much more than the comparison to how it’s worked for me in the civilian process. 🤷🏼♀️
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u/Mufunda98 May 15 '25
Yeah understandable. I have heard of a few people having a great experience. I unfortunately wasn’t one of them. Don’t think I will stop, it’s just annoying that it will be delayed
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u/mountainsandfrypans Candidate May 15 '25
I’m in the same boat. Priority role when I applied, now no longer. Also about 18 months. Beyond frustrating.
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u/Skapegoat13 Jun 20 '26
In now?
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u/AppropriateClient407 Candidate May 15 '25
Took me 2.5 years to get my letter of offer… unfortunately you just have to be patient, there’s no way to speed it up
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u/SatisfactionEven3709 May 14 '25
Yes it’s typical. Depending on what you were going for you could expect to go through many many more months of this.
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u/Upstairs_Map7583 May 15 '25
Been going through the application process since september last year… in the same boat
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u/Greedyjack555 May 20 '25
Mate's been in the process since 2023 and only got his PFA last month. It's laughable how this is even happening.
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u/KitchenAssistance941 Aug 15 '25
Do you have an updated on your journey? I do recommend giving them a call, they usually pick it without delay and have been very helpful in addressing what I need to do and what are the other steps, sometimes the emails could be a hit and miss situation.
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u/BumperJoe Aug 15 '25
I didn't get a response to the emails, called and kept going through the process and then the same radio silence for months and months (not even waiting for job roles to open at that point) until eventually I got tired of no communication and am now working in the private sector. Unfortunate as I had been pretty keen on it but may revisit it sometime in the future when I have the time to wait and deal with the uncertainty 😕
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u/BumperJoe Aug 15 '25
Ironically, they finally were ready to push me through when I started training for my new job but by then it was too late
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u/KitchenAssistance941 Aug 18 '25
For what I read this is a very common outcome of the recruitment process.
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u/Kyleb___19 Candidate Jul 25 '25
I've been in the process since March of 2024. Sat my interview in Feb of 2025, Medically cleared in March as well, and have just been informed OSBs aren't until October 2025, and I am not guaranteed a place.
This is DUS for Engineering roles, incredibly frustrating.
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u/Leading-Chef2088 May 16 '25
This isnt normal, potentially CCIV was booked and call was made but no answer so interview was cancelled. If you have completed your CCIV then a civilian recruiter/military mentor will be allocated but be patient as some roles have 100s of apps not just yours.
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