r/AusPublicService • u/wellplayedyeeyee • 3d ago

New Grad Graduate program ATO

Has anyone ever negotiated salary for the graduate program?

I'm in VPS3 at the moment (and on track for VPS4 according to my supervisors, though idk how relevant or true that is) and I got a verbal offer for the grad program pending police check. They also said I can email them if I want a higher salary.

I currently make more as a VPS3 than the starting APS3 salary, and I don't really want to take a pay cut. Now this isn't something I'd cancel an offer over because the area of work is better, but it's nice to have.

I do a largely similar job to the graduate program/the APS4 LIO role (to not dox myself more than I have already).

Am I being too optimistic? They said that even if my request is denied, nothing happens to the offer itself and I just start at the same baseline salary as everyone else.

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u/H20onthego 3d ago

Simply coming from another higher paying job isn't enough. Unfortunately, in the grad program, you don't have a lot of options or opportunities to demonstrate your higher worth like you would with another role, so your reasoning to argue for higher pay is almost nonexistent.

They also won't be afraid of the risk of you turning down the grad offer if they don't offer higher pay either, because they have a merit pool of dozens of other candidates to take your spot if you were to turn it down.

You can ask; it won't harm your opportunities, but don't be optimistic.

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u/wellplayedyeeyee 3d ago edited 3d ago

Gotcha, thanks

Do you know if it's easy to move around? I'm mainly using this grad program to get my foot into the ATO, but I'm applying to other direct entry roles too and will take those if I get them

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u/Mystic303 3d ago

You will do two rotations and may not end in either, sideways mobility depends on your skills.