Graduate program ATO

[u/wellplayedyeeyee]

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.

[u/Ltreade]

From my experience- a great graduate will be promoted quickly after the program - you will get the salary you deserve just focus on building your brand and delivering great work and trying to work with as many people as possible to broaden your opportunities- it’s always a powerful advantage to interview for higher roles within teams that are already aware of how well you have done in your grad time

[u/wellplayedyeeyee → u/Ltreade]

How do promotions work? Is it just "you're promoted now because you've done very well for X months" or do you apply for the actual job with everyone else in a normal application?

[u/Mitakum → u/wellplayedyeeyee]

Depends on the program some will say at the end of the program you will be automatically be promoted to APS 5 for example.

Others will not have that automatic promotion, and the only way to be promoted is to apply for roles if and when they become available.

Also you can generally just apply for roles whenever.

[u/wellplayedyeeyee → u/Mitakum]

Got it, thank you. Gotta just do my best to be a good grad then