I am currently attempting to get into the public service.
Three times now I have ranked second for positions (level 4 and 5) within various departments. The feedback I have received is the same on all occasions:
“You did really well in interview, but the winning candidate has more public service experience.”
I have excellent references; I present myself very well and have a good level of experienced in my area of work. On all three occasions I have been informed that the decision was a “very close and difficult” one.
Is this simply a bizarre coincidence? Or is this standard?
If this indeed the norm, then “public service experience” should be listed as a prerequisite on the application, should it not?