You Don’t Have to Take the Promotion: Why Some APS6s Are Saying No to EL1 — And Why That’s Okay
A question quietly doing the rounds in APS circles: if you had the chance to go permanent EL1, would you take it? Increasingly, the answer isn’t always yes.
There’s an assumption baked into most career conversations — that progression is always the goal, that the next rung on the ladder is always worth grabbing, and that saying no to a promotion is somehow a failure of ambition or confidence. In the Australian Public Service, where EL1 is often seen as a significant threshold — a move from “doing” to “leading” — that assumption runs particularly deep.
But a growing number of APS employees are quietly pushing back on that narrative. People who’ve acted at EL1, performed well, received positive feedback, and still chosen not to pursue the permanent role. Not because they couldn’t do it. But because, on reflection, they decided they didn’t want to — at least not right now, and not in this role.
If you’re sitting in that position, you’re not alone. And your decision is more valid than you might think.
Why People Walk Away from Permanent EL1
The reasons are as varied as the people making the decision, but a few themes come up again and again.
The role or the area isn’t the right fit. Acting opportunities don’t always land in places that align with your long-term interests. You can perform well in a role — meet the standards, earn the feedback — while simultaneously knowing that the work, the team, or the business area isn’t where you want to build a career. Accepting a permanent role in the wrong place just to hold the classification is a trade-off that many people, on reflection, aren’t willing to make.
Personal life is a legitimate priority. EL1 brings with it a meaningful step up in responsibility — more complex work, people management expectations, greater accountability, and often longer hours. For someone going through a significant life phase — young children, caring responsibilities, health, study, or simply a season where they want more space — that trade-off doesn’t always make sense. Protecting your personal life isn’t a retreat. It’s a considered choice about what matters right now.
The timing isn’t right. A permanent EL1 in the wrong agency, the wrong branch, or the wrong moment in your career can close doors as easily as it opens them. Mobility — the ability to move laterally, explore different policy areas, or apply for roles across the APS — can be more valuable at certain career stages than locking in at the next level.
They’d rather find the right EL1 than take the available one. There’s a real difference between going permanent EL1 in a role you’re lukewarm about and going permanent EL1 in a role you’re genuinely excited by. Holding out for the latter isn’t timidity. It’s strategy.
What You’re Not Losing
Here’s something worth sitting with: the experience doesn’t disappear just because you don’t take the permanent role.
The months you’ve spent acting at EL1 — the complexity you’ve navigated, the leadership you’ve demonstrated, the outcomes you’ve delivered — that’s all real, and it all goes on your record. When you do pursue an EL1 role that genuinely fits, you won’t be starting from scratch. You’ll be applying with evidence. That matters enormously in APS recruitment, where demonstrated ability at level is one of the strongest things you can bring to a selection process.
Choosing not to go permanent now is not the same as choosing never to go EL1. It’s choosing to be intentional about where and when you make that move.
The Question Worth Asking Yourself
If you’re weighing this decision, one question cuts through a lot of the noise: Am I saying no because I’m genuinely not ready, or am I saying no because this particular opportunity isn’t right for me?
Those are very different answers. The first might be worth examining — sometimes hesitation is useful signal, and sometimes it’s just fear of change dressed up as self-awareness. The second is simply good judgment.
Knowing the difference is where honest reflection — and sometimes a good conversation with someone outside the situation — really helps.
When You’re Ready to Move — Make It Count
Whether you decide to go for the permanent EL1 now, wait for a better-fit opportunity, or pivot to a different area of the APS altogether, the moment you do decide to make your move is the moment preparation matters most.
EL1 recruitment is competitive. Selection panels are looking for more than technical capability — they want to see leadership, sound judgement, the ability to manage complexity, and a clear sense of how you add value at that level. Being able to draw on acting experience is a real advantage, but only if you can articulate it well.
That’s where professional public sector interview coaching makes a tangible difference. Whether you’re preparing to apply for your first permanent EL1, targeting a specific agency or policy area, or just want to understand what panels are really looking for at that level, we can help you get ready to put your best application forward.
You’ve already done the hard work of proving you can operate at EL1. The next step is making sure the right people know it — in the right way, at the right time.
Your Decision Is Valid
If you’ve chosen not to pursue a permanent EL1 because the role, the area, or the timing isn’t right — that’s not a failure. It’s not a missed opportunity you’ll always regret. It’s a considered decision made by someone who knows what they want and is willing to wait for the version of progression that actually fits their life.
The APS will have more EL1 opportunities. There will be other acting stints, other vacancies, other recruitment rounds. What matters is that when you do decide to go for it, you go for the right one — and you go in prepared.
When that moment comes, we’re here to help you make it count.