Applying for government jobs in Tanzania
How public service jobs are usually advertised and what to get right when you apply.
Where they're advertised
Many public service jobs in Tanzania are advertised and applied for through the government's official recruitment portal, run by the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat. Some institutions also advertise on their own websites and in newspapers. Kaziplat lists many of these jobs and links to the official advert.
What to get right
- Read the whole advert, including how to apply and the closing date. Instructions differ between institutions.
- Create your account and profile early, if the advert asks you to apply through the portal, and fill it in completely.
- Upload clear copies of the certificates the advert asks for. Make sure names match across your documents.
- Meet the stated qualifications. Applications that don't meet them are usually not shortlisted.
- Apply before the deadline. Systems get busy on the last day.
Filling in your profile
On an online recruitment portal, your profile is your application. Complete every part: personal details, contact details, education, professional qualifications, work experience, languages and referees. Enter details exactly as they appear on your certificates, including the spelling of names, the institution and the year. Upload each certificate in the section the portal asks for. An incomplete profile is one of the most common reasons applications go no further.
Be careful
Government jobs don't require payment to apply or to be selected. Anyone who promises a government job in exchange for money is not to be trusted. Always rely on the official advert.
The application letter
Many public service adverts ask for a signed application letter, often in Swahili. Address it exactly as the advert says, give the job title and reference, state your qualification and why you fit, and sign it. Scan the signed letter and upload it as a PDF. Our guide on writing an application letter shows the layout.
Interviews in public service
Shortlisted candidates are usually announced publicly, with the date, time and venue of the interview. Check the announcements regularly after the closing date. Public service interviews often have a written stage followed by an oral one, and candidates who pass the written stage go on to the oral interview. Bring your original certificates and ID: they are checked, and you may not be allowed to sit without them. Our guide on written tests can help you prepare.
After you are selected
Successful candidates are informed of their placement and given instructions on when and where to report. You will usually be asked to bring original certificates for verification. Certificates are checked with the bodies that issued them, so make sure every document you submitted is genuine. If you are not selected, your profile may stay on the portal for future vacancies; keep it up to date.
More guides
- How to write a CV employers read
- How to write an application letter
- How to prepare for a job interview
- How to apply for a job by email
- How to spot fake job adverts
- Documents to have ready before you apply
- Finding your first job after college
- What to do after you apply
- Building the skills employers ask for
- How to read a job advert before you apply
- How to find an internship or field attachment
- How to search and apply for jobs using only your phone
- How to choose and prepare your referees
- How to prepare for written tests and aptitude tests
- What to check before you accept a job offer
- How to explain gaps in your CV
- How to find jobs through the people you know
- How to move into a new field
- How to do well in your first weeks at a new job