what do you know about us and the public service?

1. Why do you want to work for the Australian government / public sector?
2. What do you know about the department?
3. What is your understanding of what we do?
4. How does our department make a difference?
5. What is your perspective on the mission of this department?
6. Tell me about the department's current policies and where you have seen them in effect in the
real world.
7. Name one initiative that the department has been involved in.
8. Discuss something the department has been in the media for recently.
9. Why is our work important to the wellbeing of the Australian community?
10. What do you think the biggest challenges facing this sector in Australia are?
11. Where do you see the department going in the future?
12. Tell me about a policy initiative our department could undertake.

Why should we hire you?

1. What is your motivation for wanting to work for government and the public service?
2. Why do you want to work for us specifically?
3. Where do you see yourself within the department?
4. What can you bring to this department?
5. Do you think you would be able to blend into the public service?
6. How do you reconcile being asked to pursue a policy position that might not reflect your
personal values?
7. How will your individual skill set contribute to improving this department?
8. Why do you think you’re an ideal candidate? Why should you be hired? What skills will you
bring to this department?
9. What policy area handled by the department are you interested in and why?
10. Are you prepared to move anywhere, knowing that your preferences won't be the only
deciding factor in the decision making process?
11. How would you brief a government minister on various policy topics?

Here are 17 common interview questions.

1. Tell me a bit about yourself

“Tell me a bit about yourself” is a commonly asked interview question to help break the ice and
provide a brief, high-level understanding of who you are and your professional work background. A
compelling and succinct answer will help you get the interviewer’s attention and allow you to stand out
from the crowd.
The key to this is brevity and an overview of who you are, your strengths, skills and qualifications. This
will also allow the interviewer to probe more deeply into your areas of strength.

2. Why do you want to work here?

With this question, the interviewer is trying to understand your motivations for applying to the job.

What’s key here is to showcase your knowledge of the company and to highlight insights you have
discovered during your interview preparation and research phase. Give specific examples and try to
match your skills, strengths and values to the job position and company.

3. What do you know about us as a company?

Preparedness and research are, again, crucial to any successful job interview. And this question allows
you to showcase the extent of the time you spent really getting to understand the type of business it
is, and using this question as an opportunity to align yourself to their value proposition and the
services they offer.

Do a Google search on the company and find some recent information such as product launches,
events they are involved in, awards or a particular newsworthy article written about them. Look for
information that is not on their website, showing that you have gone a little deeper than most people
do.

4. What are your strengths?

With this question, the interviewer is looking to understand your professional strengths and how these
will tie into the role. Choose a few of your key strengths that fit the role requirements, and wherever
possible, give strong examples to back this up. Ultimately, the interviewer wants to understand what
benefit you would bring to the business. Strengths include the ability to work under pressure, delegate
successfully and to manage various projects and stakeholders.

5. What are your weaknesses?

While this is possibly one of the trickiest interview questions to answer, the interviewer is simply trying
to gauge your level of self-awareness. It can be tempting to try and avoid the question, and maybe job
candidates panic and end up responding with “I can’t think of any” or “I don’t have any” because they
didn’t spend the time to really consider the point of the question.

So, when it comes to the weaknesses discussion, focus on one or two areas that you could improve on
or what you find most challenging. What’s key here is an ability to both acknowledge and be self-
aware, while demonstrating your ability and willingness to learn and grow.

Give an example of something you’re already working on

It’s only human to have weaknesses, but not everyone actively works to improve themselves. If you
already know a real flaw in your skills or personality attributes, take steps to improve yourself in this
area ahead of time.

For example, perhaps you struggle to delegate tasks because you don’t trust others to do the job well.
This weakness could slow anyone down but if you have set a plan in place to train others and
efficiently hand over the reins on projects, you can admit this weakness, then follow immediately with
real steps you have already taken in making improvements.

Ultimately, it’s important to show self-awareness in that you are not a perfect human. To show that
you’re willing to work on your flaws, and to be honest instead of lying. Tick these boxes for your
interview, and you’ll be one step closer to landing the job.

6. What have been your greatest achievements to date?

Here, the interviewer is looking to see if you are a high performer and where you have excelled in your
previous roles. In this case, select a few recent accomplishments that are directly related to the job
position, role and responsibilities wherever possible.

Be precise, and quantify the action, the steps taken and the benefits you provided.

7. When have you had to overcome a difficult situation at work and how did you manage it?
This question is designed to understand, firstly, what you deem as a difficult situation and then how
you solve problems and work with other people or departments. In this case, don’t be afraid to select a
tough situation that wasn’t caused by you and explain the steps and measurements you took to
overcome it.

Focus on and highlight the successful outcome and the learnings from the situation, as well as how the
process and improvements enhanced overall performance.

8. What were the best and worst parts about your last role?
Here, the interviewer is trying to gauge whether there are aspects of the job you may not enjoy. Focus
on what you enjoyed in your last role, and when addressing the negative side, be cautious about
criticising your previous employer – it doesn’t make a good impression.

Include examples that showcase your strengths, as well as the ability to adapt to situations you may
have initially found challenging.

9. Why are you looking to make the move from your current company?
This question is also often tricky to answer but reflecting positively on your current employer is
important. Highlight the need for change, new challenges and a desire to learn and grow rather than
pinpointing things you don’t like about your current job.

10. What are your goals for the next year?

Goal setting and having a purpose are important candidate factors to interviewers. This question is
also designed to measure your level of ambition and interest in career planning.
Prepare for this ahead of the interview and really think about where you want to be and how it aligns
with the role you are applying for. If your answer mentions continuous growth, learning and a
willingness to adapt and take on new challenges, you’re on the right track.

11. How do you respond to high-pressure situations?

This question is designed to understand how you stay focused in different, difficult and high-pressure
situations. It’s a chance to highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work well under
pressure.

Give an example of when you’ve succeeded under pressure that demonstrates logical problem-solving
and people skills.

12. If this role wasn’t on offer, what else would you be applying for here?
This is an interesting question as it allows you to showcase your range. So, as part of your interview
preparation ensure you have looked at similar and realistic roles or positions. Ensure you have a strong
response that highlights your strengths and skills, and demonstrates why you were attracted to the
company and similar role attributes.

13. Tell me about a successful project and your role there

This common interview question is aimed at understanding your interpersonal skills and how you work
with a team. Showcase your role, the project, and how you assisted your colleagues. Provide examples
of communication, collaboration, teamwork and problem-solving.

14. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

As with general goal setting, having a structure for a five-year plan can be helpful for you and the
interviewer. For this question, research the company’s vision and mission. Try to set a reasonable
target based on your own goals, the company’s goals and the position you are applying for.

15. What do you like to do in your spare time?

 This question is designed to uncover your team and culture fit. Whilst it can be tempting to rattle off a
laundry list, stick to hobbies that paint a fuller picture of you as a person. Think about what you do in
your spare time but remember to keep it professional.

16. Why should we hire you?

Think of this interview question as an opportunity to summarise your experience, skill set and passion
for the job and company.
Your interviewer is essentially asking you to give your personal sales pitch, so take the time to explain
why you’re qualified to do the work and deliver great results (a combination of skills and
achievements), how you can support the interviewer and the broader business in their goals, and why
you’ll be a great cultural fit.

17. Do you have any questions for us?

While you may be the one being interviewed you also have a chance to ask some key questions to
help you determine if you think you are the right fit for the role. Use this opportunity to ask any
questions that haven’t been covered during the interview. Questions could be about KPIs, what a
standard day involves, team size, training opportunities, employee perks, or anything else that will
help you determine the role’s suitability.

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Summary:

While every interview is unique, there are some common interview questions that anyone looking for a
job should be aware of. Be prepared for your next interview with questions about:

 Your past successes and failures (and what you’ve learned since)
 Why you want to leave your current role and company
 Your goals for the future
 What you know about the company looking to hire
 Your personal strengths and weaknesses

Tell me about yourself

This is your opportunity to talk about things that aren’t in your resume, such as your personality,
hobbies or something you’re passionate about. It helps paint a picture of who you are. You can also
include in your answer what you think your greatest achievement has been in your career to date.

What motivates you?

Money is likely not the best answer to this question, even though it’s important. Tell the interviewer
what makes you happy in the workplace. It can be recognition, company culture, ability to help people
or opportunity to develop your skills. What motivates you should be based on your personal drivers.

What are you passionate about?

Share what’s important to you and this doesn’t have to be work related. Describe how dedicated you
are when it comes to what you’re passionate about but be careful not to leave the impression that
your hobby might affect your work hours or performance.

Popular questions
Which of your previous positions have you enjoyed the most or least?

Interviewers ask this question to give them a better understanding of whether you’ll be a good fit for
the company. Be honest but avoid being negative about previous experience because it could create a
wrong impression.

What is your salary expectation?

It’s important to know the salary range being paid for the position you’re going for before being
interviewed. When answering, try to avoid giving a specific figure because it could signal that money is
your key motivator. Refer to the job advertisement when stating the salary range and be clear on the
experience you’re bringing to the position, especially if you’re looking to start at the higher end of the
salary range. Never back a prospective employer into a corner. Leave the door open for negotiation.

What are your weaknesses?

Only mention weaknesses that aren’t crucial to the position. For example, if you’re going for a
reception position, being weak with numerical skills likely won’t affect your chance of securing the job.
You can also describe small flaws you’re currently working on. Always turn negative into positive.

What are your strongest attributes?

Focus on the attributes that are relevant for the position and give examples. Decide on two strengths
before going in to the interview and tie these into what’s included in the job description or
advertisement.

What is your long-term goal?

Relate this answer to the job you’re interviewing for. Mention how you want to progress within the
organisation, to show your ambition. Don’t, however, leave the impression that you intend to jump
ship as soon as something else comes along. Longevity is important to employers. If your employer
states they’re looking for an expert who will stay awhile, and you’re happy with this prospect, then say
so, and clearly.

Are you interviewing for other positions?

Interviewers ask this question for different reasons. They might want to test how serious you are about
looking for a new opportunity. They might want to know if they’re competing with other organisations.
If you have other interviews lined up, tell the interviewer you’re considering options, but don’t name
the companies or specify the number of applications you have out there.

Do you have any questions?

This is usually the last question in an interview and it’s your chance to show how interested you are in
the job. Research the company beforehand, especially through its website, and always have two
questions ready that are connected to what they do. This shows you’ve taken the time to research. It
also shows you’re keen and prepared. You can even ask about the next steps in the hiring process.

Specific questions

Why are you interested in this position?

Tell the interviewer you believe the company will be a good cultural fit and why. Connect what they do
and the position to your skills and interests.
What do you know about our company?

Always do your research so you know what the company is about. This applies whether you’re applying
for a private or public-sector position. Check out the company website, their social media presence and
their LinkedIn profile. Find out as much as you can to show respect and genuine interest. Get familiar
with the programs and projects the company is working on.

Why should we hire you?

This is your chance to highlight all your skills and experience relevant to the position. Before the
interview, look closely at the job description and prepare examples of your relevant experience.
Mention your personality, attitude and ability to work well with team members and management. Tell
the interviewer what your strengths are and what you will bring to the table.

Behavioural questions

Provide an example of working under pressure? How did you manage this pressure situation?

Be prepared to provide examples of stressful work situations where you relied on your problem-solving
skills. Succinctly tell the interviewer what the situation was, how you addressed it and what outcome
you achieved.

Have you handled a difficult situation with a co-worker? If so, how?

Provide an example of a challenging situation you had with a co-worker and how you handled it. If
you’ve never faced such a conflict in a workplace, describe how you would deal with one if you had to.

Communication

Do you work well in a team?

Don’t be vague or limit your response by simply saying you work well with people. Employers want to
know if you’re a good cultural fit and if your personality will suit the team. This is very important to any
organisation. Describe your ability to listen to, communicate with and work as an effective team
member. Provide an example of a team project where your ability to work well with colleagues led to a
positive outcome.

Do you prefer to communicate verbally or in written form? Why?

Before answering this question, think about what the position requires. If verbal communication is a
big part of the job, emphasise your ability to communicate well in person. Equally, if the job involves a
lot of writing make sure you highlight your written communication skills.

Tricky questions

Did you ever have any issues with your previous manager?

Be careful when answering this question. Don’t speak badly about your previous employer or you
could come across as a difficult person to work with. Always turn a negative experience into a positive
one. If you had issues with your boss, describe what you did to overcome them.
Why are you leaving your current role? Why did you leave your previous position?

Make sure you give a short and clear answer without going into too much details. People leave jobs for
various reasons, including redundancy, company closure, lack of professional growth and
development, or even the need to move to a new city. You could also be leaving because you’ve just
finished a degree and are ready to start the next chapter of your career. Don’t ever say you left a role
due to a personality clash. Instead, simply say the role wasn’t a good cultural match for you.
Remember to stay positive.

Example – Act with Integrity (Adept)

The following question is assessing the Act with integrity capability at the adept level:
“Give an example of a time when you identified and explained ethical issues to your team/unit?”

Some of the points you could look for candidates to address include:

 The nature of the issue (does the situation reflect an appropriate level of seriousness or
complexity given the seniority of the role)
 How did they identify the issue (e.g. did they rely on judgment, experience, knowledge of the
code of ethics?)
 How did they approach the team conversation (e.g. did they do it in an appropriate way e.g. in
a structured way during a team meeting or in a negative way e.g. by criticising one team
member in front of others)
 What was the result (e.g. did they make sure everyone understood the message? Was there a
change in behaviour as a result of the discussion?).