Public Safety Business Agency
Tips when preparing for your interview
Well done! Your application was of a suitable standard to result in you being shortlisted for interview.
What Questions Will I Encounter?
Most interview questions will be behaviourally based. That is, asking for specific examples of your
behaviour in situations relevant to the key accountabilities under ‘Your opportunity’ in the role
description.
The panel will have determined the most relevant, appropriate or desirable responses for the role
and will be looking to match your responses with these.
Behaviourally based questions are either future or past oriented and usually phrased as:
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“Describe a situation where….”
“Please give an example of….”
“Describe a time when….”
Such questions place emphasis on ‘behaviours’ rather than opinions or theory, giving a better insight
into applicants’ capabilities.
The panel may also ask about why you took a specific action and the outcome or they may pose a
theoretical question or future scenario such as:
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“How would you….”
“What would you….”
How Do I Answer Interview Questions?
The following tips may assist you in preparing for and participating in the interview process.
Preparation
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Develop a running log of your achievements, activities and outcomes so you may identify
examples to use in the interview
Go over your application, identifying what examples you used and what other examples would
be suitable
Using your running log and written response, develop a list of possible examples for each
accountability – this list may include the examples you used in your written response
Develop potential responses by using a framework such as STAR (a Situation, your Task, the
Action you took and the Result you achieved)
Try to link your potential responses to organisational strategic and operational goals. Strategic
connections can be at the local level right up to whole of government level
Ensure your examples and draft responses communicate your achievements
If you are unable to attend the interview in person a telephone interview may be arranged
Confirm whether there is public transport or parking near the interview location before the
interview date
Interview Tips
While these points can help you prepare, the questions you anticipate may not be asked and your
examples may not fit completely. Don’t panic – your preparation should be sufficient to enable you
to adapt your draft responses and examples to each question.
At the Interview
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Be prepared with your list of possible examples – be aware you may not be allowed to take
this material into the interview
The panel may or may not give you the questions before the interview – if you are given
preparation time, be sure to read each question closely and begin to formulate your responses
Do not hesitate to ask the panel to repeat a question if you have not heard the entire question
or do not understand what is required
Take a few seconds to think about your response before speaking – don’t feel rushed
Your response should be structured to ensure you have addressed all aspects of the question
– provide a relevant example and ensure you answer the question directly
If you use examples that you used in your written response in the interview, be sure to
elaborate on the information you provided in the response and provide further insights into
what you did and how
The panel may ask prompting questions if you do not cover all aspects of the question or may
ask you to elaborate upon aspects of your response – don’t assume you haven’t answered the
question correctly, the panel may simply be seeking additional information
If given the opportunity at the end of the interview, briefly add any points you omitted during
the formal questions
Be prepared to ask questions too – you may wish to clarify aspects of the role or selection
process
Don’t assume the panel members know about your work even if you are known to them – they
can only assess applicants on the information presented during the selection process
Avoid role-specific ‘jargon’ such as acronyms unless you explain them
When providing an example of your actions you may be asked if you would have done anything
different if confronted with a similar event now. If you have thoughts about this you should
outline this as it indicates you are reflective and have the ability to learn from experiences.
You can also project these insights into future scenario responses.
After the Interview
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Obtain feedback (once the selection has been approved and you have been advised of the
outcome)
Use this feedback when approaching your next job application no matter how far you
progressed in the selection process
There is no guarantee that following the above tips will ensure you are successful in your application.
Interview Tips
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