Here is the whole interview in four numbers: arrive at least 15 minutes early, keep each answer to around 2 minutes, ask 2 or 3 questions of your own at the end, and follow up afterwards. The detail behind each number is what actually gets you hired, so here is the complete before, during and after plan.
Before: show up ready, not just on time
The Queensland Government advises arriving at least 15 minutes before a job interview so you have time to gather your thoughts and relax. That buffer is not just politeness; it is the few minutes that stop you walking in flustered. If your interview is on video, Tahatū, New Zealand's careers service, advises finding a quiet place, dressing as you would for an in-person interview, using a tidy or plain background, setting the device at eye level, and testing your camera, microphone and internet beforehand.
During: answer length and structure matter
The Queensland Government advises avoiding 'yes' or 'no' answers in interviews and keeping responses to around 2 minutes each. Two minutes is enough to give a real example without rambling into territory that loses the interviewer's attention. For questions about something you have actually done, Tahatū recommends the STAR method: situation, task, action, result. Walk through what the situation was, what your task was within it, what action you took, and what result followed. It is a structure, not a script, so adapt it to your own experience rather than memorising a template word for word.
Why interviewers keep asking about examples
A flat yes or no answer tells an interviewer almost nothing about how you actually work. An example, told through STAR, shows them the situation you were in, what you were responsible for, what you actually did, and what happened as a result. That is far more useful to them than a confident claim with no story behind it, and it is far easier for you to remember under pressure than trying to sound impressive in the abstract.
Why the questions may feel familiar
The Australian Human Rights Commission advises employers to ask all candidates the same set of common interview questions focused on the skills and abilities needed for the job. If a question sounds like something every candidate is likely being asked, that is by design: it is meant to compare everyone on the same basis, not to catch you out.
| Stage | What to do |
|---|---|
| Before | Arrive at least 15 minutes early (or test your video setup beforehand) |
| During | Keep answers to around 2 minutes; use STAR for behavioural questions |
| Ending | Ask 2 or 3 questions; restate your strengths and enthusiasm for the job |
| After | Send a brief thank-you and ask for feedback on how to improve |
Ending the interview well
The Queensland Government advises asking 2 or 3 questions at the end of an interview and restating your strengths and enthusiasm for the job. Prepare these questions in advance rather than trying to think of them on the spot; something about the team, the role's near-term priorities, or what success looks like in the first few months all work well.
What a good 2-minute answer actually contains
Two minutes of talking is enough for one solid, well-told example, not three rushed ones. Pick the most relevant situation you have, state it briefly, spend most of your time on the action you took, and close with the result. If you notice yourself still setting up the background after a minute, you are spending too long on context and not enough on what you actually did.
After: the follow-up most people skip
The Queensland Government suggests sending a brief letter or email, or phoning, to thank the employer after an interview, and asking for feedback on how to improve. Do this whether or not you think it went well. Feedback from an interview you did not get is still useful for the next one, and a short, polite note tends to leave a better final impression than silence, whatever the outcome turns out to be.
- The day before: confirm the time, location or video link, and test your tech if it is a video interview.
- On the day: arrive at least 15 minutes early, or log in to your video call with time to spare.
- During each answer: aim for around 2 minutes, avoid a flat yes or no, and use STAR for behavioural questions.
- At the end: ask your 2 or 3 prepared questions and restate your strengths and enthusiasm for the role.
- Within a day or two: send a short thank-you note and ask for feedback, whatever the outcome.
Before you get to the interview stage
None of this matters if your application does not get you the interview in the first place. Our guide on how to write a CV for Australia and New Zealand covers the format and length that actually gets read, and once you have an offer in hand, our job offer checklist is worth reading before you sign anything. A verified, up-to-date profile also helps once you are through to interview stage; Talent Tabloid is one option for showcasing verified skills alongside your CV. Current openings across fields are on our administration and accounting and finance job pages.
Common mistakes candidates make
Arriving right on time instead of with the 15-minute buffer, leaving no room to settle in. Answering every question with a flat yes or no instead of a short example. Trying to force the STAR method into questions that are not actually about something you have done. Showing up to the end of the interview with no questions prepared, or skipping the thank-you follow-up entirely because the interview felt like it went badly.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive for an interview?
The Queensland Government advises arriving at least 15 minutes before a job interview so you have time to gather your thoughts and relax.
How long should my answers be?
The Queensland Government advises avoiding yes or no answers and keeping responses to around 2 minutes each.
What is the STAR method?
Tahatū recommends STAR, situation, task, action, result, for answering interview questions about something you have actually done.
How many questions should I ask at the end?
The Queensland Government advises asking 2 or 3 questions at the end of an interview, along with restating your strengths and enthusiasm for the job.
What should I do for a video interview?
Tahatū advises a quiet place, dressing as you would in person, a tidy or plain background, the device at eye level, and testing your camera, microphone and internet beforehand.
Should I follow up after the interview even if I think it went badly?
Yes. The Queensland Government suggests a brief thank-you letter, email or call either way, and asking for feedback on how to improve.
Key takeaways
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early, or test your video setup well before a virtual interview.
- Keep answers to around 2 minutes and avoid flat yes or no responses.
- Use the STAR method, situation, task, action, result, for behavioural questions.
- Prepare 2 or 3 questions to ask at the end, and restate your strengths and enthusiasm.
- Follow up with a brief thank-you and a request for feedback, whatever the outcome.
