What is a job interview?

A job interview in Australia is the formal meeting between an employer and a candidate during the hiring process, used by both sides to assess fit. Most Australian interviews follow a structured format, often run by a panel of two or three people, and combining competency, behavioural, and skills-based questions.

The most common interview style is the behavioural interview, based on the principle that past behaviour is the best predictor of future performance. Interviewers ask candidates to describe specific situations from their past work, asking what happened, what they did, and what the outcome was. The STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is widely used by candidates to structure their answers. Interviewers may also use case studies, hypothetical scenarios, technical questions, presentation tasks, or skills tests depending on the role.

Australian interview etiquette is generally less formal than in some other markets but more formal than United States or Israeli norms. Candidates are expected to dress appropriately for the industry (business attire for finance, law, government, smart-casual for tech and creative industries, trade-appropriate for blue-collar roles), arrive five to ten minutes early, prepare questions about the role and the team, research the organisation in advance, and follow up with a thank-you email after the interview. First names are common from the outset.

Several legal protections apply. Employers cannot ask questions that probe protected attributes such as age, marital status, pregnancy plans, religion, sexual orientation, racial background, or disability unless directly relevant to essential job requirements (and even then with care). They cannot require candidates to disclose criminal history beyond what is strictly relevant to the role, and spent convictions are protected under federal and state laws. Reasonable adjustments are required for candidates with disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, including additional time, written questions in advance, or alternative interview formats. Candidates can complain to the Australian Human Rights Commission or state anti-discrimination boards if they experience unlawful questioning.