Interview support

Deliberately practising new behaviour has three effects:

• You get better at doing it, which increases the odds that you will be successful at it when it matters
• You start to replace the old habits with new ones
•  You develop the habit of replacing old habits

Start practising for your interviews with these easy steps:

• The guide to Job interviews (PDF 209KB) will provide you with some helpful tips and advice on how to tackle to interview process
• Take the Interview tutorial to prepare for the different types of interviews you might face, how to handle assessment centres and the types of tests you may be presented with, and how to negotiate or even turn down an offer diplomatically.
• Use the Interview 360 tool to help your practice mock interviews and receive instant feedback
• How to handle Video Interviews

Knowing what job interview questions you might be asked is essential so you can personalise your answers well in advance, and feel confident in your responses when the pressure is on.

• Can you tell us about yourself? Learn how to best introduce yourself using a Professional Pitch
• What made you apply for this job?
• Tell me about a time when...

Check out common interview questions and learn strategies to help you answer them with confidence

Whether you are going for an interview for a summer job or a graduate role, it’s important to dress appropriately.

What should I wear to a job interview (PDF 745KB)

Many Australasian companies use Assessment Centres as a part of the recruitment process. They focus on assessing your competencies as you participate in individual and team activities.

• Watch the video tutorial on how to do well in psychometric tests and assessment centres below.
• Practice using our assessment centre tool.

Employers use aptitude tests as a way to grasp your cognitive ability or personality. They’re extremely common in job assessments as they can be used to predict the likelihood of a candidate’s success in a job role, whilst eliminating any bias through its standardised administration. 

Generally, aptitude tests fall into two categories: verbal and non-verbal. Common non-verbal tests such as numerical reasoning or inductive reasoning, assess your ability to handle numerical data, patterns and problem-solving. Verbal tests such as verbal reasoning, comprehension and situational judgement tests are focused on your ability to analyse verbal data and make decisions.

How to prepare for an aptitude test? Practice a wide variety of commonly used assessments to improve your chances of performing well in the real thing.

When you are offered the job (congratulations, by the way!), you might need to do some negotiating - and you might want to refer to salary diplomatically. 

Research and refer to these resources to help you navigate salary conversations:

• Salary Negotiation & Employment Agreements (PDF 45KB)
• Hays Salary Guide 21/22
• Career NZ job profiles and industries 
• Refer to MBIE's Medium to long-term employment outlook: Looking ahead to 2028 

Employment Agreements

Every employee must have a written employment agreement. A well-written employment agreement helps you and the employer know what is expected and what you're entitled to. Get in touch with these organisations to clarify concerns about your employment agreement: 

• Employment New Zealand
• Community Law Canterbury offers free legal advice