7 Common APS Interview Mistakes That Derail Even Qualified Candidates
By Chris – PS Interview Coach
After two decades of helping professionals navigate the Australian Public Service recruitment process, I’ve witnessed countless talented individuals stumble at the interview stage. While technical qualifications might get you through the door, it’s often subtle missteps that prevent candidates from securing their dream APS role.
Here are the seven most common themes that lead to APS interview failures – and how to avoid them.
Theme 1 – Failing to Demonstrate Value Alignment with Public Service Principles
The Problem: Surface-Level Understanding of APS Values
Many candidates treat the APS Values as a checkbox exercise rather than demonstrating genuine understanding.
Common mistakes:
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Reciting values without context
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Providing generic examples
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Failing to connect experiences to public service outcomes
The Solution: Weave values naturally throughout responses using our APS interview coaching framework.
Theme 2 – Inadequate STAR Method Implementation
The Problem: Weak Storytelling Structure
Despite knowing the STAR method, candidates often:
- Spending too long on situation setup
- Gloss over personal actions
- Fail to quantify results
The Solution: Master concise storytelling with our STAR method guide.
Theme 3 – Poor Understanding of Government Context
The Problem: Private Sector Thinking
Common disconnects include:
- Overemphasising profit-driven outcomes
- Ignoring stakeholder complexity
- Not recognising political sensitivity
The Solution: Research departmental priorities using our APS executive insights.
Theme 4 – Inability to Handle Hypothetical Scenarios
The Problem: Reactive Responses
Typical failures:
- Jumping to solutions without analysis
- Ignoring key stakeholders
- Overlooking ethical implications
The Solution: Develop structured analysis with our scenario-based coaching.
Theme 5 – Weak Example Matching
The Problem: Generic Examples
Example mismatches:
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Basic examples for complex criteria
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Outdated examples
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Poorly scaled examples
The Solution: Map criteria-specific examples using our selection criteria service.
Theme 6 – Poor Communication Skills
The Problem: Technical Without Clarity
Common barriers:
- Excessive jargon
- Rambling responses
- Poor active listening
The Solution: Refine skills through our interview coaching packages.
Theme 7 – Insufficient Preparation
The Problem: Generic Approach
Preparation gaps:
- Not researching departmental priorities
- Ignoring machinery of government changes
- Failing to understand role context
The Solution: Comprehensive research with our APS career coaching.
How PS Interview Coach Helps You Succeed
We provide:
- Personalized feedback on responses
- APS-specific scenario practice
- Government context education
- Communication skills refinement
Don’t let these mistakes derail your aspirations. Contact us for expert APS interview preparation.