How to Prepare for an APS Interview: A Practical Preparation Timeline

Preparing for an APS interview is less about memorising answers and more about developing familiarity with your experience, examples, and thinking so you can remain calm, think clearly, and communicate effectively under pressure.

This practical preparation timeline provides a structured approach to APS interview preparation, whether you have several weeks or only a few days before your interview.

Four Weeks Before Your Interview

If you have several weeks before your interview, focus on building your evidence base rather than practising answers.

Review the role requirements

Review:

• the job advertisement
• the role description
• the capability requirements
• the APS Integrated Leadership System (ILS)
• agency values and strategic priorities

Strong candidates prepare for capability assessment rather than preparing answers to predicted questions.

Build your example bank

Many candidates overestimate how many examples they need. Six to ten well understood examples are more effective than a large set of partially prepared stories. The strength comes from depth of understanding rather than volume.

Develop six to ten examples that demonstrate:

• leadership
• stakeholder engagement
• decision making
• problem solving
• managing competing priorities
• communication
• delivering outcomes
• dealing with ambiguity

Many examples can answer multiple questions when framed differently.

One Week Before Your Interview

One week before the interview, your focus shifts from collecting examples to building familiarity and fluency.

Review your application

Reread the job advertisement and your application as if you were seeing them for the first time.

These are the claims you have already made about yourself. The panel will often use the interview to test and explore those claims.

Ask yourself:

• Can I comfortably explain every example I included?
• Can I explain why I made particular decisions?
• Can I explain what changed because of my actions?

Build a small bank of strong examples

Identify a small number of examples that demonstrate common APS capability themes such as:

• stakeholder engagement
• prioritisation
• dealing with ambiguity
• collaboration
• judgement
• leadership
• communication
• problem solving

You do not need dozens of examples just a handful of examples that are relevant, adaptable, and well understood.

Practise out loud

Practising out loud is far more important than most candidates realise.

Speaking your examples aloud helps you:

• identify where you over-explain
• improve your pacing
• refine your structure
• discover where your examples become unclear

The goal is familiarity and fluency.

Revisit the APS Integrated Leadership System

Review the ILS descriptors for the level you are applying for.

Ask yourself:

• Where does this example demonstrate autonomy?
• Where does it demonstrate influence?
• Where does it demonstrate complexity?
• Where does it demonstrate judgement?

This is often the difference between a good answer and a strong answer.

Seek feedback

Ask a colleague, coach, manager, or trusted peer to listen to one or two examples.

Even a small amount of external feedback can reveal:

• assumptions
• blind spots
• unclear explanations
• missing outcomes
• examples that make sense to you but not to others

Feedback often improves confidence as much as capability.

Record yourself

Consider recording yourself answering interview questions using your phone or computer.

Watching yourself back can feel uncomfortable, but it often reveals communication habits you were not aware of.

You may notice:

• filler words
• repetitive phrases
• unclear explanations
• rushed delivery
• nervous habits

Practical Exercise

Take one example and explain it:

• as a detailed written explanation
• as a structured STAR response
• as a two-minute spoken answer

Notice where clarity improves and where it disappears.

The Night Before Your Interview

The night before is not the time for cramming at this point, preparation shifts from learning to settling.

Review once, then stop

Read through your application and examples one final time.

Remind yourself of:

• your strongest examples
• your key achievements
• the capabilities you want to demonstrate

Then stop reviewing.

Trying to remember everything usually creates anxiety rather than confidence.

Prepare your logistics

Prepare:

• your clothes
• your travel arrangements
• your interview location or online setup
• any materials you plan to bring

My recommendation is to dress one level above your normal work attire.

You want to feel professional and comfortable rather than distracted by what you are wearing.

I also recommend bringing a spare shirt, blouse, or outfit if attending in person. Unexpected spills and accidents happen more often than candidates expect, and removing that source of stress can make a significant difference.

Prioritise recovery

Spend time doing things that help you relax and recover.

This might include:

• going for a walk
• eating well
• spending time with family
• reading
• exercising lightly
• getting a good night’s sleep

Performance improves when people are rested.

One Hour Before Your Interview

Do not spend the final hour rereading your application or trying to memorise examples.

Instead, focus on becoming calm, grounded, and present.

This might involve:

• walking
• stretching
• breathing exercises
• listening to music
• sitting quietly
• talking with a supportive person

Block this time out in your calendar and protect it.

If your interview is face-to-face

Arrive in the area early enough to:

• find parking
• locate the building
• settle yourself

However, avoid arriving at reception excessively early.

Panels are often interviewing other candidates and may not be available to receive you.

Arriving too early can create unnecessary stress and undo the work you have done to regulate yourself.