Preparing to meet us
Interviews are a two-way process. They are an opportunity for you to find out more about us and the role you have applied for, while we get the chance to find out more about you.
Here's some information to help you prepare.
Behavioural or competency based interviews
At Corrections we generally use behavioural or competency-based interviews. These are interviews where we will ask you questions that seek to understand how you have acted in the past in situations. For example, we might ask you to tell us about a time that you had to work to a tight deadline, or to describe how you have positively contributed to a team.
Most of the questions will focus on providing examples demonstrating your competence in the role.
Remember to structure your answer using the following:
Situation | Briefly describe the situation you faced? |
Task | What specifically did you have to do? |
Action | What action did you take and why? |
Result | What was the outcome of the situation you faced? |
Structured interviews are designed to make you feel comfortable and obtain real information from you. They are not designed to catch you out.
Practice your responses to questions that are likely to be asked – prepare examples
If you’re interviewing for a position that requires a skill that you haven’t used for a while, take the time to brush up your knowledge
Understand your key strengths and areas for development
Be prepared to talk about specific job-related experiences to demonstrate your approach relevant to the competencies
Prepare questions that you may want to ask at the interview
Refer to the position description to identify the competencies/key accountabilities for the role and provide specific examples/situations that reflect your expertise in those areas. Feel free to takes notes with you to the interview to remind yourself of examples you’ve prepared earlier.
Things to be mindful of
Greet the interviewer by their first name, and clarify the pronunciation if needed
Think about your body language - shake hands firmly, use good eye contact, sit upright in your chair, face the interviewer, look alert and interested at all times, smile and be positive
Be a good listener as well as a good talker - take your time to understand the question being asked
Research our organisation and the details of the job you’ve applied for - visit our website, read position description, talk to people you know who have, or are working for the organisation
Spend time reflecting on your work history, your achievements that you can use to demonstrate your experience. Remember to use “I” as opposed to “We” when giving these examples
Make sure that your good points get across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner
Prepare the questions you will ask during the interview.
Remember that an interview is a “two-way street”. Our team will try to determine through questioning if you have the skills and qualities necessary to do the job. You must determine, through questioning, whether the role will give you the opportunity for the growth and development you seek.
Wrapping up
If you get the impression that the interview is not going well, don’t let your discouragement show – it might be going better than you think! Thank the interviewer for their time and consideration of you. Leave a lasting impression by confirming your interest in the position.