Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs Interview Questions

Very casual , not many questions at all just promoting the position and and explaining the job description, this was not a permanent position and employed via a recruitment agency.

I took part in the assessment/interview day for the 2019 Graduate Program with DVA. While the day as a whole was as expected of any assessment day the panel interview was a different story. Approximately 3 women and 1 man where on the panel. I was a slightly older graduate applicant in my early 30's. I was asked extremely direct questions by the male interviewer about my family and husband. Out of the approximate 12 questions I was asked only 3 where actually about my work history and ability to do the job. the rest included questions like - Where does your husband work and what does he do? Is your husband in the Army? How does your husband feel about you returning to work? How many children do you have? How will you cope with having a family and working full time? All questions I felt where irrelevant and intrusive. I also felt that I was only being asked these questions because I was a female applicant - if I was a male applicant I feel like I would not have been asked these questions. I was successful in gaining a position on the graduate program in the second round of offers however I declined as I did not want to join an organisation that interviewed as if it where the year 1950. Happily I was successful on another graduate program.

It lasted only 5 minutes - it felt much more like social chitchat than an interview tbh. No questions about my professional career to date. They ran late too. The interview was not used to determine if I was suitable for the role.

I applied online, as part of the usual graduate process. First, I had to complete the online application and answer selection criteria. I was then progressed to psychometric testing phase. After this, I had a phone screen interview and was progressed to the Assessment Centre. AC had 4 people in total, and included a group activity, individual presentation (that was given a week before to prepare based on a topic), written assessment and one on one interview with managers. Very structured and well run.

The interviewers read from a list of questions that were prepared in advance. It lasted about 6 minutes. There were three judges on the panel. The questions were not difficult.

Interviewed on Tuesday and was offered the job on Thursday. I was asked to start the position the following Monday, 11 days from the offer date. The short notice was because if I was not on the pay roll by a specific date they would lose the money.

Board of three employees ask a pre-determined list of questions. Most questions pertained to requirements of being in recovery for substance abuse/mental health for over one year. They did not ask private questions in regards to this requirement but did ask the timeframe that I had been in recovery.

The interview was panel based. Each panel member asked a series of 5 questions a piece. Then the panel asked me if I had any questions or concerns for them.