Client Interview Guidelines
Be attentive
Face the camera, listen to questions, pause to consider before responding to
questions etc.
Be somewhere quiet
Ideally with a good microphone and headphone setup that will allow you to clearly
hear the interviewee and be heard easily
Use a virtual background
Before your Microsoft Teams call, log in ahead of time and set up your background. Choose a
neutral or professional background or use the blur option to keep the focus on the conversation.
Take notes
Jot down key points to stay engaged and ask relevant questions. Use pen and paper to avoid
distractions and noise from typing.
Research the Company
Learn about the company's mission, values, culture, products, and services. This will
demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm during the interview.
Do not Google/ChatGPT answers
If you don’t know the answer to a question during an interview, avoid Googling or using
ChatGPT mid interview , unless the client specifically asks you to. It’s better to be upfront and
say you’re unsure—honesty and a willingness to learn are often more appreciated than a
rushed, copied answer.
Understand the Job Description
Familiarize yourself with the job requirements and responsibilities. Be prepared to
discuss how your skills and experience align with the role.
Be Ready to Discuss Your Resume
Expect questions about your experience, such as:
"Can you walk me through your work history?" (Focus on key roles and achievements.)
"What was your role at [Company]?" (Briefly explain your responsibilities and impact.)
"Can you explain this employment gap?" (Keep it simple and highlight any productive
activities.)
"What's a key accomplishment from your past roles?" (Share a relevant achievement with
results.)
Keep It Professional: Sharing Personal Challenges in Interviews
If you need to mention a personal challenge that affected your work, keep it brief and
professional. Focus on how you managed the situation rather than sharing too many
personal details. This shows resilience and professionalism while keeping the
conversation relevant to the role.
Here are a few phrases to avoid during a job interview:
1. "As I've said before"
2. "I've already mentioned that"
3. "To be honest" (implies lack of honesty previously)
4. "I don't know" (without attempting to explain)
5. "I'm a perfectionist" (as a weakness)
6. "Whatever you want me to do" (shows lack of initiative)
7. "I don’t have any weaknesses" (sounds unrealistic or arrogant)
8. "I hated my last job/boss" (negative talk about previous employers)
9. "What does your company do?" (shows lack of research)
10. "It’s on my résumé" (comes across as dismissive)
Show Enthusiasm
Express your enthusiasm for the position and the company. Employers value
candidates who are passionate and excited about the opportunity.
Be Less Defensive
If the interviewer doesn't inquire about the reason for leaving your previous
company, refrain from bringing it up unprompted. Focus on highlighting your skills,
experiences, and qualifications relevant to the position instead of dwelling on past
challenges. This demonstrates your professionalism and ability to remain focused on
the present opportunity.
Ask questions
If you are told something that is unclear, or there is more detail than is provided,
such as probing questions to dive deeper into the topic. This will show you are keen
to understand in detail and will reflect very positively on the interview.
Prepare questions – based on your conversation flow with the client, the following may be
asked if the client has not discussed it yet. These are just sample questions, feel free to
create your own. (Note: Limit your questions to 2- 3 ONLY)
Open questions about the role (questions where the answer is not “yes” or “no”
o Ie. Can you tell me more about the business?
o How long have you been operating?
o How many employees are in the business?
o Other than what we have discussed today are there any other tasks that I
would be asked to work on?
o What does success look like in this role?
o What are the KPIs for this role?
o What are, if any, the major roadblocks in this role that you have encountered?
o Is there training or daily/weekly catchups or any other process that I should be
aware of?
Common Australian Phrases
Here’s a list of common Aussie phrases you might hear during a job interview, capturing the
informal yet professional tone typical in Australian workplaces:
"How are you going?" - A friendly greeting to start the interview.
"Can you tell us a bit about yourself?" - A casual invitation for the candidate to
introduce themselves.
"What's your day-to-day like in your current role?" - Asks the candidate to
describe their daily job activities and tasks.
"What brings you to this role?" - A relaxed way to ask why the candidate is
interested in the position.
"What’s your take on...?" - Used to solicit the candidate’s opinion or approach to a
particular issue or job responsibility.
"Where do you see yourself in a few years?" - A straightforward inquiry about
the candidate’s future aspirations.
"Do you reckon you’d be a good fit for our team?" - Uses "reckon" to ask if the
candidate feels they would mesh well with the team.
"Have a squiz at this scenario..." - Introduces a problem or scenario for the
candidate to address, asking them to quickly examine or consider it.
"Let’s wrap this up." - Indicates the interview is concluding.
"What's your background?" - Asks about the candidate's professional history and
qualifications.
"How do you handle a sticky situation?" - Inquires about the candidate's
problem-solving skills and their approach to challenging situations.
"Can you run us through a typical workday?" - Used to understand more about
the candidate’s daily responsibilities.
"What made you chuck a U-ey and apply for this role?" - A humorous way to
ask why the candidate decided to apply for the position.
"How do you keep up with the industry?" - Questions about how the candidate
stays informed about industry trends and developments.
"What do you reckon sets you apart from other applicants?" - Asks the
candidate to explain what makes them unique compared to others.
"Are you keen to get started?" - Checks if the candidate is eager to begin the
role.
"We’ll be in touch soon. Have a good one!" - A friendly and informal way to end
the interview, indicating that the interviewers will contact the candidate shortly.