First, it's intimidating. Know that you'll be sitting across from three interviewers. Usually, that would be the line manager for the position, another manager from a related department or a subject specialist, and an HR representative.

Government interviews are very "structured," meaning every candidate is asked the exact same questions to ensure fairness. They are almost always based on Competencies.

Core Competencies to Prepare For

Batho Pele (People First)

Expect a question on how you handle a difficult "customer" or citizen. Your answer must show empathy and a commitment to service standards.

Strategic Capability and Leadership

For management roles, you will be asked how you managed a team through a crisis or a change in policy.

Financial Management

Even for non-finance roles, you may be asked about your understanding of "fruitless and wasteful expenditure" under the PFMA.

The STAR Method for Government Interviews

When answering, structure your responses like this:

• S (Situation): Briefly describe the context.
• T (Task): What was the specific challenge?
• A (Action): What did you do? (Focus on your adherence to policy/procedure).
• R (Result): What was the positive outcome for the department or the public?