Practice makes perfect: the Canberra mum helping jobseekers crack the APS interview
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For anyone who has ever sat opposite a government interview panel, palms sweating while trying to conjure the perfect response, Emma Kent understands the pressure.
The Canberra mum has spent more than 20 years supporting recruitment and talent processes across federal, state and territory governments observing capable candidates miss out on roles not because they lacked the skills, but because they were unfamiliar with the structure, expectations and nerves that come with a government interview.
Now, she has created an online platform designed to help jobseekers prepare for public sector interviews in a realistic, practical and supportive way.
The Alleviate Coaching Tool (ACT) uses AI to emulate a real government panel interview experience, including behavioural and capability-based questions, panel interaction, and then provides detailed feedback and reporting. Unlike generic interview preparation services, ACT has been designed specifically for government recruitment, helping candidates better understand expectations, improve their performance and build confidence before the real thing.
Emma hopes the platform will help the next generation of budding bureaucrats walk into interviews feeling more prepared.
Recruitment specialist Emma Kent
What are the most common mistakes candidates make in interviews?
“Nerves can play a major role, as can relying too heavily on pre-prepared answers or even using AI during an interview in a way that hinders performance. But the most common mistake is a lack of preparation, particularly when it comes to using the STAR method to provide clear evidence for claims.”
What is the STAR method?
“It’s the framework government panels use to assess responses. It helps candidates tell their story in a structured way by explaining the Situation, the Task they were responsible for, the Actions they took and the Result they achieved. It’s one of the most common interview techniques used across government and helps candidates provide clear, evidence-based examples of their capabilities.”
How is APS recruitment different from the private sector?
“Government departments have a rigorous interview process based on a legislative basis, and the government is under close scrutiny to uphold merit,” she says. “The private sector can make decisions in a much more informal way, sometimes over a coffee and with no consequences!”
How does the tool work?
“ACT is an AI-powered interview coaching platform that simulates a realistic government interview. Users upload a role they are preparing to be interviewed for, or one they are considering applying for, from job sites such as SEEK or APS Jobs. They are then interviewed by a virtual panel, including a chair, subject matter expert and people and culture representative.
During the session, ACT asks structured behavioural and role-specific questions similar to those used in real government recruitment processes. Candidates respond as they would in a live interview, while the platform assesses their answers against key interview techniques, including the STAR method, communication effectiveness, structure, clarity and evidence of capability.
At the end of the interview, candidates receive a comprehensive feedback report outlining their strengths, areas for improvement, performance against interview best practice and practical recommendations to improve future interview outcomes.
It’s a safe, accessible, affordable and private way for people to practise, build confidence and improve their interview performance before facing a real selection panel.”
How much does it cost?
“There are three individual packages available: $77 for one practice interview, $195 for three, and $295 for five. Corporate packages can also be provided for recruitment agencies looking to support candidates. Because the tool emulates a real government panel interview, each session usually takes around 30 minutes.
Why do job applicants need to prepare?
“Preparation is one of the biggest factors influencing interview success. Many applicants have the skills, experience and qualifications required for a role, but struggle to communicate their capabilities clearly in an interview.
In government recruitment, particularly, interviews often assess specific capabilities, behaviours and values. Candidates who understand those expectations, and who have practised articulating their experience, are better placed to demonstrate their strengths and perform at their best.”
You can learn more about ACT here.
Main image by Edmond Dantes via Pexels.
