Job interviews have changed. Whether you’re pursuing a promotion or in the midst of a career transition, knowing your value and communicating it clearly will set you apart.
Australia’s Job Landscape Is More Competitive
Although Australia’s unemployment rate remains relatively low at 4.1% (in May 2025), the near-record-high participation rate of 67% means more people are vying for the same jobs.
- Some positions attract 750+ applicants (Jobscan, 2025).
- The average candidate submits 162 applications before securing a job (StandOut Resume, 2025).
- The hiring process takes 3+ months for 15% of people and 2+ months for 45% of people; only 10% are finalised within a month (Information Age, 2025).
Employers are also seeking more complex skill sets, such as AI literacy, communication, and critical thinking.
All of this means that landing an interview is an achievement in itself. But it’s far from the finish line.
If you’re in a career transition, it’s critical to understand how to stand out in interviews and become the clear #1 candidate.
Crafting Thoughtful Questions: A Strategy to Stand Out
Asking insightful questions shows you’ve done your homework. It signals to interviewers that you’re serious about the role and ready for your next career challenge. Questions also shift the interview from a one-way assessment to a genuine two-way conversation.
Here are some of our career consultants’ favourites, which you can adapt to fit your experience and the role you’re interviewing for.
Questions That Show Preparedness
- “What are the team’s goals for the next six months?”
- “What’s something that’s surprised you about this company since you started?”
- “How do you see this role evolving in the next year?”
Questions That Build Connection
- “What drew you to the company?”
- “If I were in this role today, what coaching advice would you offer?”
- “What are you most proud of in your current team?”
- “What challenges do you foresee in this role, and how can we address them together?”
Questions That Visualise Your Success
- “If I were to start tomorrow, what would you suggest I focus on in my first month?”
- “Considering the team’s dynamics, how do you see my contribution adding value?”
- “What’s the one challenge you’d like the person in this role to solve?”
Questions That Demonstrate Active Listening
- “Earlier, you mentioned [X]. Could you tell me more about how that’s impacting the team?”
- “Can you share more about the project you mentioned earlier? What led to the team’s [success/stumbling]?”
Questions About Team Culture And Dynamics
- “What behaviours are rewarded here?”
- “How does the team handle feedback or conflict?”
- “Can you share an example of cross-functional collaboration?”
Leveraging AI for Career Transitions
Tools like ChatGPT can be great for getting started. Just remember that AI is a tool, not a substitute for authenticity. To really stand out, your questions need to go deeper and reflect your own thinking.
5 Quick Tips for Using AI in Interview Preparation
- Provide specific information about the role and your experience.
- Prompt AI to adopt a defined persona, e.g. the persona of a recruiter at the company.
- Ask AI to challenge your assumptions and recommend strategies to improve.
- Try asking for tips to answer challenging questions with confidence.
- Don’t trust everything AI says; it’s often wrong.
The Value of Mock Interviews and Coaching
Even seasoned professionals benefit from practice. A structured mock interview provides insight into how you come across and helps you refine your delivery.
At deliberatepractice, we provide tailored career coaching programs to support job seekers through every stage of their career transition.
Our Interview Coaching Program offers tailored guidance and practical feedback, and our Mock Interview Program simulates real-life scenarios to build confidence and polish your responses.
Explore our career coaching programs or call 1300 deliberate to speak with a career transition expert.
