From researching the role to practising your answers, here’s how to prepare and shine in your interview.
Interviews can be nerve-wracking—but with the right preparation, you’ll feel confident and ready to shine.
So, to get you started here’s how to make a great impression:
Know where you’re going
Plan your route or test your tech if it’s an online interview. Arrive early and relaxed.
Practice your technique
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Think about examples from work, school, volunteering, or extracurriculars.
At Fonterra, we value the diverse ways people express their experiences. You might naturally speak about achievements as part of a group—using “we” rather than “I.”
If you’re unsure how to describe your personal strengths, try asking whānau, friends, or colleagues what they see in you. Their insights can help you reflect on your skills and experiences.
You might also consider:
We want to hear your story, your way.
At Fonterra, we value the diverse ways people express their experiences. You might naturally speak about achievements as part of a group—using “we” rather than “I.”
If you’re unsure how to describe your personal strengths, try asking whānau, friends, or colleagues what they see in you. Their insights can help you reflect on your skills and experiences.
You might also consider:
- Sharing how you contributed to collective success.
- Talking about values that guide your mahi (work).
- Using examples that show your leadership, resilience, or teamwork—even if they weren’t in formal roles.
We want to hear your story, your way.
Research the company and role
Understand the company’s values, mission, and recent news. This shows genuine interest and helps you tailor your answers. You can also find out if your values align with ours taking our values quiz.
Prepare good questions
Ask thoughtful questions about the role, team, or company. It shows you’re engaged and helps you decide if it’s the right fit.
Dress appropriately
Choose an outfit that suits the company culture. If you’re unsure, it’s better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.
Understand the interview structure
Expect a meet-and-greet, questions about your background and skills, behavioural questions, and a Q&A session.
What can you expect from your interview?
You can expect an interview to follow a structure similar to:
During the interview, the Hiring Manager should provide a good overview of the role, what experience they are ideally looking for, and what success will look like in the first, three, or six months. If not, don’t be afraid to ask.
What can you expect from your interview?
You can expect an interview to follow a structure similar to:
- 5 – 10 minutes: Meet and greet, introduction and reason why you are interested in the role.
- 10 – 15 minutes: Work history and technical questions.
- 20 minutes: Behavioural or competency-based interview questions.
- 10 minutes: Candidate questions and answers.
During the interview, the Hiring Manager should provide a good overview of the role, what experience they are ideally looking for, and what success will look like in the first, three, or six months. If not, don’t be afraid to ask.
Follow up
Send a thank-you email to your interviewer(s). Express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the role.
Quick Tip: Practice makes progress
AI interview tools for you.
Getting ready for an interview can be nerve-wracking, but there are some awesome tools out there to help you practice answering those tricky questions. There are a number of AI Interview practice resources to boost your confidence.
Give them a try and get ready to ace your interview.
Give them a try and get ready to ace your interview.
Do you need adjustments to you’re the interview?
At Te Mātāpuna Fonterra, we want every candidate to feel welcome, supported, and able to show their best.
If you need any help during the recruitment process, we offer a range of reasonable adjustments—small changes that can make a big difference.
Find out how we can support you.
Find out how we can support you.
Just starting out and ready to land your first job?
Get some tips to help you get started on your career journey.