ATO Video Interview: Questions & How to Pass
Government · Updated 2026 · Interview Buddy team
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) uses one-way video interviews as an early stage for its graduate program. You record answers to set questions on your motivation for the public service and behavioural examples, assessed against the APS Values and the ATO's capabilities before an assessment centre.
It screens a large pool, so clear, values-aligned answers are what advance you. This guide covers what the ATO tends to ask on video and how to record answers that stand out.
What a ATO video interview looks like
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You get a link and record answers to typically 3–5 questions, with a short prep window and a per-answer time limit.
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Questions focus on motivation ('why the ATO, why the public service') and behavioural examples (teamwork, integrity, service).
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Answers are assessed against the APS Values — impartial, committed to service, accountable, respectful, ethical.
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No live interviewer; treat it as the gateway to the assessment centre.
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Dress professionally and record in a quiet, tidy, well-lit space.
Questions to prepare
1.
Why do you want to work at the ATO and in the public service?
2.
Tell me about a time you delivered great service to someone.
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Describe a time you worked respectfully with people who held different views.
4.
Tell me about a time you acted with integrity or did the right thing.
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Describe a time you followed an important process even when it was inconvenient.
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Tell me about a time you managed competing priorities.
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What do the APS Values mean to you?
How to stand out
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Map your examples to the APS Values — impartial, respectful, ethical, committed to service.
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Use STAR so behavioural answers are structured and easy to score.
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Reference integrity and public service genuinely in your 'why the ATO' answer.
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Look into the lens, dress professionally, and record in a quiet space.
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Practise to a timer so you finish within the limit without rushing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ATO video interview?
An early-stage one-way recorded interview for the graduate program. You answer 3–5 set questions on camera in your own time, assessed against the APS Values before an assessment centre.
What does the ATO assess in the video interview?
Motivation for the public service plus behavioural competencies mapped to the APS Values — impartial, committed to service, accountable, respectful, ethical. STAR-structured answers score best.
How do I prepare for an ATO recorded interview?
Learn the APS Values, prepare STAR examples of service, respectful teamwork and integrity, research the ATO and public service, and practise answering to camera and a timer.
Keep preparing
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