A very by the book run through of the outdated STAR interview model. I had an hour interview and left feeling that they really knew nothing about me - because of the rigid way that the 'Principal Recruitment Advisor' followed the interview template, rather than actually trying to get to know the interviewee (me). It was my first (and only) time interviewing with a Government Department/Ministry, and I was keen to contribute to New Zealand Inc's response to the pandemic. (The original application was to work on sourcing for MIQ). I went into the interview thinking that Govt recruitment advisors have a tough (and underappreciated) job, working on huge numbers of roles simultaneously, with many internal customers who don't understand the value that they can provide. In speaking to a Principal Recruitment Advisor (who saw her job as to arrange interviews for senior managers, not write adverts, not search and select and never reuse/talent pool candidates), I now have a pretty poor opinion of their overall skill level (including rapport building, which is the most basic skill level that anyone in people based industries need to master). It was an enlightening, if depressing, experience.