YOU Session Preparation Checklist: What to Do Before Your Careers Coach Call
ADF YOU Session Preparation Checklist: What to Do Before Your Careers Coach Call
Most ADF applicants who struggle with the YOU Session don't struggle because they lack motivation — they struggle because they haven't organised their preparation around what the YOU Session actually involves. This checklist gives you a clear, structured approach to everything you should have done and ready before your Careers Coach call.
What the ADF YOU Session Involves
The ADF YOU Session — Your Opportunities Unlimited — includes three main components: completing the online Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA), submitting documentation through your ADF Candidate Hub, and speaking with a Careers Coach by phone about your interest in the ADF and the roles you're considering.
Your preparation should cover all three of these areas, not just the call itself.
Checklist Item 1: Confirm Your Candidate Hub Is Up to Date
Before your YOU Session, log into your ADF Candidate Hub and confirm that all required tasks are completed or progressing. Outstanding documentation tasks compete for the same time and attention as your JOA preparation, and leaving them until the last minute creates unnecessary pressure.
Check that your personal details are current, that any required documents have been uploaded, and that you've completed the Supplementary Application Form if it has been requested. Your Candidate Hub is the central hub for your entire ADF application — treat it as your most important ongoing task throughout the recruitment process.
Checklist Item 2: Complete Your JOA Preparation
The JOA is a 51-question, 20-minute multiple choice aptitude test covering verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and abstract reasoning. It is one of the first major components of the YOU Session and your score directly determines which ADF roles you are eligible for.
Before your YOU Session, make sure you understand the format of all three question types, have practised under realistic timed conditions, and have worked through the official ADF example questions for familiarity with how questions appear on screen.
Our free JOA Breakdown Course covers every section of the assessment in detail. Our timed practice tests then replicate the pace and pressure of the real JOA so you can identify your weak areas before the actual test.
Checklist Item 3: Build a Clear Role Shortlist
Before your Careers Coach call, prepare a short, clear list of the roles you're most interested in and why. You don't need an exhaustive research document — you need enough clarity to speak confidently about your preferences when asked.
Your role shortlist should include the roles you're most interested in, a brief reason for each, your service preference if you have one (Army, Navy, or Air Force), and any questions you want to ask the Careers Coach about specific roles or requirements. Having this prepared before the call means you can have a focused, productive conversation rather than thinking out loud.
Checklist Item 4: Set Up a Professional Call Environment
The Careers Coach call is a formal step in the ADF recruitment process. Treat it accordingly. Find a quiet location with a reliable phone connection and no background noise. Have your role shortlist and any notes visible so you can reference them during the call. Keep a pen and paper ready to write down any next steps, deadlines, or information the Careers Coach gives you.
Allow extra time after the call to immediately complete your next Candidate Hub tasks — particularly the Medical History Questionnaire, which is the defined next step after the YOU Session.
Checklist Item 5: Plan Your Post-YOU Session Tasks
Preparation doesn't end when the call finishes. The Medical History Questionnaire must be completed after your YOU Session for your application to progress to the Assessment Session stage. Block out time immediately after your YOU Session to complete this without rushing.
Keep your documents organised and your contact details current so you can respond quickly when the ADF contacts you about next steps.
→ Start the free JOA Breakdown Course
ADFtestprep.com is not endorsed by or connected to the Australian Defence Force. Nothing on this site guarantees entry into the ADF.
