YOU Session Preparation Checklist: What to Do Before Your Careers Coach Call

Why a checklist helps

Most candidates do not struggle because they lack motivation. They struggle because they approach the YOU Session without a structured plan. A simple checklist improves clarity, reduces anxiety, and keeps the discussion aligned to the official process.

ADF Careers explains that the YOU Session includes completing the online job opportunities assessment, submitting documentation through Candidate Hub, and then speaking with a Careers Coach by phone regarding your interest in the ADF. Your preparation should match that flow.

Checklist item 1: Confirm your prerequisites

Before you focus on “what to say,” confirm that the basic steps that lead into the YOU Session are progressing correctly. The official overview describes these elements as part of the virtual YOU Session pathway: online assessment, Candidate Hub documentation, and a phone discussion with a Careers Coach.

Practical action: make sure you can access your Candidate Hub, and that you have time scheduled to complete any outstanding tasks around your session window.

Checklist item 2: Build a one page role shortlist

You do not need a complex plan. You need clarity.

Prepare a one page shortlist:

•  The roles you are most interested in

•  A one sentence reason for each role

•  The service preference if you have one

•  Any constraints you already know you must work around

This keeps the conversation about “interest in the ADF” organised, which aligns with the official description of the Careers Coach phone discussion.

Checklist item 3: Candidate Hub readiness

ADF Careers states that after completing the YOU Session activities, you return to Candidate Hub to complete the Medical History Questionnaire. That means your Candidate Hub access and readiness is part of effective you session preparation, not a separate task.

Practical action: set aside an additional block of time after your session to complete the Medical History Questionnaire without rushing.

Checklist item 4: Set up a professional call environment

This part is not complicated, but it matters:

•  Use a quiet location and a reliable phone connection

•  Have your notes open and your role shortlist visible

•  Keep a pen and paper ready for next step instructions

•  Allow extra time after the call to complete Candidate Hub tasks

These actions do not change the process. They simply help you execute the process well.

Final thoughts

The best YOU Session preparation is preparation that respects the reality of the ADF recruitment workflow: assessment activity, Candidate Hub documentation, a focused phone discussion, then immediate follow up tasks in Candidate Hub. If you prepare around that sequence, you make the session easier and reduce delays.