As with any interview question preparation, the best way to prepare is to write down your answers, and then practice them with someone. If you dont have someone to practice with, consider recording a video of yourself practicing your answers, and see how you can improve both the answers and your mannerisms (see this article on how to project confidence in an interview).
GOVERNMENT Interview Questions & Answers! (PASS your Government Job Interview at the 1st ATTEMPT!)
Government job interview questions with example answers
The following interview questions and sample answers are from the perspective of an individual interviewing for a parks and recreation position:
7. Our culture here is a bit more relaxed than the military. Do you think you’ll be a good fit?
Bad answer: “I served my country and proved myself, so… dont you think its more important that you all fit with me?”
Good answer: “My work history has certainly shown that I can be adaptable. In fact, if you look at my internships youll see that I have both fast-paced and not so fast-paced work environments.
Remember that not everyone realizes the military is as awesome as we know it is. Dont come in with a chip on your shoulder. Instead, show that you are adaptable and easy to work with. Some people might be nervous about working with a veteran, because they dont understand what youve been through.
Related: Unleash your career potential and get customized job recommendations based on your military experience and personality traits.
4. Why did you leave your last job?
Bad answer: “No one seemed to like me, and they were all jerks anyway.”
Good answer: “I was looking for new growth opportunities, but upward mobility in that role was stagnant. I am excited that this position with your agency offers room for learning and an opportunity to prove myself.”
Avoid being negative, because it might set you up in the hiring managers mind as someone who doesnt get along well with others, or might easily get disgruntled.
Why do you want to work in government?
This question is designed to gauge the root of your willingness to work within the government. An employer wants to understand why you want to work for the government specifically, as opposed to other areas of society. You should avoid answers related to pay, benefits or time off, and instead center your answer around the foundational reason for government.
Example: “Ive always believed that service-related work is the most rewarding. Knowing that my job is part of a larger initiative to maintain and improve public life keeps me motivated.”
state job interview questions
After locating a vacancy for a state job, pay particular attention to the posted job requirements. They mean what they say — and the managers of the hiring agency will likely base many of their interview questions on the job requirements. Therefore, if you keep the job requirements in mind as you make plans for interviews, youll increase your chances for success. Make a list of the skills that are required for the job. Imagine questions based on those skills. Expect to be asked for examples of when you used those skills in a previous job.
The better prepared you are, the better youll do in the interview. Take the time to learn as much as you can about the agency that has posted the vacancy. Learn its mission, its strategy for the future and any recent initiatives. Use all available resources — the Internet, your public library and the agencys own public relations office, if there is one. Try to relate some of your past work experiences to the work of the agency. Be as ready as possible to discuss your ability to contribute in challenging times. Memorize a summary of who you are and your career goals. Include your main skills and work-related interests. This can be a part of your introduction when the interviewer asks you to tell him something about yourself.
Charles Crawford, a former commercial banker, has been a business writer in New York since 1990. He has produced marketing materials for an executive outplacement firm, written the quarterly newsletter of a medical nonprofit organization and created financing proposals/business plans. Crawford holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Science in international affairs from Florida State University.
Interviews for state jobs are similar to those in the private sector and other levels of government. One difference is that candidates should expect questions about how they performed in previous jobs that might be similar to the desired position. A feature of state or other government job interviews is the importance of the job requirements that appear in the written vacancy announcement. Government interviewers tend to base their questions on those requirements. Government agencies often use panels in interviews — for example three-person panels consisting of a human resources representative, a department head and a staff member in a job at the same level as the open position.
When you interview with a state or other government agency, keep in mind that interviewers might express interest in your core competencies — your ability to combine skills and apply them to demanding situations at work. They might ask how you would solve a particular problem at work or lead others in completing an assignment. Questions might concern your ability to perform under stress — for example if the agency is being pressured to perform while being constrained by a tight budget.
