- Why do you want to work for the government? …
- Why do you want to work at this agency? …
- Tell us about yourself. …
- Why did you leave your last job? …
- What do you think of your previous boss? …
- This position is less senior than your last one.
Department of Defense Interview Tips
Interviews for Top Jobs at US Department of Defense
Surveillance Supervisor Interview
I applied online. I interviewed at US Department of Defense (Southport, NC) in Dec 2021
Interview
The interview lasted about 45 minutes and was conducted by a panel of five supervisors. The main questions revolved around human resource management practices. For Example, how would you resolve work place conflict?
- How would you resolve conflict within the work place?
Attorney Interview
I interviewed at US Department of Defense
Interview
The interview was quite structured, and uniform. I applied for similar positions a couple of times and the interviews all hit the same questions. The interviewer was not the person making the ultimate decision, and they need to check every box on their list before they can make a recommendation higher up.
- The ordinary questions about why you want to do the job and for them, and more detailed review of your resume.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Interview
I interviewed at US Department of Defense
Interview
It was neatral, i manage to answer all the questions regarding monitoring.. It was a panelnof of five representatives.. It was very formal hope will get positive feedback from the company.
- How did you handle conflict.
What is your greatest strength?
This might seem like a no-brainer question to answer, but be careful. Dont use this as an opportunity to soapbox about how wonderful you are; pick a specific ability or skill that relates to the job youre applying for and talk about it. This is one of the easiest times during an interview to sell yourself, so hit the sweet spot of playing up your strengths without boasting. Describe what your greatest skill is, and then pick two or three examples that depict it in action.
What is your greatest weakness?
This question can trip up a lot of people, but not for the reason you might think. While its never a good idea to let your heart bleed out as you describe your greatest failings in life, this also isnt the time to practice Orwellian doublespeak. The trick is to talk about a genuine work-related weakness, then explain how you handled it. Dont say that your greatest weakness is perfectionism or being too early – those are strengths, and the interviewer wont be impressed. What really stands out is the ability to accurately self-analyze and change accordingly. It shows maturity, insight, and translates well in your work.
It is hard to imagine the diversity of jobs needed by most agencies. Don’t exclude any agency in this process. Most agencies hire a broad spectrum of skills and professions. When going for the interview, dress appropriately for the position applied for. You can expect numerous rejections while pursuing these methods. Don’t become discouraged. Good managers, in industry, as well as the federal government, are always on the lookout for qualified employees. If you present yourself in a professional manner, demonstrate a good work ethics, and have the appropriate experience and educational background, you will make a connection. Persistence pays off when dealing with the government. Many promising candidates give up prematurely before giving their efforts a chance to work. You must realize that it may take some time for a desirable position to become available.
There are several different types of interviews which you may encounter. The most common is the structured interview however in the federal sector you may encounter one of the others depending on the occupation you are entering. Generally, you wont know in advance which type you will be facing. Below are some descriptions of the different types of interviews and what you can expect in each of them.
Their are two primary federal job interview types that you will encounter during your government job search the informational interview and the employment interview. The informational interview —initiated by the job seeker— is a valuable networking tool used to explore job opportunities. Employment interviews are initiated by prospective employers to assess your ability and weigh your strengths and weaknesses against other applicants. The person with acceptable qualifications and the ability to impress the interview panel, gets the job.
The first step is to call agencies in your area and ask to talk with a supervisor who works in your specialty, i.e.; administration, technical, computer operations, etc. If an immediate supervisor isnt willing to talk with you in person, ask to talk with someone in the Human Resource department. Briefly explain to this individual that you are investigating government careers and ask if he/she would be willing to spend fifteen minutes talking with you in person about viable federal career paths with their agency.
One very important consideration in your preparation is the role that stress plays in these situations. They say that public speaking is the most stressful situation for the majority of people. Well, interviewing for a career position is a close second, so let’s talk a bit about stress and what you can do to ensure that stress works for you rather than against you.
FAQ
How do I prepare for a DOD interview?
- Ask About the Interview Before the Interview. …
- Find the Vacancy Announcement and Study the Job Duties. …
- Find Your KSA/Essay Narratives and Resume. …
- Know the Position’s (and Your Own) Core Competencies. …
- Learn About the Agency. …
- Cultivate a Message. …
- Practice, Practice, Practice.
What are 10 good interview questions?
- Tell Me About Yourself. …
- Why Are You the Best Person for the Job? …
- Why Do You Want This Job? …
- How Has Your Experience Prepared You for This Role? …
- Why Are You Leaving (or Have Left) Your Job? …
- What Is Your Greatest Strength? …
- What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
What is the star method in interviewing?
- Where do you see yourself in five years time? …
- What are your strengths/weaknesses? …
- Why should I hire you? …
- Tell me about yourself/your work experience. …
- Why do you want this job? …
- What are your salary expectations? …
- Why are you the right fit to succeed in this role?
