When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. And when you’re interviewing for a job with a specific company, it’s important to do your research and be prepared to answer questions about the company itself.
If you’re interviewing for a job with SES, the world-leading satellite operator, you can expect to be asked questions about the company, its history, and its operations. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample questions and answers about SES.
The interview process at SES is very organized. The first step is usually a phone call from HR, followed by an in-person interview with the manager. If you are applying for a position that requires technical skills, you may also be asked to do a technical interview. The whole process can take up to two weeks.
Career strategies for the senior executive service (SES)
SES Structured Interview Preparation and Practice with Audio Recording
Recommended for candidates seeking SES and other leadership positions.
Exploring a leadership candidate’s recent past behavior is a proven technique for predicting future job performance. The questions are often open-ended. A candidate’s responses to these questions will be systematically scored to identify the most highly qualified candidates. Preparing for a performance-based, structured interview requires practice—choosing and telling the right stories, ones that reveal both technical expertise and leadership. Interviewees must assume every open ended question is one that explores a candidate’s past accomplishments at a leadership level, and must be prepared to discuss these experiences with confidence.
An expert federal interview trainer will prepare you for this type of interview, giving you the insight and self-assurance you need.
This service is typically conducted by phone or online video chat. Training is completed in two sessions of 75 minutes each. Preparation time is also included for the instructor to review your resume, ECQs, PTQs and other documents. The instructor will prepare sample questions relevant to the position and conduct a mock performance-based interview. The first session will be spent discussing the process and focusing on the accomplishments and message that you will want to present in your interview. The second session will involve role-playing, feedback, and tips on how to improve your presentation in your Performance-Based interview.
Specific activities and goals:
Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for designing mechanical components that were then tested by our engineering team. This process helped me understand what it takes to test mechanical components and gave me insight into the testing process. I learned how to use different software programs to design mechanical components and create 3D models.”
Example: “My favorite job thus far has been my current role as an IT specialist at XYZ Company. I love working with computers, but I also really enjoy helping others solve problems. In this position, I get to do both of those things every day. I’m constantly learning new ways to troubleshoot issues and find solutions that work best for our company.”
Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work well with others. I am always willing to help someone else succeed, even if it means sacrificing some of my own success. My weakness would have to be my perfectionism. Sometimes I spend too much time on projects making sure everything is perfect before I submit it. This has caused me to miss deadlines in the past.”
Example: “In my previous role as a network engineer, I was tasked with solving a connectivity issue that occurred when one of our satellites experienced a power outage. The first step I took was to assess the cause of the outage by reviewing all satellite data. After determining the cause of the outage, I worked with my team to develop a plan for restoring power to the satellite. We were able to successfully restore power to the satellite within 24 hours.”
Example: “Innovation is one of the most important things for any business, but it’s especially true in this industry because there are so many new technologies being developed every day. I think that the most important thing to remember when trying to be innovative is to always keep an open mind. You never know what kind of ideas other people have or what they’re working on. By keeping an open mind, you can learn from others and use their ideas to create something even better.”
FAQ
How do you answer a SES interview?
Why do you want to be an SES?
SESers may earn the satisfaction of improving government programs that may impact the health, education, security and standard–of-living of people all over the world as well as the uses of worldwide natural resources. As one SESer says,” Everyone in government can make a difference.
Can you go from GS 14 to SES?
What questions will I be asked in an executive interview?
- What are your strongest traits? …
- How would you describe our company? …
- Why do you want to be a leader in our company? …
- What is your management style? …
- Can you describe your last supervisor? …
- Did you ever have a negative experience with a supervisor?
