To do well in a federal job interview, you need to know that it is usually structured, based on your past experiences, and centered on your behavior. To be successful, you need to prepare well, which means more than merely remembering answers.
1. Getting ready for the interview
You should have done a lot of research before you even get the call for an interview. The job announcement is the best place to find out what the hiring managers want.
- Break down the job announcement: Go back to the first ad you applied to. Look over the Duties and Qualifications sections. These are the exact abilities and duties that the hiring team is looking at. You want to make a direct connection between your experience and these requirements.
- Look into the Agency: Be truly interested in the agency’s work. Don’t just look at their homepage quickly. Read their mission statement, any recent press releases, and any goals they have for the future. This information will not only help you answer questions, but it will also help you ask smart questions at the end.
- Get ready to talk about your successes: Most federal interviews employ behavioral questions, including “Tell me about a time when…” You’ll need to have concrete examples from the real world ready. Get ready with 5 to 7 tales that show how well you are at leading, working with others, solving problems, and talking to others. You should be able to change these stories to fit different queries.
2. The STAR Way
When addressing behavioral questions in federal interviews, the STAR approach is the best way to go. It gives you a simple yet useful way to organize your answers so that you always give a full and powerful answer.
- S – Situation: Give a short description of the situation or setting you were in. Set the scenario without going into too much detail. “As a project manager in my last job, we had to set up a new software system on a tight deadline,” for example.
- T – Task: Clearly say what the task is or what your job is in that situation. “My job was to be in charge of the team and make sure the project was finished on time and on budget.”
- A – Action: Describe the exact steps you took to fix the problem. This is the most important section of your answer. Use “I” expressions to make your own contributions stand out. “I set up daily stand-up meetings to keep track of progress, gave tasks to team members based on their strengths, and made a backup plan in case of problems.”
- R – Result: Tell what happened as a result of what you did. Whenever you can, put numbers on your results to show how your labor has made a difference. “We were able to launch the new software two days early, which led to a 15% increase in operational efficiency.”
3. The Day of the Interview and After
The day of the interview is the last step in your preparation. The way you act and look in the last phases might make a lasting impression.
- Dress professionally: Most federal offices are rather conservative. Wear business professional clothes, like a suit or a dress that isn’t too flashy. A suit and tie is a safe choice for men. Women should wear a business suit with either a skirt or pants. The idea is to look professional and put together.
- The “Tell Me About Yourself” Question: This is your time to provide a short, strong “elevator pitch.” Don’t tell your whole life story. Instead, give a 60-second description of your work history, how it connects to the job, and why you want to work in public service.
- Prepare Questions to Ask: The interview goes both ways. Make a list of some good questions to ask the person who is interviewing you. This implies that you are interested in the job and want to work there. Some good questions to ask are “What does a typical day look like in this role?” or “What are the biggest problems this team is dealing with right now?”
- Send a Thank-You Note: Always send a thank-you note or email within a day following your interview. This is a tiny but important gesture that shows you are still interested in the job and gives you a chance to briefly restate a crucial strength or clarification from your interview.