Interview Tips

General Comments
Hiring employees to fll specifc positions involves two basic decisions:
1. The supervisors decision whether the individual is right for the job;
and
. The applicants decision whether the job is right for him!her.
Research the Job
"or most "ederal jobs# basic $ualifcations are determined prior to
the interview# so if you made it this far# congratulations% &ow# the
spotlight is on you and you must show that you are the right person for the
job. Here are some hints:
1. 'et to (now the organi)ation# their mission# and the job. *o some
homewor( and learn about the organi)ation +other than their name,
and what they do. -ost organi)ations have websites with mission
statements# goals!objectives# and other helpful information.
. .earn about the job. /f you are applying as an apprentice# intern# or
entry level positions# (nowing what the journey or target level
position is important in deciding whether this career feld is right for
you. 'o to the library or 0goggle1 the career feld 222 learn about
tools used# methods# wor( processes# products# etc.
3. /nformation about "ederal positions can also be found in:
a. 4acancy 5nnouncements. There is a brief description of
duties and responsibilities in all vacancy announcements.
/t also describes education and e6perience re$uirements#
as well as highly desirable s(ills.
b. 7ualifcation 8tandards. They can be found at the 9:ce of
;ersonnel -anagement website: http:!!www.opm.gov.
c. <lassifcation 8tandards. This provides information about
the job and the career feld. They can be found at the
9:ce of ;ersonnel -anagement website:
http:!!www.opm.gov.
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@. ;osition *escription. This is a written outline of the duties and
responsibilities. 5s( the interviewer if you can review the job
description ahead of time.
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Preparing for the Interview
Aased on your (nowledge about the job and your $ualifcations# you can
better assess your strong and wea( pointsB what you need to emphasi)e in
the interview. ;repare some notes and study them ahead of time. The best
way to prepare for interviews is to role play. Have someone run through
$uestions and rehearse your responses. There are common $uestions that
most interviewers as( such as# 0>hy do you want this jobC1 or 0>hat do you
bring to the job; i.e.# why should we hire youC1 or 0>hy did you leave your
last positionC1
There are four basic types of $uestions:
<losed2Dnded 7uestions. These are yes!no# true!false# or
multiple choice $uestions that solicit a single response. Eou
can ta(e advantage of these $uestions by not stopping at
0yes!no1# but e6panding on your strong points.
9pen2Dnded 7uestions. This is the most common type of
$uestions used by interviewers. They begin with# 0Tell me
aboutB# or *escribe your e6perience inB1.
- Eou need to tell them as much as possible in answering
these $uestions# but avoid rambling. <oncentrate on what
is being as(ed and highlight your e6perience# education# or
your willingness to learn# but answer the $uestion.
- *ont sell yourself short 222 if you dont have e6perience in
that area# draw upon your education or school wor( such as
courses ta(en# projects in school# e6tra curricula activities
that demonstrated leadership# teamwor(# etc.
- /f you dont have any e6perience# then be honest and tell
the interviewer that you dont have any e6perience in that
area# but are willing to learn.
;roblem 8olving or 8ituational. This type of $uestion may be used
to measure analytical ability. The $uestion involves a hypothetical
situation which will allow you to verbally describe what you would
do. =emember# there is no right or wrong answer# what is being
judged is your ability to ta(e a position# the logic used to come to
that conclusion and the thoroughness of your analysis; ie.# what
things did you consider.
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Aehavioral Aased. Fsed to predict future behavior from past
e6periences or behaviors. 7uestions focus on describing your
e6periences or reactions to certain behavioral traits or
competencies# such as interpersonal relationship s(ills# integrity#
communication# etc.
During the Interview
1. Time and ;lace. /f you are given a choice# schedule interviews in the
morning# both you and the interviewer will be fresher earlier in the day.
5llow yourself plenty of time and get there early +it will give
you time to rela6,.
. 5ppearance. "irst impressions are (ey% The general rule is
0dress as they do1# but one step up. <ollared shirts and long
pants +preferably no jeans, for men# and dress or
blouse!long pants +no low cuts# spaghetti straps# or short
s(irts, for women.
3. Aody .anguage. This accounts for G?H of the interview. The way you
sit# stand# and wal( reveal your emotions. .earn to rela6 +ta(e deep
breaths,.
a. /ntroduce yourself and ma(e eye contact.
b. 8itting. -a(e yourself comfortable. 8it a little forward in your
chair# feet on the ground# hands in your lap or on the armrest of
the chair. *ont cross your arms over your chest 222 this
nonverbal action communicates that you are closed minded and
not open to change or new ideas.
c. <ontrol your hands and feet. *ont drum your fngers# fdget#
fuss with your hair# etc. *ont tap your feet# swing your legs# etc.
d. "acial D6pressions. 8mile%
e. Dye <ontact. 5s you tal(# ma(e and maintain eye contact as
much as possible 222 it indicates honesty and sincerity.
@. Tal(. Fse complete sentences. 8tic( to the facts# but emphasi)e your
accomplishments. 5void use of acronyms. Ae assertive and
enthusiastic.
G. Dssential D$uality. =emember that despite diIerences# achievements#
and bac(grounds# each individual is e$ually valuable and important.
Eou may not have the necessary e6perience# but you may have other
$ualities that ma(e you a better candidate. Ta(e the opportunity to
emphasi)e those $ualities.
J. 5s( 7uestions. 5t the end of the interview# there is normally a time for
you to as( $uestions. -a(e a list ahead of time. 8ome $uestions
include: hours of wor(# re$uirements for shift wor( or overtime#
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specifc duties# etc. These $uestions are important in deciding whether
this is the right job for you.
Aefore you leave# as(: >hat happens ne6tC >hen can / anticipate the
results of the interviewC
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After the Interview
1. Than( the interviewer+s, for their time and sha(e their
hands +ma(ing eye contact,.
. *epending on the circumstances# you may want to follow
up with the interviewer via phone or by sending a note than(ing them
for the interview.
Common Questions
1. Tell me a little about yourself. This is normally an introductory $uestion to get
you to rela6. 8ummari)e your wor( e6perience# education# and accomplishments but
dont go into too much detail +that will come later,.
. >hy do you want this jobC Tal( about how your education and e6perience has
prepared you for the job and the challenges +this is where your research about the
job and the organi)ation will pay oI,.
3. *escribe your e6perience inB This is where you will be able to give specifc
wor( e6amples# highlight duties and responsibilities directly related to the position
you are applying for# and list your accomplishments. 8pend time on your answer.
@. >here do you see yourself fve years from nowC 5nticipate that you will
get promoted and that you will remain with the organi)ation!company. They want to
measure your loyalty and wor( ethics.
G. >hat was your greatest accomplishmentC Heres where you have an
opportunity to be creative. Ta(e the opportunity to also highlight your wor( ethic#
integrity# etc.
J. >hat was your greatest failure!wea(nessC Try to turn this into a positive by
tal(ing about what you learned from the failure.
K. *escribe a situation where you had to deal with di:cult people and
how you handled it. D6plain the situation and what specifc actions you too(.
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