Federal Government Interviewing, Presented by the Office of Personnel Management

1. Interviewing for Federal Jobs

2. Agenda
 Purpose of Federal job interviews
 Interview formats
 Delivery methods
 Question types
 Interview preparation
 Other Considerations
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3. Purpose of Federal Interviews
 Federal job interviews are used:
• To rate and rank eligible applicants who
have been evaluated for basic
qualifications, and/or
• By the hiring manager to verify
qualifications of candidates prior to making
a hiring decision
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4. Interview Formats:
Structured vs Unstructured
Structured Interview Unstructured Interview
Each interviewee is asked the same
set of questions
Interviewees may be asked different
questions
Each interviewee is given the same
amount of time to respond to each
question
Interviewees may be given varying
amounts of time to respond to
questions
Responses are formally scored
using the same procedures across
interviews
Responses may not be formally scored
but can provide information used to
make a hiring decision
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5.  Interviews are well-suited for assessing
general competencies such as:
• Teamwork
• Oral Communication
• Interpersonal Skills
• Problem Solving
• Conflict Management
• Influencing/Negotiating
Interview Coverage
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6.  In-person
 Telephone
 Video
Interview Delivery Methods
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7. Interview Delivery Methods (Cont’d)
 Panel
 One-on-one
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8. Question Types
 Behavioral
• Responses based on events or experiences
— “Tell me about a time when you…”
 Situational
• Responses based on hypothetical events or
situation
— “If you were in the following situation…what
would you do?”
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9. Question Types (Cont’d)
 Résumé
• Responses based on items in your résumé
— “Tell me about your job at…”
 Getting-to-Know-You
• What is your greatest strength?
— “Why should I hire you?”
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10. Answering Behavior-based Questions
 Use the STAR Model to provide three
important pieces of information
1. Situation or Task: Provide the context
2. Action: Describe exactly what you did
3. Result: Be specific about the outcome
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11. Scheduling an Interview with the
Hiring Organization
 Hiring agency may telephone or email to
schedule an interview
 Obtain information from the scheduler
• Point of contact information
• Building access requirements
 Inquire about the interview process
• Panel, one-on-one, length of interview
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12. Scheduling the Interview with the
Hiring Organization (Cont’d)
 If you need an accommodation, notify
the person who contacts you
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13. Questions Interviewers Can Ask
 Interviewers can ask about:
• Specific roles and responsibilities at past or
current jobs
— Likes and dislikes pertaining to your work
— Job knowledge and job-related factors
(experiences, education, training, skills, etc.)
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14. Interview Preparation
 Before the interview
 Day of the interview
 During the interview
 After the interview
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15. Before the Interview: Prepare
 Learn about the hiring organization
• Search agency’s website
• Research media
 Know the job: carefully review the Job
Opportunity Announcement
• Job requirements, including competencies,
knowledge, skills, and abilities
• Major duties and responsibilities
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16.  Review résumé
 Think about accomplishments
Before the Interview: Prepare (Cont’d)
 Discuss
 Rehearse
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17. Day of the Interview
 Dress appropriately
 Act professionally
 Be yourself
 Arrive early
 Bring several copies of your résumé
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18. During the Interview
 Listen carefully
 Be enthusiastic
 Be honest
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19. During the Interview (Cont’d)
 Don’t talk too much…or too little
 Be aware of your non-verbal
communication
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20. Questions to Ask Hiring Managers:
(Samples)
 Interviewing is a two-way street
• Be prepared to ask the interviewer(s)
questions:
— What is a typical day like?
— What projects or assignments would I be
responsible for?
— What is the career path?
— When do you expect to make a decision?
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21. Summary Tips
 Regardless of the type of questions,
follow basic principles:
• Be truthful
• State responses positively
• Demonstrate accountability; avoid blame
• Avoid negative comments about previous
employers or coworkers
• Provide responses showing how you would
contribute to the organization’s mission
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22. Summary Tips (Cont’d)
• Listen carefully to each question
• Think about your response
• Keep responses to questions job-related
• Be clear and concise
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23. Other Considerations
 Prepare concise responses for “tell me
about yourself” question
 Have your list of references ready
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24. After the Interview
 After you leave, write notes on the
interview
 Send a “thank you” note
 Stay positive
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25. Questions
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