Guide to Government Interviews

Recently, many more GovCentral users than ever before have been reporting to me that they’ve been landing interviews with the agencies they’ve diligently applied to over the past 30 – 45 days. This is a good thing! The more of our users who succeed in getting interviews, job offers, and government positions, the stronger our community will grow. Many government recruiters attest to the fact that employment interviews are the most important aspect of the entire federal job process. I started asking myself: what can GovCentral do to prepare users for their interview?

We could start with a little background. Most federal agencies use a behavior-based style of interview to recruit new employees. This form of interview relies on the idea that interview skill and previous accomplishments are the best indicator of who will be a good employee, and who will not. During an interview, you must be prepared to speak about specific instances when you demonstrated skills which are comparable to those required by the position you’re applying for. You will always be graded on your responses, although not all grading systems are formalized in the same manner.

This section will be used to pool resources related to interviewing for government jobs. Check it out:

Assess Your Employment Skills

Am I Ready to Apply for Government Jobs?

Ace Your Government Job Interview

Federal Matchmaker: Which Department Is Right for You?

• Seven Tips for a Successful Interview

• Prep for the Top Ten Interview Questions

• Make Your Interview a Success

• Make Interview Preparation a Part of Daily Life

• Do Your Homework Before the Big Interview

• The Skills You Have and the Skills They Want

• Lead Effectively in Volatile Times

• What Your Words Say About You

• Don’t Talk Too Much

• Think of Your Big Interview as a Simple Conversation

• Mastering the Phone Interview

• Dressing to Impress During Your Government Interview