Career Guides >> Browse Articles >> Government Application Process
Career Guides >> Browse Articles >> Government Job Search
15 Toughest Interview Questions (and Answers!)
Tania Khadder | GovCentral
7. What salary are you looking for?
Bad answer:
“In my last job I earned $35,000 – so, now I’m looking for $40,000”
If you can avoid it, don’t give an exact number. The first person to name a price in a salary negotiation loses. Instead, re-iterate your commitment to the job itself. If you have to, give a broad range based on research you’ve conducted on that particular role, in your particular city. If the role is with a non-independent agency and therefore must us the GS Pay Schedule, think of ways to talk yourself up the scale.
Good answer:
“I’m more interested in the role itself than the pay. That said, I’d expect to be paid the appropriate range for this role, based on my five years of experience. I also think a fair salary would bear in mind the high cost of living here in New York City. Further, I think my education and background can make me at the highest Step in my Grade.”
“In my last job I earned $35,000 – so, now I’m looking for $40,000”
If you can avoid it, don’t give an exact number. The first person to name a price in a salary negotiation loses. Instead, re-iterate your commitment to the job itself. If you have to, give a broad range based on research you’ve conducted on that particular role, in your particular city. If the role is with a non-independent agency and therefore must us the GS Pay Schedule, think of ways to talk yourself up the scale.
Good answer:
“I’m more interested in the role itself than the pay. That said, I’d expect to be paid the appropriate range for this role, based on my five years of experience. I also think a fair salary would bear in mind the high cost of living here in New York City. Further, I think my education and background can make me at the highest Step in my Grade.”
alkdean
over 4 years ago
2 comments
I have to say that I stopped reading this article after the fifth or sixth typo and grammatical error. I'm certainly not a perfect writer, but seriously... how am I supposed to find this information credible if the author can't be bothered to run spell check or re-read the work they're putting out there for a large audience to read?
Jane
over 4 years ago
4 comments
I found these questions to be very helpful. However, I didn't see anything there that I didn't already know. Since in my last two jobs I did the interviewing for positions. I do find that a person needs to be well presented when they go to an interview. Appearance is very important for me at least!!!
DoctorTractor
over 4 years ago
4 comments
I am Retired From the USAF an the retirement will no pay todays bills.
an so many people does not want to pay for the person that has the training an smarts with The tools to complete each job. they want it for free.
I have the college hours an the training with all of that an you still won't Hire me an I have over 800 hours in four degrees. Along with over thirty five years of working on every thing.
you still will not get hired though here with out being in your school so I quite typing with your gov. jobs you can now go to hell.
Account Removed
over 4 years ago
i understood the "bad answers" and what you were trying to communicate to us; these lessons were excellent; it keeps you in check, keeps you focus on what you really want to tell the interviewer; and though these might be the "right" answers, hopefully the interviewer will ask the "right" questions and respond accordingly
Blackwelder
over 4 years ago
2 comments
I agree with the first answer (the bad one), but there is nothing about the second answer (the good one) that I would be willing to say about my current boss. Plus, the Second answer makes you sound like you were late to work many times (time management), you couldn't meet deadlines (deadline-driven), you created issues in the office and tended not to work very well (no-nonsense attitude pushed me to work harder) and that you aren't a very good worker (meet deadlines that I never even thought were possible). That is what I would get from that answer if I was interviewing someone. It is a nice way to say that you are a lousy employee and you boss had to stand over your shoulder to get the job done. Who would hire someone like that????
chris2134
over 4 years ago
148 comments
The bad answer for question 2 sounds like something an indecisive person would say ;_;