How to Prepare for a Federal Job Interview
The federal government and military employ a large variety of workers, from chemists to physicians to marketing professionals. If you have applied for such a job and gotten an interview, you may be surprised to find how different a federal interview can be from other types of employment. Proper preparation may help you secure the job you want.
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Instructions
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Reflect on why you want to work for the government. According to the Washington Post, many people who hold federal positions believe that they were called to work there; it is more than just a job to them. Find your own reasons for wanting to work in a federal position: what will it mean to you to be a public servant and work for your country?
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Be honest. When filling out the forms for employment or talking to potential employers (even in a relaxed atmosphere before the interview), you may be asked questions about your employment history, criminal record and potential security threats. Answer these questions as honestly as you can. Your potential employer will run background checks on you, and it is better to be honest and up front than to be caught in a lie.
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Research the location of your interview to find out any extra security you may need. To get into some buildings, you may need a photo identification or another type of verification; if you do not have this, you will not get into the interview. Similarly, if you are interviewing in a federal building like the Pentagon, you will need to go through a number of security checkpoints; find this out beforehand so that you can allow yourself plenty of time before the interview.
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Ask questions of the human resources department when they set up your interview. Find out if you need to bring any extra forms or documentation with you. Ask what the interview process will include; some positions may require writing tests or other fact-based questions, along with your personal interview questions. Find out as much as you can so that you can be prepared.
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Research the department or agency with which you are interviewing. Find recent news reports so that you understand what the organization does and what issues it may be dealing with. Check web sites or news reports that talk about what kind of employer the agency is. If possible, talk to someone who already works there.
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Develop two or three intelligent questions based solely off of your research regarding employment. This could include hot-button issues you found in your news reports or potential problem areas you learned about when researching employees. Many hiring managers will be impressed that you show enough interest in the position that you found the information and used it to make sure you fully understand the position.
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