How comfortable are you with working under high-ranking officials?

"I am perfectly suited to work with anyone, putting in the same consistent work according to my ethics and integrity. Regardless of how venerable a person may be due to their status or profession, they're all people with similar basic wants and needs. Put yourself in their shoes. Imagine you're incredibly busy looking to get through your day. When you are on the same team, and in this case, it's the team of the United States, it's a collaborative effort, and we all need to be on the same page."

They're trying to gauge the level of your interpersonal skills and your approach in a fast-paced, highly demanding role where you will encounter the demands of many high-profile personalities. This will require your constant flexibility and an ability to adapt to different personality types. How you answer this question will also offer insights as to what you find challenging when dealing with individuals in positions of authority and power.

Focus your answer on the common hurdles you've faced in relation to the question. Describe how you go about relating to and establishing relationships with those in positions of high-level leadership. Demonstrating that you're not easily intimidated by those in positions of power can go a long way. Emphasize that you're a people person, comfortable dealing with all sorts of personality types and that you see them as regular people relying on your expertise to help them deliver their desired results.

Tell me about when you worked well in a team.

"I'd just turned in my work early when a coworker started asking me for help with the job they were working on. After the third question, it was clear they lacked the confidence necessary to tackle the task at hand. They were trying to go above and beyond by taking on a project that was outside of their comfort zone. So after the third request for help, I went over to their desk, looked at what they were working on, and asked them more questions to get a picture of what they needed coaching with. From there, I mentored them on how to complete this job, from beginning to end, guiding them along the way. Once they tackled the project, the advice I gave them helped them tenfold. This took them in some surprising directions, and the next thing I knew, they were mentoring me on something new. It comes full circle. That's teamwork, right?"

Teamwork is an important aspect of the culture at the Department of Corrections. There are very detailed protocols and rules to follow, and communication and working together are crucial. This question gauges how aligned your approach, mentality, and philosophy are with theirs.

Draw off of your experience in relation to this role. Be calm, confident, and objective. Maintain a professional and respectful tone at all times. Emphasize the importance of highly structured teams in this work environment and reaffirm your commitment to the safety of your team and the rules set by your superiors.

Are you a better team player or prefer working individually?

"I don't have much of a general personal preference between one or the other. I keep my feet firmly planted in both worlds. Maybe, on a given day, I might prefer one or the other, and if I feel I'll be more productive at one versus the other, I might make that known, for the sake of the team and our ultimate goals, but if that rare occasion isn't possible, I'll always prioritize the greater needs of the team."

This is another common behavioral question aimed at determining where you fall on the scale of being an extrovert versus an introvert, and how that impacts your concept of teamwork. Ideally, you'll want to strike a balance with both, maintaining your focus on doing whatever it takes to support the team. They're looking for candidates with analytical skills who also have an interpersonal approach.

Preparing for any interview comes with its fair share of research. Your research should include combing through your background and accomplishments to ensure you leave nothing on the table. Offer an example of a rewarding collaborative experience in a team environment. Then, describe your part in it, your positive take on it, and the rewards of the experience while not placing too much emphasis on your individual contribution that would betray a focus on a team mentality.

How well do you perform under pressure?

"I have no issue with working at whatever pace is set. If there is urgency or a high-pressure situation arises, that's an adrenaline rush. It's exciting, and I jump right in, whether it's a sprint or a triathlon, I jump right in. It's all about your attitude, right? If someone moans and groans and gets all stressed out, one, how is that sustainable? Two, how does it help the team? And three, how does that help you? There's a big picture of everything. Sometimes keeping your eye on the big picture is as simple as keeping your eye on the ball."

The interviewer is assessing your perception of what a high-stress working environment looks like, and how well your perception aligns with the reality of the job. In assessing your perception of what the job looks like, they'll hopefully be able to evaluate how well-suited you are for the role.

The aim here is not only to relay your relevant experience to the position you are competing for but also to exhibit your ability to remain cool and collected under pressure. If you or someone you know worked for the Department of State before, or you've worked in a similar role, spend time before the interview planning a professional and impartial answer based on your working knowledge. If you don't have relevant work experience, put in the time to research what the job looks like and see if you can correlate that with your own experiences in a translatable way. Exhibit a clear comprehension of what the job environment looks like while displaying a clear handle on governing your stress levels with emotional maturity, highlighting your ability to stay grounded while working under pressure.

Could you describe a time when you did work that you did not necessarily want to do?

"I remember this time I had to deliver a report to a group of people who were ultimately there to judge my work, and in effect judge me. So I padded the job like never before. If I was going to get up there, I had to anticipate every question that would come my way. I had to be a top expert on what I was about to speak about. This was the culmination of everything I'd worked towards. I was nervous. But I believed in myself, so I focused on that, and convinced myself that everyone would come around if I presented the information well. I believed in myself and delivered my report with conviction. I got a lot of pats on the back for that one. I felt like it was a success because of how I have further developed my skills since that day. It set a precedent which I have outshined repeatedly since."

This question assesses how you handle situations in the workplace that challenge your comfort zone and is geared towards ascertaining your leadership potential. A key aspect of leadership is in keeping the larger scope and long-term goals of the team in focus. Whether you decided to put in overtime, work three shifts back to back to support your team in achieving their goals, or took on an undesirable project, you want to exude consistently a willingness and flexibility to go above and beyond. The decision you made could be great or small in its greatness.

Demonstrate that you aren't easily discouraged. Where there is a will, there is a way, which is the attitude you want to convey. Explain why your example was outside of your comfort zone. Specify whether you volunteered for this task or if were you challenging yourself. Offer what you did to ensure your success and describe the obstacles you faced along the way. The ideal is to frame your comfort zone as always stepping outside of your comfort zone. This exemplifies the kind of determination to learn, grow, and develop that recruiters are often on the hunt for. Detail how you went the extra mile, and what you learned and applied to your career.

Tell me about your attention to detail.

"There was a time where a coworker had me proof their work. I immediately noticed a discrepancy in the information they compiled. We examined it together, and we were able to determine that the error existed before they extrapolated the data from its source. Two numbers had been transposed. Digging deeper, we discovered this discrepancy was the source of another problem our management had been working on. Tying our issue to theirs, we corrected the course on two projects. All I did was notice the discrepancy and question it. Tracking it to its source and directions it branched out to was more of a team effort."

An interviewer is always evaluating the consistency of your answers. From looking for inconsistencies in your formatting or typeset on your resume, to how consistent your body language is with the words you communicate. If you answered one question one way, and a similar question totally different, this will clue them in to a lack of attention to detail. Keep your answers consistent. How you answer this question will give the interviewer insight into your self-awareness and how you identify your self-assessment and growth opportunities.

Where possible, support your claim with a real-life example. If this is one of your strengths, offer examples of how your attention to detail benefited the team. You have an opportunity to convince them you're the best candidate for this job. Seize it.

What do you do when someone has a different communication style from you?

"I adapt. Often, the most important thing in those situations is simply to establish a mutual understanding. If they can adapt their communication to yours, or at least meet you halfway, that's great! But don't expect that to happen. So I ask questions and clarify as much as possible. I'm an over communicator, which can be frustrating for those who aren't great communicators. But when communication is poor, someone's got to pick up the slack. When I identify the need, I do what I can."

This question is layered. Not only is the interviewer trying to get an idea of who you are, but also an idea of how advanced your communication skills are, as well as your focus on a team mentality. Team collaboration with enhanced communication strengthens work relations. Investing the time to work with employees who take more effort to get on the same page makes for a much stronger team. Soft people skills, and being able to non-defensively communicate with a wide range of personalities, are traits of strong leadership. Furthermore, this requires enhanced communication and a "can-do" team mentality.

Before your interview, record your voice while you answer some of these questions. Don't write down your answers and read them, but answer them live. Then play it back and write down all of your speech crutches and how many times you used them. Words such as, "Like," "um," "you know," "so on and so forth," "and," "well," "but," "so," "ah," "er," "literally," "actually," and "basically." Once you've identified the speech-crutch words, you use the most. Practice answering without using those words. Whenever you find yourself struggling against them, just pause instead. This will present you as a clearer communicator and more of a professional.

Tell me about a time you experienced failure and how you recovered from it.

In my last job, I collaborated with another member of my team to produce a detailed outline of a new system we were implementing for our new policy and procedures. This person was far more extroverted and assertive than me. I consider myself more on the introverted side, but with my foot planted in both worlds. I was more focussed on the analytical side of this project anyway, so it didn't bother me. I'd already started laying out a bullet-pointed structure, yet wanted to take the lead, and felt strongly about spearheading the project their way, in a more conversational, less technical approach. I felt this contradicted the direction we were instructed to take. But they assured me I was mistaken and insisted I had something to learn from their approach. I didn't feel as strongly about it as they did, but I still preferred my method, even though I didn't defend my position. Anyway, for the sake of open-mindedness and to take advantage of the chance to learn something new, I shadowed this person on composing one of their procedure instruction manuals to ensure I was writing it correctly, according to their model, and changed my working style to accommodate this. As a result, we were easily able to compare and contrast our work, and we completed this version of the project. When we submitted it, our leaders expressed disappointment, expressing they thought they were very clear that they wanted a more technical approach. So we went back to the drawing board, and my teammate was resentful towards me, even though it wasn't my fault, other than not asserting myself, to begin with. So there were a few failures I learned from that day. I failed to assert myself. I failed to communicate effectively, and I failed to clarify how the work was supposed to be done from the get-go. These are mistakes I put my all in, ensuring they're not repeated.

This will help them evaluate how you handle disappointment and what you learn from such experiences. It will reveal if you take responsibility for your own actions, inactions, limitations, and self-awareness, as well as your attitude towards life.

It's common to digress emotionally back into that moment. Resist that impulse if you feel it. Living, learning, and letting go are the maturity you want to convey. Keep your tone positive and don't present yourself as a victim. The only emotional tell you want to reveal is that the event made you stronger.

Give me your elevator pitch.

"I joined public service to serve our great nation. To me, that looks like protecting and promoting U.S. security, prosperity, and democratic values. It would be my mission to take all the skills and experience I have accrued to contribute in any way I could to shape an international environment in which all Americans can thrive. I am not politically blind and don't agree with a lot of the policies and motives of many of our politicians. But I respect the institutions of our democracy and feel as if my talents and my core values are well aligned with the DoS. I've recently revised my five-year career plan, and working for the Department of the State is in line with those goals. The DoS' core values are aligned with my own."

An elevator pitch is a succinct and defined sale pitch. In order to deliver one in an interview setting, you have to be well prepared, and familiarize yourself with the company and the position well enough to tailor your pitch directly to them. Your interviewer knows this. Just like an un-customized generic resume and cover letter fails to land an interview, so will your elevator pitch if it is not tailored. Your pitch will reveal the lengths to which you have familiarized yourself with the company and the position.

When answering questions like this, most candidates aren't sure how to present themselves, where to start, where to end, or how to elaborate their points with relevance to the position they're interviewing for. The trick is to compose your answer in advance and rehearse it. This requires performing research prior to the interview, which would enable you to showcase your knowledge with confidence. Imagine yourself in the position. Explore what interests you most about the position. Ask yourself if it feels like a good fit. If so, be vested in the opportunity, but not presumptuous that you'll win it. Incorporate the language of their branding and core values into your answer. Align your passions with the functions of the role. This is your first impression, answer with sincerity, in a manner according to your nature. Make your answer concise, positive, and relaxed. Keep it fun and professional.

How comfortable are you with your foreign language skills?

"Aside from being a master of my own language, I speak Spanish and German fluently. I feel as if those are strong foundations for learning more languages or at least getting by for now. Understanding Portuguese is challenging, but I can pick up enough similarities with Spanish to squeak by."

They're not only curious if you speak more than one language, but whether you have a willingness or drive to learn more languages. The languages a person chooses to speak hold clues to the cultures a person finds of interest. Sharing what languages you speak will offer insights into the cultures and languages you gravitate towards. For example, if you speak Spanish, you'll likely be more adept at learning other romance languages. If you speak German, you'd likely be more predisposed to learn other Germanic languages with greater ease.

The ideal is to frame your comfort zone as always stepping outside of your comfort zone. This exemplifies the kind of determination to learn, grow, and develop that recruiters are often on the hunt for. Detail how you go the extra mile, and what you learned and applied to your career from such experiences.

Tell me about your background and experience.

"I worked as a brand ambassador for a military contractor in Germany for ten years. I've interacted with the U.S. Embassy there for years, and am still friends with them. Before that, I worked for XYZ limited in HR for years, and before that..."

They're giving you an opportunity to align your history, skills, and talents with what they are looking for in a desirable candidate. Although there is no way to know what that perfect fit looks like to them, you can extrapolate a lot from how they have advertised the position and their values and mission.

Take a few minutes to walk the interviewer through your work history, highlighting the most relevant positions you've held and the skills you've gained which apply to the role you're applying for. Discuss your desire to work for them long term and the mutual passion you share for this line of work. Don't get too conversational in the interview unless the interviewer sets that tone.

Describe a situation in which you did something voluntarily.

"Just last month, someone had taken up a project of great importance with a very pressing deadline. They were going to finish, doing everything they could to deliver, and this included staying seven hours after hours. But they weren't allowed to be in the workplace alone, so I volunteered to stay with them. During that shift, I was instructed that I could do anything I wanted. All I had to do was hang out. They said I could watch videos on my phone through the whole shift, or read a book, whatever, and it would be fine. But I kept checking in and doing mindless work anywhere I could. Whether it was saving files to a hard drive or printing them out and making copies. I even made coffee and made us a meal. I helped any way I could. We got out of there in three and a half hours instead of seven. Then we got beers after and had a laugh. It was a good night."

The interviewer is hoping to learn more about your approach towards your own leadership development. There are many work styles. This question aims to answer whether you have a "can-do" attitude. One's level of ambition can be revealed in how frequently they take advantage of opportunities to step up to a challenge. Whether you're more likely to underperform on many tasks, over-perform on one task, or fall somewhere in between is what they're after here.

Take time to come up with an example of where you volunteered for a job or task that benefited the team. Being chosen, or volunteered, is different from stepping up to the plate. An ideal example is where you identified a growth opportunity for the workplace that required work to get there, and you volunteered for the task, already having a head start.

What is a challenge you’ve overcome?

"Early on, whenever I was in a leadership position, I struggled with letting go of the work and delegating. One mentor of mine one day gave me a talk that changed everything for me. They asked me why I kept jumping in and trying to do all the work myself, as opposed to carefully delegating those tasks. I replied that I had trouble trusting that they'd do the job as well as I did. They asked me why I thought that, and I struggled with communicating my answer. After hearing me out, they mirrored me and summarized by saying it sounds like I'm having trouble communicating what I need to get done in a way that would effectively ensure it's done according to my standard. That took me off guard and I thought about it and realized they were right. So I started working on my communication skills and started letting go of the work. I didn't need to trust anyone but myself to communicate what needed to get done when I delegated tasks. That helped me significantly in my career, and it's a lesson I'll never forget."

This question is different from asking about your greatest accomplishment. It more so speaks to your professional growth.

Come up with a self-identified, or performance-based growth opportunity. Think about how you overcame that challenge and how it aided your career.

What are the two most pressing foreign policy issues? Talk about one of them in depth.

"I'd definitely say that the state of affairs with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and how that is impacting inflation, the globe's reliance on fossil fuels, and how these events are impacting the global supply chains and food shortages covers at least three foreign policy concerns."

This question tests your knowledge of the current affairs which would influence the Department of State. It reveals how serious or passionate you are about your career, and if you'd be an asset to their team. They want to know if you can talk the talk and walk the walk.

It's important to demonstrate yourself as a proactive worker rather than a reactive follower. Exhibit a growth mindset at all times, keeping up to date with everything that could influence your work. If you take advantage of staying up to date, advertise that. This could branch off into excellent conversation points with shared enthusiasm. Establishing a rapport with your interviewer translates to a likelihood of doing the same with the members of their team.

Do you have experience organizing and managing meetings?

"In my last position, I was responsible for organizing the monthly meeting for our staff. That involved ensuring everyone read and RSVP'd, whether the meeting was mandatory or not. Then it involved generating meeting points and information for everyone who needed it. Setting up the meeting, creating a meeting notes recap report... I did it all."

Organizing and managing meetings, effectively communicating with every member of your team, and speaking in front of a crowd are some of the necessary skills of an effective leader. Clear and decisive communication is integral to effective leadership.

Break down your approach and leadership style for them, organically aligning your core values with theirs. Demonstrate that you deliver effective and clear communication at every turn.

How do you manage up?

"By being the most effective employee I can be. By building relationships with my leaders, and being transparent with any feedback. By being an objective set of eyes and ears for them, enhancing communication by adapting to and anticipating their needs. Assisting them in reaching their big-picture goals, maintaining a high EQ, collaborating towards innovation, valuing their contributions, and supporting them in delivering our mutual success. The meeting, maintaining, and help enhance systems and standards towards mutually assured success, and working towards and sharing in the broader vision of working towards the team's goals on the horizon."

Managing up has nothing to do with micromanaging, or second guessing your manager. Rather, it is having a broad scope of the big picture, supporting the vision of your managers, and performing your job in such a way it makes your manager's job, and yours, easier.

Try to think of the ways in which you actively try to go above and beyond in supporting your leaders. Think of how the occasions when you were the go-to-clutch-player. What did you do, and how did you go about it? Use these points to formulate your answer.

If you were with someone in the public outside of work, and they asked you for help with a service request during a social visit, how would you handle the request?

"I'd actively listen and engage in a way with which my conduct would reflect favorably in accordance with the friendly and professional conduct expected of my role. I'd then give them my email, or any other appropriate contact information, and tell them to reach out to me on a given date when I'll be in my office, and more capably able to help, with the resources and tools I'd require readily at my disposal."

They are interested in how you'd professionally conduct yourself in a personal setting or situation. How well you'd represent the Department of State, regardless of the circumstance or setting, is as important as how you'd conduct yourself on the job.

Be professional, friendly, respectful, and clear in your communication. Speak to your interviewer exactly as you would speak to the person in this hypothetical situation.

Have you spent time abroad? If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?

"I've done my share of traveling. Other countries and cultures fascinate me, and any chance of immersing myself in one is an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the human condition. I'll go anywhere. I'm especially interested in learning more about Finland. The country has a 34-year-old woman for its prime minister, and a government coalition made up of five parties, all led by women. That sounds like amazing progress to me. I'm interested in visiting and learning more."

This question helps them explore how cultured you are, and your comfort level with spending periods immersed in another culture and language. If you are not interested in working abroad or traveling, depending on the role you're applying for, you may not be able to compete with the other candidates.

Use this as an opportunity to express your enthusiasm for traveling abroad and experiencing other cultures. Share the experiences you've had, and where you'd love to spend more time or explore next. Present yourself as culturally flexible.

Can you tell me about your favorite writing piece?

"I wrote a short book on empathy leadership. I was pretty proud of it and did it for the love of it. People still reach out to me about how much that little book helped them. It didn't take me long to write it, and I was the editor for my school paper when I was in college, so I'm proud of how it's written, and find comfort in it being in its best form."

This question goes deeper into exploring your written communication skills. They are not only curious about how developed your written communication skills are, but are interested in whether you take pride in your written works, and why.

The aim of your example isn't to relay a favorite writing piece that is relevant to the job in any other way than how effectively it communicates your message. It can be a personal piece, a college thesis, a marketing campaign, or a relevant email newsletter. The point is how effectively it communicated its message.

What is your writing experience?

"I'd say I have outstanding writing skills. In fact, I consider myself an excellent communicator both verbally and with the written word. I am transparent and strive to say the most in the fewest words possible. I just want to make sure that the message I intend to send is the message that's received as consistently as possible. I do my best to create the highest standards for myself and uphold them."

Being able to communicate swiftly and efficiently verbally is a skill. However, in today's times, one's written communication skills are of equal import. Whether communicating via email, written bulletin, or via text, confusion and loose interpretation must be averted. Therefore, they are interested in how your written communication skills have played a role in your career.

The U.S. Department of State has a Plain Writing Guidance Page that spells out its standards for written communication. Visit that site and rehearse your answer before you are asked this question. Then, building off their guidelines, reflect on how you put those practices to work, enhancing your workplace communications via the written word. Talk to the interviewer about your most recent position and how written communication played a part. Acknowledge the importance of this method of clear communication in the workplace. Describe the impact of what you contributed.

What's your preferred method of communication?

"Ha. Clear communication, please. I pride myself on my communication skills, both written and verbal, and prefer the same traits in those I work with. But this isn't always possible. My biggest pet peeve is unnecessary rework, and rework spawns from ineffective or unclear communication more than anything. So, my preferred method of communication is clear communication. There are so many tools for communicating clearly, from mirroring, to validation, to adapting your communication style to others. Just put in the effort, is all."

In 2010, the Plain Writing Act was signed into law. The Act calls for writing that is clear, concise, and well-organized, "To enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be written clearly, and for other purposes." By asking for your preferred method of communication, they're gauging your aptitude towards every method of communication, verbal or written. How you answer will help them ascertain your fit for the role.

Best to strike a balance of above-average writing skills and above-average oral communication skills. Describe what you contributed to enhancing clearer communication in the workplace. Communication is more than getting everyone on the same page. It's about how a message is conveyed. Take care with your choice of words and what they might communicate.

How does this fit in with your future career goals?

"I know a few people who work for the DoS, and have a cursory knowledge, and how it compares to my work experience, but I'm interested in learning more. From the time I spent researching, I'd say I'm perfectly equipped to perform the duties of this job, and here's how they align with my goals, and how it fits into my five-year career plan..."

Your answer aims to inform them of how proactive you are in plotting out your career, and how aligned your goals are to what working for them could offer you. They're also interested in learning how closely your passions and ideals are aligned to your knowledge of what this role entails, and what they represent while gaining insights into your personality. It's also a constant challenge for the interviewer to find out whether the person being interviewed is being forthright, or doing their best to tell them what they think they want to hear to land the job.

This question tests your honesty in the interview process by gauging the consistency of your answers. Keep your answers varied but consistent. Your consistency in how you present yourself will show the interviewer that you'll be consistent in your work performance should they choose to hire you. One way to ensure your answers to these career-based questions are consistent is to put together a couple of five-year career plans. If you haven't already, start with creating one starting from your college experience. Next, determine where you currently stand on your trajectory of that plan and build another five-year plan from there. Following this exercise, you should be ready to revise your five-year career plan every year, determining where you are and building again from there, so you can adjust accordingly. Doing so will aid in you your interviews.

What do you look for in a workplace?

"Just growth opportunities. I'm interested in growing professionally and personally. I'm interested in working somewhere that sees me as a good investment, and by that, I mean investing in me as they would invest in the rest of the team. I'm also interested in working somewhere that has growth opportunities from within, to expand my career in a direction conducive to my five-year plan."

The interviewer asks this question to understand what motivates you, what distracts you, and what kind of work environment suits you best. Your answer will clue them into your career goals, what your ideal employer looks like, how you may work with and complement their team, and how well you will work under their team leaders.

Be honest. Contemplate what your ideal workplace looks like, especially when it comes to your career goals. Give them insights into your personality and what motivates and inspires you on a personal level, as well as how you stay motivated throughout your workday, how you approach your work, and whether the task is high-pressure or monotonous.

What makes you stand out from the rest of the candidates?

"Well, I learn fast and work fast. I have high attention to detail and a great deal of integrity. I hold myself accountable, take responsibility for my own actions, and am a clutch team player. I have solid leadership skills, and never quit, so I never fail. I am eager to learn, grow, and have a great attitude. Basically, I strive to be the kind of employee I'd want to hire."

The interviewer wants to know if you know what sets you apart from the other candidates competing for this opportunity and is curious if you'll seize this opportunity to advertise your merits. They're evaluating how above and beyond you've gone in researching the position, and how well you've been paying attention to the other interview questions in this set. If you have gone above and beyond in your preparation for this interview, and it shows in your answers, that's a clear indication you'll go above and beyond in your work performance.

If you are performing at your best, the competition will be worried about you, not the other way around. Tailor your answer. Learn as much as you can about them while performing appropriate research on yourself, what your core values are, how those align with theirs, and what you have to offer them. Explore what you brought to your previous teams, and how you'd that adapt to their teams. Speak confidently, make relaxed eye contact, and posture yourself with positive, engaging, and confident body language. If you believe it, they will too. From there, you should be able to construct an in-depth answer, where you'll fit their mold.

Tell me about an accomplishment you're proud of.

"They needed volunteers for a project that was lacking in direction and information. So I volunteered and expressed to our leadership that I want to have a sit down before I embarked on the project to determine not just what they wanted, but what they needed, and what the trajectory for this project was. I worked with them for all the big-picture 'need to know basis' intel on what we were shooting for with this project and why. It took some work to get all the details from them, but once I had all of that, I knew what to shoot for. So that helped me establish a guideline for what I was shooting to achieve. Any time something raised the question of what direction I should take with the project, I padded the job. As long as I wasn't exhausting company resources, I explored every avenue. Once my tasks were complete, I handed over my work, and it turned out I was so thorough that in the following stages of the project, the work my leadership planned to handle, I'd already completed. They were extremely pleased with my work. But that's my standard, and I'm proud of it, to be as consistent as possible in being an above and beyond performer."

Sharing the accomplishments which you're proud of, how that accomplishment fits into your career goals and why you're proud of the example, will clue them into your values, your personality, your motivators, and could provide insights on how to coach you in the future. It will also clue them into the level of your work experience in the industry.

It is okay to boast a little when answering this question. Be proud yet humble. Describe how this achievement acts as a milestone towards your goals, and why you regard it as a success in your personal development. Focus your answer on your own accomplishments as opposed to being part of a collaborative effort. If possible, try to present yourself as an innovator, with a unique lens toward outside-of-the-box thinking. Once you offer your example, share where you hope this achievement will lead you on your path. The road to self-improvement is never-ending.

What would you consider your biggest weakness?

"My greatest weakness is not being great as saying no. In the past, I've bitten off more than I can chew and struggled with how to communicate 'no'. Since then, I learned that not communicating what's possible within my well-managed time and taking on more than I can handle will lead me to underperform. I've gotten a handle on this. But being a people person who is not easily offended and rarely takes things personally, saying no can be hard for me. This trait is a strength and weakness. I'm learning how to strike a harmonious balance between the two."

This question helps the interviewer assess your level of self-awareness and whether you're open and honest about your shortcomings. It will also help them gauge if you allow your shortcomings to control you or if you pursue self-growth.

Go deep in a way that exhibits you are taking your career seriously. A well-intentioned shortcoming, or a growth opportunity you've self-identified that is integral to your career goals, would be a good example. Choose shortcomings that benefit the greater good. The best examples are those that have positive and negative sides.

List three features your colleagues consider valuable in you as well as your three strengths.

"As far as my colleagues, they've said to me, and my supervisors, and I know because it ended up in my reviews, that my work ethic is so strong, I often set the pace at work. My contagious positive attitude has had a tremendous impact at work as well. They've also said I am a natural-born leader. I'd say three of my strengths are my systems for getting the job done, error-free, and way ahead of deadlines with consistency. Always staying productive, always finding more work to do when I'm ahead of the game. And, stepping outside my comfort zone to do whatever it takes to help the team."

This question hopes to reveal whether those features your colleagues value in you are observations and/or comments they've communicated to you, or if this is your assumption of how they perceive you. How you answer this question will give the interviewer insight into your self-awareness and how you identify your merits and growth opportunities. This is one piece of the puzzle they are trying to assemble for you.

How you perceive yourself may differ from how others perceive you, including the person interviewing you. Remain conscious of your body language throughout the interview process. Make sure your answers remain consistent with how you present yourself. Regarding the features your colleagues consider valuable in you, stick to tangible comments or observations they've made of you. Regarding your personal strengths, provide those you feel make you an excellent candidate. Try to align your self-perceived strengths with the merits they're looking for in a viable candidate based on the information at your disposal. Strengths can be skills or qualities that allow you to follow through and overcome difficult circumstances or accomplish challenging tasks. Talk to the interviewer about your strengths and why those will help you to be successful in this role.

Describe a situation in which you had to prioritize your tasks.

"That depends on the priorities at hand. Flexibility is crucial to success. The goal is to prioritize based on the greater demand for quality versus quantity. Sometimes something's got to give. It's all about striking a balance and consistently hitting the bullseye as often as I can. When the need arises to drop everything and focus on the greater priority, you do it but work smart. Don't lose progress with any project. Just adapt and work smart."

This will help them assess your approach to your work. Being singularly focused is a strength, so long as you're able to shift gears and exhibit flexibility when the need arises. Multitasking is challenging for most people. How you track your progress and pick up where you left off on a task you had to shelf when more pressing priorities took precedent is important. Staying productive and preventing rework is part one of this. Your ability to exhibit sound judgment and prioritize based on the greater good of the team is of equal relevance.

Talk about the tools and resources you used to plan your work and stay organized on the job. Exhibit strong time management skills. Exhibit your consideration of exploring what standards are used to prioritize work, and an ability to assess the timing, commercial importance, and positive externalities of other priorities. Additionally, convey your ability to follow the chain of command, and know when to tap into the resources on the job.

How would you approach the everyday mundane activities involved in this position?

"I get that a lot of people have trouble performing that kind of work without burning out. I'm indifferent to that part of the job. I take pride in my work, no matter what I'm doing, and have several systems and processes for every aspect of what I do. When you are good at what you do, you enjoy the work."

This question aims to determine how sustainable of an employee you'd be in an environment such as theirs. This is an attempt to find out whether you'll burn out from the monotony a job at the Department of State might present, or if you thrive in a regimented, rule-bound environment.

The trick here is to convey that you won't burn out easily in this position. Communicate that you understand what they expect of you and that you understand that this aspect of the job is difficult and more arduous than it seems. Communicating an equivalent experience will go a long way here. Draw correlations between your work experience and the expectations of the position you're contending for. Once you've mapped those out, describe your relevant work experience with adhering to a regimented, monotonous routine. Next, offer your understanding of what the position you are interviewing for looks like. Then, ask for further clarification of what the position entails, beyond what they advertise in the job description, regarding the routine. Further, elaborate on how your experience correlates with the expectations of the job.

Describe a situation in which you had a different opinion, and you had to defend it.

"I was working with a team leader that was spearheading a project of their own making. They had several suggestions for a way of going about executing a workplace policy to expedite some practices. They pitched it, and our management liked their suggestion and assigned the task of implementing these ideas into practice. I was selected by management to join their team. I was the only person assigned and not chosen by the person leading the project. I suspect this made them a little insecure, as they shot down all my ideas and presented defensiveness from the start. I had several suggestions based on the analytics that I deemed necessary to help them succeed. But they refused to give me an audience. So, I created a project proposal where I drafted these suggestions in a document, breaking down the pros and cons of my suggestions, and thoroughly arguing what I thought were the benefits of these considerations. I made three copies and saved them. I later found the draft in their trash bin. This was disappointing, and I found myself simply handling reports and presentations for the project leader, basically, I was assigned tasks that wasted my skills. At the end of the project, they presented all their materials to management, and they asked them why they hadn't covered X, Y, and Z, which were all the points I covered in my draft. They didn't have the answers. Then management pulled out a crumpled piece of paper and said they found my project proposal in the trash and asked if they'd read it, and why they threw it away. It was an uncomfortable moment. I took every avenue I could to help them, having anticipated this. The person accused me of throwing them under the bus, but when it was confirmed I hadn't, by another employee who was present when the manager recovered my project proposal, which I wasn't present for, this person later apologized, and asked for my help with the project moving forward."

The core of the phrasing of this question revolves around communication. So this is less about getting others to bow to your will, or that of winning a debate, and more about how you successfully communicate your vision in an effective way that persuades others to share your vision towards innovation and positive change.

Details are far less important than the presentation of analytical ability and strategic thought. So take this into consideration when communicating your answer to the interviewer, with the aim of fully conveying your point of view.

Department of State Interview Questions

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1. How comfortable are you with working under high-ranking officials?
2. Tell me about when you worked well in a team.
3. Are you a better team player or prefer working individually?
4. How well do you perform under pressure?
5. Could you describe a time when you did work that you did not necessarily want to do?
6. Tell me about your attention to detail.
7. What do you do when someone has a different communication style from you?
8. Tell me about a time you experienced failure and how you recovered from it.
9. Give me your elevator pitch.
10. How comfortable are you with your foreign language skills?
11. Tell me about your background and experience.
12. Describe a situation in which you did something voluntarily.
13. What is a challenge you’ve overcome?
14. What are the two most pressing foreign policy issues? Talk about one of them in depth.
15. Do you have experience organizing and managing meetings?
16. How do you manage up?
17. If you were with someone in the public outside of work, and they asked you for help with a service request during a social visit, how would you handle the request?
18. Have you spent time abroad? If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?
19. Can you tell me about your favorite writing piece?
20. What is your writing experience?
21. What's your preferred method of communication?
22. How does this fit in with your future career goals?
23. What do you look for in a workplace?
24. What makes you stand out from the rest of the candidates?
25. Tell me about an accomplishment you're proud of.
26. What would you consider your biggest weakness?
27. List three features your colleagues consider valuable in you as well as your three strengths.
28. Describe a situation in which you had to prioritize your tasks.
29. How would you approach the everyday mundane activities involved in this position?
30. Describe a situation in which you had a different opinion, and you had to defend it.

Department of State Interview Questions

1. How comfortable are you with working under high-ranking officials?

2. Tell me about when you worked well in a team.

3. Are you a better team player or prefer working individually?

4. How well do you perform under pressure?

5. Could you describe a time when you did work that you did not necessarily want to do?

6. Tell me about your attention to detail.

7. What do you do when someone has a different communication style from you?

8. Tell me about a time you experienced failure and how you recovered from it.

9. Give me your elevator pitch.

10. How comfortable are you with your foreign language skills?

11. Tell me about your background and experience.

12. Describe a situation in which you did something voluntarily.

13. What is a challenge you’ve overcome?

14. What are the two most pressing foreign policy issues? Talk about one of them in depth.

15. Do you have experience organizing and managing meetings?

16. How do you manage up?

17. If you were with someone in the public outside of work, and they asked you for help with a service request during a social visit, how would you handle the request?

18. Have you spent time abroad? If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?

19. Can you tell me about your favorite writing piece?

20. What is your writing experience?

21. What's your preferred method of communication?

22. How does this fit in with your future career goals?

23. What do you look for in a workplace?

24. What makes you stand out from the rest of the candidates?

25. Tell me about an accomplishment you're proud of.

26. What would you consider your biggest weakness?

27. List three features your colleagues consider valuable in you as well as your three strengths.

28. Describe a situation in which you had to prioritize your tasks.

29. How would you approach the everyday mundane activities involved in this position?

30. Describe a situation in which you had a different opinion, and you had to defend it.