Department of Veterans Affairs Mock Interview

Practice 30 Department of Veterans Affairs interview questions covering mission commitment, veteran-centered care, and federal service values.

Question 1 of 30

Why do you want to work here?

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Kevin Downey

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.

Anyone bringing on a new employee wants to gauge how well they'll fit into their work environment. They'll test their like-mindedness and offer opportunities to reveal how in-depth they've researched the position. By testing the interviewee's knowledge of their company, they're testing their work ethic and whether they did their due diligence in competing for the job.

Kevin Downey

Explore what interests you most about the position you're interviewing for. Imagine yourself in the position. Ask if it feels like a good fit. If so, be emotionally invested in the opportunity but not presumptuous that you'll earn it. You shouldn't solely be interested in landing a job, but more so interested in what working for them could offer your career. Showcase your knowledge as well as the thorough research you performed. Be sure to incorporate their language into your own. Answer with sincerity, in a manner according to your nature.

Kevin Downey

"Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs is in line with the career goals I've mapped out in my revised five-year career plan. Their core values are aligned with my own--integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect, and excellence."

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Anonymous Answer

I worked for Veterans Affairs for a couple of years in different roles. I have always been interested in nutrition and when the position came up I knew I had to apply. I work in Food services and nutrition with the air national guard.

Jaymie's Feedback

Great job sharing your experience with the organization and in food services. If there was anything else about the organization that attracted you, like employee reviews, culture, benefits, etc. feel free to share those as well.

Anonymous Answer

I have family members who are Veterans. I see how hard they work. The position of Registered Nurse, at Care in the Community will afford me the opportunity to use my skills, knowledge, and abilities to assist our Veterans in need of services. I have been a Case Manager for 17 years and I am very familiar with the process of assisting our patients and families.

Jaymie's Feedback

Excellent answer! You provided your motivators and a high-level overview of your relevant experience.

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30Department of Veterans Affairs Interview Questions & Answers

Behavioral

1.Why do you want to work here?

Communication

2.What do you know about what we do here?

Behavioral

3.What is your vision for your future here at this company?

Behavioral

4.Tell me what youâ€™ve done to bolster trust within your team.

Behavioral

5.Tell me about a time when you werenâ€™t able to build a relationship with a difficult coworker.

Behavioral

6.Tell me about a time you disagreed with a coworker.

Behavioral

7.List three characteristics you feel you possess that make you a sensitive, effective leader.

Communication

8.Tell me about a time when you dealt with two very different employees that could not be treated the same.

Communication

9.Tell me about a time when a subordinate had a personal need that conflicted with the needs of the team.

Behavioral

10.Tell me about a time you sought feedback from your subordinates.

Communication

11.Tell me about a time where you felt you hadnâ€™t communicated as well as you could have. How did you remedy it?

Experience

12.Give me an example of a time you made poor choices at work. What did you learn? What would you do differently?

Behavioral

13.Have you ever had to commit an unsafe act in order to get a job done?

Behavioral

14.Describe a time when you went above and beyond.

Experience

15.How would you go about learning a new skill set?

Experience

16.How would you respond if you were placed in a situation where we needed you to do something we did not train you for?

Experience

17.Tell me about a time you had to complete a job with inadequate resources.

Communication

18.If assigned more tasks than you could handle, what would you do?

Behavioral

19.Do you ever take your work home with you?

Experience

20.When have you displayed â€œoutside-the-boxâ€ thinking?

Experience

21.What organizational changes have you implemented in the past?

Experience

22.Tell me about a time you had to help your staff understand the relevance of the work they were performing.

Experience

23.Whatâ€™s your biggest professional disappointment?

Behavioral

24.How do you deal with a bad day?

Experience

25.What have you learned from your mistakes on the job?

Experience

26.Name three things youâ€™ve done in the past to grow in your job.

Behavioral

27.Whatâ€™s the least rewarding work youâ€™ve done?

Communication

28.Describe a time when you disagreed with a performance evaluation.

Behavioral

29.What do you place greater value on, praise or pay? Why?

Behavioral

Department of Veterans Affairs Mock Interview

Why do you want to work here?

30Department of Veterans Affairs Interview Questions & Answers

1.Why do you want to work here?

2.What do you know about what we do here?

3.What is your vision for your future here at this company?

4.Tell me what youâ€™ve done to bolster trust within your team.

5.Tell me about a time when you werenâ€™t able to build a relationship with a difficult coworker.

6.Tell me about a time you disagreed with a coworker.

7.List three characteristics you feel you possess that make you a sensitive, effective leader.

8.Tell me about a time when you dealt with two very different employees that could not be treated the same.

9.Tell me about a time when a subordinate had a personal need that conflicted with the needs of the team.

10.Tell me about a time you sought feedback from your subordinates.

11.Tell me about a time where you felt you hadnâ€™t communicated as well as you could have. How did you remedy it?

12.Give me an example of a time you made poor choices at work. What did you learn? What would you do differently?

13.Have you ever had to commit an unsafe act in order to get a job done?

14.Describe a time when you went above and beyond.

15.How would you go about learning a new skill set?

16.How would you respond if you were placed in a situation where we needed you to do something we did not train you for?

17.Tell me about a time you had to complete a job with inadequate resources.

18.If assigned more tasks than you could handle, what would you do?

19.Do you ever take your work home with you?

20.When have you displayed â€œoutside-the-boxâ€ thinking?

21.What organizational changes have you implemented in the past?

22.Tell me about a time you had to help your staff understand the relevance of the work they were performing.

23.Whatâ€™s your biggest professional disappointment?

24.How do you deal with a bad day?

25.What have you learned from your mistakes on the job?

26.Name three things youâ€™ve done in the past to grow in your job.

27.Whatâ€™s the least rewarding work youâ€™ve done?

28.Describe a time when you disagreed with a performance evaluation.

29.What do you place greater value on, praise or pay? Why?

30.What do you do for fun?

20.When have you displayed â€œoutside-the-boxâ€ thinking?