What does innovation look like in your work?
With national security, the NSA has to stay one step ahead, especially when it comes to cybersecurity and signals intelligence. As a result of their efforts, the NSA has developed technological innovations that are now commonplace in the private sector. Therefore, the staff at the National Security Agency are expected to always be innovative in the projects they take on. Do your research. Get a feeling about what innovation means at the NSA and the work you'll be expected to perform.
"Anything I can do that helps me over-deliver. I've made a habit of stepping outside of my comfort zone, and more often than not, doing so is as simple as looking at things outside of the proverbial box. It's tapping into my attention to detail, tapping into resources I hadn't considered utilizing before. It's adapting unconventional methodologies to solve problems. It is continually thinking ahead of the curve, without pause. This is something I actually take a lot of pride in and which greatly contributes to my job satisfaction. Really feeling these skills could be put to use here is what prompted me to pursue a career with the NSA."
When elaborating on what innovation means to you, do what you can to share your perspective and methodology for improving upon, or finding entirely new paths forward. Give them a sense of what makes you unique, and what you stand to contribute. Not just your ideas, but how resourceful you are, how you find the answers, and how you communicate and implement those ideas with success.
On LinkedIn, one of the NSA's recruiters is quoted as having said, "The advice I would give to aspiring NSA employees is to reach out of your comfort zone, take initiative, search for the unknown, and take a chance at every opportunity given." Additionally, when touching on their brand of innovation, the NSA says on their careers site, "NSA's focus on innovation transformation into an agency that rapidly adapts to unforeseen challenges and opportunities by helping organizations rapidly iterate, integrate tight feedback loops, bring outside technology and tradecraft in, and make better decisions under uncertainty." So, when formulating your response, consider how your approach aligns with their priorities of smart decision-making and rapid adaptability.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Once I finish something, I would find new ways to do the same thing more efficiently. thinking outside the box, and being creative with my approaches to a problem. Studying how others approach their problem.
Marcie's Feedback
Great! To further strengthen your answer, use the STAR method to discuss a time when you were innovative at work.
Unlock all 38 NSA (National Security Agency) questions
Prepare for polygraph discussions and questions that test your judgment under scrutiny.
Get Started