Top 4 Civil Service Interview Tips

Civil service positions in New York offer several amazing benefits such as excellent retirement packages, health insurance, and competitive salary packages. This makes them highly coveted with thousands of people applying for hundreds of civil service positions each year.

To make sure only the best of the best are selected for the government positions, the state often requires candidates to take an exam. The requirement has been extended to over 80% of the civil service positions.

However, that’s where it gets tricky. While only a few manage to score the required marks, they often have to go through further processes and tests to finally be offered the position. They are often expected to appear for a variety of psychometric tests, physical exams, and finally an interview.

The interview is usually the final hurdle to getting offered employment with the state. But it can also be quite difficult. The candidate is often asked specific questions regarding current affairs, ongoing political issues, their aspirations in life, their expectations of the job, and how they plan on being an asset for the department.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the civil service interview and make a solid first impression on your prospective employer:

Do Plenty Of Research:

The first thing candidates are asked in an interview after the pleasantries are out of the way is why they have chosen that particular organization and department. “The pay seems good” will probably result in you being escorted out of the room ASAP!

A good strategy would be to do your homework and some extra research to be prepared to answer that question.

Your response must demonstrate your depth of knowledge of the department’s regulations and policies as well as your genuine interest in that particular position.

Practice for the Interview:

It might sound awkward and embarrassing but practicing answering interview questions with a friend or in front of the mirror can be highly beneficial. It will give you a chance to create articulate responses and will help you develop confidence.

It will also help you formulate your responses more quickly during the actual interview and cut out the ‘ums’ and ‘errs’ while you scramble to think of an appropriate response.

Dress Appropriately:

Dressing appropriately is a no-brainer when it comes to acing your interview. The first impression might be a cliché but that doesn’t stop it from being true. While putting on a clean outfit and being well-groomed is a given, there are a few other things to consider when dressing up for the interview.

Your attire should portray confidence along with your seriousness and commitment to the job. Interview

Wearing a nice tie might just be what impresses the interviewer!

Arrive Early:

Aim for being at least 5 to 10 minutes early. Prepare for eventualities like traffic or flat tires. Make sure you check out the route a couple of days before the interview to avoid getting lost on the day. Sometimes, circumstances are beyond your control such as delays on the subway or issues with public transport. In that case, make sure you know who to call and inform that you’ll be late.

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Civil Service Success offers basic and advanced preparation classes for NYC civil service exams. Our expert instructors use an in-depth curriculum that is constantly updated to help you achieve the necessary scores to secure the civil service positions.

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Get in touch with us today to register for a course and ensure your success as a New York State civil service worker!