What is a government job interview?
A government job interview is when the head of a government agency or department meets with you to assess whether you are the right fit for their role. When looking to fill their position, government hiring teams are quite thorough. That's because they want to hire the best candidate for their important roles.
These interviews often follow a behavioral interview format since hiring managers want to envision how you might act in a government role. It's likely that they will ask you questions that measure your integrity, honesty and trustworthiness. This is why it's important to have specific examples prepared for common behavior-based interview questions.
Tips To Win Ajira Portal Interviews
The
Public Service Recruitment Secretariat (PSRS) is a government organ
with a status of independent Department established specifically to
facilitate the recruitment process of employees to the Public Service.
Public Service Recruitment Secretariat was established by the Public
Service Act No. 8 0f 2002 as amended by Act No. 18 of 2007, section
29(1).
Recommended
How to apply for Jobs using Tanzania Job websites/Blogs
New Tips to Win Government Interviews at Ajira Portal | UTUMISHI | PSRS
Sample of Application Letter and Detailed CV | MFANO WA BARUA NA MAELEZO BINAFSI
How To Open Job Application Account at Ajiraportal | UTUMISHI | PSRS For Daily
UTUMISHI/PSRS: Instructions on How to Create Cv and Application Letter
General Conditions To Apply Jobs At Ajira Portal | Public Service Recruitment Secretariat
- Be on Time (Punctuality). Be on time for the interview. At least half an hour before and take some time to drive to the interview location ahead of time so you know exactly where you are going and how long it will take to get there. This will help you to get some time to for more preparing for an interview.
- Original Academic certificates are Important. All applicant s are supposed to come with their original academic certificates once they have called for an Interview. Example Phd, Masters, Degree, Advance Diploma, Diploma, Certificate Level, ACSEE, CSEE and Other Certificates from Professionals bodies.
- Stay Calm. During the job interview try to relax and stay as calm possible. Take a moment to regroup. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Listen to the entire question before you answer and pay attention – you will be embarrassed if you forget the question!
- Show What You Know; Try to relate what you know about the company or institution when answering questions. When discussing your career accomplishments match them to what the company/institution is looking for. Here’s how to make a match between your expertise and the company’s requirements
- Do your research; Fail to plan, and you plan to fail. You are certain to be asked specific questions about the institution, so make sure you’ve done your homework on things like their last year’s profits and latest product launches. Also take a look at the latest developments in the industry so you can converse with confidence.
- Practice your answers; Although there is no set format that every job interview will follow, there are some questions that you can almost guarantee will crop up. You should prepare answers to some of the most common interview questions about your personal strengths and weaknesses, historical, educational and professional background as well as being able to explain why you would be the best person for the job.
- Avoid Interview Mistakes; What shouldn’t you do when interviewing? Check out the most common job interview mistakes, blunders, and errors a candidate for employment can make. Then take the time to prepare before your interview, so you don’t have to stress afterwards.
- Practice Interviewing; Taking the time to review typical interview questions you will probably be asked during a job interview will help give you a framework for your responses and will help calm your frazzled nerves, because you won’t be scrambling for an answer while you are in the interview hot seat. Practice interviewing with a friend or family member ahead of time and it will be much easier when you’re actually in a job interview.
- Prepare for a Phone Interview; While you are actively job searching, it’s important to be prepared for a phone interview on a moment’s notice. You never know when a recruiter or a networking contact might call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk. Review these tips for advice on how to pull off your phone interview without delay.
- Interview Attire; Here is information on how to dress for an interview including advice on what and what not to wear on a job interview, appropriate interview attire, how to impress a prospective employer or interview panel member. The first impression you make on a potential employer is the most important one. The first judgement an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That’s why it is always important to dress appropriately for a job interview.
10 government job interview tips
Follow these tips to make a good impression during your next government job interview:
Do your research
Prior to your interview, do some research about the agency you are applying to. Get to know what its core duties are and how it is serving the community. Thoroughly look through its website to learn some background information. Researching who works there and what their main duties are might tell you who you'll be working with. You may also want to find out the latest news about the government agency in case your interviewer mentions it.
Prepare specific examples
Since your interviewer is probably going to ask you behavior-based interview questions, it's important to think of some relevant life experiences you can discuss. Think of times you had to overcome challenges or use teamwork to solve a problem. You may also want to reflect on any past achievements that you could bring up.
Expect unique questions or tasks
While many government agencies use the behavioral interview format, they may also ask you to complete some exercises or tasks. These exercise-based interviews tell hiring teams if you have the skills to do the job. Rather than just listening to you talk about your qualifications, these tests or exercises help them determine if you can handle similar tasks you would do in this role. Being prepared for anything shows that you are flexible and good at solving problems.
Direct your attention to everyone
Many government agencies use an interview panel when looking to fill a position. Having multiple people assess a candidate helps government agencies stay accountable and ensure they are picking quality candidates. When interviewing with multiple people, make an effort to direct your attention to all of them. While you can direct most of your eye contact to whoever asked you the question, it's also helpful to shift your gaze from person to person so that everyone feels like you're including them.
Review the agency's rules
Make sure that you have at least a general understanding of the agency's rules and regulations. This knowledge can help you answer questions that might test your character or integrity. You can usually find this information on the agency's website, though you may need to do additional research.
Align your vision and goals
When researching the government agency, try to learn about its values or mission statement. Think of ways you might show that your own vision and goals align with the interests of the agency. For instance, police departments follow the goal to "protect and serve." When applying for a criminal justice government job, you need to figure out how to highlight your desire to both protect and serve your community.
Practice with a friend
The best way to improve your interview skills is by practicing. Ask a friend to do a mock interview with you. Prior to the mock interview, send them some resources that include sample questions for the job you're applying to. Have them surprise you with the questions they ask so that you can get a more authentic interview experience. After you finish, ask your friend for feedback on what you could improve.
Study your resume and cover letter
Once you schedule your interview, it's time to do some studying. After looking through the job posting a few more times, take some time to look at your application materials. Think of ways you might expand upon the information you provided in your resume and cover letter. Remember, the hiring team used these materials to decide who moved onto the interviewing process. You want to make sure you can talk about everything you included on your application in detail. Make an extra good impression by bringing a few copies of your resume to the interview in case anyone needs one.
Recommended
How to apply for Jobs using Tanzania Job websites/Blogs
New Tips to Win Government Interviews at Ajira Portal | UTUMISHI | PSRS
Sample of Application Letter and Detailed CV | MFANO WA BARUA NA MAELEZO BINAFSI
How To Open Job Application Account at Ajiraportal | UTUMISHI | PSRS For Daily
UTUMISHI/PSRS: Instructions on How to Create Cv and Application Letter
General Conditions To Apply Jobs At Ajira Portal | Public Service Recruitment Secretariat
Ask your interviewer questions
Show the interviewer that you are eager to learn more about the position by asking them questions during your interview. While you might be curious about pay, benefits and job advancement opportunities, it's best to save those kinds of questions for after you got the job. For now, focus on questions that will better your understanding of the role and agency as a whole. Here are some effective questions you might ask:
What is the order of command in this department?
Can you tell me about any current community initiatives?
What does the average day look like for someone in this role?
What do you hope to see from your new hire within the first month?
What are some challenges your team is currently experiencing?
What is the best part about working here?
Be patient
The hiring process for a government job tends to take longer than other roles. That's because government agencies have a lot of checks and balances to complete before making their final hiring decision. They usually have to follow more protocols than a regular business would when choosing a candidate. That's why you need to stay patient after your interview. After you send your follow-up thank-you email, you might not hear back from anyone for a few weeks. Keep this in mind as you grow eager to learn their hiring decision.
