DC Interview

[smclen2]

I have been invited out to DC and my interview is March 8th.
I've never posted on here but I was hoping for some advice on preparation for the trip, and maybe some info on what to expect during the trip.
Thanks.

[greenbean]

Did your recruiter give you the study guide?

[smclen2]

He didn't, I found some stuff online though.

[Gamecock]

Did your recruiter give you the study guide?

But you never know what those guys will ask you.

I also hear that those guys don't like to read about the types of questions that get asked.

[greenbean]

Truthfully, all the study guide can do for you is help you brush up on the basics. Therefore get it, and do it. Make sure you know your basics.

You will get asked questions based on classes you have taken, so don't worry about getting asked complicated chemistry questions if you are a MechE.

The interview questions are just about impossible to predict because you never know which interviewer you will get, but if you are well based in calculus and physics you should be able to figure out anything they ask.

Ask your recruiter or someone else to ask you questions out of the official study guide and just get into the mindset of talking out loud while you solve the problem. The interview is to determine how you will work a problem and what kind of trouble shooting skills you have.

If you get an interview at NR, your resume says you are good at figuring out problems. Now you just have to prove it.

The most important questions will come from the Admiral.

You NEED to know the answer to this one:

"Why do you want to be a Navy Nuclear Officer?"

Know your answer, don't just say something you think he would like to hear. (But also don't be foolish and tell him "I need a job, no one else would take me, its only a few years, I figure I can tough it out.")

Expect to be nervous, and plan for it. Prepare, study, and practice. My wife could tell the admiral exactly why I wanted to join by the time we were done practicing. :-)

[smclen2]

Thanks for all the advice guys!
I'm a chemical engineering major, so I know I'll probably get a chemistry question.
Can anyone tell me why my interview came so fast?
It only took a couple of weeks from submitting my paperwork to getting the interview.
I have to go to MEPS either tuesday or thursday.
Another guy submitted his at the same time as me and hasn't had a decision made on his, so why did mine get such a quick decision?

[Smooth Operator]

I couldn't resist.

Good luck at NAVSEA 08!

[greenbean]

There are dozens of reasons you may have been selected sooner.

Perhaps you had better grades, or fewer health issues.

Perhaps your friend needed a waiver for something.

Perhaps you are applying for different positions.

Perhaps you just got the last slot for this round and your friend will get the 1st slot of the next round.

The truth is that it is a black box of sorts. All we know is, if we get invited, its time to go interview and do our best to get selected.

Good Luck. Let us know how it goes.

[smclen2]

My interview was delayed, they said there was a new form that I hadn't filled out.
I wish I would have know about it and been able to interview, but I guess I will be in next round.

[greenbean]

Well, just think of it as more time to prepare. Do you feel you can complete the Math and Physics sections of the study guide with no problem?

[SirKrinkles]

Hello everyone,
    I've just been invited to interview in DC on April 14th and I had a few questions I'd like to ask:

1. I read in a post that said when talking to the Admiral you say "Yes Admiral/No Admiral" and not "Yes sir/No sir". I would think that either would be acceptable, but if he prefers one over the other I'd like to know. The post is here. http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,16859.0.html

2. I found a forum on this website where some people that recently interviewed posted the technical questions that they were asked, as well as the questions the Admiral asked. Unfortunately, I can't find it but my question was how to you un-black the answers to these questions?

3. I've read that you should wear a business suit to the interview, but would a navy blue blazer and some grey slacks suffice?

I'm majoring in Chemical Engineering as well and I've been studying both the NUPOC Study Guide as well as the VT Study Guide and feel fairly confident thus far with my knowledge of solving the problems, but I will still continue to look over both and keep practicing. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[SirKrinkles]

Hey guys,

#2 isn't relevant to this site, I found it on www.nukewarriors.com. Sorry for the confusion.

[JustinHEMI05]

Although I can't answer your questions, I just wanted to say good luck and keep us posted!

Justin

[smclen2]

Monday I passed the phone interview.  I was told I'm waiting on my paperwork to clear screening then I'll have a green light to DC.

[Gamecock]

Hello everyone,
    I've just been invited to interview in DC on April 14th and I had a few questions I'd like to ask:

1. I read in a post that said when talking to the Admiral you say "Yes Admiral/No Admiral" and not "Yes sir/No sir". I would think that either would be acceptable, but if he prefers one over the other I'd like to know. The post is here. http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,16859.0.html

You will be briefed on how to address the Admiral before you in to see him.

2. I found a forum on this website where some people that recently interviewed posted the technical questions that they were asked, as well as the questions the Admiral asked. Unfortunately, I can't find it but my question was how to you un-black the answers to these questions?

I'd be careful with this one.  People that conduct technical interviews might be inclined to increase the level of difficulty of the questions they ask if they think that their questions have been comproimised. 

3. I've read that you should wear a business suit to the interview, but would a navy blue blazer and some grey slacks suffice?

You should wear whatever you would wear for an interview with the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. 

[SirKrinkles]

Thanks for the answers and the good wishes, I appreciate it. I I'll definitely keep everyone posted and if I have any more questions I'll be sure to let you guys know!

[SirKrinkles]

Hey everyone,
    I've been thinking a lot about when the Admiral asks you about why you prefer Surface/Sub Officer, and to be honest I'm not sure I have an acceptable answer. I'm interviewing for surface, and when asked by my friends why I want to go Surface I simply say, "It's just my preference. I love sailing and I'd enjoy having the opportunity of being able to go outside versus the confines of a sub."
    Unfortunately, both Surface and Sub officer programs are fairly similar (despite the fact that surface goes on two sea tours), so I'm not really sure what the Admiral would deem as a legitimate reason. To be quite honest, I'd be fine with either, but Surface is what I put down (because it's my preference) and that's what I'm interviewing for.

I apologize for this being such an elementary question, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

[OldHP]

Hey everyone,
    I've been thinking a lot about when the Admiral asks you about why you prefer Surface/Sub Officer, and to be honest I'm not sure I have an acceptable answer. I'm interviewing for surface, and when asked by my friends why I want to go Surface I simply say, "It's just my preference. I love sailing and I'd enjoy having the opportunity of being able to go outside versus the confines of a sub."

I think you answered your own question!

[NukeNTO]

I used to escort people to the DC interviews a couple years ago, I think your answer is fine.  The biggest thing with the Admiral interview is to be confident (not cocky) and to take responsibility for any shortcomings in your background or technical interviews.
Don't blame a professor/TA or work or something else for any blemishes in your transcripts and if he asks you how your technical interview went be honest.  Don't tell him you thought they were easy if you struggled, he knows how they went.  Be honest, confident and give him the assurance that you'll be successful by working hard and you'll be fine.   

[SirKrinkles]

Good news, I got in!    Thanks for all the help and advice everyone, I look forward to starting my career as a Navy Nuke 

[Smooth Operator]

Congrats, care to share your interview experience?

[MacGyver]

Good news, I got in!    Thanks for all the help and advice everyone, I look forward to starting my career as a Navy Nuke 

Fantastic news.  I know you are very happy.  May your future be as bright as that smile you are wearing.

Mac

[SirKrinkles]

Congrats, care to share your interview experience?

Absolutely; I was always anxious to hear how others interview went as well, so I'll try to sum it up in a nutshell. (I don't think I'm giving anything away with this post, but if I am I'm sorry, I'll edit it out).
    So I flew in last Tuesday and met all of the other candidates, who were all just as excited as I was. Wednesday was a study day which was helpful; the LT's escorting us gave us a study guide similar to the one on the navy blog spot website, so everyone was studying it and helping those who were struggling with some problems. The LT's also gave us a mock technical and admiral interview and critiqued us on both which was helpful.
     Thursday morning before the any of the technical interviews everyone was nervous, but our escort told us that after the first interview we'd be able to relax a little (and of course nobody believed him). Well needless to say he was right, after my first interview I felt really good about everything. My interviewer was really nice and we just talked for the first 10-15 minutes about why I want to be in the program, how I like my major, etc. It really broke the ice so it helped. Then he asked me a very generic calculus and physics questions, both pretty much from the study guide so no problem there.
     I then went to my second interviewer and we also talked for about 10 minutes or so, which again helped to break the ice. He asked also asked me a few calculus and physics questions, and after I was finished with those he asked me a couple of simple ChemE questions, so overall it went really well. I got stuck at a part on one of the Physics questions, but it was a stupid mistake on my part that was an easy fix.
     Overall both technical interviews went well so I didn't require a third. I'd say about 5 people got asked to go to a third interview, but they honestly knew they'd need one so if you feel good about yours then you shouldn't require a third.
     So then was the Admiral's interview. You and about five people walk into the "Dugout" when called (where the legendary Rickover chair is on display) and wait for your turn. Then you get called "On Deck" while the person ahead of you is talking to the Admiral. Once they leave, they call your name and you walk in, say your intro and sit down. Honestly he seemed like a pretty cool guy; he wasn't staring me down the entire time and he asked me fairly generic questions (why I want to be in the program, etc.). So then I walked out and they told me I was in!
     Like I said above, I know you've heard this a dozen times but it really isn't that bad. I was pretty nervous before the Admiral's interview, but when I was saying my intro I kind-of put a smile on my face like I was excited to be there and that helped alleviate some nervousness. If you've made it this far then you should have no problem getting in, just gotta put the icing on the cake.

[Gamecock]

Three people from your group were not selected....

I wonder if they would summarize their experience the same as you?

[greenbean]

Studying and practicing seem to be the key. Long before I ever got on the plane for my DC interview I knew that the technical interviews would cover mostly physics and calculus. I spent so much time covering those topics that I ended up tutoring other guys also interviewing in my same pool of applicants. I think some people just don't take to heart the advice to study and they miss questions in those technical interviews that they should be able to get.

On the other hand, I've definitely been in situations where I felt prepared, but once put on the spot I laid a great goose egg. It was those experiences which taught me to prepare even more thoroughly.

The guys who did not make it in my group either were not well prepared technically or could not interview well. They simply did not present themselves as confident and capable individuals. At least that was my perception. That was why I was trying to help them prepare even up to the last minute before the interview with the Admiral. (Oddly, it was a Music major who was the best at practicing the Admiral interview. He was a jazz guy and smooth as could be. He exuded confidence and answered questions with ease. I'm quite sure he knew how to prepare for a "performance"/interview.)

Practice my friends, practice. This is a great opportunity, don't take it lightly! Be serious, be sharp, present yourself as the confident and capable individual whom would fulfill the role of a Nuclear Navy Officer, and you will make the decision easy for the interviewers.

Remember, the interviewing engineers and the Admiral are humans too, they know you are nervous. They are looking for some good men and women to bring into the service and they want you to succeed.

Congratulations on your selection smclen2. Thank you for your willingness to serve.