May Interviews

[Stormon]

So this is my first post here... Let me explain my situation...

A couple of months ago I decided to try and get in the NUPOC program. My recruiter has been on the ball with everything and I've been through everything and have been invited to the May interviews.

After the NVIP tour a couple weeks ago I decided on the SWO side of things and everything seemed to be going well. Then came my tech interview set for 9:30 AM on finals week... Needless to say I was unhappy about having to take time out of finals week to study for the interview but I did. Now at 9:15 as I was walking to the library to get a quiet room my recruiter called me and told me the interview was off. Yikes! I was mad, anyways, to make a long story short I ended up having to explain a bad freshman semester my Freshman year where I failed three classes and I took the interview only to be told to sit and wait (This all transpired last Wednesday.) For the record I have a 3.2 GPA but after those first two semesters I had a 2.0 and have virtually gotten all A's and a few B's in three semesters to raise it to what it is.

Now, today at about 1400 I got a call from my recruiter telling me I'm green light to interview next week. After so many days not even knowing if I'd be interviewed I was excited beyond all reason! Now, eight hours later nerves have hit and I'm a little freaked. Any advice beyond the usual (study, relax, you know...)

Thanks! And I'm excited!

[Gamecock]

So this is my first post here... Let me explain my situation...

A couple of months ago I decided to try and get in the NUPOC program. My recruiter has been on the ball with everything and I've been through everything and have been invited to the May interviews.

After the NVIP tour a couple weeks ago I decided on the SWO side of things and everything seemed to be going well. Then came my tech interview set for 9:30 AM on finals week... Needless to say I was unhappy about having to take time out of finals week to study for the interview but I did. Now at 9:15 as I was walking to the library to get a quiet room my recruiter called me and told me the interview was off. Yikes! I was mad, anyways, to make a long story short I ended up having to explain a bad freshman semester my Freshman year where I failed three classes and I took the interview only to be told to sit and wait (This all transpired last Wednesday.) For the record I have a 3.2 GPA but after those first two semesters I had a 2.0 and have virtually gotten all A's and a few B's in three semesters to raise it to what it is.

Now, today at about 1400 I got a call from my recruiter telling me I'm green light to interview next week. After so many days not even knowing if I'd be interviewed I was excited beyond all reason! Now, eight hours later nerves have hit and I'm a little freaked. Any advice beyond the usual (study, relax, you know...)

Thanks! And I'm excited!

The proper perspective can make all the difference. 

It's not life or death.....its just an interview. 

Now....if your interviewer has the same name as animal.....be afraid.....be very afraid

[NukeNTO]

Don't sweat it, the best thing you can do is relax.  I used to be one of the NTOs that'll be escorting you around D.C.  They'll go over things when you arrive and should do a quick refresher.  Ask any questions you have, don't be shy if you know what to expect you won't be as nervous.  And chances are if you have the question so do half a dozen other people.

Just do your best to show whatever technical knowledge you have on the topics from your tech interviews and be confident with the Admiral and the odds are on your side. 

[spekkio]

1) The job is now yours to lose.
2) The tech interviewers care more about your problem solving process than your ability to get the correct answer. Therefore, think out loud and never give up on a question. If you get stuck, make a reasonable assumption to simplify the question and move on, but don't simplify the question to the point a 5th grader could solve it. Oftentimes, you'll get help from the interviewer if you demonstrate critical thinking ability and technical knowledge.
3) Don't BS the Admiral.

[Gamecock]

1) The job is now yours to lose.

True

2) The tech interviewers care more about your problem solving process than your ability to get the correct answer. Therefore, think out loud and never give up on a question. If you get stuck, make a reasonable assumption to simplify the question and move on, but don't simplify the question to the point a 5th grader could solve it. Oftentimes, you'll get help from the interviewer if you demonstrate critical thinking ability and technical knowledge.

I care if you get the question right.  

3) Don't BS the Admiral.

Spot on.

[spekkio]

I didn't say they/you don't care about right answers at all.

[greenbean]

I say be nervous... it helps you study harder. You don't want to look like a fool in front of your interviewer, so wig out now and make sure you have studied hard. Passing the time working out problem after problem will exhaust you until you collapse, fall asleep, wake up and do it all over again. Oh and practice your interview skills. Top to bottom, have someone ask you all the regular interview questions and practice your responses. :-)

Its okay to be human, most of us are. Your going to get nervous and so is any other half-sane person in your position. Everyone knows you are anxious, now you just have to show you can get over those nerves and get the job done.

If you are getting an interview then there is a spot available for you. You just have to prove you can handle it and will serve as a reliable and hard working officer.

Ask yourself why you want it and why you are an excellent candidate for the position. Compare yourself with your friends and think of what makes you stand out.

If you are making all A's and B's now, that says a lot. The fact that you want to serve also says a lot. You have two very good pros going for you right there.

Get a good night of sleep the day before the interview, drink lots of water (you should be peeing clear), and you will have a functioning brain when those questions are asked.

Work hard, speak honestly, and do your best to smile. Laughter will take the edge off.

[a778999]

I'll see you in DC.  I'm interviewing for subs.  The timing couldn't be worse with finals this week and my commencement ceremony the 19th (that I have to skip).  But I'm pumped for this opportunity!

[Stormon]

Thanks for all the posts and a778999 I guess I will... Got the itinerary and just waiting for Tuesday to roll around.

So I've been studying all week and after the phone tech interview im a bot more confident but I'm really wondering what kinds of questions to expect in the interviews... I mean me being a Math/Physics major how in depth will they go. I can't imagine them only asking diff eqs and kinematics. There's gotta be more. Any insightful ideas?

[greenbean]

You should be REALLY comfortable with derivatives and integrating. You should know exactly what each term means and how to go from position to velocity to acceleration and back. This is also very important for any electrical question you get (I=dq/dt sorta stuff). I remember a lot of calculus and basic kinetic physics. Also I had several rate of change problems, so review your basic chemistry (mine question wasn't chemistry based, but I found that material to be the most help in studying related rates. Think deflating balloon volume vs surface area sorta questions.).

The point is to see if you can do math and that you understand physics concepts well. You may look at your transcript and see what classes you didn't do so hot in. Anything with a B or C on it could be an easy target for an interviewer to ask you a question to see if you actually learned that material.

Know the study guide backwards and forwards. Know integration by parts and using substitution. Make sure you go over the study guide sections that cover classes you have taken (thermo, fluids, chemistry, electronics etc.) in addition to the math and physics. Know how to find the volume of an object using calculus, disc/shell methods. I heard several guys had to answer that kind of question.

How much have you practiced your actual interview skills? Remember, they are going to be asking you about why you would make a good officer and why you should be selected. You need to practice, answer cleanly, and leave them no doubts about being a good officer candidate.

This is it... you are almost there. If you work through the problems another 3 or 4 times and give someone 20+ practice interviews that should help you feel much more comfortable when you get into that engineer's office or board room.

I would tell guys to think of the engineering interviews as if they were interviewing with an uncle. Think of someone you respect, but also someone who is looking to genuinely know how good you are and if they should recommend you to the Admiral. Take is seriously, but be yourself.

For the Admiral interview, do you have the list of questions he generally asks? It is normally available from your recruiter or wherever you got the study guide. Pick the questions he is most likely to ask you and practice. When I finally sat in front of the Admiral, I knew what kinds of questions he would be asking, I knew he wanted to see a certain level of eagerness to serve and I knew I wanted to serve with a sincere heart. It worked out. :-)

Good luck man. Let us know how it goes.

[Stormon]

It has been a while but I thought I'd get on here and give you all the follow up story. The down and dirty is I got in! Probably the most stressful 24 hours of my life. Well, maybe.
For all of you reading these forums to know if it is worth it... It is.
So here is what happened. Day 1 I flew down from Idaho. That took all day. Got there, checked in, got some extra study material, went to bed. Day 2, study study study, got up early and oracticed everything possible with the recruiters. They were really helpful. The mock admiral interview really helped. Day 3, pretty much what every forum says about it was correct. Both my interviewers were former instructors so I got a lot of conceptual questions. One thing I will note is that being a math/ physics major I was surprised by the statics questions I was asked... Fumbled my way through that one but got a lot of help by saying: "in Physics we would do it like..." the rest was pretty simple, derive an equation, solve for an unknown, solve a circuit, and a pretty intense discussion on the physics behind the ballistic pendulum. Remember, always check your answers for realisticness. (they referred to this a proving your work which is not quite accurate.)
Finally was the big interview with Admiral Donald. Notes: stay calm, sit straight, answer briefly, and follow instructions. When I sat down he looked at my paperwork and the first words out of his mouth were, "this is the worst freshman year I have ever seen." yeah nice ice breaker! But it all turned out well!

Since then: that 15K sign on bonus? 11,250 after taxes. By the time I got paid it was almost 15k in the bank! Got a new car, tv, and computer! Yeah it was nice especially after a college family's budget!

Now I get to finish my two degrees and start working for the Navy! I is so excited! (yeah I know you don't get my humor, it's all good.) but in all reality this is one of the most exciting decisions of my life (so far.)