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Post by Gaidin on Jul 12, 2013 16:12:26 GMT -5
As I understand it the people who have experienced a Structured Interview cannot divulge its contents. This makes complete sense. I don't want to ask any of them to divulge anything and think it would be highly inappropriate if they did. So instead I think that the rest of us should see if we can think of questions that could be asked so that we can get someone to practice with. Even if we are way off base it will at least get us ready for the unexpected.
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Post by Gaidin on Jul 12, 2013 16:14:43 GMT -5
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Post by 71stretch on Jul 12, 2013 16:21:00 GMT -5
I don't know that practicing the wrong kind of question will be any help at all. Best advice I can give is to listen VERY carefully to the question to be sure you fully understand it before you start answering, (not hearing the question correctly and starting to answer based on that wrong impression WILL leave points on the table) and think before you start answering. Then, don't ramble on and on just to fill up the time allotted for each question.
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Post by gunner on Jul 12, 2013 16:32:48 GMT -5
I have been in what I think was called an "Experiential Interview" once. The idea seems similar to the SI. In my experience, the interview began by asking you to identify a project that you worked on. It may also have been a project that was stressful or where there was conflict. The interviewer then walked through a series of questions, like "deacribe the project," "describe the conflict," "how did you deal with the contflict," etc. The idea is to get you to think on your feet, but also to learn how you deal with conflict and problems. I thought the process seemed like one that's good on paper but hard to do well at in reality. If you don't know you're going to be asked this detailed set of questions, you might pick a project for which there's not a lot of meat that will be helpful in answering the questions, which is what happened to me. It was also impossible to switch to a different project mid-stream. Anyway, I don't know if the SI is like that, but I'm sure it wouldn't violate any confidentiality to tell us that it's not like that, right? I mean, if I suggested that the SI is actually waterboarding, it would be ok to disabuse me of that notion, so if I'm incorrect here that should be ok too.
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Post by bartleby on Jul 12, 2013 16:42:19 GMT -5
Uhhh, don't rule out the waterboarding..
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Post by bartleby on Jul 12, 2013 16:42:30 GMT -5
Uhhh, don't rule out the waterboarding..
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Post by 71stretch on Jul 12, 2013 17:49:19 GMT -5
Virtual waterboarding, anyway....
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Post by dropduff on Jul 12, 2013 18:45:38 GMT -5
Wow, really looking forward to this!
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Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 12, 2013 19:03:00 GMT -5
Uhhh, don't rule out the waterboarding.. Virtual waterboarding, anyway.... This is exactly what I have been hearing from those I have asked about the process! Seems the key is to try and remain calm, listen carefully, and try and respond in detail as much as possible time permitting. Vague but at least we know it is a spock like non-conversational tight lipped stressful environment. Joy! LOL!
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 12, 2013 19:09:02 GMT -5
I'm fully expecting to walk in, see the three interviewer panel rise and do a synchronized twirl, dip and slide and begin the chorus "we want the funk..."
But that's just me.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 12, 2013 19:30:26 GMT -5
I'm fully expecting to walk in, see the three interviewer panel rise and do a synchronized twirl, dip and slide and begin the chorus "we want the funk..." But that's just me. I need you to wear a spy cam...this is worth seeing. LOL!
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Post by mcb on Jul 13, 2013 3:36:55 GMT -5
Uhhh, don't rule out the waterboarding.. Great! You know you can't discuss the actual SI. AND, it may not even be part of the SI (this time). SMH ...SMH...
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Post by mcb on Jul 13, 2013 3:46:30 GMT -5
OK, here's what really happens. You go in a hotel room with a big comfy chair, almost beanbagesque, and you sit down, almost sink, into it (at least I did). I can't remember if I was offered a glass/cup of water, but, I believe I was. The interviewers are already waiting in the room for you, behind a long table in uncomfortable straightback chairs in front of a large plate glass window. If it's cloudy outside you're safe, but if it's sunny, the Sun maybe be shining right in your eyes. Luckily, there were overcast skies for my SI, but a friend underwent his SI on a sunny day, and had problems seeing the interviewers because of the blinding Sun. Then, you've got a certain amount of time to do what happens in there (at least I did). As far as I can remember, anyway (it's sorta a fuzzy blur, now). Then it's over with and you get up and leave (at least that's what I was told I did). Hope this helped.
Relax, relax, relax.
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Post by moopigsdad on Jul 13, 2013 5:57:36 GMT -5
As with any interview it is being nervous that kills you. One must be able to relax and show confidence in his/her own abilities. Lastly (tongue in cheek), take a couple of Xanax about two hours prior to the interview and you should be fine. Of course, you will absolutely blow the SI, but then my chances of being higher up on the register increase tremendously.
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Post by trekker on Jul 13, 2013 6:35:01 GMT -5
Sounds like any normal ODAR hearing with a "cranky" ALJ and VE and a client who you find sleeping on the floor outside the ODAR elevators at 8 am whose breakfast was a couple of quaaludes (?sp) followed by a 6 pack chaser. Another day in the life of a rep.
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Post by aljseeker on Jul 13, 2013 6:40:53 GMT -5
With all due respect to everyone who is moving forward, I can't help but think this is a complete crap shoot. There is absolutely no way, given how OPM has handled the application process to begin with and throughout this stage, to predict anything. Think about some of the ALJs you have appeared before and try to imagine if they had to pass the SJT or SI. Just sayin'...
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 13, 2013 6:46:12 GMT -5
Three person panel. Strict time limit. A baarage of open ended questions. If they would just add a traffic light style timing system it would be just like every fed circuit court appeal argument I've ever given.
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Post by moopigsdad on Jul 13, 2013 7:31:53 GMT -5
Three person panel. Strict time limit. A baarage of open ended questions. If they would just add a traffic light style timing system it would be just like every fed circuit court appeal argument I've ever given. I think that description would fit it to a "T" funky. If you have done appeals in front of appellate panels you are probably prepared for the unknown of a SI.
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Post by Gaidin on Jul 13, 2013 9:11:04 GMT -5
Three person panel. Strict time limit. A baarage of open ended questions. If they would just add a traffic light style timing system it would be just like every fed circuit court appeal argument I've ever given. This actually quite reassuring to think about it this way.
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Post by bartleby on Jul 13, 2013 9:24:13 GMT -5
I don't remember the traffic light although they had a Wheel of Fortune type wheel that the questions were selected from, IIRC.
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