PhD/PsyD VA second interview

[psychrat]

I have worked at a few different VA's and have only had one interview at each, However, I have not interviewed in several years. A supervisee of mine just interviewed at a VA and is very interested in the position and they offered her a second interview. Has anyone ever had a second interview at the VA and what does it look like? I am trying to help her best prepare.

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[summerbabe]

Was the first interview PBI or informal? I’ve had a formal PBI interview followed by a very casual meeting with the chief and the program manager followed by an offer. I also know people who had an informal ‘interview’ first followed by PBI.

Also, was the 1st interview through the trainee match? Is it a competitive process USAJobs position? Direct hire?

 

[deleted106747]

The VA posts its interview questions online: VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

She should look up the ones for her level.

 

[psychrat]

Was the first interview PBI or informal? I’ve had a formal PBI interview followed by a very casual meeting with the chief and the program manager followed by an offer. I also know people who had an informal ‘interview’ first followed by PBI.

Also, was the 1st interview through the trainee match? Is it a competitive process USAJobs position? Direct hire?

She applied via USA jobs. It was formal, structured interview with several staff members. She is a postdoc now.

 

[psychrat]

The VA posts its interview questions online: VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

She should look up the ones for her level.

Thanks

 

[summerbabe]

She applied via USA jobs. It was formal, structured interview with several staff members.

IMO, it would be odd to do two PBI interviews since the point is to get objective ratings for each candidate in support of the rankings that are submitted to HR.

Does she have the contact info of who will be in the second interview? You can look them up in the directory and see if it looks like somebody in a management type role.

Some facilities like to have that f/u informal interview to better assess for fit and whether they really want to make the offer. Regardless, a 2nd interview seems like a good sign since she's cleared the first hurdle.

 

[cara susanna]

I've applied for VA positions where there has been a second interview with the academic program affiliated with the VA. Could that be it?