Preparing for Your Naval Information Warfare Systems Command Interview

Getting an interview with Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) is an exciting opportunity. With nearly 10,000 civilian, active duty military and contractor personnel, NAVWAR manages $1 billion in annual investments and covers a range of projects from research and development to acquisition and Life Cycle support. Landing a job here can lead to highly rewarding and impactful work.

To make the most of your NAVWAR interview it’s important to go in fully prepared. This means doing thorough research on the organization and role reviewing commonly asked questions, and practicing your responses. Follow the tips below to increase your chances of landing the job.

Learn About NAVWAR’s Mission and Values

NAVWAR’s mission is to “conduct research, development, delivery and support of integrated command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems and services across all warfighting domains.” This allows naval forces to have decision superiority through information warfare capabilities.

Key focus areas for NAVWAR include:

• Cyber warfare
• Electronic warfare
• Command and control
• Enterprise information systems
• Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

NAVWAR aims to exemplify certain core values including:

• Integrity: Being ethical and honest.
• Dedication: Committing to shared goals.
• Excellence: Striving to be the best.
• Service: Helping others through actions.
• Teamwork: Collaborating to solve problems.

Understanding NAVWAR’s priorities will help you demonstrate how you can contribute to their mission during the interview. Highlight relevant skills and experience you have in areas like systems engineering, cybersecurity software development project management, and more based on the role.

Review Common NAVWAR Interview Questions

NAVWAR interviews typically include a mix of technical questions related to your specialty along with general behavioral and situational questions

Some examples of technical questions include:

• Describe your experience working with software like [Java, Python, C++, etc] and maintaining large codebases.
• Talk about a complex technical project you managed. What were some challenges and how did you overcome them?
• Explain how you would go about testing and troubleshooting [specific system relevant to the role].

For behavioral questions, prepare for items like:

• Tell me about a time you faced a tight deadline on a project. What did you do to deliver on time?
• Give an example of when you had to coordinate with multiple teams on a single project. How did you ensure effective collaboration?
• Describe a situation where you had to problem solve creatively when standard procedures or protocols did not work.

Situational questions present hypothetical scenarios and ask how you would respond. For instance:

• Your team discovers a major bug in the software right before a release deadline. What steps would you take to handle this situation?
• You notice that project requirements defined by the product manager will lead to poor user experiences. What do you do?
• A new team member is struggling to meet performance standards. As their manager, how would you address this?

Preparing stories from your background that demonstrate positive traits like problem-solving, communication, and leadership will help you provide strong answers.

Practice Responding to Questions

Simply reviewing questions isn’t enough. You need to practice responding out loud to get comfortable with your answers.

Have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview and provide feedback. Focus on:

• Giving concise yet detailed responses. Avoid rambling.
• Speaking slowly and clearly. Nerves can make us talk too fast.
• Maintaining positive and confident body language. Make eye contact and avoid fidgeting.
• Asking clarifying questions if you don’t understand something. Don’t try to “fake” an answer.

Also prepare any questions you want to ask the interviewer about the team, training programs, advancement opportunities, etc. Having insightful questions demonstrates your interest in the company.

Highlight Your Technical Expertise

Since NAVWAR focuses on developing complex technology solutions, interviews will assess your technical competencies and skills. Be ready to talk confidently about past projects and accomplishments that showcase your abilities.

Make sure you can explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical interviewers. Avoid using unnecessary jargon and acronyms. Provide enough detail to paint a picture of your capabilities but without getting bogged down in minutiae.

Have a few examples that demonstrate skills like:

• Rapidly learning new programming languages, systems, or tools.
• Analyzing complex systems to identify failure points or issues.
• Leading teams through technical upgrades, migrations or new system implementations.
• Improving system performance by optimizing code or infrastructure.
• Diagnosing and debugging difficult technical problems.

The more you can prove your hands-on experience, the better.

Dress for Success

Don’t let your attire sabotage your interview. While the NAVWAR dress code allows for business casual, you want to dress professionally for the interview.

For men, wear a suit and tie or at minimum a dress shirt, slacks, and sports jacket. For women, wear a professional dress or blouse and skirt/slacks with a blazer. Be sure clothes are neatly pressed and avoid distracting prints or colors. Simple jewelry and minimal cologne/perfume is best.

Arrive early and be polite to every person you interact with, from parking attendants to receptionists. You want to make a positive impression across the board.

During the interview, maintain confident and open body language. Sit upright, avoid crossing your arms, make eye contact, nod and smile at appropriate times, and offer a firm handshake. These non-verbals significantly impact the impression you make.

Ask Good Questions

Interviews go both ways, so you’ll get a chance to ask questions to determine if NAVWAR aligns with your goals and preferences. Have a few ready such as:

• How would you describe the culture and work environment here?
• What opportunities are there for professional development and training?
• What qualities do your top performers usually have in common?
• What are some of the biggest challenges facing your department right now?
• How is team success measured and rewarded?

Avoid asking questions easily found online or ones that focus too much on perks like time off and benefits. Prioritize learning more about the substance of the work and growth potential.

Send Follow Up Thank You Notes

After the interview, be sure to send thank you notes to each person you met with. Personalize each note by referencing something specific you discussed and reiterating your interest in and qualifications for the role.

Thank you notes demonstrate extra effort and your strong desire to join the NAVWAR team. Just be sure to get them sent within 24 hours of the interview while it’s still fresh.

Stay Positive Even If You Don’t Get the Job

The hiring process is never certain, so there’s always a chance you won’t get a job offer, even after seemingly nailing the interview. If this happens, keep things positive.

Send polite notes to thank the interviewers for their time and consideration. Don’t get defensive or critical. Then move on by continuing your job search. With the right preparation and persistence, you’ll eventually land the right match.

Getting hired at an organization like Naval Information Warfare Systems Command takes effort, but it’s worth it. By researching NAVWAR, practicing responses, highlighting your skills, and following up thoughtfully, you’ll be ready to take on the interview with confidence. Approach it as a chance to show how your unique background can contribute to their important mission. With the right mindset and preparation, you’ll impress the hiring team and be on your way to an exciting new career supporting national defense.