Interview Prep Tips for Successful Northrop Grumman Candidates

You've been selected to interview at Northrop Grumman! It's an exciting, hopeful and unnerving time. So before you begin the interview process, read through our helpful interview prep tips to learn more about what to expect, what to wear and the different types of interviews you might encounter. We'll even give you some sample questions to help you prepare. After all, we want you to be the hire we're looking for!

Here are some interview prep tips straight from the Northrop Grumman Talent Acquisition team.

Tell Me About Yourself

One common lead-off interview question is often one where people tend to have trouble: “Tell me about yourself.” Sometimes your mind goes blank because you don't think you need to prepare for that question; after all, you know yourself.

This response should be one to two minutes long and should reflect your ability to speak succinctly and with confidence. Try to highlight your strengths and remember that the interviewers want to know more about you.

What we don't want is a chronological retelling of your whole life story. Instead, the answer to this question should be a short overview of your life, emphasizing highlights of your professional experience that are relevant to the job you're interviewing for. Think of it as an elevator pitch about yourself.

The Phone Screen

The phone screen is a brief (usually 30-minute) informal interview used to develop a rapport with your talent acquisition business partner. It is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your communication skills and personality, and for us to learn more about you as a candidate.

Frequently, questions in the phone screen are centered on behavioral scenarios. The general format of these questions is: “Given a certain situation, how would you respond?”

Your goals for the phone screen should be twofold: to get the talent acquisition partner's attention and to generate enough interest in you for the talent acquisition partner to want to know more about you.

The Interview

Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.

For the next phase of the interviewing process, you'll likely be interviewing in person or virtually with the hiring manager, and these interviews are more technical. Brush up on your technical terms, do some research on current trends and have something interesting to say about your area of specialty.

Know basic information about the organization. No talent acquisition interviewer or manager will expect you to be an expert, but they will be impressed if you've done your homework and show genuine interest in and knowledge about Northrop Grumman.

Consider checking the LinkedIn profiles of the interviewers; see if you can find a connection with them, whether personally, educationally or professionally.

Evaluate the job description and identify the qualities of a “successful candidate,” then ask yourself: “How do those qualities relate to my capabilities and experience?” Be prepared to connect the dots from the job description to your abilities, especially those listed on your résumé.

Take the time to know and understand your credentials and the overall job objective and goal. We are excited and driven by our mission and want you to be, too, if you join our team.

It's likely you will be asked about your long- and short-term career goals. Be prepared to answer this question in a meaningful way.

Have at least three questions prepared to ask the interviewers about the company and scope of work

Virtual Interview

Conducting an interview over video stream is becoming more common. Take steps to prepare for this special kind of interaction:

• Test the technology prior to the interview to make sure everything is working on your end.
• Test the camera to ensure you are taking advantage of the best angles and lighting.
• Dressing professionally during this type of interview is important as well.
• Consider the background of the environment in which you'll be interviewing in terms of both audio and visuals.

What to Wear

You'd think this would be a no-brainer — but unfortunately, it isn't.

Our day-to-day dress code at most locations is business casual. If you are hired, that's generally what you should expect to wear.

For an interview, however, you should take it up a notch, to business formal. We want you to be you, but we want the professional version of you.

Follow-up

Send thank-you notes. They don't have to be long, elaborate or handwritten. They should be sent in a timely manner, with everything spelled correctly, and they should remind the interviewer why you should be hired.

In many cases, you may not get the interviewer's direct email. Make sure to ask your talent acquisition business partner if they can forward your thank-you note to all the interview participants.