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Interview Guidance

Interview Guidance

When invited to interview, the next steps and timeline can vary based on the type of role. Whether interviewing in person or virtually, you will meet with a recruiter as well as members of our hiring teams. Your interview time will vary based on the number of people you are meeting. Usually, each interviewer is allocated 30-60 minutes, although some interviewers prefer to interview together.

Here are some helpful tips and answers to FAQs about interviewing at APL.

Before Your Interview

Learn more about APL.

Understand our mission, values, and work. Submit an application for any position that matches your skills and interests. Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with the responsibilities of the position.

Prepare for your visit.

Review our Visitor Information page to learn more about visiting APL.

Take a virtual tour of APL to see our campus and hear from our staff.

Request an accommodation.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu.

Follow us on social media to learn more about the exciting work we do.

During Your Interview

Be your authentic self.

We value unique perspectives and want to know not only what you know but how you think. We don’t expect you to know everything. If you don’t understand the question, don’t hesitate to ask clarifying questions.

Share your skills and experience.

Showcase your ability to solve complex problems and approach problems analytically. Discuss your experiences working on team projects and highlight instances where you contributed to a team’s success.

If you’re interviewing for your first job after graduation, share any internships, class projects, or relevant coursework that provided practical skills and knowledge.

When answering behavioral questions, follow the STAR method: describe the situation, task, action, and result.

Ask questions.

Demonstrate your interest in a career at APL by preparing thoughtful questions about the role, team dynamics, and future projects.

After Your Interview

Ask for the timeline.

Don’t hesitate to ask your recruiter when you can expect to hear back about next steps or a hiring decision.

Check in.

Your recruiter will follow up with you as soon as a hiring decision is made. If you would like to send a thank you note to the hiring manager, please feel free to send it to your recruiter, who will forward it on. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your recruiter at any time if you have any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions