Glassdoor is your free inside look at Social Security Administration interview questions and advice. All 30 interview reviews posted anonymously by Social Security Administration employees and interview candidates.
Social Security Administration Interview Questions & Reviews
Getting the Interview 30 Interviews
Interview Experience 28 Ratings
Benefit Authorizer at Social Security Administration
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Jamaica, NY Jul 2010 – Reviewed Mar 21, 2013
Interview Details – The Social Security Administration usually likes to hire from campuses. In the New York City area, they do a lot of hiring from St. John's University, Queens College and Stony Brook. Hiring managers appear at the job fairs to accept resumes. They hire people of all majors and backgrounds. In the summer, they will send potential candidates an email inviting them to take a test in one of the Federal buildings in Manhattan. They also include sample questions and answers for the test. As long as you understand the sample questions, the test actual test is very easy. If you pass the test, they'll call you to tell you that you passed and they'll invite you to an interview. The interview session is pretty lengthy because you'll be meeting with multiple people. The interview is very casual and they do most of the talking, explaining what the job entails.
Interview Question – Where do you see yourself in five years? Answer Question
Negotiation Details – They let me choose two start dates, as there were two batches of new benefit authorizer trainees. This varies every hiring phase.
Helpful Interview?
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Project Manager at Social Security Administration
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Baltimore, MD Aug 2009 – Reviewed Mar 18, 2013
Interview Details – Took several months from application to hiring. Fairly onerous set of questions. Process seemed to be geared toward screening by Personel, who then forwarded only a few prospective candidates for interviews. Interview was informal for me, but other interviews of co-workers involved 2 or more interviewers who asked pointed questions. General approach is 'by the numbers', so one should pay careful attention to the initial questions on the job questionaire (several essay style answers, etc.).
Interview Question – Interview was very informal and friendly. I was solicited to apply for the position, so the biggest hurdle was getting past the Personell screeners who score the initial questionaire. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – There was no negotiation, rather, simply a request to accept or decline. Very inpersonal.
Helpful Interview?
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Claims Representative at Social Security Administration
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Columbus, OH Mar 2009 – Reviewed Mar 10, 2013
Interview Details – I originally was an intern for two colleges during the summer. When I graduated I asked about potential openings and was notified they were hiring.
Interview Question – What is the most difficult challenge you have faced, and how did you overcome it. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – No negotiation as salaries are set by the union and federal government.
Helpful Interview?
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Contact Representative (Toll Free Number) at Social Security Administration
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Manassas, VA – Reviewed Nov 30, 2012
Interview Details – I was asked several questions concerning dealing with the general public and if you have had experience dealing with the, as I call it, " John Doe" public, you would be a good candidate to work for Social Security. Also, being able to work with numbers is a must as most of our work is centered around social security numbers; which help us to identify everyone. Excellent oral communication is also a plus.
Interview Question – Questions on how you would handle an irate person coming into a local office because he/she has not received their social security check for the month on check day. What questions would you immediately ask them or how would you handle the situation. They give scenarios for you to actually act out in. View Answer
Negotiation Details – Yes, I will accept the position.
Helpful Interview?
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Office Automation Clerk at Social Security Administration
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Brooklyn, NY May 2010 – Reviewed Oct 17, 2012
Interview Details – Contacted by one of the supervisors for an interview. During the interview, all supervisors are present, along with the Office Director. It's a very laid back interview and you must just be yourself.
Interview Question – Don't remember. But most of them deal with talking about yourself and where you see yourself in the future. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – You can't really negotiate salary because it's a position in the government, but you can negotiate your work hours.
Helpful Interview?
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Social Security Analyst at Social Security Administration
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Boston, MA Jun 2008 – Reviewed Sep 20, 2012
Interview Details –
I already worked for the agency when I applied for this job as a promotion. Thus, I only had a telephone interview. The process still took a long time because the hiring process at this agency is extremely slow.
Not that I wanted the interview to be excruciatingly hard, but I felt that the interview was too short for them to have a good sense of who I was. I more felt like they just asked a list of questions without really paying attention to my answers.
Interview Question – Can I compute a "WEP PIA" by hand? - This was most unexpected as I was not interviewing for a T2 job; I was interviewing for a T16 job even though I can definitely do T2 comps by hand! Answer Question
Negotiation Details – You are not able to negotiate. The salary is set by Congress and you know what it is even prior to applying.
Helpful Interview?
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Attorney-Advisor at Social Security Administration
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Arlington, VA – Reviewed Sep 11, 2012
Interview Details – I received an email stating that telephone interviews would be conducted on three days and asking me to select a time to interview. The interviewers were reading off a script and did not allow for much off of the script until the end when I was allowed to ask questions. I was then called about two weeks after the interview with the job offer and started around two weeks after that.
Interview Question – Pretty standard. Describe a time in which you [blank]. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – No negotiation. Offer was firm.
Helpful Interview?
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Senior Case Technician at Social Security Administration
No Offer – Interviewed in White Plains, NY Jul 2012 – Reviewed Jul 3, 2012
Interview Details –
1. Apply through usajobs.gov
2. If you are the best qualified candidate, then they will contact you by e-mail or phone
3. Attend the interview
4. Go through background check and reference check
5. Lastly, hiring decision is made and they will contact you if you are selected for the position.
Interview Questions
- What is your long-term goal in 10years? View Answer
- you have to analyze the cases sometimes, tell me what your experiences relate to this specific function. View Answer
Helpful Interview?
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Social Security Analyst at Social Security Administration
No Offer – Interviewed in New Brunswick, NJ Apr 2011 – Reviewed May 24, 2012
Interview Details – The interview was long and lengthy. I had to interview on the phone 2 times before being able to interview in front of a group setting. My veteran status put me on top of the list but there was a GPA requirement of 3.5/ which made me not eligible..
Interview Question – What is your biggest challenge Answer Question
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Paralegal at Social Security Administration
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Fort Wayne, IN Apr 2010 – Reviewed Feb 25, 2012
Interview Details – Review the Vacancy Announce carefully for all the important detail you should consider in your application, interview is the same with the public sector as it is with the private sector preparing is key ingredient, number and type of interview depends on the agency, advice federal employers are looking to hire the best candidate for the job, on the job training is provided so match their needs as close as you can even if you substitute a skill that utilizes the same qualities, characteristic, knowledge, tasks and attitude for achieving the agency mission, the work culture in very friendly and co-worker are there to lend a helping hand when needed because team work goes a long way to achieving goals, agency size depends on budget but you are provided with the workspace and tools required to complete the task.
Interview Question – Where would you like to be in 5 years? View Answer
Negotiation Details – Federal agency is set as far as pay and benefits but some agency offer different kinds of benefits such as tution assistance or student loan repayment, relocation expense, use of public transportation for work, day care for child or adult, fitness center so look at what is being offer as a benefit and compensated with the salary and you usually come out ahead.
Helpful Interview?
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