Outline of the Recruitment Process
The US Navy offers an intense and sometimes extensive recruiting process lasting two to three days, depending on the position desired. After submitting preliminary enlistment requests, recruitment officers contact eligible applicants to undergo processing. The multi-faceted screening process requires candidates to take an exam called the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a test designed to determine applicant suitability for the various jobs and career paths offered. Physical exams prove necessary during processing, and some positions require strength and stamina evaluations as well. After receiving ASVAB results, applicants choose a career path and schedule face-to-face interview sessions with recruitment officers.
Become Familiar with Navy History
Prior to interviews, job hopefuls should prepare by researching the history and mission of the Navy. Applicants ought to familiarize themselves with the various training programs required by selected career path. Job hopefuls should review relevant skills and formulate concise answers to common interview questions.
How to Dress
On the day of the face-to-face interview, applicants should dress professionally and arrive before the slated meeting time.
Practice Answering Interview Questions
Face-to-face interviews take on question-and-answer formats. Recruitment officials pose inquiries to discover applicants' motivation for joining, level of education, and fit for the position desired. Job hopefuls often field personal questions like, "What do you expect to gain by joining the Navy?" and "What do you have to offer?" Applicants also respond to more basic inquiries like, "Have you ever committed a felony?" and "Are you a citizen of the United States?"
Crafting Answers
Candidates should answer questions confidently and respectfully and demonstrate a desire to further their career with the Navy while remaining honest about future aspirations.
U.S. Navy Interview Video
Video Transcript
Interviewer: Please describe your rank, job title, and primary duties with the U.S. Navy.
Navy Sailor: My rank in the Navy was E3 and my job title basically was Aviation Ordnanceman. Basically, it consisted of me building bombs and attaching them to the jets and helicopters. And my duties basically was that, except for miscellaneous duties as far as mopping the floors and everything low rank. But, that was my job title, and that’s what I went to school for.
Interviewer: What was the work environment like in the Navy?
Navy Sailor: The work environment on the ship in the Navy, I would say is hard. Talking 18 hours a day sometimes. And sometimes, it’s at least minimum 12 hour work schedule. Off the ship, it’s a little more laid back, 9 to 5 pretty much. Or you can go and do your workout schedule. But other than that, it’s pretty simple off the ship.
Interviewer: What was your favorite part about being in the Navy?
Navy Sailor: My favorite part was getting to travel. I got to see a lot of stuff. I went to Australia. I’ve been to the Philippines. And this is all in a two-year period. So that was my favorite part, traveling.
Interviewer: Please describe a typical day in the Navy.
Navy Sailor: A typical day in the Navy would be you wake up, you probably wake up at about 5 in the morning, go work out, get dressed, take a shower at the gym, get dressed, go to your command. Basically, do whatever job you are assigned to do. Like me, I built bombs. So, I made sure all my ordinances was ready, made sure everything was safe, made sure nobody was in the room that shouldn’t be there, and I basically go about building the bombs and go about training and loading the jets just in case a real incident ever happened.
Interviewer: How would you describe the application and recruitment process with the U.S. Navy?
Navy Sailor: The application process was long. It took me about 6 months to even entitle to enlist in the Navy. That’d go for talking to my recruiter, my recruiter, me and my family, doing a background check. They did F.B.I. research on me, and it was a long process. We got to stay in a hotel. That was probably the best part. We stayed in a hotel for about three days. But other than that, it was a long, tiring process.
Interviewer: What should an applicant wear to the Navy job interview?
Navy Sailor: It really doesn’t matter. I would say if you were to wear something, wear something that you could work out in. Because, usually the first day they want to see how many pushups you can do or something of that nature.
Interviewer: What questions did the recruiter ask during the Navy interview?
Navy Sailor: The questions that he asked was: Did I have any felonies? Did I have a degree? That was pretty much it. What do I want to get out of the Navy? Am I thinking about furthering it as a career or do I just want to go to school? How did I want to go about it? That was the biggest question they asked me.
Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a young person looking to join the Navy?
Navy Sailor: The advice I would give a young person wishing to join the Navy would be go to school first and don’t make the Navy your only option. Make sure you go to school so you have something to back up on. And then if you go to the Navy with an education, you can go in in an officer rank and make a lot more money and be a lot more successful.
Thandiswa says:
i have confidence for this job and im really born for it