NSA CDS Behavioral Q's

Question 1

how does your education relate to this position?

Answer 1

Getting my bachelors degree at Georgetown University in computer science has greatly prepared me for this position. To obtain my degree i was required to take various courses that forced me to problem solve and think of ways to optimize non traditional solutions. Namely, courses like data structures, data science, math methods for computer science, computer hardware fundamentals, computer system fundamentals, and information assurance have given me knowledge on how to use logic based reasoning to gathering information and synthesize it for my projects objectives.

Question 2

what do you know about the nsa and why do you want to work here?

Answer 2

I know that the NSA is a valuable intelligence agency that is responsible for cryptographic and communications intelligence and security. It’s responsible for global monitoring, collection, processing information and data for foreign and domestic intelligence and counterintelligence purposes.

I want to work at the NSA because I’m passionate about technology and all its possibilities. Working at the NSA will give me the opportunity to be on the frontline of revolutionary softwares, applications, models, and various other mechanizations all while ensuring the protection of the country. That sounds like one of the best 2 for 1 deals I can imagine. I also want to work here because I know the NSA does fulfilling work that truly inspires people as both of my parents and brother have worked for the NSA directly or been on field assignments. Another thing that attracts me to the NSA is the TS/SCI security clearance this will greatly develop me professionally.

Question 3

tell me about yourself and your background

Answer 3

I am a recent graduate from Georgetown University with a degree in computer science with a strong passion for technology and I am really excited about the prospect of this position. Although I don’t have a lot of technical professional experience, the work I did at Georgetown provided me a solid foundation in problem solving, researching, and multi level team cooperation. I can code in several language, I have experience with advanced algorithms and cybersecurity implementations, as well as data science investigations. In my nontechnical jobs I got a lot of experience in meeting production goals and ensuring integrity of products and service. I am young, I am passionate, I am innovative, and I am ready for this position.

Question 4

how will you apply your experience to a successful career at NSA?

Answer 4

I will use my experience in coding in C++, Python, and Java as well as my aptitude in problem solving and collaborating to have a successful career at NSA. I will draw on my experience and knowledge for data structures, information assurance, data visualizations, and logical thinking to provide the utmost quality in all of the projects that I am assigned to.

Question 5

tell me about your favorite project

Answer 5

My favorite project was an investigative research and web design data science project that I completed involving the association between crime, poverty, and food insecurity in the Washington, DC area. In this project me and my team collected data through APIs and web scraping, analyzed and cleaned data in accordance to goals of project analysis, created interactive data visualizations including: bubble charts, data maps, histograms, violin plots, scatterplots, and pie charts, completed cluster and network analysis, and finally designed a website for analysis, results, conclusion and discussion. This is my favorite project because it was very fulfilling to apply my technical skills in a practical and investigative manner on a topic that I am very passionate about. This project was about the real world and real people problems and I was able to research into the logistics of the problem to try to come up with possible solutions with my teammates

Question 6

tell me about a time when you encountered a difficult problem and what you did to fix it?

Answer 6

One time I encountered a difficult problem was working with a group to prepare a presentation on the relationship between education obtained and income areas. My group was tasked to research how income inequality can effect the opportunities that individuals have to obtain certain levels of education. Two of the team members wanted to hold daily meetings one hour to discuss the progress of our presentation while other team members, including myself, disagreed with this approach because the team had a group documentation method to report our presentation progress and completion. To fix this, each side talked over their grievances and discussed that as long as everyone knew their assigned tasks, we did not think we needed to divert an excessive amount of time for meetings. Eventually, we decided to compromise by holding a daily meeting that would last no more than ten minutes to provide short updates on task progress.

Question 7

what are your strengths?

Answer 7

One of my strengths is that I am eager to learn new things and excited about opportunities to implement them. In my spare time while out of school, I have taken various online courses and certifications on computer vision basics, cloud storage, and TCP/IP functions. I am extremely capable and delighted to learn new technologies.

I am also a problem solver with great analytical skills and a determination to see things to their fruition. I have the ability and patience to deal with ambiguous and undefined problems.

I am an excellent communicator both in writing and verbally. I have excellent documentation skills and I enjoy working with others and being part of a team.

I am also self motivated and can operate under minimal supervision with no problem.

I am confidential. I am able to maintain confidentiality and ensure ethical standards.

Question 8

what are your weaknesses?

Answer 8

One of my greatest weaknesses is that I can be too much of a perfectionist. I take a lot of pride in my work and I’m very detail oriented so that can create problems with me hyper-fixating on certain things. For example, I am very punctual and I always meet deadlines, but when submitting my work it is typically right on time because I have to be thorough. I am currently working on balancing my perfectionism to still in ensure the integrity of my work while also not getting bogged down with details.

Another weakness would be that I’m a recent graduate and don’t have a lot of work experience, but I’m highly adaptable and excited to get into the workforce and I will bring my passion and skills with me everyday that I am on the job.

Question 9

what are your long term goals?

Answer 9

My long term goal is to have fulfilling career in technology at a place where I’m always growing and learning new things with a diverse group of people. I’d like be somewhere where I have the opportunity to enhance the skills I already posses while also gaining new experience. My goal is also to be the best and excel at whatever position I’m in. I want to be the person that people go to for help in solving a problem or advice with a project. Another one of my goals is to go back to school and get my master’s degree to not only continue my learning but also to increase my marketability.

Question 10

how would you communicate a technical problem to a client/non tech person?

Answer 10

I think the best way to communicate a technical problem to a client or non technical person is to express the problems in terms or ways that they can understand. I don’t mean this exactly in simplifying it or dumbing it down, but moreso describing the concept in ways that relates more to the person. When communicating it is important to know your audience. Tech people often get consumed in jargon that most cannot understand. So I would describe the technical problem in a personalized manner for the non tech person using either analogies or role play examples to best ensure the person who I am talking to understands the problem I am trying to convey.

Question 11

how did you find the job listing?

Answer 11

I found the job listing while perusing intelligence careers government website. My brother works at NSA San Antonio and he recommended me to look there because he knows I am looking for fulfilling work the tech field.

Question 12

do you like working in teams?

Answer 12

Yes, I like working in teams. I think working in teams can be very beneficial for projects because you can approach it from multiple perspectives. While working in teams I can bring up things that people might not think about and vice versa. I also get along with people well and enjoy the camaraderie that comes from a team environment.

Question 13

describe any technical projects that highlight your skills

Answer 13

One technical project that highlights my skills would be an investigative research and web design data science project that I completed involving the association between crime, poverty, and food insecurity in the Washington, DC area. In this project me and my team collected data through APIs and web scraping, analyzed and cleaned data in accordance to goals of project analysis, created interactive data visualizations including: bubble charts, data maps, histograms, violin plots, scatterplots, and pie charts, completed cluster and network analysis, and finally designed a website for analysis, results, conclusion and discussion. This project highlights my coding skills in Python, my research skills in social problems, and my cooperative skills as I worked with a team of 4.

Question 14

tell me about your interpersonal skills

Answer 14

One of my interpersonal skills include active listening - I believe it is important to give people my full attention while talking as I would want the same to be done for me. I am have patience and empathy - different people have different capabilities and ways of thinking so I know it is important to keep that in mind while working with others. I am flexible and dependable. I also have great leadership skills - I can effectively make decisions both independently and while consulting others.

Question 15

if you knew someone was going to use your code what would you do differently when writing it?

Answer 15

If I knew someone was going to use my code I wouldn’t have to do too much differently while writing it than I would for if I didn’t know someone was going to use my code because I try to write my as if that is the case anyway because you never know where your code can go. That being said, I would ensure that my documentation is very thorough. I would have various comments explaining my functions, variables, and logics of the program. I would also use sensical easy to understand variable and function names so its not confusing on what operations I’m trying to do.

Question 16

if you anticipate a problem that will cause you more problems later on when writing your code, what do you do about it and why?

Answer 16

Firstly I would place comments above the problematic code describing what I anticipate will create further problems later and why I am doing it the current way. I would do this so I can easily identify the likely source of my future errors. Coding errors are often cascading so it’s important to know the starting point to more efficiently get to a solution to the problem. Next, I would research if others have had the same problem and if that didn’t work I would consult my peers and ask if they knew how to approach the problem. I would do this in that order because I believe it is important to try and solve problems myself and not disrupt others in what they may be doing but I also believe multiple brains working toward something is better than just one.

Question 17

if you wrote code and someone pointed out an error, what would you do and how would you react?

Answer 17

If this happened I would look over my code and review the error that they identified. I would explain to them the reason why I wrote my code the way I did and I would ask them to explain the error. I would listen to them closely so I fully understand my error in order for it to not happen again. I wouldn’t react defensively because even though I do take pride in my work, I take even more pride in my ability to learn and adapt. I am always seeking to improve myself so if someone showed me an error in my ways I am grateful for it because it means I can become better.

Question 18

if you ran into a problem with a customer, how would you handle that situation?

Answer 18

In a situation like this I believe it is best to approach with calmness and understanding. I would ask questions and actively listen to the individual and come up with a solution that we are both satisfied with. In my nontechnical jobs for example when a very unhappy customer wanted to speak with a manager and I was the only employee available, I was able to resolve the problem by listening and accepting responsibility for the company’s actions. We came to a solution that was great for both parties and I was sure to follow up.

Question 19

how do you stay up to date with new computer science technology and techniques?

Answer 19

I read articles on reddit’s technews forums. I listen to podcasts like Herding Code and The Big Web Show that keep me up to date on content strategies and web technologies. I complete certifications and take online courses as they can help me hone in on my skills and keep me on top of my game in the ever evolving tech world.

Question 20

what is something that describes who you are that is not on your resume?

Answer 20

One thing that I am that is not described in my resume is my perseverance. No matter what challenge I am faced with I always persevere to the end. I did this in my education by obtaining a very hard degree that tested my belief in my abilities and I also did this personally in my fitness journey. I had a goal to lose weight and gain strength, and I did exactly that by losing over 100lbs in 6 months. This was one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do, but I had a goal and I was determined to accomplish it.

Question 21

describe a conflict you had with a team member. how did you handle the conflict and what was the outcome?

Answer 21

One conflict that I’ve experienced with a team member is having to work with someone who doubted, challenged and dismissed various solutions that I presented to our project. In their own right this person was slightly more experienced than I was but they had a tendency to be overbearing and present their solutions as the best that we could obtain without listening to my or others input. I was challenged in maintaining my patience when they would interrupt others without listening. To handle the conflict, I had to recognize that I cannot control the way this persons behavior, I could only control how I responded to the situation it created. I had a conversation with my team member and discussed with them how I felt they were stifling myself and the team in a calm and respectful manner. Though this conversation me and my team member realized that a lot of this conflict came from stress due to the workload of the project. I decided to adjust my own communication style to increase empathy, build patience with interruptions, and also insert my ideas and reasonings more to ensure I was being heard as well. We were able to complete the project and maintain polite correspondence after.

Question 22

how would you describe yourself?

Answer 22

I would describe myself as a creative problem solver and thinker. I enjoy finding alternative solutions to problems and I always keep an open mind about what solution might work best. Troubleshooting issues is something I am comfortable and familiar with and that I also find great satisfaction in doing. I am very detail oriented and I like to be sure that I cross all my i’s and dot all my t’s. I am an excellent communicator as I am able easily articulate people’s needs, whether it be clients or my teammates. I’m able to quickly pick up on subtle hints and nonverbal clues.

Question 23

which programming language are you most comfortable with? Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 with regard to your skills in Java, C++, and any other programming languages you like.

Answer 23

I am most comfortable with C++ and Python. They are the ones I have the most experience with and the ones that are most intuitive to me. Rating myself in C++ I’d give myself a 7 as I am proficient but not an expert. For Python I would rate myself a 6 as I have slightly less experience with it than C++. Java I would rate myself a 4 currently, but with practice and time I can surely improve my skills. I am not currently familiar with other programmings languages, but I am a fast learner and highly adaptable so learning a new language would not be a problem for me.

Question 24

what operating system do you use?

Answer 24

I have an iMac and a Macbook Air so I use MAC OS X

Question 25

What is one thing you hate in the professional environment?

Answer 25

One thing I dislike is working in closed-door environments. At this point in my professional career I need to be with managers who have open office policies and encourage questions because I will be asking them to ensure the accuracy of what I’m doing. I am also just starting in my technical career, I greatly value all mentorship that comes my way.

Question 26

how would you deal with a person in a team who is not producing the necessary work? what size teams have you worked in?

Answer 26

To deal with a person on my team who is not producing the necessary work I would approach them non aggressively and ask them the reason for their lack of production. I would explain to them that we are on a team and we need all our pieces to be moving and working well together. I would brainstorm with them on a solution to help them complete their work whether it be an individual approach or a team approach where we need to alternate responsibilities or change dynamics. I would ensure that I’m being understanding while also emphasizing the need for everybody to do their work.

I have experience in working in teams in the size of 4 and lower. I have never encountered an unsolvable team problem, I can easily work well with others.

Question 27

how much time would it take for a cannonball to fall to the depth of the Mariana trench? do not make extensive use of physics equations

Answer 27

First, I would need to known the depth of the Mariana trench and the weight of the cannonball. I could then calculate the velocity that the cannonball would fall at using the constant acceleration of gravity.

Question 28

how you stand out from any other candidates?

Answer 28

I stand out from other candidates from my uniqueness and one of a kind experience. My name Micory matches me perfectly, you will not find any other candidate quite like me. Through my multifaceted identity as a young black woman in the tech industry I have amassed and honed a unique skill set that makes me a well-rounded and versatile worker. I am able to hit the ground running and tackle issues with a wide perspective and formulate effective solutions. I have also had the opportunity to work with people with various personality types so I am able to understand and work with different work styles- which helps me with team projects as well as when working on projects independently. These traits along with my genuine desire to constantly learn new things and help others set me apart from my peers.

Question 29

tell me about a time where you wanted to learn more about a topic, describe it, what problems did you encountered and how you went about fixing it

Answer 29

When I was completing my investigative research data science project on the associations between crime, poverty, and food insecurity in the greater Washington DC area I ran into a lot of topics that I wanted and needed to learn more about. Me and my team completed this project in Python and I have experience in Python, but I’m no expert I still have a lot to learn. So since i was tasked with collecting data through APIs and web scraping as well as analyzing and cleaning data in accordance to project goals, I ran into problems with learning the correct implementations of pandas packagings. The way I went about fixing this was first looking online to credible websites, forums, videos. I did this first because I am a self solver, I am very self sufficient and I will also try to do something myself before asking someone else and potentially disturbing what they are doing. If I still didn’t understand the topic/problem I looked to my peers, I know they are a valuable tool because some of my other teammates were more versed in Python than I was so I knew I could potentially get assistance from them. And I that didn’t work, I went to my professor because they are the best resources I have. I was sure to listen closely and write down what I learned so in the event I ran into the problem again I could fix it on my own.

Question 30

Imagine you work colleague that you had difficulty building a relationship with. What actions do you take to try to establish a relationship?

Answer 30

I know that everybody’s personalities are different, some people have difficulty opening up to others and that can make it hard to build relationships with them. I’m aware of this so when trying to build a relationship I don’t want to be pushy or do anything that would make some uncomfortable. To establish a relationship I try to do things to get familiar with then, ask questions that show their personality and get them to open up a bit. Whats their favorite this, whats their favorite that. Their likes and dislikes. Whats their most unpopular food opinion. Also with a work colleague I’d ask about a project they are working on in the office or a project they are passionate about. Just anything to build some familiarity in a friendly open manner. We are work colleagues we can come to each other and talk with one another comfortably in the our professional environment.

Question 31

A time where you found a novel way to present idea or handle something. How was it perceived by others? How did you measure the impact of your change?

Answer 31

I use to work at POS at a movie theatre with full restaurant and bar. At POS we weren’t able to give full detailed descriptions of menu items that were were told to advertise. So I suggested that we use the blank pillar next to POS and put a black board chalk board to give descriptions and drawings of our special of the week menu items. With this we could give and accurate full description of the menu item while also having the visual display to the side. It was received very well by others. My managers thought it was an excellent idea that was simple and low cost in increase advertising and a few of my coworkers were artistic so they enjoyed exercising their creative on the decorating of the chalkboard. I was able to measure the impact of my change through increased sales. People bought our specials more because they had a good descriptions and visual display and some people even just like the liked the decorative chalk board so much they were like yea sure this is fun I’ll take that.

Question 32

A time where you were responsible for a project in work or school that had multiple conflicting priorities (attending school and work at same time). What was the situation and how did you manage different priorities?

Answer 32

When I attended Georgetown I was a full time student and part time student guard at the university. Many of the assignments in my course would be due at midnight and many of my shift with the student guard would be from 6pm - midnight, so wit this conflict I knew I had to submit my assignment before 6pm because I wouldn’t be able to work on it and submit during my shift. To manage my different priorities I created a schedule. I’m a planner, I’m very detail oriented, I’m very organized, I like to have a path that I know I’m going to go on and have a plan A, B, and C just in case other problems arise. So for example say I had class at 11am and 3pm and my shift was at 6pm, I would work on my project that was due in the morning before my class and in between my classes. Then after my last class I would have enough time to make complete my project and submit. So with my project I am able to submit my project on time and attend my shift on time.

Question 33

A situation which you had to make a time sensitive and difficult decision. How do you evaluate info and decide a course of action? What was the outcome of the decision? If you had to do it again what would you change? What did you learn from your experience?

Answer 33

I was working on a data structures project where were tasked to complete the C++ implementation of a binary search tree, AVL tree, and B tree. I was doing fine on my code implementation for all the trees, I was going to able to submit my project on time. A problem arose when many of my classmates were not able to figure out the correct implementation for B trees, so my professor decided that he would change the project specifications from a B tree to a splay tree. For some reason though, I didnt see the email with this change in the project. I dont know what happened but for some reason or another I just unfortunately didnt see it. So about 6 hours before the project was due I was talking with my classmates and they were saying how they were happy our professor changed the project because the splay tree is so much easier I was like what?? I had to decide which to do: submit a complete project with incorrect specifications or submit an incomplete project with correct specifications. More important to show what I had finished it showed i could complete something that others couldnt. I emailed my professor the situation and submitted my complete code. My prof gave me extra time but not penalty. See email, be more vigilant in class announcements, turned on notifications.

Question 34

Techniques you used to debug issues in system or network? What tools, technologies or libraries did you use?

Answer 34

Some techniques I use to understand what is happening with my data and debug is i pick an example object or data set to test and follow my code pathing with it. This way I can debug through each step of my code implementation. I also like to check my indentations and function nestings, because these are often innocuous bugs in my code. Some technologies I like to use is C++ breakpoint to find cascading errors. Many errors sometime result from one. I also like to look out for compiler warnings because warnings sometimes turn into errors that I will later need to debug so I like to catch it early to simplify my debugging process.