Congressional Budget Office Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 10 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
4 roles · 10 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Congressional Budget Office.
Congressional Budget Office
Intern
Intern Average Positive experience Decline offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Panel Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It was a quick process. I got an email to set up an interview, and I had it the next day with a panel of teams that had openings. They gave me the offer the day after that.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Looking back at your past research, what aspects would you have approached differently?
Congressional Budget Office
Defense Budget Analyst
Mid Average Positive experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I applied online via the CBO website. The job posting requested a resume, cover letter, writing sample, written answers to three questions, references, and salary history. About four weeks after I submitted everything, I received a call to schedule an initial phone interview. The Assistant Director for National Security Policy and his deputy conducted the call, which lasted about 30 minutes. They started by explaining the role and then asked about my past experience with quantitative analytical studies. It was a pleasant conversation. They mentioned they'd be in touch within a week regarding next steps. CBO policy divisions lean more academic than the Budget Analysis Division, so they really value strong writing skills and a genuine interest in in-depth policy research. My sense is that CBO prefers candidates with a PhD or prior policy research experience. If your resume doesn't clearly show this, be ready to explain how your background fits the work CBO policy divisions do.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- What makes you want to apply for this job?
- How do you tackle quantitative analytical studies or problems?
- Tell me about your experience collaborating with a team.
Congressional Budget Office
Analyst
Entry Easy Negative experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Phone screen
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
I was contacted for an interview a few weeks after applying online. I went through multiple interviews, each about 30-45 minutes, with different parts of CBO. The interviews were generally pretty easy. I was asked about my quantitative skills, my writing and research experience, and some basic behavioral stuff. The conversations were good, and I felt optimistic leaving. They said I'd hear back in a few weeks, but then it went completely silent. About a month and a half after the interviews, my application status changed on the portal, but I still heard nothing. I sent a few emails, but got no reply. It was an okay process, but being ghosted was really frustrating.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Which statistical programs do you have the most experience with?
Congressional Budget Office
Budget Analyst
Entry Average Positive experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It was a pretty simple process. I got contacted about three weeks after applying online. First, I had a one-hour phone interview with two team members. Then, about a week later, there was a two-hour video interview with the entire team and the unit chief. I didn't hear back for almost a month after that, but I guess COVID slowed things down. Everyone was really nice to work with. Even though I didn't get the job, the unit chief gave me feedback quickly and told me to apply again. It was a really good interview experience and I'd definitely apply again if something else came up.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you tell me about an analysis you've completed in the last year?
Congressional Budget Office Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Congressional Budget Office interview reports.
“What are signs that indicate you're experiencing too much stress?”
Read reports →“How do you tackle quantitative analytical studies or problems?”
Read reports →“Which statistical software packages are you proficient in?”
Read reports →“Could you describe your experience with econometrics coursework?”
Read reports →“Which statistical programs do you have the most experience with?”
Read report →“Looking back at your past research, what aspects would you have approached differently?”
Read report →“Can you explain your job market paper and why you are interested in the public sector?”
Read report →“What's your strategy for tackling difficult tasks when evaluating policy reforms that aren't straightforward?”
Read report →“In what areas might your supervisors suggest you could improve?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 10 Congressional Budget Office interview reports.