Defra Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 74 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
19 roles · 74 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Defra.
Defra
Plant Health and Seeds Inspector
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It was a process with three behaviour style questions about things like communication and delivery at pace, and then four short strength questions that were two mins top each. There was also a technical test done via ms form.
Confirmed questions5 questions
- Tell me about a time you had to explain complex information to a colleague or customer.
- What are your strengths?
- What are your strengths?
Defra
Policy Advisor
Mid Average Neutral experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
I had a video call with three interviewers, two of whom were directly involved with the position. The discussion focused on questions related to the Civil Service behaviours of Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, and Communicating and Influencing.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you describe a situation where you needed to make a choice using contradictory information?
Defra
Security Incident Response Officer
Mid Average Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
This was a Civil Service competency-based interview where I had to answer using the STAR method. It was held over MS Teams with three interviewers. They asked relevant questions, and I think there were about 3-5 in total. The interviewers were attentive and engaging. It was surprisingly short, less than 25 minutes, much shorter than other interviews I've had. Overall, it was a really positive experience and made me feel like I wanted to work for Defra.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Tell me about a time you demonstrated a specific competency relevant to this role.
- Using the STAR method, can you describe your experience with a relevant competency?
- Can you give an example of how you handled a situation based on the competencies in the advert?
Defra
Project Manager
Mid Average Positive experience Decline offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The interview process felt really organized, and I always knew where I was in the process. It was easy to tell if they needed more info from my answers or if I was off track. They focused on competency-based questions, mostly about project management. No small talk, they just went straight into the questions.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you describe a project you managed and detail your collaboration with stakeholders?
Defra Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Defra interview reports.
“Can you explain the primary causes and consequences of inflation, specifically focusing on its effects within a particular industry?”
Read reports →“How would three words describe you in the eyes of others?”
Read reports →“What is your understanding of knowledge management processes at a practitioner level?”
Read reports →“What is your understanding of change control processes at a practitioner level?”
Read reports →“Do you like solving a problem where you don't have all the information? (Problem Solving)”
Read report →“Can you tell me what you know about cloud engineering?”
Read report →“Could you introduce yourself and explain your motivation for joining DEFRA?”
Read report →“Can you describe a situation where you needed to make a choice using contradictory information?”
Read report →“Could you share a hobby or interest you have outside of work?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 74 Defra interview reports.