National Security Agency General Intern Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 16 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at National Security Agency.
National Security Agency
Intern
Intern Difficult Negative experience Decline offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Background check Recruiter call Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Other
After I applied, I got a conditional job offer contingent on passing the background check. I had to meet with an investigator who went over my entire history: work, school, where I lived, foreign contacts, drug use, and criminal history. It was super thorough and invasive. Then, they flew me out for a psych eval and a polygraph, which covered a lot of the same ground. If you don't pass the poly (which happens often), they'll bring you back until you do.
Confirmed questions5 questions
- Tell me about any foreign contacts you have.
- Could you provide your references?
- List all the places you've lived over the last decade.
National Security Agency
Intern
Intern Easy Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The interview was pretty chill, at least for me. I talked with two professionals, and they mostly asked behavioral questions, not super technical ones. My resume has a lot of tech experience, so maybe that's why. They asked stuff, wrote down my answers. I made sure to ask them about the work environment and stuff, and they seemed happy to share. Because of what they do, they can't really get into the nitty-gritty of the job details, and you won't get a clear answer if you ask. You should totally do your homework and research the NSA a lot before even thinking about this role.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Could you start by telling me a little about yourself?
National Security Agency
Co-Op
Intern Easy Positive experience Decline offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral
Since it was a co-op, the main goal was to get me in the door. This was just before the pandemic, so I ended up declining the job offer because I would have had to relocate to Maryland. I submitted an application, went through background processing, and then was flown to Maryland for job processing.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Could you describe a challenge you encountered?
- Can you tell me about the projects you have been involved in?
National Security Agency General Intern Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from National Security Agency interview reports.
“What is your relationship like with your mother?”
Read reports →“Have you ever used illegal drugs?”
Read reports →“Regarding drug use, what can you tell me?”
Read reports →“Are you acquainted with any foreigners?”
Read reports →“Have you ever committed a serious crime?”
Read report →“What OS do you use?”
Read report →“Which programming language do you prefer to code with?”
Read report →“If your professors had to describe you using just one word, what would it be?”
Read report →“Tell me about places you have traveled.”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 16 National Security Agency interview reports.