2019 PHAP (CDC's Public Health Associate Program)

[ericanouve1]

---

Members don't see this ad.

But other people earlier in this thread said they received confirmation for their interview dates and times so I'm confused

Oh I guess but my question will be have they received it from doodle it self? Or maybe the organizer have to set it up separately in a way doodle will be the one to send it perhaps?

 

[Knight14]

anyone hear a rejection yet

Typically, there are no rejection emails sent. You *may get a 'not referred' email at some point, but I wouldn't count on it. Once one round closes and you haven't been contacted, that is typically your indication that you didn't make it to the next round. For example, interviews have been scheduled, so if you were not contacted about submitting a personal statement, then that would be your indication that you unfortunately didn't make it to the next round. Hope this helps!

 

[ailantin]

Soooooo...... I just received an email saying that my interview scheduled for tomorrow at 7AM is canceled and I’ll need to reschedule. While this does give me more time to prepare, I’m still freaking out. Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[ericanouve1]

Soooooo...... I just received an email saying that my interview scheduled for tomorrow at 7AM is canceled and I’ll need to reschedule. While this does give me more time to prepare, I’m still freaking out. Has this happened to anyone else?

No, but you were able to set up another one right?

 

[hjfernald]

Good Morning, All. Just had my Skype interview! I think it went really well, and my interviewer was so great. He said that we would hear starting 6/1 and to be very diligent about checking email and voicemail because you have 24 hours to reply. It was a very straightforward call. Good luck to everyone!!!

 

[ericanouve1]

Good Morning, All. Just had my Skype interview! I think it went really well, and my interviewer was so great. He said that we would hear starting 6/1 and to be very diligent about checking email and voicemail because you have 24 hours to reply. It was a very straightforward call. Good luck to everyone!!!

Thank you for the update! Amazing to hear that you got it out the way, now lets start counting the days hahaha... Mine is tomorrow.
But 6/1 is not bad but then it can take up to august thought and WAIT 24 HOURS?? They are not joking at all.

 

[hjfernald]

Thank you for the update! Amazing to hear that you got it out the way, now lets start counting the days hahaha... Mine is tomorrow.
But 6/1 is not bad but then it can take up to august thought and WAIT 24 HOURS?? They are not joking at all.

I know!! He said it a couple of times too, kind of freaked me out haha. Good luck tomorrow!! If you have a chance, can you report back on the latest we'll hear back is? I didn't write it down and he either said 7/31 (likely) or 7/1 ... Thank you!

 

[ericanouve1]

I know!! He said it a couple of times too, kind of freaked me out haha. Good luck tomorrow!! If you have a chance, can you report back on the latest we'll hear back is? I didn't write it down and he either said 7/31 (likely) or 7/1 ... Thank you!

Oh wow that's real!! haha
Thank you so much and of course, I will keep you guys posted!
7/1 will be better just we don't have to be so anxious and nervous for so long lol

 

[ailantin]

No, but you were able to set up another one right?

Yes. She asked that I email her my availability and she will reschedule.

 

[ailantin]

Good Morning, All. Just had my Skype interview! I think it went really well, and my interviewer was so great. He said that we would hear starting 6/1 and to be very diligent about checking email and voicemail because you have 24 hours to reply. It was a very straightforward call. Good luck to everyone!!!

Thanks for sharing that with us! So happy you had a great interview!!

 

[ericanouve1]

Yes. She asked that I email her my availability and she will reschedule.

Oh nice, nice! That's perfect!
Good luck, we got this.

 

[hjfernald]

Thanks for sharing that with us! So happy you had a great interview!!

Good luck! Let me know if you (or anyone) has questions - I'll answer what I can 🙂

 

[grnb]

Good Morning, All. Just had my Skype interview! I think it went really well, and my interviewer was so great. He said that we would hear starting 6/1 and to be very diligent about checking email and voicemail because you have 24 hours to reply. It was a very straightforward call. Good luck to everyone!!!

Congrats on a successful interview!! Mine is tomorrow and I’m already jittery with nerves.

How many questions were you asked and how long was your entire interview?

 

[hjfernald]

Congrats on a successful interview!! Mine is tomorrow and I’m already jittery with nerves.

How many questions were you asked and how long was your entire interview?

There were 5 formal questions, and I didn't get any weird scenarios like past cohorts seemed to have gotten. My interview in all lasted about 35 minutes after answering all of his questions and asking a few myself.

LPT: My interviewer started by giving me a lot of info about dates and numbers for this cohort, so be ready to write anything down if you want! I didn't and now I can't remember if he said that we'd hear before 7/1 or 7/31.

I wouldn't worry too much - they were very basic questions.

 

[grnb]

There were 5 formal questions, and I didn't get any weird scenarios like past cohorts seemed to have gotten. My interview in all lasted about 35 minutes after answering all of his questions and asking a few myself.

LPT: My interviewer started by giving me a lot of info about dates and numbers for this cohort, so be ready to write anything down if you want! I didn't and now I can't remember if he said that we'd hear before 7/1 or 7/31.

I wouldn't worry too much - they were very basic questions.

Thanks for answering!!

Darn, I’ve been prepping for the possible weird question all morning. Are the five questions behavioral like the previous years?

Noted: Have pen and paper ready & report back to the forum with dates and numbers~

 

[hjfernald]

Thanks for answering!!

Darn, I’ve been prepping for the possible weird question all morning. Are the five questions behavioral like the previous years?

Noted: Have pen and paper ready & report back to the forum with dates and numbers~

Thank you! Ready for your report out haha. They were behavioral and also typical 'tell me about yourself' stuff. Good Luck!!

 

[grnb]

Thank you! Ready for your report out haha. They were behavioral and also typical 'tell me about yourself' stuff. Good Luck!!

Thank you!! I’m sweating a little less, thanks to you~

 

[georgiadawg12]

Hi all! Been looking at this thread for a few days but just now posting! I have my interview tomorrow morning. Question: I looked through previous years forums and couldn't get a clear answer, have any of you sent follow up "thank you" emails after your interview? Usually I do this after interviews but because we don't have a direct email I'm not sure how to go about it, if at all. Thanks!

 

[grnb]

Hi all! Been looking at this thread for a few days but just now posting! I have my interview tomorrow morning. Question: I looked through previous years forums and couldn't get a clear answer, have any of you sent follow up "thank you" emails after your interview? Usually I do this after interviews but because we don't have a direct email I'm not sure how to go about it, if at all. Thanks!

If you’re unable to find their direct email with a quick google search, I would definitely ask for it towards the end of your interview.

 

[vetepistudent]

was it a video conference?

 

[ericanouve1]

Please for the those of you that had your interview already, when did your interviewer add you on Skype?

 

[cinder93]

Hi everyone! I had my interview yesterday -- it felt pretty casual, more like a conversation than anything. My interviewer mentioned that she had 6 questions but in most of her interviews the flow of the conversation addressed everything she needed to learn so she often only ended up asking 4 or 5 questions. After a few initial questions about geographic preference etc. it was all pretty basic behavioral-typed questions, nothing tricky! There was definitely a lot of time for me to ask questions so I'd recommend having some prepared!
To answer a few questions in this thread, she said we'd hear decisions by the end of July. She didn't add me on Skype beforehand, I was just logged on to Skype and she called a little after the scheduled time.
Good luck, all!

 

[ericanouve1]

Oh okay! great thank you for the report!!!
But the PHAP CDC page said we will start hearing between mid-June to late-August so I will still follow this because they have been pretty curate with the dates so far but I will be sure to ask them again after my interview.

 

[ericanouve1]

Guys I just finished my interview! It was great and she said that they will start making decisions Mid May and will start contacting people Mid-June and July and so we should make sure we are checking our emails and phones.
Also, September 30th might be a possible date that we will have to report to our host sites if selected because this year, the second Monday in October is the 14th and because of the pay periods, they might have us start the last Monday of September if that makes sense.

 

[hjfernald]

Guys I just finished my interview! It was great and she said that they will start making decisions Mid May and will start contacting people Mid-June and July and so we should make sure we are checking our emails and phones.
Also, September 30th might be a possible date that we will have to report to our host sites if selected because this year, the second Monday in October is the 14th and because of the pay periods, they might have us start the last Monday of September if that makes sense.

Thank you! Glad your interview went well... and now, we wait

 

[ericanouve1]

Thank you! Glad your interview went well... and now, we wait

Hahahaha IKR!
Now we wait, I'ts about to be the longest wait ever! 🙁

 

[Auctoritas]

Hahahaha IKR!
Now we wait, I'ts about to be the longest wait ever! 🙁

You have no idea.

Sorry I disappeared for a while, everyone. I tell you, it does make me happy to see you guys chatting and supporting each other. This was the time where in my application period everyone clammed up to try not to give anyone else any advantage. Kudos to you peeps for being good folks.

Good luck everyone! Remember - breathe. If you think the wait is long now, just wait until the first person here posts that they are in. Once you know acceptances are going out you're going to be a miserable person to be around.

In fact, pro tip- if you have a partner or roommates or family you live with, you might wanna go ahead and do a preemptive apology dinner or something. 🙂

 

[ericanouve1]

This is so true!!!!! 😀

 

[ArchieTheRoyal]

I had my interview yesterday and I think it was a good interview. I am cautiously optimistic and I don't want to get over my skis! I'm aware that the interviewers are pretty good at remaining neutral - as they should. One may come out of the interview thinking it went really well "I got the job" but that may not be the case. Interview is a single factor in this whole process. There are many other factors they take into account and a good interviewer will not his/her leaning. You can possibly get a feeling of how the interviewer thinks you fit well (or not) into the program by how you formulate you one or two questions at the end of the interview - meaning, be smart about the question you ask(s) at the end. Remember, we are dealing with CDC professionals and they are good at what they do. In many ways they are diplomats. They understand the sensitivity of the issue and they take it seriously. Most likely, at the end of the interview they make you feel as though you are one of the selected applicants because it is their job to be gentle and polite. Hence, I'm trying to stay calm and apply for as many jobs as I can while I wait to hear back. If it's not meant to be then it won't. CDC is not the end of the world!!

P.S. My interview lasted more than 40 minutes as previously scheduled. We talked for an hour. The interviewer was very friendly and professional. I would not have asked for a better interviewer. Now on my knees!!!

Best of luck to everyone! 🙂

Cheers;

 

[grnb]

Had my interview yesterday and I think I did well! It’s going to be the longest wait ever.

Interview:
- 6 standard questions and they aren’t tricky ones either! Consists mainly of behavioral questions, so I would recommend looking up popular ones and practicing~
- My interview lasted around 35 minutes and it was really easy going - like having a conversation.

Extra info:
- 120-130 spots
- Making decisions mid May and will contact individuals mid June-July
- My interviewer mentioned multiple times to keep an eye on phone calls and emails during this period because the turnaround time for accepting or denying your position is short (24 or at most 48 hours).

Congrats to everyone that has already completed their interviews and good luck to everyone that still has theirs~

 

[Sunny2019]

Had my interview today as well and it was very similar to all that has been said. The questions were very easy. I felt like my interviewer mentioned that the program being very competitive and not to get demoralized if I didn’t get in too many times that I feel like they were trying to tell me something

Also how do you guys go about getting their email to send a thank you note?

 

[grnb]

Had my interview today as well and it was very similar to all that has been said. The questions were very easy. I felt like my interviewer mentioned that the program being very competitive and not to get demoralized if I didn’t get in too many times that I feel like they were trying to tell me something

Also how do you guys go about getting their email to send a thank you note?

When I asked my interviewer for his direct email, he told me to send everything to the PHAP email. Just put your interviewers name in the subject line & whoever monitors the emails will redirect it to the correct person.

 

[dahlx523]

Has anyone else been told they were referred and not been contacted for an interview yet? I'm starting to get nervous...

 

[ArchieTheRoyal]

Has anyone else been told they were referred and not been contacted for an interview yet? I'm starting to get nervous...

"Been told they have been referred" by whom? It's not clear whether you are referring to an official email received from phap or a phone call you may have made to phap's office. Speaking for myself, all correspondence I've had has been through email. They (phap) sent an email saying that I've been selected to move to the next phase and they stated that I would receive a doodle invite to schedule an interview. That's what happened. Perhaps others will chime in with different experiences.

Wishing everyone all the best! 🙂

 

[ericanouve1]

Has anyone else been told they were referred and not been contacted for an interview yet? I'm starting to get nervous...

If you received that email, you should've scheduled your interview by now because they gave us 3 days to set up one.
If you check your USAJOBS, it will tell you who it has been refer to but I'm assuming that it has been refer to the hiring manager just like any of us.
Better yet call HR and ask, they are very nice or send email to the PHAP email.
All the best!

 

[haleylthomas]

Has anyone else been told they were referred and not been contacted for an interview yet? I'm starting to get nervous...

I was also told by HR that I was "referred" on April 8th and should hear from someone regarding next steps, but I haven't heard a thing.

 

[TripleE]

I just had my interview! It was super short, but I think it went well. I think it was so short because it is the end of the week and end if the day. Also, it's not as hectic as the panel interviews I've grown used to.

 

[ericanouve1]

I wanted to share this with you guys since we have several weeks ahead of us. Enjoy it!

 

[hjfernald]

I wanted to share this with you guys since we have several weeks ahead of us. Enjoy it!

Thanks for sharing! I watched this the morning, hours before my interview, and it kind of calmed me down. Then I mentioned it to my interviewer and he said that he was actually her mentor! So that was fun 🙂

 

[ericanouve1]

Thanks for sharing! I watched this the morning, hours before my interview, and it kind of calmed me down. Then I mentioned it to my interviewer and he said that he was actually her mentor! So that was fun 🙂

Oh wow nice!! Small world!

 

[hjfernald]

What should I do if my status on USAJOBS still says Received? I was told by HR they haven't looked at my application yet - is there hope still?

I have no idea - sorry I can't be more helpful. If you haven't already, I suggest calling them. I think they're the only ones who will have any informed answers for you.

 

[ailantin]

Good morning, everyone! I just finished my interview. It was long and definitely intense, but I feel comfortable with my responses. Now, the waiting game begins lol It has been shared here before, but I just wanted to reinforce that my interviewer said notifications will go out between June and July, and also be diligent with checking calls/voicemails/emails/USAjobs. He also said he could not give an exact number, but there are about 100 spots to fill..... Good luck to us all!!!

 

[deleted963541]

lol guys I had my interview yesterday and I'm pretty sure I bombed it. I sounded soooo nervous and I feel I wasn't prepared enough. I also sounded very tired and weak because I was fasting and it was pretty late in the day. My answers were okay, but could have been better. I've had way better interviews in the past. I'm just gonna count myself out already so I can either be 1) correct or 2) pleasantly surprised lol.

But yeah, to restate what everyone else said, you will know if you got selected by July 31st. Best of luck to the rest of y'all!!!

 

[ericanouve1]

lol guys I had my interview yesterday and I'm pretty sure I bombed it. I sounded soooo nervous and I feel I wasn't prepared enough. I also sounded very tired and weak because I was fasting and it was pretty late in the day. My answers were okay, but could have been better. I've had way better interviews in the past. I'm just gonna count myself out already so I can either be 1) correct or 2) pleasantly surprised lol.

But yeah, to restate what everyone else said, you will know if you got selected by July 31st. Best of luck to the rest of y'all!!!

Awwwww don't worry, they know we are all nervous because it's such a COMPETITIVE program, God got us and about the fasting girl, I totally understand and feel you 100 percent because I did one yesterday, anyway we all got this. We just have to pray from now on.
Good luck everyone!

 

[ericanouve1]

GUYS,
My friend/sister gave me this link yesterday to look for their emails and send them a thank you letter and she stated that she does for each one of her interview. if you know your interviewer email by now, you can fins it there.
PS: She is class of 2018 graduate and LOVE everything about this program. matter shes the reason why I know about this program.
HHS Employee Directory

 

[caroreinoso]

Hi everyone! My name is Carolina Reinoso, I am participating in the 2019 rotation of PHAP. Congratulations to everyone so far who has been interviewed! I hope we all get picked 🙂

I was interviewed yesterday and am a little uneasy at one of my responses, I'd love past PHAP and current applicants advice! When they asked me if I would like to be placed in a rural area, I immediately said yes without thinking just to seem nice, but I read somewhere on here after my interview that saying no does not affect your candidacy. I have my interviewer's assistant email and was thinking about emailing them a follow up thank you for the interview and putting in that I have kindly changed my answer of yes to no to being located in a rural area if chosen. Do you guys think this would be okay considering I already had my interview ?? I have a lot of reasons I don't wish to be in a rural area and it's eating me up inside I said yes to it.

 

[ailantin]

lol guys I had my interview yesterday and I'm pretty sure I bombed it. I sounded soooo nervous and I feel I wasn't prepared enough. I also sounded very tired and weak because I was fasting and it was pretty late in the day. My answers were okay, but could have been better. I've had way better interviews in the past. I'm just gonna count myself out already so I can either be 1) correct or 2) pleasantly surprised lol.

But yeah, to restate what everyone else said, you will know if you got selected by July 31st. Best of luck to the rest of y'all!!!

You will be pleasantly surprised I’m sure! We are always so hard on ourselves. I’m the exact same way. But, breathe. You’ve made it this far. Trust the process! You got this

 

[deleted963541]

Awwwww don't worry, they know we are all nervous because it's such a COMPETITIVE program, God got us and about the fasting girl, I totally understand and feel you 100 percent because I did one yesterday, anyway we all got this. We just have to pray from now on.
Good luck everyone!

You will be pleasantly surprised I’m sure! We are always so hard on ourselves. I’m the exact same way. But, breathe. You’ve made it this far. Trust the process! You got this

Thank you both for the kind words of encouragement! I appreciate it, seriously. I've kinda been beating myself up all day over it. What makes it worse is that today I thought of so many better answers I could've gave. Ah well. We'll just see what happens!

 

[HealthEducator92]

Hi everyone! My name is Carolina Reinoso, I am participating in the 2019 rotation of PHAP. Congratulations to everyone so far who has been interviewed! I hope we all get picked 🙂

I was interviewed yesterday and am a little uneasy at one of my responses, I'd love past PHAP and current applicants advice! When they asked me if I would like to be placed in a rural area, I immediately said yes without thinking just to seem nice, but I read somewhere on here after my interview that saying no does not affect your candidacy. I have my interviewer's assistant email and was thinking about emailing them a follow up thank you for the interview and putting in that I have kindly changed my answer of yes to no to being located in a rural area if chosen. Do you guys think this would be okay considering I already had my interview ?? I have a lot of reasons I don't wish to be in a rural area and it's eating me up inside I said yes to it.

Hi Carolina! 2018 PHAP here. If it's an issue that's important to you, like safety or something along those lines, I would mention it. I think there's a way you can do so respectfully. You could even mention why you changed your mind in the e-mail you send. But if it's for a reason like you just don't want to live in a rural area, I personally wouldn't say anything. But that's just me. Ultimately, you should do whatever you feel most comfortable with.

 

[hjfernald]

Hi, @HealthEducator92 thanks for answering some questions from your perspective! It's so helpful hearing from someone that has gone through the whole thing. I was wondering, what was the offer call like? Did they tell you immediately where you were placed? Did you say yes on the spot, or call them back? And once you accepted, were the next steps very clear?

Thanks!! Any other advice would be welcomed as well. The wait is literally killing me.