Appropriate questions were asked during the interview. I interviewed initially in April with my to be boss and was told that I could be hired without applying in USA.jobs because the position could be deemed technical and could be selected at the discretion of the interviewer. That proved incorrect. I received a call at the end of June and informed I would need to apply via USA.jobs which I did. I was asked to interview in person in August. In the meantime, I'd accepted a non government position. Two weeks into the new position, I received a call asking me whether I was still interested in the job. I was, but had to undertake a urine test, and once I passed that, was hired provisionally in October. I was subjected to a background test that was completed the following May.