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How to Prepare:

1.  Do your research: Read the organization’s website and the job posting thoroughly. Carefully read the mission statements and any new projects that organization may be working on.

2. Print your resume/CVs: Bring a little binder with enough copies for all the interviewers, along with a notebook for taking notes during the interview.

3. Plan out the logistics: Get there in advance! I leave an hour early and find a coffee shop to hang out at nearby before my interview to help collect myself.

4. Power poses & words of affirmation: Power poses feel silly but they weirdly do work! Before your interview, stand in the mirror and put your shoulders back and sit up straight. Then repeat after me: I am qualified for this job. I am a perfect candidate for this position. I impress interviewers and I stand out. I am calm, confident and collected

5. Bring examples of your work: If you have a senior thesis or example of your scientific writing, feel free to bring it along.

6. Test out technology prior to Skype call: Test out a call with your friends and family first to check video and audio. Make sure your background is clear and you have a quiet spot to hold the interview.

What to Wear:

• I encourage you to wear something that you feel comfortable and confident in! If you can’t walk in heels, wear flats. If you love dressing up and feel your best in a full power suit – do it!

• For casual field jobs where interviews are held on-site, or you might need to do a tour of the field site, you can go a bit more casual. An example of casual wear could be khakis and a polo, or black pants and a button up shirt.

• For job interviews held at an office, it’s best to dress up a bit more professionally. Stay away from jeans, open-toed shoes, revealing clothes, and other less professional choices.

Common Interview Questions:

There are often four categories of questions that environmental jobs tend to ask: Field Experience, Office/Management Experience, Technical Experience, and Personal Questions. Here are some examples from each category!

Field Experience

–              What is your experience in the field?
–              Have you ever lived in a remote field station?
–              What certifications do you have?
–              Tell me about a time you worked in inclement weather conditions.
–              What would you do if you ran into a bear?

Technical Experience

–              What is your experience with (region’s) birds/trees/prairie grasses/soil types?
–              Have you ever completed breeding bird surveys?
–              Tell me about a research project that you’ve led or worked on.
–              What is your proficiency with ArcGIS?

Office/Management Experience

–              Tell me about a time that you disagreed with a supervisor and what you did.
–              What is your management style?

Office/Management Experience

–              Tell me about yourself
–              Why do you want this job?
–              Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

8 Common Mistakes:

Here are the most common mistakes I’ve ran into while hiring environmental biologists:

1.        Not using the STAR method: STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. All situation-based questions should ideally be answered in this format (aka, the “tell me about a time” type questions).

2.        Not preparing situations in advance: It can be tough to come up with example scenarios for situation-based questions in advance, so I come up with a few common ones ahead of time (such as, an example of conflict)

3.        Not knowing your own strengths: Come up with some things ahead of time that set you apart from the crowd!

4.        Not asking questions afterwards: After the interview finishes, employers often ask “do you have any questions for me”?” These really need to be targeted since they can tell when you’re not being genuine and just asking questions for the sake of asking. Some examples if you’re drawing a blank: what is a typical day like in the position? What are the next steps after the interview? What is the office/field culture like? How do you support diverse voices in your company?

5.        Not reading the position descriptions: Research the position thoroughly so you don’t end up asking something that is listed in the job posting.

6.        Rushing into questions instead of sitting and thinking: Instead of long “ummmm….” take a moment to pause (say “let me think about my answer for a moment”) rather than blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

7.        Not showing your passion and excitement: Employers love hiring employees that are excited about the job! It’s great to show that you’re interested and excited in the position.

8.        Not being yourself: It’s usually quite obvious when people aren’t being genuine. Let your interview self reflect how you would be as an employee – but keep it professional!

Hope that helps those preparing for interviews!