Use this template to plan how you will answer interview questions.

- I love the natural world and

wildlife
- I am a second-year student
majoring in Biology and
Environmental Studies at the
university of Victoria
- I don’t have experience working in
a filed related to my area of study,
Tell me about yourself P – Personal but I have been working as a
A – Academic lifeguard and swim instructor for
• As it relates to the
W – Work about three years now
position
S – Skill Summary - I am good at time management, I
can adapt to any unexpected
changes and can be flexible in
changing environments, I am
empathetic, I am good at being able
to take on leadership roles but also
work as a team and do my part if
given tasks.

- I can be self-disciplined, I am
empathetic, I can adapt to
unexpected change, I have good
problem-solving skills, I am good
• List your strengths with time management, I have a
What are your strengths? • Explain how these could benefit the employer strong work ethic, physically fit
• Provide an example - Benefit to the Employer:
Self-discipline means you can
manage your responsibilities
without needing constant
supervision. You are dependable,
 follow through on tasks, and ensure
high standards are met consistently.
- Example:
If you're working on a long-term
project with multiple deadlines,
your self-discipline allows you to
stay focused and organized. You
don't procrastinate and can
prioritize important tasks, ensuring
that the project is completed on
time, to a high standard, and with
minimal need for follow-up.
- Benefit to the Employer:
Empathy enables you to understand
others' perspectives, making you an
effective team member, leader, or
customer service representative. It
builds stronger relationships,
fosters a positive workplace
culture, and helps resolve conflicts
peacefully.
- Example:
In a customer service role, if a
client is upset about a service issue,
your empathetic nature allows you
to listen actively, understand their
frustration, and find a solution that
satisfies them. This not only helps
resolve the issue quickly but also
builds customer loyalty and trust in
the company.
- Benefit to the Employer:
The ability to adapt to change helps
 the business stay agile in dynamic
environments. Employees who can
handle unexpected situations
without losing productivity are
valuable assets, especially in
industries that face frequent change
(e.g., tech, marketing, retail).
- Example:
If a sudden shift in project
requirements occurs or a client’s
priorities change unexpectedly,
your adaptability allows you to
quickly re-align your focus, adjust
strategies, and ensure the work
continues smoothly. For instance,
during a project redesign, instead of
panicking, you effectively pivot
your approach to meet the new
objectives without compromising
the quality or deadlines.
- Benefit to the Employer:
Being a strong problem-solver
means you can identify issues
quickly and find effective solutions.
This helps the business minimize
downtime, overcome obstacles, and
improve overall operations.
- Example:
During a technical glitch or system
issue, your problem-solving skills
allow you to identify the root cause
and either fix it or find a temporary
workaround while IT resolves the
 issue. This helps minimize
downtime and keeps the team
productive, even when problems
arise.
- Benefit to the Employer:
Good time management ensures
you meet deadlines, optimize
productivity, and reduce stress. It
also enables you to balance
multiple projects without
compromising quality or efficiency.
- Example:
If you’re juggling several tasks,
your time management skills allow
you to prioritize effectively. You
might use a task management tool
to break down your work into
manageable chunks, ensuring that
you can finish urgent assignments
while not neglecting ongoing tasks.
This helps you meet deadlines
consistently and ensures nothing
falls through the cracks.
- Benefit to the Employer:
A strong work ethic means you're
committed to delivering quality
work, even when no one is
watching. You're dedicated to
achieving goals, working hard, and
contributing to the organization’s
success.
- Example:
If a major deadline is approaching
 and your team is short on resources,
your strong work ethic will drive
you to stay late or take on extra
work to ensure that the project is
completed successfully. Your
willingness to go the extra mile will
set a positive example for the team
and contribute to the company's
overall success.
- Benefit to the Employer:
Physical fitness contributes to
higher energy levels, mental clarity,
and resilience. This translates into
improved productivity and fewer
sick days. Employees who are fit
often perform better under stress
and handle demanding workloads
with greater endurance.
- Example:
Your physical fitness could be an
asset in a physically demanding
role, such as a warehouse manager
or sales associate. Because you are
physically fit, you have the stamina
to keep up with the demands of
your job, whether it's standing for
long hours or managing physically
intensive tasks. Your ability to
maintain energy throughout the day
ensures you stay focused and
productive.
 - Anxiety
- I often feel overwhelmed in
stressful situations and find it hard
to focus.
- I tend to avoid situations that make
me anxious, like speaking in public
or taking on new tasks, because I
fear I might fail.
- Anxiety makes me second-guess
myself and affects my ability to
S – Skill to be strengthened (weakness) make decisions quickly.
What is your weakness? A – Assessment of current ability - Set aside 5 minutes each day to
P – Plan to make the skill a strength practice deep breathing
- When a big task feels
overwhelming, I will break it down
into smaller, more manageable
steps. Instead of thinking about the
entire project, I’ll focus on
completing one step at a time.
- If my anxiety feels overwhelming, I
will talk to a trusted friend, mentor,
or professional to get advice or
help.

- at work at pool, kid went

Behavioural/ Situational/ S – Situation: Where you were, who the people were
unconscious and had a seizure
Hypothetical Questions and what the situation was.
- I was in charge of maintain a steady
• Aim for 3 T – Task: Describe your role and the tasks involved in
scan of the pool so that the facility
examples of the situation.
could maintain being open
questions and A – Actions: Detail what actions you took to deal with
- I made sure that patrons weren’t
answers the situation. Use “I” to discuss what you did.
getting in the way and that
• Cover the 10 core R – Results: Summarize the positive outcomes of your
everyone else who was still in the
competencies actions.
water was acting safe
 R - Reflection/Relevance: What did you learn from the - Positive outcome was that the kid
results of your actions/ connect your example to the was ok and that he was tended to.
job you are interviewing for. Everyone was safe and no one else
got hurt
- I learned that it is important to be
aware of your surroundings so that
if something unexpected were to
happen actions could be made
quickly and efficiently to maintain
a safe work environment

- Wild animal rehabilitation center

- Sick /injured orphaned wild
animals
Research the following: - provide care and rehabilitation to
• Products and services injured, sick, orphaned and
• Clients distressed wildlife.
What do you know about - Arc’s mission and goals are in
• Company culture (mission/values)
the employer/company? alignment with IWRC/NWRA wild
• Recent news (Google – positive news and
accomplishments) life rehabilitation standards
- Treated over two thousand animals
• Research area
last year, helping them recover and
returning them to the wild.
- Southern Vancouver Island

- I believe I’m a strong fit for this

Match your qualifications to the company role because I bring a combination
Why are you the best of key skills and personal qualities
candidate? “Your organization has a reputation for _______; I am that align with your mission. I’m
really interested in using my ________ skills and making highly self-disciplined, allowing
Why should we hire you? a positive contribution to the company.” me to stay focused and meet
deadlines, even in a dynamic
environment. My empathy helps
 me build strong, collaborative
relationships, whether with team
members or external stakeholders,
which is critical in conservation
work. I’m adaptable and can
quickly adjust to unexpected
challenges, ensuring that I stay
productive even when things
change. My problem-solving
abilities help me find creative
solutions to obstacles, and my
excellent time management skills
ensure I stay on track. Lastly, my
strong work ethic and physical
fitness make me ready for the
hands-on, demanding nature of
conservation work. I’m passionate
about protecting wildlife and
committed to putting in the effort
needed to make a real difference.
- I’m confident I’m the best
candidate because my skills and
experiences align perfectly with the
needs of this role. I’m dedicated,
adaptable, and driven by a passion
for conservation. I thrive in team
environments and am committed to
using my strengths to contribute to
your mission of protecting wildlife
and preserving natural habitats.
 - How would your friends or family
describe your personality?
- What are you passionate about
outside of work?
- What makes you unique compared
List additional questions
to other candidates for this role?
you may expect
- What accomplishment are you
• Sample Interview most proud of?
Questions - How do you manage your time
when you have a heavy workload
or multiple priorities?
- What do you know about our
company/ organization?

✛ Questions to ask the - What are key challenges that

employer (list 3) someone in this position would
face?
- What skills and qualities are most
important for someone to be
successful in this position?
- What is the next step in the
interview process?