East Bay Regional Park District Interview Questions
& Process

The process is quite tedious, from taking tests to multiple structured in-person panel interviews. EBRPD has reverted back to in-person interviews, and I must say they are completely uncomfortable, with 3-4 people in a tiny room. What is more striking is the lack of diversity among the panelists, all white. I was surprised considering the organization recently hired a DEI officer to lead diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. If this is the first impression for someone nonwhite, let's just say it's not good.

The process starts with an online application, after which HR narrows it down to the top 20 candidates. The project supervisor then selects the top 12. These 12 individuals are all interviewed by the project supervisor. You'll need a prepared writing sample; they'll specify the topic. During the interview, expect questions about your experience, and you'll have to handle some items to test your strength and how you'd pick up a trap. You'll also need to identify some animals and explain how you'd create an Excel graph. The interviewer, Doc Quack, provides all the questions beforehand, so take a moment to review them as he'll ask all of them. The interview process moved very quickly after this stage. I received a job offer the day after my interview. The next steps involved completing hiring paperwork at HQ and then getting fingerprinted and undergoing a background check at the EBRPD PD office. Some advice: dress professionally, thoroughly read the internship description, and be able to identify the species listed there, as well as others. Also, avoid unusual hair colors or facial piercings.

Applied online for the first role, waited about 6 weeks for testing and interview. Got an online notification for an interview with a panel and union rep, which was unusual. Didn't perform well and was put in a secondary pool. For the next position, I got a phone call and then an email outside the normal system for an interview. The interview address wasn't in the confirmation, which was odd for government jobs. The interview was with two staff members who had been with the district for less than 9 months. This whole process took 7 days, which felt like a red flag that they were just going through the motions of interviewing outside candidates. They weren't serious about hiring anyone for this role, a common tactic. It felt like a waste of my time. I got a voicemail the next afternoon saying I wasn't moving forward, not an email or written notice. They probably already had someone in mind. At least they didn't drag it out. No official record of the process was kept.

The interview process was very formal. My first and second interviews were with a committee and a union observer, all in suits, in an office. The HR person I worked with made me feel comfortable and at home throughout the whole hiring process, including interview days. For a supervisorial role, the interview process felt respectful, humane, and relevant to the job.