US Forest Service Interview Questions
& Process

I interviewed with the International Programs department. There were 5 rounds of interviews with different people, covering roles from admin and operations staff up to senior program managers and the director. The questions seemed a bit repetitive after the initial couple of rounds, but overall, they were pretty standard.

I had three interviewers, and they asked a lot of questions. They wanted to know about my understanding of a specific organization in Bangladesh that deals with natural resources. They also asked what I'd pack for travel essentials and how I'd handle a situation where my boss isn't responding to messages but a deadline is approaching.

I applied in June, and the HM contacted me for an interview at the end of September. They scheduled it for the next morning, which felt rushed. They were very responsive at first and gave me a lot of info about their research program. I looked into the panel's research to see how my skills could fit their projects. A red flag was that the panel didn't have a background in my specialty, only experience with freshwater systems, which is my entire dissertation and postdoc experience. The interview was 30 minutes, with each panel member asking one question. I tried to talk about invasive species, but they shrugged and said 'I don't know'. One panelist said they didn't know anything about my field and asked me to explain it simply. It's hard to tell if a candidate is a good fit if no one on the panel has relevant experience. The interview seemed low effort, maybe they had an internal candidate and were just going through the motions. I was ghosted after sending a thank you email. I worked for a different federal agency before, and there were complaints about lack of diversity and younger workers. I was the only female researcher and quit due to being ignored and passed over. We're applying, but don't have a shot if feds choose internal hires and keep the good 'ol boy system.

I first applied online via USA Jobs. Then I had a few phone calls with people. I talked to the recreation manager and some planners. They asked me about my background with outdoor activities like trail work, camping, and living outside, and how I work in a crew. It felt pretty laid back, like they just wanted to see if I could adapt, stay positive, and didn't mind being outside in the national forests.