Canada Border Services Agency offers a diverse workplace community. Tell us about a time you adapted to serve others of different cultures?

What You Need to Know
How to Answer
Answer Example
Community Answers

CBSA has clear statements when it comes to the ways they embrace diversity in the workplace and communities. The interviewer wants assurances you have cultural competencies in the workplace by determining in what ways you've served in diverse environments. This answer will require a specific response versus a general statement. Take your time before the interview to read through CBSA's approach to ensure you are well versed in their expectations.

As with any behavioral question, it is framed in a way that asks you 'about a time' when you faced a situation in the past. Your interviewer will listen to your example and study how you responded to and handled the situation, and what you learned from it. They will take the information you share and view it as a predictor of what to expect from your performance in the future. When answering a behavioral question, the STAR method is the recommended approach to organizing your answer. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result, and is intended to help you frame and organize your response in a way that will resonate with your interviewer. So you would start by introducing the situation you faced and the task at hand. You would then present the action you took, why it was significant and how you came to deciding on this approach, and ultimately the result of your actions.

"I know that CBSA is very proud to be a strong, resilient, multi-talented and diverse workforce. I will serve as such, should I be hired. In my current role, I am sure to be mindful and aware of cultural differences in every setting. This awareness guards me against projecting my thoughts and feelings onto other team members, based on my personal experiences. I do my best to remain curious and learn about different cultures as often as I can. For instance, when traveling, I immerse myself in the community or culture as much as possible. I will fully embrace the CBSA approach to diversity and inclusion and will do my best to be sensitive to others at all times."

Anonymous Answer

"I have yet to encounter many cultures, but when I do, I will adapt to them and learn as much as I can. Our country is one of the most diverse places in the world, so adapting to this setting won't be an issue for me. I genuinely look forward to it."

Rachelle's Feedback

This is a good start, and I like your enthusiasm. I do recommend becoming a touch more specific. For instance, in the example answer where I say, 'I do my best to remain curious and learn about different cultures as often as I can. For instance, when traveling, I immerse myself in the community or culture as much as possible.' Do you have any measurable actions that you could include for the interviewer?

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

"CBSA prides themselves with being a diverse workforce. In my everyday life, I am very open minded when it comes to other people and their cultures. In my previous job at the airport, I was always surrounded by other cultures, and I embraced that and learned some things about other cultures, not only from my co-workers but from the passengers too."

Rachelle's Feedback

It's so great that you were able to learn from your co-workers and also the passengers. To add to your response, it could be nice to include a couple of brief examples of things you have learned and how they helped you to further adapt to and embrace those different from you.

Anonymous Answer

"With the understanding that the CBSA prides itself on having a diverse work environment, I will continue to strengthen this if I were to get hired. Working with the public has allowed me to be faced with different cultures every day, both as customers and as fellow employees. Having these interactions has allowed me to be open and committed to learning and curious about those different cultures. As I believe the best way to adapt is to be knowledgeable."

Rachelle's Feedback

Good start! Next, I recommend adding more specifics to your reply rather than sticking with generalizations. What have you done in the past to adapt, and what will you do in this role to support the organizations' diversity plan? I have offered a starter for you below.

"The CBSA prides itself on having a diverse work environment, and I will support these efforts by...(give measurable examples). Working with the public, I face different cultures every day, both as customers and fellow employees. I serve and adapt by ensuring my interactions are meaningful. I am open and committed to learning about other cultures and show a respectful curiosity of those different from me....(etc., etc.)."

Anonymous Answer

"I love Canada because of its acceptance of multiculturalism. I love to meet people from different cultures and religions."

Stephanie's Feedback

Your response shows an acceptance of other people and cultures, which is critical to this role. I would suggest being a bit more explicit about exactly how you have adapted yourself to serve individuals who come from a different background than you do. (See example below.)

"I love Canada because of the emphasis on multicultural acceptance! I personally love to meet people from different cultures and religions, as there is something new I can learn from everyone I come across. I have experience working with individuals from many different backgrounds, both in regards to race, ethnicity, language, religion, sexual orientation, etc. and I adapt easily to working with all kinds of people."

Anonymous Answer

"Working as an Event Security Supervisor, I have supervised many events of different cultures, some examples would be Persian New Year's parties, Chinese theatre shows, and Indian cultural dance events and parties. At each one, I adapted my style to serve different cultures. I would also try to build a friendly relationship with individuals seen as "leaders" in those community events so that I can use their help when communicating with everyone."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are great examples to share in your response!

Anonymous Answer

"I know that CBSA is multi-talented, resilient, and a diverse workforce. I will do the same if I get hired. I travel a lot and learn about different races, religions, and cultures. I played for many different soccer clubs with different ethnicities and cultures and I love learning. I often get involved in banquets and festivals of different cultures, learn the dances, and try out different foods. While also working and helping them out. If hired by CBSA I will fully embrace diversity and be sensitive to others."

Jaymie's Feedback

These are all great experiences to share that show the interviewer you respect those who are different from you, and you're able to build relationships and work together with a diverse group of people.