CBSA Mock Interview
Master 60 CBSA interview questions covering border security, integrity scenarios, and situational judgment.
Question 10 of 60
What do you know about the Public Sector Values of the CBSA?
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Community Answers
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
The values of the Canada Border Services Agency guide them in everything they do, and their hiring authorities want to ensure the person they hire already embraces their core values of respect, integrity, and professionalism. The CBSA states, 'Values cannot be considered in isolation from each other, as they often overlap. We are expected to integrate the public sector and CBSA values into our decisions, actions, policies, processes, systems, and how we deal with others. Similarly, we can expect to be treated in accordance with these values by our colleagues and management.' These values represent what the CBSA cares about and what they believe. Take time to review and learn all such relevant information on their website.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"I have read the vision statements of CBSA and understand that they are a critically important part of your agency's beliefs and identity. I plan to memorize them verbatim; however, what I can recall now is that CBSA acts as stewards and public servants, entrusted to care for public resources responsibly. You protect, serve, and uphold the laws of Canada with ultimate professionalism and integrity. It would be an honor to join this security agency, and I will come ready to uphold these standards at all times."
Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
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.
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Anonymous Answer
The values are respect, integrity, and professionalism. Within these values lie the identity and the expectations of the CBSA. It is an understanding that the organization exists to serve the needs of Canada and its communities without discrimination. Adherence to these values is what enables the CBSA to justify its right and privilege to enforce the law and keep Canadians safe.
Rachelle's Feedback
Terrific answer! It's clear that you understand the values of the CBSA. At the end of your answer, consider further qualifying yourself by providing real-life examples of how you exude respect, integrity, and professionalism.
Anonymous Answer
The CBSA's conduct of conduct includes respect, integrity, and professionalism.
Rachelle's Feedback
The interviewers should appreciate that you have done some research before your interview. I recommend qualifying yourself further by making a verbal connection between these values and your own values.
Anonymous Answer
The CBSA Public Sector Values encompass Respect, Integrity, & Professionalism. I know as a CBSA member, whether on or off-duty, these values are to be upheld and maintained at all times. Respect entails that we will treat the public and our colleagues with respect, dignity and fairness at all times. Integrity is a core public sector value of the CBSA as the agency should always operate with high ethical standards in mind. Integrity demands honesty, openness, and impartiality when dealing with the public. Professionalism involves effective engagement, collaboration, teamwork and being well-groomed at all times to reflect a uniform, high-performing organization. I know the CBSA is representative of the public and the Government of Canada, which is why I will ensure these values are upheld at all times.
Rachelle's Feedback
You seem to know the values of the CBSA very well! The interviewer should appreciate how thorough you are in your response. I like that you give a qualifying statement in the end regarding the fact that you will uphold these values at all times.
Anonymous Answer
It is related to their core values such as respect, integrity and professionalism. We are public servants entrusted to protect and care for the public resources, and that means being held to a higher standard which I fully intend to follow and enforce.
Rachelle's Feedback
Terrific answer! It's clear that you have studied the requirements for working for the CBSA, and you sound very willing and enthusiastic.
Anonymous Answer
I have familiarized myself with the CBSA Public Sector Values and understand that they are vital to the everyday functions, identity, and overall structure of the CBSA, as well as every person who is involved within the agency. Although I have not memorized the Code of Conduct, I understand that serving Canada within the CBSA is a public servant position, and doing so, I must uphold the law and protect the people of Canada with the utmost professionalism. I also understand that this is vital to my potential career within CBSA and will commit myself to it as I make my way through the process, holding myself and others with the same regards.
In my personal life, the values outlined (respect, integrity and professionalism) are what I aim to apply to my everyday life. These values have been instilled since I was little. Growing up with horses, it allowed me to gain respect for another creature that could not communicate verbally. This has lead to me carry out respect for others, and myself, through my whole life. Without those values having a weight in my daily life, it can allow disruption and poor choices to be made.
Rachelle's Feedback
Overall, this answer is good! It feels like, in the end, you trail off on some additional thoughts and then end on a statement that has a negative vibe, which I'd recommend avoiding. I've offered a more concise version for you below.
"I have familiarized myself with the CBSA Public Sector Values and understand that they are vital to the everyday functions, identity, and overall structure of the CBSA, as well as every person who is involved within the agency. I understand that serving Canada within the CBSA is a public servant position. In doing so, I must uphold the law and protect Canada's people with the utmost professionalism. I also understand that this is vital to my potential career within CBSA and will commit myself to it as I make my way through the process, holding myself and others in the same regard. In my personal life, the values outlined (respect, integrity, and professionalism) are what I aim to apply to my everyday life."
Anonymous Answer
I know that the values are respect, integrity, and professionalism. I plan to embody these values in my daily life and practice them professionally and personally.
Jaymie's Feedback
Good job demonstrating your knowledge of the values and reassuring the interviewer that you align with them.
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