Talk about a time that you made a mistake in your career and what steps you took to correct the mistake?

"Very early on in my career, I accidentally mixed up two samples. I continued with my testing as usual and the results were way off. The entire team spent a lot of time trying to figure out why the results were so far off from what we expected and it took a lot of time. I ended up realizing it a day or two later when I ended up getting conflicting results from another batch of tests. The mistake caused a lot of time to be wasted and ended up resulting in rework. I was so hard on myself about it for a while. I was able to learn from my mistake and I always label and keep my samples separated now."

The interviewer wants to know that if you make a mistake in your work, you will take the appropriate steps to correct the mistake. The interviewer is also looking to hear that you will take accountability for any mistake you do make and that you will make every effort to make it right.

Think about a time when you made a mistake at work. Talk about any steps you took to correct the error and took ownership of your mistake. Discuss what you learned from the mistake and how you made sure to not make the same error moving forward.

This position requires a great deal of attention to detail. Do you feel you are detail oriented and if so, how?

"I do feel that I am very detail-oriented. My positions have always required me to pay a great deal of attention to details. I know that the slightest error in documentation can alter test results and ultimately, invalidate the data which would result in a lot of lost time and money for the company. I review my own work in detail before passing it on to data reviewers and I have often caught my own errors before passing it along."

The interviewer wants to hear about how you pay attention to the small details of your work. The interviewer is looking to hear that you catch errors and absorb minor details when needed.

Think about the work that you do each day. Talk about how you have to pay attention to the details in your work and provide examples of how you do so.

This position may at times require short travel trips. Are you available to travel as part of your role?

"I have spent much of my career traveling so I do not have any issues traveling even with short notice. I look forward to traveling to different areas and expanding my knowledge."

The interviewer is trying to understand if you are available to travel if a need presents itself in your role. Your answer to this question will help the interviewer to determine if you have the availability needed for this role.

You will want to be honest with the interviewer about your availability to travel. If you have any reservations or need clarification about how much travel may be required for this role, now is the time to discuss that.

Where do you see yourself in your career in the next five years?

"My goal is to find a company that I can continue to learn and grow with. I have worked with a few different scientific companies now and my hope is to settle down at one company and grow with them and continue to have an employment relationship with them while eventually growing into a leadership role."

The interviewer is trying to determine what your goals are for the future. Your answer will help the interviewer to determine if you will be a good fit for the company and if the company will be a good place for you to do the growth that you are hoping for.

Think about what your career goals are over the next few years. Talk about what you would like to accomplish over the next five years and where you see yourself in your career. If you are looking for longevity with a company, this is a great time to express that to the interviewer.

What made you initially apply to this opening?

"I have a good friend who works in another department with your company and she really has had great things to say about the company culture and how transparent the management team is with the employees. She has also spoken very highly about the future projections of the company and the growth opportunities that the company has in place for its employees. It is really nice to hear how much the company values its employees and that is really something I look for in an employer."

The interviewer wants to understand how you heard about the position and also, what made you interested in applying for the role. The interviewer is looking to hear that you did some research on the company before interviewing. Your answer will let the interviewer know if you are an employee referral, if you saw an advertisement, or if you heard about the company and open role elsewhere.

Talk about how you heard about the company and the open position that you are interviewing for. Talk about any research that you did on the company and what piqued your interest and ultimately, made you want to apply for the role that you are interviewing for.

Please describe your ideal supervisor?

"My ideal supervisor is someone who is approachable and willing to share their knowledge and mentor employees to assist them in bettering themselves."

The interviewer is looking to gain some insight about what type of leadership you enjoy working under. Your answer to this question helps the interviewer to understand if you would work well with the leader that will oversee the role you are interviewing for.

Think about your current and previous positions and the different leaders that you have worked with. Describe what you feel is the ideal leadership style for you to work with.

What do you enjoy most about your current/most recent position? What do enjoy the least?

"What I have enjoyed most is that I get to travel to different areas and see unique trees and shrubs and plants that most people would look over and not really appreciate. I learn so much about what different trees are doing for different environments and what is needed to keep them thriving. What I enjoy the least is the lack of control that we have on things like the weather and fires that can easily destroy a project or land and it is really hard to try to start over after having a natural disaster."

The interviewer is trying to gain some insight into what you most enjoy about your current position and what you do not enjoy. Your answer to this question will help the interviewer to determine if you will be a good fit for the role that you are interviewing for and if ultimately, you would be happy in the position and find the work enjoyable.

Think about the tasks that you regularly complete in your current role. Talk about which tasks you like most in your role and discuss why those tasks are enjoyable for you. Discuss which tasks you enjoy least in your role and why you feel that way.

Talk about a time that you were able to implement a change in a previous role?

"In a previous role, I was working for a company that was a bit old school and used paper documentation for everything. Our department was spending a good amount of money on paper and to me, it just did not align with what the company stood for which was sustainability. I spoke with my management team at a department meeting one day and told them that I did not feel it demonstrated the company mission and their core values to use so much paper and that by having electronic documentation, we would cut back on paper usage as well as keep more organized. To my surprise, they agreed and we ended up getting scanners to scan all of our previous documents into electronic files and we used electronic filing moving forward."

The interviewer wants to know that if you recognize there is room for improvement with a process or policy, you will not be afraid to speak up and offer your opinion. The interviewer also wants to see that you are willing to take action on your ideas and follow through with implementing the changes that you have suggested if they are approved by upper management.

Think about a time you noticed an area that could use improvement in your workplace. Talk about how you went about presenting your idea for the change and what steps you took to implement the change. Provide details about what the overall outcome was.

If I were to contact your most recent supervisor, what would they tell me that your performance could most improve on?

"I think that my supervisor would probably tell you that I help the newer employees a bit too much. Instead of having them utilize the tools that have been provided to them or asking them to refer to notes that they have taken throughout training, a lot of times I will provide them with extra help or give them answers to questions that they could have found the answers to in their resources. I know that this is something that I need to actively work on because it will help them to become more independent in their roles as arborists."

The interviewer wants to know that you are aware that there are areas you could use some improvement in. The interviewer is looking to hear that you are actively working towards improving in this particular area and that you are holding yourself accountable.

Think about an area of improvement that has been pointed out to you by your supervisor, possibly during a one on one meeting or during a performance evaluation. Talk about what steps you plan to take to work on improving in this particular area.

Why do you feel that following company policy is so important?

"I know that policies are put into place for a reason and that they are generally to protect the employee as well as the company. I know that going outside of company policy is unethical and puts both myself and the company at risk."

The interviewer wants to hear that you know that company policies are put into place for a reason. The interviewer is looking to hear that you take company policies seriously and that you understand why they exist.

Think about the policies that were set in place at companies that you previously worked for. Talk about why you believe those policies were important and why it was necessary for those policies to exist in order for the facility to run smoothly and safely.

Tell us about a personal goal that you have. What action steps have you taken towards achieving that goal?

"It has been a personal goal of mine to live as sustainable as I possibly can to improve the environment. In my opinion, since I spend much of my career working in the environment, I should do as much as I can to keep it clean. So far, I have done my best to recycle and purchase items that are able to be recycled, I take public transportation as much as I can and I grow my own fruits and vegetables. I plan to continue working towards this goal by getting a composition container for my home and a rain barrel."

The interviewer wants to know that when you have goals, both personal and professional, you will create an action plan and work towards achieving them. Your answer to this question will help the interviewer to determine how seriously you take your goals and it will also show what you have personal interests in.

Think about a goal you have had for yourself outside of work. This goal can be health-related, related to fundraising, a financial goal, or any other goal that you have set for yourself and worked at achieving. Discuss in detail the steps that you have taken and plan to take going forward to reach your goal.

When working as part of a group, what role do you typically take on?

"Because most of the members of my team are newer, I generally take on a leadership role when working on any group projects. I am always more than happy to share any knowledge that I have with my team. It helps to make a stronger team and I want them to trust me and feel comfortable to ask me questions."

The interviewer is trying to determine which type of role you play when working as part of a team. Some individuals take on a leadership role, some are great at delegating, and others take more of a facilitation role in group work. The interviewer wants to get an idea of what you are most confident in while working with a group.

Think about group projects that you have been a part of in prior positions. Talk about what role you generally played in these group projects and discuss why you were most comfortable taking on that role.

What do you look for in a company culture when interviewing for a new position?

"I look for a company that appreciates their employees and promotes open communication for their employees. I like to feel like I can approach the management team when needed. I am always looking for a company that really values their employees and treats them with respect by providing ongoing feedback and growth opportunities."

The interviewer is attempting to determine what you look for in a company when it comes to values and standards and how they treat their employees. Your answer to this question will help the interviewer to determine if you would be a good fit for their company and if you would be happy working with them.

Think about what you feel is important when it comes to the company that you are potentially going to work for. Talk about what attracts you to a company and makes you excited about the opportunity to be working with them. Company culture involves how employees are treated, the way a company communicates with employees, work-life balance, and more. Discuss what you look for when deciding if a company will be a good fit for you.

What makes you want to pursue a career as an arborist?

"My first job in high school was working in landscaping. I really enjoyed the work that I did and I learned so much about different plants and trees. In college, I knew I wanted to major in something scientific so I decided on environmental science. I ended up working for a company that did testing on air quality in different areas. I was always very amazed at how well air quality was in areas that had a specific type of tree or plant growing. This interest carried on and I eventually knew that I wanted to work purely with plants and trees."

The interviewer wants to understand why you have chosen this particular career path over others in the scientific field. The interviewer wants to hear you speak with passion as to why you have chosen this career for yourself.

Speak to your reasoning for wanting to work in the arborist area of the scientific field. Elaborate about why you have chosen this career path over others.

What do you feel is your greatest weakness?

"I believe my biggest weakness can at times be time management. I have never looked at my job as a forty-hour-a-week type of job. I put in whatever hours are needed to get my work completed and since I am exempt, my additional hours do not affect the company negatively. I know that I could manage my time and have a bit more freedom and a work-life balance if I were to try harder to do so and I am actively working on doing so."

The interviewer wants to know that you realize that there are things about you that could use some improvement. The interviewer also wants to hear that you are making a conscious effort to work on making those improvements.

Think about something that you struggle with or know you need to work on. Provide details about what steps you have taken or plan to take to make those necessary improvements and how working on this weakness will benefit you professionally.

What do you believe is your greatest strength?

"Definitely my flexibility. I have often rearranged my work schedule to be able to meet work deadlines and to complete testing that was unable to be performed during normal business hours due to environmental circumstances."

The interviewer is asking this question to determine what you believe is the greatest trait that you have. This helps the interviewer is attempting to gain some insight as to what strengths you would be able to bring to your team and how the company could benefit from those strengths.

Think about the things that are positive about you. Talk about what you feel is the best thing about you and how that particular strength can be tied into the role that you are interviewing for.

What resources do you utilize to keep current with the changes and updates in technology?

"Luckily, over the years, I have joined several groups of accomplished scientists and have a great network of resources. I have often referred to this network for information on upcoming technology. I also receive updates from the university that I attended so it is rare that there is a change that I did not see coming."

The interviewer wants to know that you are comfortable using technology in your role and that you have experience in this area. The interviewer is trying to gain some insight as to what your level of expertise is in the technical area and what resources you use to stay current with any changes or updates in the technical area.

Think about any memberships that you hold or groups that you are a part of that help you to learn about any updates in technology. Talk about any resources that you use to stay up to date with technical changes.

What do you feel is the single most important skill that an arborist should possess?

"I feel that flexibility is key in an arborist role. There are many times that projects need to be pushed back, or testing may need to be completed outside of normal business hours. Sometimes the weather can change last minute and outdoor testing will need to be placed on hold. The position requires someone who can be flexible with their availability, it is not a 9-5 job."

The interviewer is asking this question to determine which of your skills you find to be the most important and the most useful in the role of an arborist. Your answer to this question gives the interviewer an idea of your skill level and if it would be a good fit for this open role.

Think about the skills that you hold and use each day in your role as an arborist. Talk about which of your skills you feel is most valuable to your role and how you feel that particular skill could make you an asset to the company that you are interviewing with.

What single piece of work are you most proud of and why?

"The piece of work that I am most proud of is a project that I worked on a little over a year ago. My team was working with a local Christmas tree farm that was having trouble getting their trees to grow suddenly after having great production for so many years. The farm owners had tried everything and they were at risk of losing major contracts with several of their retail clients who bought and resold their trees. The farm had two different landscaping companies trying to resolve their issues without success. Our team went out and after performing testing, it was discovered that there was one small area of the farm that had rotted trees and it was affecting the soil of the land surrounding it. We were able to do several treatments with minerals and once those rotted trees were removed, the soil quality was improved immensely and the entire farm was able to thrive again."

The interviewer is trying to understand what aspects of your work make you proud. Your answer to this question will help the interviewer to understand what pieces of your role may be fulfilling and rewarding to you.

Think about projects that you have worked on in prior roles. Describe a project that felt rewarding for you and made you feel proud of the work that you do. Explain to the interviewer why that particular piece of work felt so important and made an impact on you.

Why makes you the ideal arborist for our company?

"I feel that not only do I have the passion for the type of work that your company performs, but I also have a great deal of knowledge and experience to bring to the table since I have worked with some rare plants and tree roots. I think that my prior experience could be a great asset to your company."

The interviewer wants to hear what sets you apart from other candidates that they may be interviewing. The interviewer wants to understand what you feel makes you a good fit for the role with their company.

Think about what makes you a good candidate for the position that you are interviewing for. If you have any special qualifications, training, or experiences that stand out from others who may be interviewing for this same role, discuss that now with the interviewer in detail.

Tell me about a time that you went above and beyond the expectations of your position.

"I was once on a work trip across the country where we were taking samples of tree roots after a large forest fire. The weather ended up taking a pretty bad turn and it was unpredictable when we would be able to go back out for more samples. Most of the team needed to get home to families and other obligations. I volunteered to work remotely until the weather cleared up enough to collect the data needed which ended up being about a week and a half."

The interviewer wants to hear that you will, at times, go beyond your initial work expectations. The interviewer wants to know that you look at this role as more than just a job and that you are passionate about the work that you do.

Think about a time that you went the extra mile for a client or stepped outside of your duties to assist a colleague. Talk about why you went above and beyond at that particular time and why you were happy to complete the additional tasks that are not necessarily your responsibility.

Tell us about your educational background and work history.

"I worked for two different landscaping companies before I attended college where I gained a great deal of knowledge about trees, shrubs, plants, and soil. I had a passion for science and majored in it in college. I graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor's degree in environmental chemistry and started working for Verma Scientific directly after graduation as an associate chemist. I held that position for about 4 years before accepting a scientist I role with my current employer, Pan Labs. I was promoted to an arborist role after two years after I had been working with that specific team on testing. I have really enjoyed my roles with the company."

The interviewer wants to hear about your educational and professional qualifications. Your answer to this question will help the interviewer to determine if you would be a good fit for the role that you are interviewing for and if your experience will be an asset to the team that you would be working with.

Provide the interviewer with a brief overview of your educational and professional background. Begin by providing information about your college degree and then discuss your work history beginning with your first role in the field and working your way to your current role. Provide the interviewer with a brief description of your responsibilities in each role.

Tell us about a time that you demonstrated leadership skills in the workplace?

"When I first started working in my current role, it was a brand new position. We recently added three new arborist roles and I often have to act as a leader to the newer employees to familiarize them with the processes and practices of the company. A few weeks ago, I also oversaw a project that we were all working on together and worked through the entire process with them so that the next time around, they would have the tools to complete the tasks on their own."

The interviewer is trying to determine if you are comfortable enough to lead your peers when necessary. The interviewer wants to hear that you are confident in your skillset and that you have experience and knowledge to add to your team.

Think about a time that you needed to act as a leader in a previous role. Talk about how you led your peers in a project and what steps you took to be sure that the end result was successful and that the team would have the knowledge to complete those tasks in the future.

What would you do if you were asked to complete a task that you were not familiar with?

"I don't like to waste much time so I will generally ask for guidance if the task is something that I am completely unfamiliar with. If it is simple and I can figure it out, I will use the resources that I have to do so."

The interviewer is trying to determine the steps that you would take to complete a task that you have not yet learned. The interviewer wants to know how you would respond to being asked to complete a new task and how you would go about asking for assistance.

Think about a time that you were assigned a task that you were not familiar with. Talk about how you went about attempting to learn the task on your own, or asking a peer or member of your management team for assistance. Discuss how you made sure that you would be able to successfully complete the task moving forward.

How do you measure your success as an arborist?

"I generally base how successful I am on how fulfilled I feel after my work week. If I leave at the end of the week feeling like I have contributed to something meaningful and played a part in making sure that the team that I am working with feels accomplished, then I feel like my work is a success."

The interviewer is trying to determine the standards that you hold yourself to and what makes you feel accomplished in your role. This will help the interviewer to understand what will make you feel successful and fulfilled in your position.

Think about what makes you feel accomplished in your role and what results you need to see in order to feel that you have been successful in your role. Talk about why those results have such significance for you and why this helps you to feel accomplished in your position.

How do you best learn the tasks of a new position?

"I usually learn best visually. Either watching someone else completing the task or having materials to refer to throughout my completing the task usually is how I am most successfully able to complete new tasks."

The interviewer is trying to determine how you best learn the duties of a new role. Your interviewer will help the interviewer to understand what training techniques would be most beneficial for you.

Think about your previous roles and how you best learned the tasks of those positions. Talk to the interviewer about how you best learn new tasks and processes. Provide details of training techniques that have and have not worked for you in the past.

What do you do if you are asked to complete a task or assignment that you are not familiar with? How do you go about requesting help?

"If I am not sure how to complete a task, I will use the resources that I have to attempt to figure the process out. If I am not able to figure it out, I will ask a peer or a member of management for assistance and I will make sure that I document the process so that I can refer back to it in the future as a tool to successfully complete the task."

The interviewer wants to know that if asked to complete a task that is new to you, you will be up for the challenge and you will ask for help when needed. Your answer to this question helps the interviewer to understand what steps you will take on your own to work towards completing a new task and how you will request help when you need it.

Think about a time that you were asked to complete a task that you were unfamiliar with. Describe how you went about attempting to learn the requirements of the task on your own. Talk about how you requested help or clarification when needed.

Tell me about a time that you had a conflict with a coworker or a client and what steps you took to resolve that conflict.

"I had a client who was not the happiest when I started working in my current position. Workloads were shifted around and he was a bit upset that he was moved from the individual that he had been working with for several years. He challenged my work often and constantly pushed back and would tell me that rush testing was always performed for his team by the other arborist. Eventually, I spoke with him and let him know that it did not feel fair to other clients to rush his testing when theirs may have come in first or been requested by a certain date. I told him that I would always do my best to accommodate any urgent requests but that I needed to give all of my clients that same respect and consideration. After that conversation, we have always had a great working relationship."

The interviewer wants to know that if faced with a conflict in the workplace, you will handle yourself professionally. The interviewer wants to determine if you have had any conflict resolution training and if you are comfortable handling conflict if it is presented.

Think about a time that you were presented with a conflict in the workplace. Talk about what steps you took to solve the problem professionally and what you learned from the process.

Talk about a time that you had a difficult ethical decision to make. How did you handle this?

"We recently had an employee start working with our team and I overheard him telling another employee that he had his friend provide his employment reference because he was let go from his last position. I enjoyed working with him but ultimately felt that I needed to speak to my supervisor because that meant that he lied on his employment application which is very unethical. Luckily, he did not end up losing his position over it."

The interviewer wants to know that no matter the circumstances, that if you are aware of an ethical concern in the workplace, you will make the right choice. The interviewer is trying to determine what your ethical standards are.

Think about a time that you were presented with an ethical decision to make in the workplace. Ethical decisions can involve time fraud, financial fraud, or data and documentation fraud-- to name a few. Talk about a time that you became aware of an ethical concern and how you handled this information. Discuss the steps you took after becoming aware of this issue.

Tell us about a time that you were faced with a challenge in the workplace. What steps did you take to overcome that challenge?

"When I started my most recent position, I had a coworker that was not very open to new ideas or any type of change. I felt very unheard and like I was never going to be able to make an impact on the team. I decided to speak to this individual and see if there was a way to resolve the issue. I explained my work history and that I did have a good deal of prior experience and that my ideas may be helpful for our team and help with efficiency. After talking, I realized that this individual was hoping to get a group lead role and was trying to demonstrate that he could be a leader for our team. Going forward we had a really great working relationship and respected each other's ideas and work techniques."

The interviewer wants to know that if a problem presents itself in the workplace, you will handle it professionally. The interviewer is attempting to gain some insight on any problem resolution training that you have had in previous roles.

Think about a time that a challenge presented itself in the workplace. Talk about any steps that you took to minimize that problem and what you were able to learn from this particular challenge.

Arborist Interview Questions

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1. Talk about a time that you made a mistake in your career and what steps you took to correct the mistake?
2. This position requires a great deal of attention to detail. Do you feel you are detail oriented and if so, how?
3. This position may at times require short travel trips. Are you available to travel as part of your role?
4. Where do you see yourself in your career in the next five years?
5. What made you initially apply to this opening?
6. Please describe your ideal supervisor?
7. What do you enjoy most about your current/most recent position? What do enjoy the least?
8. Talk about a time that you were able to implement a change in a previous role?
9. If I were to contact your most recent supervisor, what would they tell me that your performance could most improve on?
10. Why do you feel that following company policy is so important?
11. Tell us about a personal goal that you have. What action steps have you taken towards achieving that goal?
12. When working as part of a group, what role do you typically take on?
13. What do you look for in a company culture when interviewing for a new position?
14. What makes you want to pursue a career as an arborist?
15. What do you feel is your greatest weakness?
16. What do you believe is your greatest strength?
17. What resources do you utilize to keep current with the changes and updates in technology?
18. What do you feel is the single most important skill that an arborist should possess?
19. What single piece of work are you most proud of and why?
20. Why makes you the ideal arborist for our company?
21. Tell me about a time that you went above and beyond the expectations of your position.
22. Tell us about your educational background and work history.
23. Tell us about a time that you demonstrated leadership skills in the workplace?
24. What would you do if you were asked to complete a task that you were not familiar with?
25. How do you measure your success as an arborist?
26. How do you best learn the tasks of a new position?
27. What do you do if you are asked to complete a task or assignment that you are not familiar with? How do you go about requesting help?
28. Tell me about a time that you had a conflict with a coworker or a client and what steps you took to resolve that conflict.
29. Talk about a time that you had a difficult ethical decision to make. How did you handle this?
30. Tell us about a time that you were faced with a challenge in the workplace. What steps did you take to overcome that challenge?

Arborist Interview Questions

1. Talk about a time that you made a mistake in your career and what steps you took to correct the mistake?

2. This position requires a great deal of attention to detail. Do you feel you are detail oriented and if so, how?

3. This position may at times require short travel trips. Are you available to travel as part of your role?

4. Where do you see yourself in your career in the next five years?

5. What made you initially apply to this opening?

6. Please describe your ideal supervisor?

7. What do you enjoy most about your current/most recent position? What do enjoy the least?

8. Talk about a time that you were able to implement a change in a previous role?

9. If I were to contact your most recent supervisor, what would they tell me that your performance could most improve on?

10. Why do you feel that following company policy is so important?

11. Tell us about a personal goal that you have. What action steps have you taken towards achieving that goal?

12. When working as part of a group, what role do you typically take on?

13. What do you look for in a company culture when interviewing for a new position?

14. What makes you want to pursue a career as an arborist?

15. What do you feel is your greatest weakness?

16. What do you believe is your greatest strength?

17. What resources do you utilize to keep current with the changes and updates in technology?

18. What do you feel is the single most important skill that an arborist should possess?

19. What single piece of work are you most proud of and why?

20. Why makes you the ideal arborist for our company?

21. Tell me about a time that you went above and beyond the expectations of your position.

22. Tell us about your educational background and work history.

23. Tell us about a time that you demonstrated leadership skills in the workplace?

24. What would you do if you were asked to complete a task that you were not familiar with?

25. How do you measure your success as an arborist?

26. How do you best learn the tasks of a new position?

27. What do you do if you are asked to complete a task or assignment that you are not familiar with? How do you go about requesting help?

28. Tell me about a time that you had a conflict with a coworker or a client and what steps you took to resolve that conflict.

29. Talk about a time that you had a difficult ethical decision to make. How did you handle this?

30. Tell us about a time that you were faced with a challenge in the workplace. What steps did you take to overcome that challenge?