Customs and Border Protection Officers are responsible for enforcing the laws and regulations of the United States. They inspect and detain individuals and vehicles entering the country, and they also seize contraband. To become a Customs and Border Protection Officer, you must first pass a written exam, and then you will be invited to an interview.
The interview is your opportunity to show the hiring panel that you have the skills and qualities they are looking for in a Customs and Border Protection Officer. In this guide, we will provide you with some sample questions and answers that you can use to prepare for your interview.
US Customs and Border Protection Officer (US CBPO) interview questions
Interviews for Top Jobs at US Customs and Border Protection
Supervisor Interview
I applied online. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at US Customs and Border Protection (Washington, DC)
Interview
Panel interview with 5 or 6 high-level managers, then a 2nd interview with their boss. 10 varied questions: tell me about a time when…, what is your experience with…, how would you handle…? I had time at the the end to ask a couple questions. The 2nd interview was a review of one of my previous answers and mostly time for me to ask questions. It was more of a conversation than the first. I asked a very controversial question and received a wonderfully honest answer.
- Tell us about a time when you had to deal with an angry or uncooperative employee.
8 Supervisor Interview Questions and Answers
How would you describe your leadership style?
A strong supervisor should have impressive leadership skills to motivate their employees to deliver valuable work. If the candidate has had many years of experience working as a supervisor, they should have a clear leadership style and strategy that they regularly use to successfully inspire and lead their team. Look for a candidate who confidently answers this question and expresses pride as they explain their system for motivating and improving their team members’ performance.
The candidate’s answer should emphasize:
- A clear and comprehensive leadership style
- Their delegation abilities and tactics
- How successful they are as a leader and motivator
An answer to this question could look like this:
When was the last time you had to deal with an employee who was not performing and how did you handle it?
Unfortunately, even good employees can falter sometimes and you need a supervisor to be able to identify poor performance and address it. This question gives the candidate a chance to prove they know how to manage the task.
What to look for in an answer:
- Indication they understand the importance of setting employee goals and standards
- Evidence they know how to cultivate talent in their staff
- Proof they feel comfortable addressing problems on their team
How would your previous direct reports describe your supervision style?
How a supervisor is able to mesh with their team can make or break their success at your company. This probing question will reveal if they’re a good culture fit for a supervisory role.
What to look for in an answer:
- Self-awareness about how they are perceived by other employees
- Indications they have asked their direct reports for feedback
- An alignment with your company culture
Have you hired an employee? Describe the factors you think are important when hiring someone.
Some supervisors are responsible for hiring, while other companies leave those decisions to department heads and HR. This question will reveal if the candidate has had the responsibility of hiring, and how they would handle it even if they’ve yet to do it.
What to look for in an answer:
- Evidence they know what to look for in a good hire
- Awareness about the steps required to build a solid team
- Indications they are motivated to take part in the hiring process
How do you resolve disputes between employees?
Supervisors are often expected to resolve issues between their direct reports to avoid escalation. This question gets to the heart of the candidate’s ability to negotiate conflict on their team.
What to look for in an answer:
- Evidence they have handled employee disputes in the past
- Confirmation they have had success resolving issues on their previous teams
- A style of resolution that aligns with your company culture
Has your supervision style changed over time? How?
Learning to adapt management styles and techniques can create an exceptional supervisor. This question helps you figure out if the candidate is able to receive feedback and adjust their style if needed.
What to look for in an answer:
- Indications their supervision skills have grown over time
- Proof they have received feedback well and adjusted their style as necessary
- Confirmation they are self-aware about their need to evolve
What is one important decision you’ve had to make as a supervisor? Why was it critical?
Supervisors need to feel comfortable making decisions, even if they serve under a department manager. This question allows the candidate to illustrate their ability to step up and make important calls as needed.
What to look for in an answer:
- Confirmation they feel comfortable making decisions independently
- Evidence they have taken on more decision-making responsibility over time
- Confidence in their thought process behind making important choices
What are some successful ways you’ve been able to motivate employees?
One of the best things a supervisor can add to your team is keeping other employees excited about their work and prepared to give every day 100 percent. Learning how the candidate approaches this task will tell you a lot about how prepared they are to take on the role.
What to look for in an answer:
- Evidence they have been in charge of successful teams
- Willingness to adjust their motivation techniques as needed
- Understanding of their role as a supervisor in regards to morale
To help you prepare for a CBP job interview, here are 35 interview questions and answer examples.
CBP was written by Kevin Downey and updated on June 23rd, 2022. Learn more here.
You will also find these pages useful for your supervisor interview
Supervisor interview questions will also include common job interview questions. Find out how to answer frequently asked interview questions.
Customs and Border Protections include ‘integrity’ in its core values. Talk about a time that you acted with integrity.
FAQ
What questions are asked in a supervisor interview?
- Have you hired an employee? …
- What is one important decision you’ve had to make as a supervisor? …
- How would your previous direct reports describe your supervision style? …
- Has your supervision style changed over time? …
- What are some successful ways you’ve been able to motivate employees?
How do I prepare for a supervisor interview?
- What are the essential qualities of a good supervisor? …
- What do you consider to be the role of a supervisor? …
- Describe your supervisory style. …
- What are your strengths as a supervisor? …
- How do you motivate your employees/team members?
What should I expect at a CBP interview?
Why do you want to be a supervisor best answer?
