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If you’re applying for an entry-level position in the Border Patrol,

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or in the Office of Field Operations,

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you’ll be asked to sit for a Structured Interview.

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A Structured Interview is similar to other interviews you may have experienced –

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a small panel of current CBP employees will ask you questions in a formal setting

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to understand whether you have the competencies needed to do this work.

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We won’t ask about the technical skills and specific procedures someone already in the job would know.

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Instead, our questions are designed to understand your competencies –

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personal qualities and behaviors that indicate you’re someone who would do this work well.

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For Border Patrol Agent positions,

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we’re looking for you to demonstrate sound judgment & decision making,

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emotional maturity,

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good interpersonal skills,

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and cooperativeness & sensitivity to the needs of others.

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For CBP Officer positions,

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we’re looking for you to demonstrate the competencies we look for in Border Patrol positions –

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plus teamwork,

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flexibility,

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and strong oral communication.

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And for Agricultural Specialist positions,

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we’re looking for you to demonstrate judgement & decision making,

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emotional maturity,

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teamwork & interpersonal skills,

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and strong oral communication.

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For all three positions, here’s how the Structured Interview works.

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When you apply for a position, you’ll select whether you’d like to interview in person or online via video call.

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If you receive a Conditional Offer, you’ll receive an email soon after asking you to schedule your interview.

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If you select “in person”, your interview will take place at a CBP office, a hotel, or a conference center, depending on availability.

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Either way, your interview will last around an hour, but we recommend you allow three to four, in case there are delays.

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Depending on the position you apply for, you’ll be interviewed by two or three current CBP employees.

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Our interviewers have been trained to provide a fair, consistent assessment,

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and the interview questions have been designed to measure the competencies we’re looking for.

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The questions pose hypothetical scenarios that someone in the job you’ve applied for might face…

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and ask you to describe how you would respond.

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Remember – we’re looking for you to show us the competencies that will make you good at this job –

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not that you already have specific technical skills or an understanding of the job’s duties and procedures.

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After your Structured Interview, the panel will score your responses against the competencies we’re looking for,

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and you’ll receive an email from the Hiring Center letting you know whether you passed.

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If we find that you didn’t meet our requirements – don’t worry. You can reapply in six months.

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Most applicants will also need to complete a Pre-Screening Interview, which will happen separately from your Structured Interview.

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You’ll also select whether you want to complete your PSI online or in person after you receive your conditional offer.

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The Pre-Screening Interview is a series of 10 brief “yes or no” questions that’ll help determine whether you’d face difficulty passing a background investigation.

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The questions ask about any use of illegal substances, past criminal activity, misconduct in past jobs, and violations of immigration law.

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Be honest in your answers to the Pre-Screening Interview.

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Any attempt to deceive or withhold information will negatively impact your application and your ability to seek employment with CBP and other Federal agencies in the future.

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So, how can you prepare for your Structured Interview?

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Just get a good night's sleep,

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make sure to arrive or sign in on time,

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budget 4 hours in case things run long,

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ensure you’re dressed professionally,

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and bring a valid ID.

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You may also want to think about times you’ve demonstrated the competencies we’re looking for in past jobs or during your education.

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Recalling times you’ve successfully used those skills may help you apply them to the hypothetical scenarios we’ll present in your interview.

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For more information about the Structured Interview and the Pre-Screening Interview, visit our website

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at cbp.gov/agspecialist-application-process,

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cbp.gov/cbpo-interview,

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or cbp.gov/bpa-interview

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If you haven’t already, join our Talent Network to learn more about positions at CBP,

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or head to cbp.gov/careers/apply-now to start your application.

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CBP.gov/Careers/Apply-Now  CBPApplicantContactCenter@CBP.DHS.gov
(855) 500-3722