Becoming a Texas Game Warden | Interview with Mark Nelson | Hunter Questions
Interviews for Top Jobs at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Operations Interview
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (Austin, TX) in Apr 2019
Interview
Was held in the State Park in open area instead of in the office. There was a panel of the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, office manager and natural resource manager. They asked me questions based on TPWD’s mission and how I would contribute to it.
- Why do I want this position, what does conservation mean to me, how do I plan to contribute to their team.
Information Specialist Interview
I applied online. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (Austin, TX)
Interview
There were several TPWD staff on a panel, including the immediate supervisor for the position, as well as higher-ups. They went around the table and asked a series of questions about knowledge of Texas habitat, wildlife, and other issues related to TPWD, and a few questions about my own experiences and skills.
- What are the main conservation issues facing Texas.
Marketing Interview
I applied online. I interviewed at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department in May 2022
Interview
During the interview process, there was one phone interview then in person at government building with staff members from department and legislative member. The position seems like it would be a lot of caption writing and campaigns for outdoor activities. That was communicated.
- What are your biggest weaknesses?
Tell me a little bit about the aircraft division.
We have five pilots, we have helicopters and planes; we are going through some growing pains right now with that, we have some older helicopters and some older planes. Thanks to the legislature this year, we’re getting a brand new helicopter which is going to be a huge benefit. What our aircraft division does is help us with our enforcement of game and fish laws; they fly daytime and nighttime.
Our game wardens are involved in a lot of homeland security activities now, on the border, so our aircraft division helps us in that area. Also, because of the conservation agency that we work for our pilots assist our wildlife biologists, and our coastal and inland fisheries divisions, by flying bighorn sheep counts, antelope surveys, and things of that nature. So they do a little bit of both but they are a great asset to us from the law enforcement side.
In your current roll as Lieutenant Colonel, what are your primary responsibilities?
My primary responsibilities are all of the field operations. We have five regions in the state of Texas with 532 game wardens, so my main responsibility is to maintain continuity throughout the state of Texas with all the game wardens.
I also am in charge of our aircraft division. We have five pilots who supplement our enforcement opportunities in the field, so I’m pretty busy, but I try to relate back my experience from the field while also being a supervisor in the field to assist the majors and captains with the day-to-day operations of game wardens.
What can sportsmen do to support you and make your job easier?
Understand the laws, if they don’t, game wardens in every county can be contacted nowadays; you can access your computer and go to Texas Parks and Wildlife and you can find your game warden, you can get a cell phone number for that game warden. If you have any questions regarding the law, call the game warden.
Game wardens are often responsible for enforcing game laws and regulations, so employers want to make sure you have the necessary skills and experience to do this job well. When answering this question, highlight your relevant work experience, education or any other qualifications that make you a good fit for this role.
Example: “I’ve always been interested in animals, so I took several classes on animal behavior in college. I learned how to identify different types of animal behaviors and what they mean. For example, I know that an animal’s body language can tell me whether it is feeling threatened or aggressive. This skill has helped me understand the intentions of hunters and wildlife, which helps me make fair decisions as a game warden.”
As a game warden, you’re responsible for the safety of the animals in the area and the people who are hunting them. This means you need to be able to think on your feet and handle difficult situations.
Example: “I am very comfortable working outdoors in all kinds of weather. I grew up on a farm where we had animals, crops and other things to take care of. We also lived far away from town, so my family and I were responsible for our own power generation and water supply. So, I’m used to being out in nature and working hard.”
Example: “I only make arrests if someone breaks a law or regulation that poses a threat to public safety. For example, I once arrested a man who was shooting at wildlife from his boat because he was too close to other boats on the water. He could have injured someone else if he had missed his target.”
To help you prepare for your Wildlife Officer interview, here are 27 interview questions and answer examples.
Ensure to review the job posting before the interview to familiarize yourself with the educational requirements for this role. Answer this question by mentioning your degrees and certifications that you have, by putting emphasis on those that are relevant to the position you applied for. Should you hold one or several of the preferred educational qualifications listed on the job posting, tell the interviewer you directly meet the educational qualifications, making you a great candidate for this role – and this is an opportunity for the interviewer to see you did your due diligence before the interview. Alternatively, simply tell the interviewer why you believe your education has prepared you for this role.
“I read on your job posting that one of your preferred educational qualifications is a bachelors degree. As you can see on my resume, I hold a Bachelors degree in (X) from (X university), granted in (X year). In my studies, I have acquired extensive knowledge in (X areas, as per the job posting), which will contribute to my success in this role.”
“I have been working on completing my bachelors degree in criminal justice. Throughout my time at UCF I have gained knowledge that will contribute to the field and help me to succeed.”
Written by an Anonymous User
Our Professional Interview CoachStephanie Cafaro Reviewed the Above Answer
This is a great start, but you should share a few more details on exactly what about your bachelors in criminal justice has prepared you for this role? What skills have you learned? What knowledge have you gained?
Any candidate can read and regurgitate the companys “About” page. So, when interviewers ask this, they arent necessarily trying to gauge whether you understand the mission-they want to know whether you care about it. Start with one line that shows you understand the companys goals, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then go on to make it personal. Say, “Im personally drawn to this mission because…” or “I really believe in this approach because…” and share a personal example or two.
Before you answer, consider how you best contribute to a team: ☛ Do you get along easily with people? ☛ Are you an effective collaborator? ☛ Can you communicate with people from various backgrounds and with different personalities? ☛ Can you motivate people? ☛ Do you know how to push back tactfully? ☛ Can you mediate conflicts? ☛ Can you deal with difficult personalities?
This is a toughie, but one you can be sure youll be asked. Definitely keep things positive-you have nothing to gain by being negative about your past employers. Instead, frame things in a way that shows that youre eager to take on new opportunities and that the role youre interviewing for is a better fit for you than your current or last position. For example, “Id really love to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I know Id have that opportunity here.” And if you were let go? Keep it simple: “Unfortunately, I was let go,” is a totally OK answer.
This is a fair question, as potential employers want to know if youre going to be able to get the job done even when things get a little bit stressful. You may say that you thrive under pressure or that youre able to get the job done even when things get a little bit stressful, just make sure to provide some real world examples of your ability to work under pressure in a prior job.
Your interviewer will likely want to know the reasons why you will remain motivated to do your best during your employment with the company As Game Warden. Perhaps you are interested in being challenged, but you may also have interest in being recognized for your hard work in the form of the number of sales you can attain. A great example answer for this question is “I always do my best in everything, including my job. I take pride in my success, and I also want the company for which I work to be successful. Being affiliated with a company that is known for its excellence is very important to me.”
FAQ
What questions should I ask a game warden?
What questions do they ask during interview?
- Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief? …
- How did you hear about this position? …
- What type of work environment do you prefer? …
- How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations? …
- Do you prefer working independently or on a team?
How much is a Texas game warden salary?
Texas Parks and Wildlife indicates that entry-level game warden cadets start out making $3,362.50 per month, which increases to $4,436.83 per month after training and probation. At four years, game wardens earn $5,409.92 per month. Salary caps out at $6,487.17 after 20 years of service.
How much does a game warden make an hour in Texas?
