Interview Questions

Question 1

Tell us about yourself

Answer 1

• zoology graduate
• studied in cornwall: got to know seabirds
• so pursuing a career in conservation and looking for more field experience
• I’ve done some bits: South Africa, south stack, VSAS
• now looking for something more substantial
• skomer!

Question 2

Seabird monitoring skills

Answer 2

• some at uni: bass rock and general bird ringing (not seabirds)
• recent course, obviously different to Farne monitoring but gave valuable observation skills, counting efficiently, scanning, ID.
• not perfect but could definitely bring some knowledge and lots of enthusiasm for seabirds
• SUPER keen to learn some new seabird monitoring skills

Question 3

Building relationships and teamwork

Answer 3

• internal: South Africa
• External: shop regulars
• listening to people!!! + remembering

Question 4

Visitor engagement experience?

Answer 4

• quite a range current job is more general people skills
• Gys, wff, bio blitz
• best was south stack!!!

Question 5

Eager to get stuck in and learn new skills

Answer 5

• VSAS and mull
• south africa

Question 6

Habitat management experience?

Answer 6

• main thing I’m looking for
• think they’re valuable
• mull!
• enjoy it

Question 7

Ability to follow health and safety guidelines

Answer 7

• Yorkshire show
• more extreme
• very familiar with risk assessments (wds)

Question 8

Written and verbal communication skills

Question 9

Data handling and numeracy skills

Answer 9

• dissertation
• crickets

Question 10

Time management and prioritising workloads

Answer 10

• wild doc soc!
• 3rd year wff

Question 11

Taking responsibility and problem solving

Answer 11

• current job
• gate example

Question 12

Challenging environments

Answer 12

• South Africa terrain
• living by sea: very comfortable with coastal terrain,
• south stack storms

Question 13

Engagement activities

Answer 13

• south stack Halloween crafts
• FMC market

Question 14

Supporting volunteers

Answer 14

• wds and WFF
• supervise lilly
• peer support
• example: wds Georgia
• about making sure they’re having a good time and being approachable

Question 15

What would you bring?

Answer 15

• enthusiasm and knowledge for marine mammals, uk wildlife
• experience living and working with people, building relationships
• strong desire to learn new skills and get stuck in
• pride in the site

Question 16

Why this role?

Answer 16

• is ideal for what I’m looking for (monitoring experience, habitat management, island life,
• obviously an amazing site to live and work on
• I think I’m suited to it
• visitor experience in something I love
• had tasters of this kind of stuff, great opportunity to really get to know one site in depth

Question 17

What duties of the role?

Answer 17

Seal monitoring: full island photo id, pup checks, pup sitting
Other monitoring: migration, butterfly, moth, biosecurity
Visitor engagement: marine festival, educational groups
Assisting Ranger team with practical tasks eg dry stone walling
Assisting other departments

Question 18

Outstanding customer service

Answer 18

Leonard
GYS
Running lady

Question 19

Content creation

Answer 19

Wild doc soc

Question 20

Data collection

Answer 20

Diss

Question 21

Data handling

Answer 21

Diss

Question 22

Good monitoring

Answer 22

• Balance between best practice, accuracy and then Practicality and safety
• purpose informs methods
• accuracy: standardised methods, especially in a team
• not being overconfident

Question 23

Good monitoring example

Answer 23

VSAS!, sticking to your section, confident ID, weather and visibility

Question 24

Contribution in a team

Answer 24

South Africa monitoring

Question 25

Willingness to work long hours

Answer 25

VSAS South Africa

Question 26

Early starts

Answer 26

Diss South Africa

Question 27

Late nights

Answer 27

South Africa Uni field trips

Question 28

All weather

Answer 28

South Africa VSAS South stack

Question 29

Boats

Answer 29

Massive ferries, tiny ferries, speedboats, whale watching boats VSAS COURSE SCILLONIAN

Question 30

Motivation and initiative

Answer 30

9 hours for VSAS course on public transport, going to mull soon OR Doing stuff in the shop

Question 31

Working independently

Answer 31

Shop or crickets

Question 32

Flexibility

Answer 32

Work at shops + dog walking South Africa desnaring!

Question 33

Shared living

Answer 33

South Africa

Question 34

Positive household dynamics

Answer 34

Uni, south stack

Question 35

Problem and how you’ve solved it

Answer 35

American gate lady

Question 36

Challenging and what you’ve done

Answer 36

Starting at pet shop

Question 37

Managing own schedule

Answer 37

Work

Question 38

Prioritising workloads

Answer 38

Wds 3rd year

Question 39

Health and safety

Answer 39

- equipment; protective gear - surroundings and environment Not getting too complacent (keeping respect for environment, not taking unnecessary risks) - weather - general health and safety; first aider + kit - communication - safety of environment and wildlife

Question 40

WHAT APPEALS TO YOU ABOUT THE ROLE?

Answer 40

The mix of responsibilities (bring stuff and gain stuff) The opportunity to live and work on an island and internationally important nature reserve Contribute to UK conservation The island itself!!!

Question 41

What appeals to you about Lundy?

Answer 41

The wildlife of course! Plus the human history Leading the way in conservation and sustainability Little things like no phone rules in the pub! Seems like a lovely place to live and work

Question 42

Monitoring experience

Answer 42

Bird at uni - bird ringing etc South Africa - giraffes, reptiles and amphibians, Seabird surveying

Question 43

HOW WOULD YOU MANAGE KEEPING ENGAGED WITH REPETITIVE WORK?

Answer 43

Efficient Breaks!!! Planning them in beforehand Keeping moral high if in a team

Question 44

HOW WOULD YOU FIT IN TO THE COMMUNITY, WHAT WOULD YOU BRING?

Answer 44

Friendly, positive Calm and laid back, never had an argument Experience contributing to positive household dynamics Good listener and enjoy getting to know people

Question 45

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHEN LIVING AND WORKING WITH OTHERS?

Answer 45

Important to know people! Good communication, talking and listening Knowing peoples strengths and weaknesses Consideration for others (early mornings etc)

Question 46

WHY IS BIOSECURITY SO IMPORTANT ON THE ISLAND?

Answer 46

Burrow nesting seabirds!!!! Puffins, manxies, just one pregnant rat could do so much damage! Ducks example

Question 47

WHY IS VISITOR ENGAGEMENT IMPORTANT AND HOW WOULD YOU ENTHUSE THE PUBLIC?

Answer 47

Enthusiasm Fun facts Learning about them and talking about how it’s relevant to their lives Maintaining and building relationship with nature

Question 48

Are you prepared to camp?

Answer 48

Yes! Field trips at uni, South Africa

Question 49

WORKING UNSUPERVISED IN HAZARDOUS TERRAIN

Answer 49

Generally very comfortable around cliffs etc from hiking coastal path, trying to get down to little coves to go paddle boarding or sea swimming Example: South Africa! Desnaring

Question 50

Photo ID surveys

Answer 50

GIRAFFES

Question 51

Teaching?

Answer 51

CWT, paired reading, maths mentoring