Interview guide — Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Climate Scientist
P3 — Mid-Level Professional
Canon-derived frames, not advice: every question is verbatim JobFrame canon or O*NET source text inside a fixed structured-interview frame (O*NET joined at this profile's detailed occupation). Past-behavior questions come first — the strongest evidence-backed format — paired with work-style probes as a second question type. Each carries a 5-point anchored rating frame. Absent sources render as absent — nothing here is generated.
Past-behavior questions 10
STAR-style (Situation, Task, Action, Result) questions built from this profile's canon responsibilities and O*NET tasks, importance-ranked where O*NET rates them.
01Tell me about a time you had to analyze and interpret large datasets. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the result?
canon · responsibility · observedRating frame (5-point )
- 5 · Exceeds
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 3 · Meets
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 1 · Below
- ⟨anchor⟩
⟨anchor⟩ slots are completed by the rater against observed behavior during the interview.
02Tell me about a time you had to develop and use climate models. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the result?
canon · responsibility · observedRating frame (5-point )
- 5 · Exceeds
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 3 · Meets
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 1 · Below
- ⟨anchor⟩
⟨anchor⟩ slots are completed by the rater against observed behavior during the interview.
03Tell me about a time you had to research factors driving climate variability. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the result?
canon · responsibility · observedRating frame (5-point )
- 5 · Exceeds
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 3 · Meets
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 1 · Below
- ⟨anchor⟩
⟨anchor⟩ slots are completed by the rater against observed behavior during the interview.
04Tell me about a time you had to provide scientific information to policymakers. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the result?
canon · responsibility · observedRating frame (5-point )
- 5 · Exceeds
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 3 · Meets
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 1 · Below
- ⟨anchor⟩
⟨anchor⟩ slots are completed by the rater against observed behavior during the interview.
05Tell me about a time you had to publish reports and peer-reviewed papers. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the result?
canon · responsibility · observedRating frame (5-point )
- 5 · Exceeds
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 3 · Meets
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 1 · Below
- ⟨anchor⟩
⟨anchor⟩ slots are completed by the rater against observed behavior during the interview.
06Tell me about a time you had to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the result?
canon · responsibility · observedRating frame (5-point )
- 5 · Exceeds
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 3 · Meets
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 1 · Below
- ⟨anchor⟩
⟨anchor⟩ slots are completed by the rater against observed behavior during the interview.
07Tell me about a time you had to present findings at scientific conferences. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the result?
canon · responsibility · observedRating frame (5-point )
- 5 · Exceeds
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 3 · Meets
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 1 · Below
- ⟨anchor⟩
⟨anchor⟩ slots are completed by the rater against observed behavior during the interview.
08Tell me about a time you had to contribute to grant writing and funding proposals. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the result?
canon · responsibility · observedRating frame (5-point )
- 5 · Exceeds
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 3 · Meets
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 1 · Below
- ⟨anchor⟩
⟨anchor⟩ slots are completed by the rater against observed behavior during the interview.
09Tell me about a time you had to collect and analyze meteorological data. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the result?
canon · responsibility · observedRating frame (5-point )
- 5 · Exceeds
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 3 · Meets
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 1 · Below
- ⟨anchor⟩
⟨anchor⟩ slots are completed by the rater against observed behavior during the interview.
10Tell me about a time you had to use numerical weather prediction models. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the result?
canon · responsibility · observedRating frame (5-point )
- 5 · Exceeds
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 3 · Meets
- ⟨anchor⟩
- 1 · Below
- ⟨anchor⟩
⟨anchor⟩ slots are completed by the rater against observed behavior during the interview.
Panel instructions
Fixed methodology, evidence-backed — not a claim of local validation for this profile or your organization.
- Score independently first: every panelist records their own rating before any discussion.
- Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, from this guide.
- Rate against the anchored 5-point scale for each question — not overall gut feel.
- Take notes during the interview, against each question, not from memory afterward.
- Reconcile scores as a panel only after every panelist has recorded an independent score.
Methodology footnote
- [A3] Past-behavior questions paired with descriptively-anchored rating scales are the strongest structured-interview format — why this guide leads with them and anchors every question.
- [A4] All major question types carry validity; using more than one (here: behavioral + work-style probes) is stronger than relying on a single type.
- [A5] Independent panel scoring followed by reconciliation lifts inter-rater reliability well above a single interviewer scoring alone — why this guide's panel instructions require it.
Register: docs/research/SELECTION-ASSESSMENT-EVIDENCE.md §A. This guide cites the evidence for the format; it makes no claim of validation for this specific role.
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