Your education and life experiences are critical, but your CBSA interview coaching preparation and communication skills will land you the CBSA position
CBSA Interview Coaching
CBSA Interview preparation
Personalized 1-1 CBSA Interview Coaching by CBSA and Police Recruiter Specialists
CBSA Interview Coaching
CBSA Interview Preparation
✔ Personalized Online 1-1 CBSA Interview Coaching and CBSA Interview Preparation
✔ We guarantee you will feel prepared and confident
✔ CBSA Interview Coaching by our National Team of CBSA, RCMP, OPP Recruitment Specialists
✔ Full Mock Panel CBSA Interview with our CBSA Officers.
✔ Understand the structure of a CBSA Interview.
✔ Understand the CBSA Interview Competencies
✔ Understand what a CBSA Situational Interview Question is and how to answer it
✔ Understand what a CBSA Role-Play Interview Scenario question is and how to handle it.

Understand the CBSA Interview, how anEDGE CBSA Interview Coaching and Preparation Sessions are Structured for you to Excel

CBSA Interview Coaching You To Excel in the CBSA Competencies
- Judgement is defined as critically considering available evidence, weighting information based on relevancy, and accurately identifying the consequences of decisions or actions against the desired outcome. It includes using knowledge and experiences to identify interrelationships and patterns in information and to discern the appropriate responses in light of facts, constraints and opportunities.
- Values and Ethics is defined as demonstrating conduct consistent with public service values and act in accordance with CBSA principles and values.
- Dealing with Difficult Situations is defined as keeping one’s emotions under control and restraining negative responses when provoked, or when faced with opposition or hostility from others.
- Personal Integrity is defined as instilling mutual trust and confidence, creating a culture that fosters high standards of ethics, behaving in a fair and ethical manner towards others, and demonstrating a sense of corporate responsibility and commitment to public service.
- Decisiveness is defined as making, taking responsibility for, and demonstrating commitment to appropriate decisions in a timely manner.
- Effective Interactive Communication is defined as transmitting and receiving information clearly and communicating actively with others by considering their points of view in order to respond appropriately.
CBSA Interview Coaching to Excel Answering CBSA Situational Questions
Situational Questions – In this part of the CBSA interview Coaching sessions, you will be coached to deal with hypothetical situations when presented and asked how you would respond to that situation.
anEDGE’s CBSA Interview Coaching will teach you to organize your thoughts and make notes before answering.
anEDGE’s C.B.S.A Interview Coaching will help you deliver your answers effectively by describing your thought process. This means you need to explain, in detail, how you came to your answer.


CBSA Interview Coaching to excel in the CBSA Role Play Interview Scenarios
Role Play Scenarios – In this part of the interview, you can demonstrate how to conduct yourself during a live interaction.
You will be provided the background of a situation and told what role you will play. Immediately afterward, one of the board members will begin the role play by talking to you in character.
You will interact with the board member, each playing your respective role, trying to come to a suitable conclusion.
CBSA Situational Questions
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) uses Situational Based Interviewing (SBI) as part of its selection process to assess how candidates would handle specific situations they might face as border services officers. The SBI technique evaluates a candidate’s skills, competencies, and behaviors by asking them to describe how they would manage hypothetical but realistic situations. It’s a vital part of the CBSA’s hiring process, ensuring applicants have the qualities to enforce laws, maintain security, and provide service in various challenging environments.
CBSA Role Play Scenerios
In the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) role-playing interview, candidates are placed in a scenario that mimics a real-life situation they might encounter as a border services officer (BSO). This interview format is designed to test practical skills, decision-making, communication, and how well candidates handle challenges faced in a border control or customs environment.
CBSA Interview Preparation Objectives
- Understand the CBSA Interview Process clearly.
- We tailor your CBSA Interview Coaching and CBSA Interview Preparation to fit your needs.
- Understand the CBSA Interview Questions.
- Understand which CBSA Competencies the CBSA interview is seeking.
- Effectively answer CBSA situational questions using the STAR method.
- Practice CBSA Interview Role Play scenarios
- Have a mock interview with CBSA RCMP recruiters
What Candidates say about our CBSA Interview Coaching and CBSA Interview Preparation
13 Nov, 2024
If you are serious about a career in law enforcement, then look no further because the team at AnEDGE has been an incredible help. If you have a lot of good work and life experience it can be difficult at times articulating the competencies Law Enforcement agencies look for in the STAR format. Thanks to anEDGE I felt I was well prepared going into every interview and had the best support at every step of the process. They were very flexible and accommodating in scheduling times to meet over teams. I cannot thank Gerald, Kevin, and the entire team enough for their support.
Taylor B.
Calgary
21 Sep, 2024
anEDGE really delivered. This team is amazing. They coached me successfully through my entire RCMP Recruiting Process, was successfully hired.
Alan B.
Vancouver
17 Jul, 2024
I wish I had discovered this team earlier in my journey. The coaching and resources they made available to me saved my application.
James T.
Edmonton
07 May, 2024
There was never a moment I did not feel prepared for RCMP Recruiting Process. anEDGE made me a better more confident recruit. Highly recommended.
Gabriella B.
Edmonton
07 May, 2024
Grant From Manitoba – if you are motivated to begin your career in policing and know you have great work/life experience but are not sure how to articulate your competencies in the STAR format, you’ve come to the right place. I reached out to anEDGE, thinking I had weeks to prepare, and found out days later my interview would be in 7 days. I was still trying to figure out if I should spend the money on the process. I have to say that the decision to work with Kevin and Paul offered invaluable advice and assistance in preparing for the RCMP interview. If you have any doubt, take advantage of the free consultation and you will not regret it—best of luck to all applicants and many thanks to Kevin and Paul at anEDGE.
Grant.
Manitoba
28 Jan, 2025
Hi Tyra, it’s Mike K I hope you didn’t forget about me just yet 😂
I wanted to thank you, Kevin, Paul, Karen, and your whole organization at anEDGE once more from the bottom of my heart!
You all allowed me to pursue my career goals, and I don’t know if I could’ve done it without your expertise and guidance! You’ve been amazing mentors, and I am humbled by your support!
I sincerely appreciate the mentorship and coaching you’ve given me, and I wish you all the best no matter where life takes you!
Sincerely Michael- K♥️
Michael
Ontario
18 Feb, 2025
I highly recommend anEdge Interview Coaching for anyone preparing for the CBSA Officer Trainee (FB-02) interview. Elaine was an exceptional coach who provided me with the guidance, structure, and confidence I needed to succeed. Her in-depth knowledge of the CARL method and CBSA’s competencies helped me refine my responses and effectively showcase my skills and experience.
Through personalized coaching, Elaine identified areas for improvement and provided invaluable feedback that strengthened my interview performance. Her support, encouragement, and strategic approach made a significant difference. Thanks to her expertise, I passed my CBSA interview!
If you’re serious about succeeding in the CBSA selection process, anEdge Interview Coaching is the way to go!
Rajdeep Kaur
Ontario
20 Feb, 2025
I hired anEDGE to help me prepare for my panel interview, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the experience. Elaine, my designated mentor, was absolutely fantastic. With just three weeks to prepare, she guided me every step of the way, and thanks to her expertise, I was able to walk into the interview confident and well-prepared. One of the most valuable aspects of the process was the mock panel interview anEDGE conducts beforehand. Not only did I receive insightful feedback, but it also gave me a chance to face my nerves head-on before the real thing. I highly recommend anEDGE and Elaine for anyone looking to take their interview preparation to the next level.
Kelsey S.
Winnipeg
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the CBSA interview to get through?
The CBSA interview is known to be challenging, primarily because of the high standards and rigorous assessments involved. Here’s what makes it challenging:
Complex Questions and Scenarios: The interview includes situational and role-play questions that test your ability to handle real-life, high-pressure situations that CBSA officers face, such as enforcing regulations, de-escalating conflicts, and ensuring public safety. These questions require quick thinking, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence, making it crucial to prepare well.
Focus on Core Competencies: CBSA strongly emphasizes core competencies such as integrity, judgment, communication, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity. Candidates must demonstrate these qualities through their answers, demeanour, and approach, which can be challenging if they need more preparation.
Behavioral and Values-Based Assessment: The CBSA has high honesty, accountability, and professionalism standards. The interview process assesses your skills and whether your values align with CBSA’s. Candidates who aren’t accustomed to this type of value-based assessment may find it challenging to communicate effectively.
Pressure and High Stakes: A role with CBSA demands a high level of responsibility, so the interview process reflects this by being stringent and comprehensive. The pressure of knowing that only a tiny percentage of applicants succeed can add to the difficulty.
Preparation, understanding of CBSA’s core values, and practicing realistic scenarios can help you navigate the challenges and increase your chances of success.
Will I receive a 1-1 personalized coach?
Yes, During your Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) interview coaching and preparation, you will be paired with a coach from a team of highly experienced recruiting CBSA, police officers, and Fortune 500 human resource specialists.
What is the situational based interview format the CBSA uses during their interviews.
A CBSA interview situational-based interview question presents a hypothetical scenario and asks how you would handle it, helping the CBSA assess your problem-solving, decision-making, and interpersonal skills. For example:
“Imagine you’re dealing with a passenger at the border who is visibly upset and uncooperative. They are frustrated with the wait times and begin raising their voice. How would you handle this situation to ensure a calm and safe interaction?”
This type of question lets the interviewer gauge how you respond to challenges, your approach to conflict resolution, and whether you align with the role’s values and expectations.
What is the role play interview format the CBSA uses during their interviews.
A CBSA role-play-based interview question requires you to act out a specific scenario to demonstrate your skills in real-time. In this type of question, the CBSA interviewer will play a part in the scenario (like a customer or a coworker), and you’ll be asked to respond as if it’s a real-life situation.
For example, in a CBSA interview, you might be asked to role-play with the interviewer acting as a passenger who has refused to declare certain items. Your task would be to address the situation by asking the right questions, maintaining control, and ensuring compliance with CBSA regulations while managing the interaction respectfully and professionally.
This type of question helps the interviewer observe your communication style, situational awareness, problem-solving skills, and ability to stay calm under pressure.
What is CBSA interview coaching?
CBSA interview coaching is professional guidance that helps applicants prepare for Canada Border Services Agency interviews, especially the behavioral and situational questions used in the hiring process.
Does anEDGE CBSA Interview coaching guarantee I’ll pass the CBSA interview?
No, our service does not guarantee you will pass. No service can guarantee results. However, coaching boosts your chances by helping you perform at your best, avoid potential pitfalls, and communicate effectively under pressure.
We do guarantee that if you use our CBSA interview coaching services, you will be ready
How many CBSA Interview coaching sessions will I need?
We don’t believe we can confidently coach you in a single telephone session so that you will receive at least 4 or 5 sessions via Zoom or MS Teams, but we will never leave you unprepared
Is role play interview as used by the CBSA difficult to master
Yes. A role play interview is a job interview in which candidates are asked to simulate a real-world scenario they might encounter in the job they are applying for. This is done to assess a candidate’s problem-solving skills, communication, decision-making, and ability to perform under pressure in a specific context related to the job.
What is a CBSA core competency ?
A core competency is: “A visible and quantifiable trait, whether it’s knowledge, skill, ability, or personal attribute, framed by the actions necessary for you to fulfill the performance objectives and outcomes of the Surrey Police Service standards of excellence.”
Does anEDGE only do CBSA Interview Coaching
No, we are a Canadian-based law enforcement application coaching and mentoring company. We have coached and mentored applicants through every step of CBCA, RCMP, Provincial, or Municipal police service departments. CBSA interview coaching is only one small part of our work.
Are all anEDGE CBSA Interview Coaches CBSA officers.
Yes. To be part of our Coaching and Mentoring team, you must have experience in coaching, mentoring, and recruitment within a law enforcement department.
All our coaches are CBSA, RCMP, OPP or from a Municipal Police Department
What are the CBSA core competencies?
The most important CBSA competencies include:
Judgement
Integrity and respect
Effective communication
Client service
Teamwork
Values and ethics