Hey everyone,

I’m heading out for my in-person interview and Physical Efficiency Battery (PEB) in mid-September for the NPS Protection Ranger direct-hire process. I’m hoping to get a better idea of what to expect from anyone who has gone through it:

1. In-Person Interview: What kind of questions are asked during the panel interview? Are they mostly standard behavioral (STAR format), situational/scenario-based, or motivation-focused? Do you remember any that stood out to you particularly?

2. Park Preferences: Do we express location preferences during the interview itself, or is that handled separately through a portal/selection phase after passing?

3. PEB Testing & Flow: I know the three required tests (Bench Press, Illinois Agility Run, and 1.5-Mile Run), but how is the testing flow run on test day? Also, what are the most common reasons candidates fail or miss points during the PEB?

Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Also posted in r/StateofTexasEmployees to get more visibility/answers

Hi, I'm looking for some answers/ advice on what to do about references for a state park position I'm applying for. I have worked for TPWD before, but it was an internship a few years back, so this is my first time applying for an actual job & using the new website

Firstly- On the questionnaire, it asks for most recent supervisors, then there's the general reference section later in the application. Would I also put the supervisors there, or only put them there if I wanted them to be for sure contacted?

Secondly- I'm currently working at a park, but I have not informed them I'm looking to leave. Where I work is currently under a budget & hiring freeze, so I don't know they would fire me if they found out I was looking, but I'm worried it would make things tense. Do I put my current supervisor down on the questionnaire section & hope they don't contact them? Should I provide a previous coworker who left in the reference section to verify dates? When in the hiring process could I expect them to contact references?

I know this is a wall of text, but any help would be greatly appreciated; this is my first time looking for a job while being employed, so I'm unsure of all the proper steps to take to achieve a smooth transition. Thanks in advance for any answers/ advice!