Scene to read · Professionalism, Empathy
Dock humor
You are in your first week as seasonal crew on a harbor sightseeing boat.
Hari, the veteran deckhand who trains you and Jamila, the other new hire, will write both your evaluations this summer. The three of you are at the top of the boarding ramp, about to open the gate. The passengers are lined up just out of sight around the ticket hut, close enough to hear.
The scene
Hari: Big fella in the red jacket, with the chips? Seat him midship or we'll sail in circles.
Jamila: Stop, he'll hear you. Okay, that's a little funny.
Hari: Relax, it's dock humor. Thirty summers, nobody's ever complained.
Jamila: You're not laughing. Come on, it's just how they talk here, right?
The two questions
- 1What would you do in this moment, and why?
- 2Describe a time someone with authority over you behaved in a way you thought was wrong. What did you do?
What raters look for
- Professionalism
- Is reliable, respects boundaries and confidentiality, and holds a consistent standard under pressure.
- Empathy
- Recognizes what others feel and need, and lets that shape the response without losing judgment.
Answer scenarios like this on the real timers
Answer both questions on the clock, and get each one scored 1–9 the way raters score. Your first set is free, no card.
Practice free
