Posted: 4/28/2010 7:50:45 AM EDT
| I got a call from the sgt yesterday saying a passed the entry test and they will be calling me to set up an interveiw in a few days. what can i expect from the interview, anything in particular i need to have in mind? thanks. |
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Congrats on passing the test.
Interviews can be quite varied from agency to agency. General questions include: 1. Why do you want to be a cop? 2. What is your best character trait? 3. What is your worst character trait? 4. What has been your most rewarding accomplishment? 5. What are your short, mid, and long range goals? 6. What other agencies have you applied for? The format, questions, and routines are as varied as there are agencies. The bottom line is this... the oral interview is an opportunity for the board to access your communication skills, your attitudes, your confidence, or lack thereof. Remain calm, sit up straight, minimize hand gestures, minimize the use of the word uummm, make eye contact with all members of the panel as you answer questions, should they ask a question for which the answer escapes you, simply advise them you are not sure but will find out as soon as you can... don't BS or guess. For me, I have found making direct eye contact with persons helps portray a sense of security and confidence. Keep your head and eyes up at all times, DO NOT LOOK AROUND OR AT THE FLOOR. IM/E-mail the agency your applying with if you will. GOOD LUCK. |
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Get an interview study book for LE...
There will be one or two scenario questions....give the best answer you can...you will be challenged on your answer...unless you realize you gave a totally incorrect/wrong answer stick to your guns and defend your answer....there are a million ways to handle a call....bottom line as long as you 1) get through it alive and 2 ) don't arrest the wrong person...you are good. |
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Wear the suit!!! You are being interviewed for a professional position and need to come off as a professional. Why not look your best? You might be the only one in a suit, if so you'll stick out in a good way. I wore a suit to ALL interactions throughout the complete hiring process except the poly ( the letter states wear comfortable causal clothing) I wore slacks and button down longsleeve shirt.
Some wore jeans and polo. I was hired, I never saw them again. Every contact with any part of the hiring process you are being evaluated for a job that there are more than enough applicants to go around. Stand out, make the review personal remember you. Eye contact is huge, yes sir, no ma'am try to remember the name and title of the person you are speaking to at that time (it's huge in the panel/board phase). Walk in with confidence, maintain that confidence. Shake hands firmly but not overly. Remember if you want this job you need to impress. |
| yeah i wore the suit and did all that stuff, a few times they looked at eachother and said "thats a good answer", there was a "mean cop" who didnt say much, but at one point he looked at me and said "you keep on using the word learn, i like that". but it was a detective, a corpral, and an FTO. that wasnt the review board was it? |
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Good for you, sounds like you did fine. As for it Being your oral board, I can't answer that each Dept do things different. If they give you a chance to ask questions after a interview always ask questions because evryone has questions. Even if it's what are the next steps I will encounter during the process. Or question how you could do better, does the board have any advice on courses you could take that would help you become a better policeman/applicant. Show interest and passion for the job. Don't ask stupid questions, like what kind of gun will I get to carry. Make the question about how you as an applicant can be a better applicant.
Good luck and keeps us up to date on your process. |