policeoraboardinterviewsecrets.com … · 2019-06-12 · policeoraboardinterviewsecrets.com...

By E.L. Forestal

A Special Report

Police Oral Board Interview Secrets

DISCLAIMER: This report is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace official departmental hiring policies. The author does not represent any law enforcement agency named herein, or any other city, county, state or federal agency. For any questions about hiring policies, contact the agency to which you are applying.

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2 Police Oral Board Interview Secrets

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Police Interview ............................................................................ 3

Section 1: Preparing for the Oral Interview.................................................................. 4

KNOW THE AGENCY ...................................................................................................... 4

KNOW THE COMMUNITY ............................................................................................... 5

UNDERSTAND BASIC POLICING CONCEPTS.............................................................. 5

PLAN YOUR MESSAGE ................................................................................................... 6

FINETUNE YOUR DELIVERY............................................................................................ 7

POLISH YOUR APPEARANCE ........................................................................................ 7

Section 2: The Police Oral Board.................................................................................... 8

DEMEANOR ..................................................................................................................... 9

HOW THE ORAL INTERVIEW IS SCORED .................................................................... 12

QUESTIONS..................................................................................................................... 15

ORAL INTERVIEW PANEL SCENARIO QUESTIONS .................................................... 23

Section 3: Wrapping up the Oral Interview ............................................................... 27

10 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Police Oral Interview ................................................. 29

Additional Scenario Base Questions......................................................................... 32

Typical Questions to Expect On Your Oral Board .................................................... 35

Body Language Advice ............................................................................................. 38

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Introduction to the Police Interview

The oral interview can be one of the most stressful steps in the police hiring process. You go alone into a room to face a group of trained observers and interviewers who are judging every movement you make every aspect of your appearance and every word out of your mouth. How you perform in that room will determine whether you become a police officer.

The interview purposely is designed to be stressful because it gives law enforcement agencies a good opportunity to see how candidates react in difficult circumstances. The questions are meant to put you on the defensive, while uncovering both the strengths and weaknesses in your abilities to think and communicate clearly and control your emotions while under stress. The interview also allows the board to measure your level of maturity and readiness for the responsibility of law enforcement. And, perhaps most importantly, the interview also gives the board insight into your level of honesty.

Those who walk into the police interview board unprepared are almost certain to fail it. However, candidates who know what the board is looking for in police applicants and who have a good idea of the kind of questions they can expect are much more likely to score well and move on in the process. This report is going to help prepare you by explaining what goes on behind the closed doors of an oral interview board and what you can do to ready yourself.





Section 1: Preparing for the Oral Interview Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because it’s an interview – as opposed to a test – that you can’t study and prepare for the oral board. While you aren’t necessarily going to know the exact questions the board will ask, you will know the basic subjects of the questions and the way in which your answers should be presented. Focus your preparation in these areas.

KNOW THE AGENCY The board is sure to ask about your knowledge of the agency to which you are applying, so you need to study up on it.

Learn the names of the chief and command staff, at least down to the commanders of the patrol and investigations divisions. If you have to, go to the department and look around the lobby. Almost every law enforcement agency puts up photos of its senior staff near the entrance. Otherwise, go to the department’s website. You might be able to find an organizational chart, such as this one on the Phoenix Police Department site.

Read up on the history of the department. Don’t worry about exact dates, but make sure you get the highlights. Was it the first department in the state to use a particular forensic method to make an arrest, or did the department have to overcome certain community challenges to reduce crime rates? Again, you usually can find history information on the department’s website. The Cleveland Police Department site offers a good example of a departmental history.

Make sure you know the department’s size, mission and focus. Is it a city department that serves an urban population of 1,000,000, or is it a sheriff’s department that only patrols the unincorporated areas of a midsize county? And what are the main crime concerns for the department? Is this a poor community struggling with a gang problem, a college town with a high number of underage drinkingrelated incidents, or a growing county with a property theft problem? Check out the agency’s website to see what crime issues it emphasizes – such as domestic violence and gangs on the Houston Police Department site – and go the public library to research the city’s crime problems in the local newspaper.



http://www.phoenix.gov/Police/orgchart1.pdf

http://www.city.cleveland.oh.us/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/CityAgencies/PublicSafety/Division%20of%20Police/About_Cleveland_Police

http://www.houstontx.gov/police/index.html



KNOW THE COMMUNITY Police officers serve the needs of the community, so the board is going to want to know that you have an understanding of the makeup and dynamics of the community that you want to serve.

If you are applying to an agency in your hometown or a city in which you’ve lived for several years, then you already have a good understanding of the community. If you are from out of town, you’ll want to study the area before the oral interview.

Go online and read whatever you can find about the community. City and county websites are good sources. Wikipedia is another good place to start for an overview, but because anyone is allowed to write Wikipedia articles, it’s a good idea to doublecheck any facts you get from this source. Also get into the habit of reading the local paper online every day. As you read, pay particular attention to the population numbers, major employers, racial makeup, locally spoken languages, the political situation, taxing issues and the crime rate (which you also can get from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report). You also want to read whatever you can find on the history of the relationship between the law enforcement agency and the community.

UNDERSTAND BASIC POLICING CONCEPTS In addition to the questions detailed below, you might be asked to describe your understanding of certain policing techniques and concepts or issues that affect policing. Read a little about each one and be prepared to discuss them if asked.

Here are some examples:

Community Oriented Policing is the idea that police officers should not act as an “occupying force” that simply patrols a community and responds to calls for service, but that police should work with members of the community to recognize problem areas, monitor criminal activity and identify criminals.

The brokenwindow theory is the idea that enforcing even minor violations of the law can help prevent more serious crimes from occurring. The example used to



http://www.wikipedia.org/

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm



explain this theory is that if a window is allowed to remain broken in a vacant building in a neighborhood, it gives the impression that no one cares about the neighborhood.

That will encourage vandalism, which will lead to theft, then to drug dealing and eventually violence. By repairing the window, crime is prevented.

Cultural diversity awareness is understanding that a community is made up of many different people from disparate social, economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds. As such, the way police officers interact with members of the community should reflect sensitivity to those differences.

PLAN YOUR MESSAGE The police oral interview is about your ability to think on your feet, but you would be foolish to go before the board without at least putting some thought into what you are going to say.

Before you even walk into that room, know what it is that you want to communicate to the board. The interviewers are going to have an impression of you by the time you are done. That impression can be one they’ve formed on their own, or it can be one you helped shape for them. If you’re a particularly honest person, or if you’re very reliable, or if you have life experiences that would make you an effective officer, be prepared to emphasize those qualities – without exaggerating or making up stories.

Also, think about why you want to become a police officer. Make sure it is clear in your own mind why you want this job and how much you want it. As you’re thinking about this, don’t be satisfied with simple answers – “I want to help people” – but delve into all of your motivations, even the selfish ones like how much you would enjoy the adrenaline rush. It’s important that you understand yourself before you start trying to answer questions from other people. Go to your most cynical friend and explain to him why you want to join the police. Encourage him to question you about it.





FINE‑TUNE YOUR DELIVERY Have you ever really heard yourself speaking? Not many people have. You might be surprised to learn that you don’t sound as smooth in reality as you do in your own head. And the only way to get better is to practice.

Get yourself a digital voice recorder, or better yet, a video camera. As discussed above, think about what you want to say to the board, then study the questions in Section 2. Then, practice answering those questions in front of the camera.

As you practice, follow this excellent advice from the Los Angeles School Police on answering questions:

When you’ve finished, watch the tape and have others whose opinion you trust watch it also. Do you sound too enthusiastic? Bored? Defensive? Do your answers ramble? Do you go off on tangents that are not relevant to the question or setting? Do you have verbal tics, such as frequently saying “um,” “you know,” or “like?”

Make notes on any problems, then practice doing the interview over and over, until you are satisfied with your delivery. This is important: Don’t practice so much that you sound rehearsed. Your aim simply is to reach the point of being relaxed, confident and natural.

POLISH YOUR APPEARANCE Your appearance will start communicating a message to the interview board before you even open your mouth. The message you want to send is that you are a complete professional. In addition,

Avoid "yes" or "no" answers whenever possible. Expand on your answers by volunteering information, which is often helpful in showing how you qualify for the position. It is also important to know when to stop answering a question. You should avoid repeating yourself, rambling, or giving information that is unrelated to the question. Be concise and complete.



http://www.laspd.com/careerIntrvw.htm



many boards also award or deduct points based on a candidate’s appearance at the interview.

To achieve good results, you want to make sure you are clean and well groomed. That means getting a haircut within three days of the interview. It doesn’t have to be a buzz cut, but something short, off your ears and tapered in the back would be a good idea.

Get rid of any facial hair. You can keep a mustache, but trim it off your upper lip and don’t allow it to go past the corners of your mouth. Women’s hair should be no more than shoulder length and kept back out of the face.

Obviously, you should be freshly showered, wearing deodorant, with clean, trimmed nails. Any cologne or perfume should be applied minimally. Wear very little jewelry, and women should avoid bright or heavy makeup.

Wear a suit to the interview, even if you have to buy one (for inexpensive suits ranging from $100 to $300, try J.C. Penney or Men’s Wearhouse). Under no circumstances should you wear a Tshirt, polo shirt, jeans, sneakers or any other casual attire. Women should also wear a matching jacket and skirt or suitpants with a nice blouse. Wear dress shoes that are clean and highly polished. You can be sure that any officer on the board with a military background will check your shoes to see whether they are shined.

Section 2: The Police Oral Board

So you’ve practiced, bought a new suit and gotten a haircut. The day of the interview has arrived.

Get up early and eat a light, nutritious breakfast. Stick to fruit, toast, juice, or cereal and avoid foods heavy in fat because they will cause you to feel slow and sleepy when you need to be thinking as clearly as possible. Do not drink too much water or juice, and you should probably avoid caffeine completely. It’s a natural diuretic, and you don’t want to find yourself suddenly needing to urinate in the middle of your interview.

You will have received a letter following your written exam telling you the location, date and time of the oral interview. Get to the interview site at least 30



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minutes early. One of the worst mistakes you can make is to arrive late. Even if you are allowed to interview – which is doubtful – that blunder will be almost impossible to recover from, especially in the eyes of the police officers on the board.

It’s a good idea to bring a copy of your application, personal history, resume, military discharge papers, college transcripts and any other related documents (along with a clean shoeshine rag). Carry everything in a briefcase. It just looks more professional. Also, don’t forget your ID. You likely will have to show it to be allowed into the interview.

Since you are early and have some extra time, stop in the restroom after you check in. Use the facilities if you need to and check your appearance in the mirror one last time. Make sure your tie is straight and that there is no lint or stray hairs on your jacket. Use the rag you brought to give your shoes a quick buff.

This is what you can expect next:

The interview probably will take place at the police department or at the main city or county building. Interview boards typically consist of two to eight people and include police officers and representatives from the city/county Human Resources department. Some agencies also have civilian community representatives on the hiring board.

Once you arrive, you will wait with the other candidates outside the room where the interviews are being conducted and will be called in onebyone. When you enter, the board will be seated at a table, and you will be asked to take a seat facing them. You may be given the opportunity to shake hands with the interviewers.

The board will be evaluating you on three levels: your appearance (which we’ve already covered), your demeanor and your answers to their questions.

DEMEANOR

The idea is to project trustworthiness, competence and confidence, but not arrogance. Remember that police officers are trained to read body language,





so stay relaxed and keep in mind that you are qualified for this job and that you have prepared for this interview.

• Walk in with your back straight and your head up. Many people have the habit of looking down when they walk. Don’t. Smile and make eye contact.

• Sit slightly forward in your chair with your feet planted flat on the floor and your back straight. Do not lean back in the chair, cross your legs, swivel or slouch.

• Place your hands on the table in front of you, either flat, or folder together. Avoid talking with your hands, tapping, cracking your knuckles, or making large gestures. Fidgeting communicates nervousness, which can read like dishonesty to a police officer. Large hand movements or crossed arms can seem defensive, insincere, or even aggressive.

• Look each interviewer in the eye in an open, friendly manner – without staring. As you speak, address the person who asked the question, but occasionally glance at the other interviewers to include them, as well.

• Give positive answers, even when the question is negative. If you got fired from a previous job and an interviewer asks you about it, you say that it turned out to be a good experience because you learned a lesson that will help you be a better employee in the future. If you smoked pot in high school and are asked about it, you say that you gave in to peer pressure, but it will help you be a better police officer because you understand the kind of pressure that kids face. Always spin the negative into a positive.

• Practice active listening. When an interviewer is speaking, make eye contact and nod your head occasionally as a way of affirming that you are paying close attention.

• Be interested, even slightly enthusiastic, but not overly emotional. Speak in an even tone and avoid talking too fast or too loud.

• Keep going, even if you feel like you made a mistake. You may stumble over an answer, call someone by the wrong title or name, stammer, or make any number of other minor errors. The board will be watching to see how you recover. If you fall apart, that’s going to drastically reduce your





score. But if you recover quickly, acknowledge the mistake and go right on, the board will see that you are someone with poise and control.

• It’s OK to change or expand on an answer, as long as you aren’t completely contradicting yourself. Just wait for a pause in the interview, then turn to the person who asked the question and say, “I’ve given your question some more thought. I would like to add that…”

• Thank the board members for their questions and show that you appreciate having an opportunity to interview for the police officer position. Sure, it’s their jobs to be there, but you need to let them know that you have respect for their positions and for the process, and that you understand it’s a privilege to be invited to interview. The board will remember a positive attitude.

• Remember that it’s OK to take a brief pause and think before you speak. In fact, it shows that you are giving the question due consideration. Just try not to hesitate too long or look away from the interviewer because that can be taken as an indication of deception.

• Do not use slang terms or improper grammar.

• Do not interrupt any of the board members while they are speaking. Also, listen carefully to the entire question before trying to answer. It’s human nature sometimes to be thinking of your response while the other person is still talking. But, if you assume you know what the rest of the question might be, you could miss something important.

• Make sure your answers are directly responsive to the question. If a board member starts out by saying that she admires your involvement in community youth sports, but would like to know why you haven’t put more time into your education, do not respond by talking about youth sports. Get right to the point of what she asked you. Explain your reasons for not pursuing more educational opportunities (but remember to put a positive spin on it.) If it helps you to remember, repeat a portion of the question in your answer. For example, “Ma’am, the reason I haven’t taken more college courses yet is that…”





• Address board members by title, such as Lieutenant, Sergeant, Director, Mr., Mrs., Sir, Ma’am, etc.

• Know when to stop talking. Answer the questions completely, but don’t offer unnecessary information. Police officers are trained interviewers and know that one highly effective technique is to let silence build. Most people are uncomfortable with silences during a conversation and will talk just to fill those moments.

The interviewers are going to leave moments open like that to see what you will say. Be patient and don’t speak when you don’t have anything relevant to say.

HOW THE ORAL INTERVIEW IS SCORED

Like any other test, passing or failing your police oral interview depends on whether you reached a predetermined score or not. You should know that this score is already set even before you set foot in the room where you are to be interviewed. This is based on what law enforcement agencies see as the





standards that make a good cop. It is important then that you pass this test with flying colors.

Unlike the written test, the oral interview is much more complex since the questions are not confined to just one right answer. A panel composed of seasoned veterans and experts is most likely to greet you for this part of your application. They receive a set of instructions on how to grade the answers of all applicants prior to interviewing them.

Although there are set standards, do remember that the panel is still made up of human beings. This means that scoring may be a bit subjective according to a panel member’s individual taste. Nevertheless, they still score your answers through a lens of objectivity. In other words, the scoring is in the same general direction for each panel member as set by instruction.

Each panel member is given a score sheet for each applicant before starting the interview. The standards may be the same for everyone but each panel members keeps their own score. This creates a wide range and disparity of scores among them.

It is quite a common practice in some agencies to discuss and evaluate the previous interview before moving on to the next applicant. It is not at all strange for them to compare scores and make sure that all important aspects of the interview were adequately tackled. In some cases though, panel members are required by law to submit their score sheets to a third party arbiter. This is usually someone who works under the human resources department and is done without any discussion at all.

Either way, you can expect all the score sheets to be combined and tallied together. The average is then computed and the result is the applicant’s final score for the interview.

As you can imagine, the panel members score each applicant in a number of areas. However, do not expect that a panel member will sound off which specific area he is grading you at any point of the interview. You would not notice it but they will ask away and between categories without you knowing it.

Behavior and Motivation

In this part of the test, applicants are scored based on their perceived behavior towards the police. Their desire to serve the general public is also looked into. As





a result, panel members also look into your motivation to do police work. the sweet spot they are looking for is your drive towards serving the public rather than making a career out of law enforcement.

The Position and Its Responsibilities

Like any other job, the board of interviewers will assess how much you understand as regards to what it is like to be police officers. In this section, you must demonstrate you knowledge on the duties and responsibilities of police officers. Applicants should be clear on their understanding on the risks involved in this line of work.

Above all, applicants should show the panel that they are pursuing a career in law enforcement and are serious about it. In this sense, you must how them that you have put a lot of time in deciding to undergo this application process. Keep in mind that they want people who truly want to become police officers and not just ones who are trying “for the sake of trying.”

Verbal Communication Skills

Being a police officer is serious business so you have to demonstrate the ability to make clear and organized thoughts even and especially while under pressure. On top of that, applicants must show that they can express these thoughts in a clear manner and be concise and straight to the point.

The way you communicate these ideas are subject to scrutiny as well. Police officers have to deal with a wide variety of people and situations. As a result, applicants must show that they are able to keep calm and speak with clarity. The choice of words is very important here so refrain from using street vernacular at all times.

Communication goes both ways so applicants must be able to hear out people as well. Your listening ability will be put to the test to make sure that you are capable of understanding the needs of others.

Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills are very important for police officers wince they are often deployed in the field. As such, an applicant is evaluated in terms of showing respect, values and feelings from other people. The ability to identify and respect the viewpoints of others is looked into as well. This is all in line with maintaining a cooperative relationship with as many people as possible.





Problem Solving Skills

Police officers are no strangers when it comes to problems from other people. This makes it necessary for applicants to show that they are capable of identifying any underlying problems and provide mediation and answers. These answers must be reasonable and relevant to the problem being resolved.

Another important aspect related to this pursuit is making good judgment calls. Police officers are often faced with difficult situations to address. For this reason, applicants are evaluated according to the kind of judgment they may make out in the field.

These are all the areas that interview panels consider in evaluating all applicants. On the other hand, there may be slight differences regarding what panels may consider the “important stuff.” Other important areas you should be concerned about are your confidence and integrity. Your maturity and personal appearance are important as well.

Keep in mind that these individual areas are just parts of a whole. In other words, it is not just one aspect you should worry about but all of them.

QUESTIONS

Every department has its own set of questions for the oral interview board, so there is no way to know exactly what you are going to be asked. In fact, many departments specifically tell candidates not to share what they were asked during their interviews. However, there are several commonly used questions that tend to come up during most interview boards. They usually follow two basic forms: interrogatory questions aimed at learning more about your mindset





and why you are applying for the job, and scenario questions aimed at learning about your judgment in reacting to certain situations.

As you study the questions below, try to focus on the spirit and purpose of the questions, rather than the specifics themselves. That way, you are prepared for the types of questions that may be asked during your interview, even if the details of the questions differ from these.

You also want to pay a lot of attention on what the question is really about. Some may appear to trick you but keep a level head and approach the question as you normally would. However, there are other things you have to keep in mind.

Police officers may be charged with enforcing the law but they are not by any means above it. Any wrongdoings by fellow officers are dealt with accordingly with no special treatment whatsoever. This means that police officers are expected to conform to a higher standard which is not usually accorded to the general public.

Police officers are not given any special treatment in anything so do not expect one if you do make it into the force. They are not allowed to report on the job intoxicated or under the influence. Stealing, robbing, battery and other crimes are certainly out of the question.

Despite what you see in the movies, no police officer is expected to “play the hero” and go at it alone. More often than not, a police officer will not hesitate to call for backup especially when needed. They are after all human beings with the same set of concerns, vulnerabilities and limitations. Keep these things in mind as you try and come up with your own answer.

The main purpose of the panel interview is to find out whether or not you are fit to do your duties. Each member of the panel wants to know if you are up for the job and are able to work within a team to get things done. Only the best results are expected as a fine police officer who are faced with dangers and challenges each and every day.

This interview also presents you a chance to let the panel members get to know the real you. The questions they will be asking you are most likely to cover some, or in some cases all, of the topics listed below. These are:

o Communication Skills





o How much you know about the job

o How much time and effort you put into preparation

o Honesty

o Integrity

o Reliability

o Level of maturity

o Adherence to strict standards and rules

o Working without constant supervision

o Selfcontrol

o Sound judgment

o Empathy

o Common sense

o Dedication

o Assertiveness

o Selfconfidence

o Enthusiasm

o Adaptability

Specifically, you may be asked the following questions:

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: Why do you want to be a police officer?





The board wants to know whether your motivations for wanting to get into police work and your expectations of the job are realistic and mature.

Luckily, you’ve already put some thought into this question. Again, just saying “I want to help people,” is not going to cut it. It’s OK to say that if it’s true, but go further. Be honest. If the steady pay and good benefits were a factor in your decision, say so. If you’ve always wanted to protect people from bullies, or investigate crimes, or help keep kids out of gangs, say that.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: Why do you want to work for this department?

This is another question to determine whether you’ve fully thought out your application and to see how well you might fit with the goals and focus of the department.

Since you’ve already spent your preparation time learning about the department, you know the positive attributes of the agency. It might be known for having a good relationship with minority communities – or for needing to improve those relationships – or it might be known for the excellence of its criminal investigators. Highlight those positives and tell the board why those things drew you to that agency, as well as how you think you can be an asset to the agency by helping to build on those positives.

Two answers to avoid: “Everybody knows this is the best department,” and “This is the only department that was hiring.” The first is too generic, and the second says you don’t really care where you work.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: What have you done to prepare yourself to be a police officer?

Like the two above, the purpose of the question is to determine whether you made a mature, informed decision to become a police officer or are just applying on a whim. This is your chance to tell the board that this is a goal that you have been working toward for years.

Explain how you took courses in sociology, psychology, or criminal justice in college to be better able to understand police issues. Talk about the books you’ve read on conflict resolution to become better at dealing with disputes.





Tell them how you run three miles every day to ensure that you are physically fit. Describe the ridealongs you’ve been on to learn about the daytoday work of being an officer.

One note: The board does not want to hear about all the martial arts classes you’ve taken and all the time you spend on the firing range. That will only suggest to them that you have a TV view of being a police officer.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: Tell us about yourself.

This seems like a simple question, but keep in mind that the board will be listening carefully to determine whether you can provide a concise, informative and relevant answer to an openended question and to gain insight into you based on what you think is important to share in this setting.

Your answer generally should be limited to your education, military service, community involvement and work experiences that are relevant to police work. Explain concisely how your past experiences and achievements will help make you a good police officer. The interviewers don’t need to hear your life story, so keep it brief and to the point.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: What are some of your strengths? Weaknesses?

Another twolevel question. On the first level, the interviewers will learn about potential skills and shortcomings you have. On the second level, they will learn what you consider to be important, which will also tell the board a lot about you.

For strengths, they are looking for those positive attributes which will benefit the department and the community. Again, not tactical skills, but your ability to mediate disputes, to learn other cultures, to maintain your integrity in the face of great temptation.

For weaknesses, some will advise you to give examples of “weaknesses” that are actually disguised strengths, such as saying that you sometimes work too hard or are too honest. Don’t do that. Police officers tend to be – by nature, training and experience – fairly skeptical. They will recognize insincerity and score that





against you. Instead, be honest with the board about some of your actual weaknesses. If your math skills need work, admit that and say you are working on it. If you are a slow typist and need more practice, tell them that. Obviously, you should try to avoid weaknesses that might disqualify you from the job, such as being a poor driver or having a tendency to be tardy.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: What do you enjoy doing when you are off duty?

Everything a police officer does reflects on the department, even when the officer is not working, so the board wants to know what kind of activities you participate in daytoday. This is where you tell the board about the time you spend with your family, the sports you play, your volunteer work, the classes you take or your church. It is not a good idea to tell the interviewers about your favorite bar, going clubbing, or the strip clubs where you hang out. In fact, if you do those things, you might want to think about giving them up or cutting back before becoming a police officer.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: Do You Have A Background Or Prior Experience In A Job That Relates To Law Enforcement?

Any experience serving in the military or a job as a security guard should come up at this point. Be sure to discuss all your responsibilities in your previous job as it relates to law enforcement. It is also a good idea to highlight any educational background such as a degree in criminal justice at this point. Seminars that discussed anything about this line of work such as police preparation seminars and discussion forums you have attended should be mentioned as well. All these things add up in the long run so be sure to use them to your advantage.

Having no previous experience in law enforcement does not negatively affect your chances at all. Other seemingly unrelated facts such as regularly working out and attending to the needs of others may help you as well. As you may already know, these are actually part of the qualities and responsibilities that are expected from police officers. In this regard, you want to look for other traits you possess and activities you are engaged in to give you a better chance at success.





→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: What kind of work are you expecting to do as a new police officer?

It always works best to answer this question as honestly as you can. Being a new recruit, do not expect to work during the best hours in the department. You will most likely be assigned for “grunt work” at virtually any work shift. It is not strange for rookies to be assigned their own area to patrol with limited supervision. This also gives you a crash course on what it is really like to work as a police officer.

Expect to answer distress calls ranging from simple problems to serious crimes currently in progress. You will conduct routine traffic stops and write tickets, settle domestic disputes and make arrests when necessary.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: Tell us about your friends.

Again, this is a question about how your behavior is going to reflect on the agency because who you choose to hang out with can affect how you are perceived in the community. Obviously, you want to the board to know you have strong, longlasting relationships with upstanding people. If you are friends with people already working for the police department, mention them at this point. Also, describe the friends you have who are a good influence on you and who are respected in the community.

It’s possible that you have friends who have been in some trouble. Many people do, and it’s natural to want to be loyal to them. But you need to make clear to the board that you separate yourself from friends who break the law or engage in other bad behavior that could reflect poorly upon you and the department. And remember, it’s better to be honest now about some possibly questionable friendships than to have them come up later in the background investigation.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: Who is the most influential person in your life?

Again, the board is looking for insight into who you are and wants to see that you have a strong moral and spiritual foundation.

Do not tell the board that you don’t look up to anyone. That reflects cynicism, which is not a good quality in an aspiring police officer. Think of someone in your life who gives you good advice, is a good example and always has your best





interests in mind. That could be anyone from your father to a supervisor you respect. Tell the board about the person, what you admire about him and the positive effects he has had on your life.

Your answer to this question also will reveal something about your maturity. Respecting and taking guidance from a teacher, or a parent, or the pastor of your church is a mature choice. Being influenced by a movie actor or a musician is not. Keep that in mind when giving your response.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: What challenges have you had in your life and what have you done to overcome them?

You may be a young police candidate, but the board still wants to know that you have had at least some life experiences that have taught you how to persevere, react positively to negative situations and adapt to difficult circumstances – all traits and skills you will need as a police officer.

This shouldn’t be difficult because few people have gotten past their late teens or early 20s without having to face some obstacles. Maybe your family was low income and couldn’t afford to send you to college. Maybe you had an illness as a child. Maybe one or both parents had alcohol or drug problems. Just about everyone has had something.

The key is to present those circumstances to the board in a way that makes clear you don’t feel sorry for yourself. Describe them simply as obstacles that you successfully overcame. Tell the board that those challenges made you stronger, taught you about yourself and presented you with an opportunity to learn new skills. If you had dyslexia, tell the board how you trained yourself to work twice as hard on your studies. If your best friend in high school killed himself, tell the board that you learned how to channel your grief into helping other people.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: In your opinion, when is it appropriate for a police officer to resort to using physical force?

Police brutality is a stingy issue with police officers and they certainly do not want any hotheads in the force. It may not be too obvious but this question is





actually intended to evaluate your personality and see if you have control over your aggression.

There are actually guidelines that dictate how police officers should behave around suspects when making arrests. The use of physical force is only allowed when the suspect does not comply with a police officer’s commands. The same can be said if a suspect tries to escape or resist arrest. An officer is allowed to defend himself when he is attacked as well.

→ INTERROGATORY QUESTION: What is the one thing that interests you most on a career in law enforcement?

This question requires a more personal answer from yourself. As such, this guide cannot give the answer for you. As a tip though, try to look into why you really want to become a police officer. That way, the panel members get a chance to see what really motivates you to go through this process.

→ Interrogatory Question: What are your major strengths/weaknesses?

It is quite arrogant to say that you do not have any weakness and list every positive quality as your strength. Be truthful in answering these questions and keep your head out of the clouds. When citing a weakness, try to frame it in a positive manner. It is also obvious to not cite anything that might disqualify you from your application. This guide is not encouraging you to lie though.

ORAL INTERVIEW PANEL SCENARIO QUESTIONS

Another set of questions will be given after the initial set. This time, the questions you have to answer are based on a few scenarios that police officers often encounter in real life. This is done to evaluate your ability to handle a given situation. Your judgment and reasoning are scrutinized as well.





Keep in mind that the panel of interviewers does not expect you to react and give answers like an experienced police officer would. You do however need to demonstrate that you can react to these situations in an appropriate manner. For this reason, you want to take your time before you give your answer.

A scenario question typically starts with a story that puts you in a common scenario that police officers encounter in real life. Pay attention as you are told the story since this provides the context of the question as well as your answer. Keep in mind though that there may be much more for you to uncover. This requires careful analysis so you do not miss out on the details.

There are plenty of scenarios that put you in a wide variety of questions. A common trick question used is as follows:

Panel members tell you that you should make an arrest in a domestic battery case if you are able to determine the primary physical aggressor as required by law. Upon arriving on the scene, you confirm that a domestic battery did happen and it is the male who is the primary physical aggressor. They throw you a bone however when you are told that the female does not wish to press charges. The question now is, what do you do?

Obviously, you need to think first before starting to answer. In this scenario, you are caught between the requirements of the law and the female’s intention of not pressing charges. Most applicants would probably be stumped by this turn of events. This fact is known as a mask and is intentionally told to throw you off. The scenario above clearly requires some careful thinking. To answer the question, you are legally required to make the arrest.

The following are other common questions that may be used to test your mettle. You may find other scenario questions at the last part of this eBook in the appendix section.

→ SCENARIO QUESTION: You are dispatched to a report of an assault outside of a local restaurant. Upon arrival, you find your best friend and another man engaged in an altercation in the parking lot and witness your friend striking the other man. After investigation, you learn that it was a verbal dispute and that your friend was the aggressor. What do you do?





It’s a tough question that requires a tough answer. All the board wants to know is whether you will do the right thing when it’s required of you, no matter how difficult or distasteful. The only response you can give in this situation is that you would perform your duty as per the law and department policy – you would make the arrest on the charge of assault.

→ SCENARIO QUESTION: You are on patrol in your assigned area and witness your pastor fail to obey a traffic control device. What action do you take?

Same answer as above. You follow the law and department policy. You would treat your pastor no differently than you would any other driver that you stopped for the same violation.

In a followup question, an interviewer might tell you that such violations are a matter of officer discretion and that whether you issue a ticket is up to you. What would you do then? Again, the answer is that you would handle the situation the same as you would for any other driver. If you typically would issue a warning, then that’s what you would do in this case. If you typically would issue a citation, then you would do that.

→ SCENARIO QUESTION: The officer who drives your patrol unit on the shift before you frequently leaves trash and personal items in the front seat. When you asked him to remember to clean the unit at the end of his shift, he became argumentative. How would you handle this situation?

This question is about your interpersonal skills and ability to resolve disputes in a calm, effective manner. The board wants to hear two things: one, that would attempt to work it out with the other officer without becoming angry and confrontational, and two, that you would follow departmental policies in handling the dispute.

Give specifics on what you might say. Explain that you would give the situation time to cool off, then maybe approach the other officer and tell him that the messy workspace makes it more difficult for you to perform your job. You could say that you would explain to him that when he cleans out the car at the end of his shift, it helps you get out on the street more quickly, reducing outofservice time. Say you would ask him how you could help him to remember to clean up.





Tell the board that if you can’t resolve the dispute by speaking to the other officer, you might ask a neutral third party to help mediate. And, if that failed, then you would do whatever department policy dictates, which likely would include asking the squad sergeant to speak to the other officer, writing a report to the shift commander, or seeking additional help from the chain of command.

→ SCENARIO QUESTION: During meal breaks, you and three other officers usually go to a popular restaurant to eat. After eating, each officer is expected to pay for his own meal. However, you notice that one officer regularly puts his check in his pocket and leaves the restaurant without paying. How would you handle that situation?

This question is a test of both your integrity and your ability to follow department policies. The board wants to hear that you would report the incident to the chain of command, as set forth in the department’s general orders.

Look, in reality, you probably would just ask your fellow officer what was going on and would be extremely reluctant to “rat” on him. But the board needs to know that you understand what your obligations are in this situation and that you would follow the rules. So, you tell the interviewers that you would tell your immediate supervisor what you saw and follow department protocol for reporting improper behavior by another officer.

In a followup question, you may be asked what you would do if the officer involved was your supervisor. The answer is that you would follow department policy in reporting improper behavior by a supervisor. Make sure you note that you would not jump the chain of command unless specifically required to do so by policy.

→ SCENARIO QUESTION: You are responding to a burglary in progress call with your lights and sirens activated. You go through a stop sign and hit a minivan carrying a mother and her three children. What would you do?

The ostensible purpose of a question like this is to see what kind of judgment you would exercise in an emergency. However, the real purpose is to test your ability





to think on your feet and render a fast, commonsense response while under pressure.

Breathe and take a minute to compose your answer. Prioritize your response so that you first ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the scenario. Then, make sure all laws are properly being followed. Then, that you are in compliance with all department policies.

To apply that to the crash scenario, you would call the crash into dispatch to get help on the way, check the condition of the minivan’s occupants to determine whether you need to render first aid, and check the roadway for additional hazards. You would probably mark the crash scene with warning indicators, both to ensure safety and comply with traffic regulations. And then, since it’s probably department policy, you would call your supervisor to notify him of an officerinvolved crash.

→ SCENARIO QUESTION: You are dispatched to a verbal dispute between neighbors in a residential area. On arrival, you see two men shouting at each other in the front yard of a home. You approach and order both men to step apart and stop shouting. Both comply, but one man utters a racial slur toward you as he does. How would you react?

This one should be obvious. When you answer a call, you are there as a representative of the law and the department, not as an individual. The board wants to know that you are able to separate your personal feelings from the job at hand.

The proper response here is that you would ask the man to remain calm and refrain from using racial slurs, but that, while acknowledging that you are human and would find his words personally offensive, you would not allow it to make you angry or to take action against him. Explain that you understand one of your responsibilities as a police officer is to keep your ego firmly in check.

Section 3: Wrapping up the Oral Interview





In some states, such as Florida, many law enforcement agencies hire officers only after they have been through the police academy. If you go to the oral interview board after having been to the academy, you can usually expect some questions on legal topics that were covered during your training. This shouldn’t be a problem, as you’ve likely just spent the last several months having them drilled into you, so just be aware those questions could come up.

After the board has finished asking questions, they may ask if you have any questions you would like to ask. Have some. It will show the board that you are thinking about the job and engaged in the process. Ask what you can do to make yourself an even better candidate, ask what training opportunities are available if you are hired, ask which is the most challenging patrol zone to work. Don’t ask how much you will get paid, or how much vacation time you get. (You can always get that information from the department website.)

Finally, the board may give you a chance to make a brief summation before the interview ends. If so, have a closing statement prepared. Touch on the positive attributes you could bring to the department and how those attributes could contribute to the department’s mission. Reiterate your strong desire to serve the community as a police officer. Thank the board for taking the time to interview you.

Stand up, shake hands, thank the board members again and walk out the door with your head held high.

Then, as soon as you get an opportunity, find somewhere you can sit down and write some notes on what the interviewers asked and how you responded. This will help you polish your responses because this may not be your last interview. In some small and midsize departments, candidates have one final interview with the chief of police before being offered a position. You don’t want to make it through the entire process, then fail to make a good impression on the chief.





10 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Police Oral Interview

Ø Tardiness for any reason

It doesn’t matter if there was a 10car pileup on the expressway that blocked traffic. You can be sure that someone on the board will ask why you didn’t research an alternate route and leave extra early in case of emergencies. Unless you stopped to pull a family of four out of a burning house, no excuse will be accepted. And even then, you might be asked why you didn’t just let the fire department do its job.

Ø Sloppy appearance

You will have several weeks to prepare for this interview, so the board will not understand if you show up in anything but professional business attire and are not wellgroomed. The only message it communicates is that you don’t care about the job or just don’t pay attention to details. And excuses won’t count here, either. If you hit a bump in the road and spilled your coffee on your pressed shirt, you still won’t get any sympathy from the interviewers. Again, it’s a matter of preparation. Why did you drink coffee in the car? Or why did you not bring an extra shirt in case you had an accident? The board always will expect you to have anticipated problems.

Ø Indifference or lack of enthusiasm

No boss, regardless of the career field, wants an employee who appears less than interested in the job. If you don’t seem to care that much about whether you get the job, you probably aren’t going to care very much about doing a good job. This is even more important when it comes to applying to a law enforcement agency. Ask any officer, and he will tell you that police work is not just a career, it’s a calling. As such, the board





will be expecting to see a certain degree of controlled enthusiasm and passion for this job.

Ø Failure to ask questions

This is related to the mistake above. When the board asks if you have any questions for them about the job or the agency, they expect for you to have some things on your mind. If you don’t ask any questions, it leaves a very clear impression that you aren’t all that interested in the job. It means you aren’t looking forward and thinking about your career, which also means that you aren’t a serious and mature person.

Ø Not having goals or a career plan

One of the key attributes the board will be looking for in officer candidates is stability. It costs thousands of dollars to train police officers, so the department is only interested in hiring people who plan to stay around and make a long career of it. If you lack goals, that shows you may not be as serious about police work as you say. And, like failing to ask questions, it also shows that you haven’t fully matured yet.

Ø Badmouthing former employers or other law enforcement agencies

This is just bad form all the way around. You may have good reason for disliking a former employer, but talking about it at the interview just makes you seem bitter and disgruntled. And since bad attitudes are contagious – remember the saying about the bad apple and the barrel – the board will have no interest in adding a disgruntled officer to the department. Also, the board may ask you about other departments where you have applied. You might be tempted to say those other departments aren’t as good as this one (especially if any of those others turned you down) but that just makes you look bad for applying to a department you don’t respect. And the board may wonder what you will say about their agency when you are talking to other departments.

Ø Fidgeting, nervousness and lack of eye contact





The board primarily will be made up of police officers who have been trained to spot deception. And guess what? People who are lying tend to be nervous about it and often will squirm and look away from the person who is speaking. So if you are behaving that way during the oral interview, you can bet every officer on the board will get the impression that you are lying about at least some of your answers. Even if they give you the benefit of the doubt and just take it for ordinary nerves, they will see that you lack confidence, which is a very bad trait for a police officer.

Ø Arrogance or aggressiveness

These are fatal flaws in a police officer that can damage the department’s relationship with the community and possibly even lead to unnecessary violent situations on the street. No department is going to be interested in hiring a candidate who acts as if he knows everything, is above the rules, or is a macho tough guy. Your job in the interview is first to listen and second to give truthful responses. You are not there to lecture, to tell the board members how their department should be run, or to talk about how well you can fight or shoot.

Ø Dishonesty

At some agencies, the oral interview comes after the background investigation. In that case, the board members will have copies of your personal history questionnaire and the background results and will know almost everything there is to know about you. If the background comes after the interview, the investigator will have notes on everything you said to the board in the interview. Either way, if you lie about anything, it will come out. Honesty is the cornerstone of police work, so getting caught in even the smallest fib will get you tossed immediately.

Ø Failure to use proper diction and grammar

No matter how educated someone is, if that person does not speak clearly, uses a lot of slang or profanity, or does not use proper grammar, other people assume that person is not very smart. The interview board is not interested in hiring ignorant officers. If you mumble or use poor





grammar through your interview, you are going to leave the board with the impression that you are uneducated and incapable of communicating in an articulate manner. That will automatically disqualify you for consideration. Period.

Ø Failure to thank the board members for their time

Remember, you are asking these people for a job. You need to show that you are grateful that they took the time to hear what you had to say. That doesn’t mean you have to be obsequious, just that you need to express your appreciation both with words and by acting as if you are engaged and invested in their process. Those are the things the board will remember when completing your interview evaluation.

Additional Scenario Base Questions

Q: A burglary is reported at a convenience store and you arrive on the scene and find that the said store is closed for the night. Upon closer inspection, you and your partner find that the cash register has been stolen. Dispatch relays that the storeowner is coming over to inspect the damage. This takes some time and your partner opens a bag of chips and eats them. He even takes some candy bars and hides them in the patrol car. What do you do?

A: the best thing to do here is to try and talk your partner into doing the right thing. Spend some time convincing him to return the candy bars. If he still does not comply, you may report him to your supervisor after responding to the call.

Q: In a routine traffic stop, the driver steps out of his car and seems intoxicated and reeks of alcohol. Your suspicion is confirmed when the driver fails a field sobriety test. As you are about to lock him up for this offense, he introduces himself as the son of the City Manager. He then threatens you to get fired if you lock him up. What do you do?

A: Regardless of his affiliation, the driver must spend some time behind bars since he did break the law. Not doing so would present further danger not only to himself but to others as well. Be sure to note every little detail about the





incident in your report and mention the threat about your job. Due to his relation to a highranking official, it is best to notify your supervisor while on the scene.

Q: You are about to write a ticket during a routine traffic stop when you receive a message over the radio. Apparently a violent crime is in progress over at your assigned area. What is the best course of action in this scenario?

A: A violent crime is certainly more important than a traffic stop. You can let the driver go with a warning and make your way to the scene as fast as you can. These types of crimes usually produce casualties and there is a good chance that someone has sustained injuries. Given this fact, you are needed here to provide additional backup than anywhere else.

Q: You respond to a report of theft at a nearby department store and apprehend a suspect. You cuff him and is placed in the back of the patrol car for custody. When you are about to leave, he begins infuriating your partner by calling him names. The insults get to your partner’s head and he steps out of the car and punches the suspect in retaliation. What do you do?

A: The use of force is no longer necessary when a suspect that is handcuffed and under control. The first thing you should do is to get medical attention for the suspect if it is needed. Also, try to see what is wrong with your partner and talk about it. Tell you supervisor of what happened and put a request for his arrival on the scene.

Understandably, your partner is angry because of the insults but this does not give him the legal right to commit a crime against the suspect.

Q: Several complaints of speeders are reported around a school zone and you are called in to investigate. While on patrol, you notice a car that travels faster than the law allows and immediate pull the driver over. As it turns out, the driver is in fact your motherinlaw. What is the best course of action in this scenario?

A: Some might find this situation a bit more difficult than others. Remember that this question is also designed to test your honesty and ability to enforce the law.

Police are allowed by law to either issue a ticket or give a warning. In this scenario, a warning may be enough but you have to make it clear with your motherinlaw to follow the established speeding law around school zones.





Q: When patrolling a business district in the wee hours of the morning, you find one of the establishment’s front door pried open. What do you do?

A: You may be tempted to spring into action and investigate by yourself but this is not a good idea unless it is part of the movie script. It is better to notify dispatch over the radio of your situation and ask for backup. You do not want to go at it alone for reasons concerning your own safety.

Q: You have just finished eating a meal at a local restaurant along with a fellow officer. When presented with the bill, you find that you were not charged and that your meal is free. What would you do?

A: This is obviously asked to test your integrity so be careful and think it through before you give your answer. In such a situation, it is better to thank the establishment for extending a token of their appreciation but insist on paying your dues. Accepting such tokens might put yourself or your department in trouble in the long run.

Your fellow officer should do the same thing as well. However, if he chooses otherwise try to convince him to pay his half of the bill first. When all else fails, you should take it up to your supervisor.

Q: You and a fellow officer respond to a report of burglary at a residential area. After going through the house, you find nothing out of place. However, you see your partner take a $20 bill and put it in his pocket. What would you do?

A: Similar to the question above, this one tests your integrity. In this scenario, the officer in question has obviously committed theft which is a crime. Be sure to report this incident to your supervisor otherwise you might be implicated as well.

Q: A fellow officer shows up for work and has obviously had more to drink before he did. It is also possible that he has a drinking problem. What would you do?

A: Officers are not allowed to be on duty while under the influence because of the fact that they are carrying a gun and driving a patrol car. This puts several lives at risk which includes even his own. The best way to deal with this kind of situation is to consult with your supervisor right away.

Q: A fight at a local bar is reported and you are called in to investigate. Upon arriving on the scene, you find that the fight is still going on. What would you do?





A: Like other scenes, it is important for you to take control of the situation to prevent it from getting any worse. When this is done, you need to interview all witnesses separately to piece together the heart of the matter. After this, you can take the necessary actions such as making arrests or giving citations as provided by the law.

Typical Questions To Expect On Your Oral Board Interview

This section provides even more questions that may of may not be asked during your interview. Nevertheless, you can bet that it is possible for some of these questions to turn up. Even then, you may still go over these questions and prepare yourself for the real thing.

Q: What kind of experiences do you have at home or from work that may help you in dealing with an angry mob? What sort of things would you do to handle this kind of situation?

This question is clearly a quick test on how you are able to manage and deal with a hostile situation. More often than not, police officers may be called in to subdue a rioting crowd or resolve a domestic dispute. This usually involves a negotiation with all parties concerned to look for a peaceful resolution. However, it is not uncommon for negotiations to break down and may even lead to the need to use force.

Q: Give an instance when you had to make an unpopular decision and its outcome?

A police officer is often faced with making difficult decision perhaps more than any other line of work. You cannot keep everyone happy at the same time and this is especially true when making arrests. You are bound to make someone angry at your decisions as a police officer and this number only grows throughout your career. This question allows panel members to assess whether you are capable of dealing with this fact or not.

Q: Will being assigned in area where you are part of the minority have a negative effect on the performance of your duties?





This is a concern more for applicants who have different ethnic backgrounds. Due to racial diversity in and around some major cities, a panel member is inclined to ask this question. Being out of place of course may affect the way you carry out a police officer’s duties and responsibilities. This question is more of an assessment on how you would react to this fact and your attempts to resolve it.

Q: Will you have any problem at all with working for a woman or being subject to a woman’s authority?

This question is concerned with diversity and is intended to find any underlying problem with men working for women. The police force opens its doors for just about anyone who can qualify and meet their strict standards and this result in a diverse workforce. You may be given an assignment where you will be working for and subject to a woman’s supervision. The panel members need to know if you find this a problem or not.

Q: Would you take someone’s life if you were put in a situation that calls for such an action?

A police officer’s job is dangerous and that is no secret. There will always come a time where you have to make a decision that may take someone’s life away. Sometime you may even be ordered to do it. Not everyone is cut out for this which is what this question is trying to determine. Admittedly, this is a tough decision to make and you need to be able to deal with the stress that comes afterwards.

Q: How does your family feel about your chosen career? Do they have any problems with this and have you discussed these with them?

Police officers are human beings with families and friends as well. The risks associated with this line of work may be too much for these people and may have an effect on the performance of your duties. The threat of being killed on duty is very real and this could very well happen when you least expect it. This often creates emotional and psychological stress among the people around and close to a police officer. This makes it necessary for not only yourself but your family to deal with such a possibility.

Q: If you are in a situation where you actions are allowed by law but not by your moral conscience, what would you do?





Police officers come in all shapes and sizes and certainly have different moral and ethical backgrounds. While an action may be allowed by the law, a situation may arise that presents a dilemma regarding your personal values. Keep in mind though that a police officer has sworn an oath to uphold the law and not his personal bias.

Q: How do you handle stressful situations?

The work involved in law enforcement is not only dangerous but can be very stressful as well. Sometimes you are required to work long and unconventional hours that keeps you awake when everyone else is asleep. The physical stress from this line of work is quite obvious but emotional and psychological stressors are evident as well. There is no way out of these things if you want to keep you job so you need to be able to deal with these without affecting your work.

Q: A homeless man is arrested by you and your Field Training Officer (FTO) who then spits on him. In retaliation, the FTO punches the man, what do you do?

Not much information is given on this question so you will have to improvise. If the suspect has been subdued and under control, there is definitely no need for the use of force and the action by the FTO is uncalled for. In such a case, it is better to report to your supervisor and tell him the events that transpired.

On the other hand, force is allowed if the suspect tries to make a break for it and run off. The man may also try to evade arrest and a similar action is allowed by the law until he is subdued.

More questions will be waiting in your interview and it is up to you to prepare for all of them. The questions cover a wide variety of topics but they all relate to law enforcement. Remember to keep calm and do not be so nervous and you will do just fine.





Body Language Advice

You may not realize it but body language is actually more important than spoken word when it comes to communication. It reveals a lot about your true intentions without saying a single word. Police officers take advantage of this fact and are trained to pick up on cues given by people. It comes as no surprise that panel members are wellversed in this skill as well.

Given this information, you need to be aware of what you are doing at any given time. You should know that there are subtle hints that can give you away to these experts. This section will explore some of the more common ones you should know about.

A barrier is often indicated by arms crossed over the chest. This could mean that you are trying to hide something or simply not want to share it. Anxiety or dishonesty could be possible as well. It is normal to be nervous during the course of interview but you must avoid crossing your arms by all means. Panel members might mistake this as a distancing gesture which can badly affect your communication skills test. The same can also be said with keeping your hand inside your pockets and fiddling with something.

Similarly, hands placed on the hips are a signal of power and that you want to in control. Play it safe by comfortably placing your hands on the sides or on your lap instead.

Eye contact with the panel members is important as this shows confidence on your part. However, you do not want to stare someone down and do it too much. Shoot straight for something else that would make you look at the general direction of the panel member if you are not comfortable with eye contact. Also, keep a relaxed smile as much as you can.

The interview process is not new so the panel members are not really expecting you to be all confident and not show even the slightest hint of anxiety. Sitting inside a room with three veteran officers for a job interview is not an easy task after all. Chances are they have been in a similar situation as you are and they would understand.

Try to act as normal and cool as possible. Breathe as normally as you would and make it a point not to lock your knees when standing up. Do this so you will not





pass out in front of the panel members which would be a definite source of embarrassment.



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