Oral board tomorrow for Signal Hill PD

[Streetbeatxd]

Any tips? First interview for me.

[chsk9]

Dress in a suit.
Sit straight in your chair, feet on the ground, hands in your lap. Relax!
Answer questions honestly promptly and look directly into at the board members.

[PositiveInfluence]

I have heard that you should answer questions to each person interviewing you, not just the person asking the question.If that makes sense.

[fullrearview]

Dress in a suit.
Sit straight in your chair, feet on the ground, hands in your lap. Relax!
Answer questions honestly promptly and look directly into at the board members.

But not too promptly... Think about your answers before you answer them. Accept the water if they offer it too.

[HarrisonS004]

Just take a few seconds to calm down. Think about your answers for while especially if they are hypothetical, which there probably will at least be some.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

The last question will likely be "Is there anything you'd like to add?" A lot of people say no because they are glad its over. That's why they are still civilians grousing and cop bashing on message boards.....

Use this last question to thank them for the interview, and add that you look forward to the opportunity to work for their department and be a role model for your family, the community, etc.

P.S. Make sure you know something about the demographics of the city, the name of the Chief, etc.

[Streetbeatxd]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Just arrived. Here goes nothing!

[HarrisonS004]

Good Luck!

[fal_762x51]

Did you do a ride along with their department? If not, do one before your interview.

[Streetbeatxd]

Didn't get to do one with their department unfortunately. But I did a few with other depts.

Apparently asking them at the end why they love working for signal hill is a bad idea, =\. it really was an honest question, but they didn't take too kindly to it. Feel like I bombed it. Nerves....always. It was a good learning experience though, hope to do better next time. Ugh...haven't had that "sinking feeling" in a long time...

[Notorious]

It's not a bad question... actually. I sit on interview boards (not by choice, I always get volunteered by someone else) and I like being asked by the interviewee about what I feel because they are doing research and asking me, as an employee, what I think of the place because... well... I work there.

In any event, you can always overdo it though and we had one that kept going and it became like she was interviewing us to see if our organization fit her. Well, we decided for her that maybe it didn't fit her.

However, you should already have some of the information you need in your research so you can always bring that up. Mention your research in that you saw on their website this and that and how you like this program they have or you have experience in that other program they ran... make that connection.

So... did you get the job and have they promoted you to Lieutenant yet?

[Streetbeatxd]

Didn't draw it out further as it wasn't answered. Was just told that they weren't the one's being interviewed and that wasn't the way to score points with them. I'll know by August 5th, but I definitely didn't feel good leaving that interview. Learn and move on right? I'll be better prepared next time hopefully.

[PositiveInfluence]

Have you already been through the academy?

[Streetbeatxd]

Not yet. Saving up enough to self sponsor myself as well as pay for rent. If my apps. don't pan out the way I want them to, then I'll put myself through the academy.

[BigDogatPlay]

Was just told that they weren't the one's being interviewed and that wasn't the way to score points with them.

Wow... tough crowd.

For the future... when asked if there is anything to add, that is your opportunity to really sell yourself. I sat on a lot of panels over the years, and am a hiring manager in the private sector now. Panel interviews are always the toughest and are usually always unnerving to the first timer.

One of the things I do now at the close of an interview is ask the candidate if they have any questions for me. We tend to get a lot of good questions, it draws the candidate out more and opens the door for them to sell. But it's up to them to step through it. People who don't engage or won't try to articulate and sell themselves when given the opportunity don't get offers from me or my peers.