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I was reading Falconis' threat (sticky) on some advise regarding how to become a police officer.
I agree with what Falconis said 100%. May I stress however that part of being honest is NOT to omit anything on your PHQ, psych, poly and background interview.
When you get your personal history questionnaire -PHQ (which I think is a standard for all agencies because its a POST thing), make several photocopies before writing your final answer down. Get one copy of your PHQ and then write your initial answers via pencil. You are going to write down previous employees and references; please make sure they are available. It helps if you buy them a cup of coffee, catch up on things and let them know to expect a phone call from a background investigator. You want to make it easy for your background investigator to contact these references. If the investigators work is easy, it will speed up the process. Nothing irks a background investigator than to play phone tag with a reference. Line up everything from references to diplomas and other pertinent paperwork you will need to present to the background investigator (including previous applications with other agencies). You want to present to the investigators that you are thorough, reliable and efficient. It makes a cause for them to fight (or vouch) for you come the selection hearing.
Review your PHQ. When you are done, review it again. As soon as you submit this, DO NOT CHANGE anything, background investigators will review this with you. DO NOT change your answers in front of the investigator when he asks you the same questions that you were supposed to write honestly and correctly on your PHQ sheet. These are the same questions that psych and polygraph folks ask- DO NOT CHANGE your answers or omit a thing. Everyone is trying to catch you make a hairline fracture of a mistake and this could make or break your acceptance to an agency. You are going to reveal yourself and they will know more of you than your mother or your wife. The only time you change something is when a reference is not able to be reached (short of dead really) and the investigator is asking for someone else.
Don't forget to thank the investigator at the end. Regardless of the outcome. Always thank the folks who are trying to help you get a job whether you think you have a shot or not at their department. These guys just did a lot of legwork. Before your selection hearing, give him/her a call to say thank you. Sometimes it's nice to hear that you just humbled yourself and tell him you really want the job.
Please do not mention that you were a sharpshooter or know how to disassemble a bomb blindfolded or run a 2-minute mile. There is no place for show-offs. You are going to the academy and you are only as fast as the slowest guy/gal in your class. Everyone starts from scratch and we work our way to SWAT teams and bomb squads; we all go to the same academy, do the same number of push-ups and mountain climbers and read the same learning domains. Unless your old man is the chief or you own your city and wanna put up your own department, cockiness should be set aside. I know someone who was a pastry chef (at 42 years old) who attended the same class I did 15 years ago. Up to now I have never met a harder worker, humble and just killed everyone with kindness (yes even the bad guys).
Good luck to all and hope this helps somewhat.
I agree with what Falconis said 100%. May I stress however that part of being honest is NOT to omit anything on your PHQ, psych, poly and background interview.
When you get your personal history questionnaire -PHQ (which I think is a standard for all agencies because its a POST thing), make several photocopies before writing your final answer down. Get one copy of your PHQ and then write your initial answers via pencil. You are going to write down previous employees and references; please make sure they are available. It helps if you buy them a cup of coffee, catch up on things and let them know to expect a phone call from a background investigator. You want to make it easy for your background investigator to contact these references. If the investigators work is easy, it will speed up the process. Nothing irks a background investigator than to play phone tag with a reference. Line up everything from references to diplomas and other pertinent paperwork you will need to present to the background investigator (including previous applications with other agencies). You want to present to the investigators that you are thorough, reliable and efficient. It makes a cause for them to fight (or vouch) for you come the selection hearing.
Review your PHQ. When you are done, review it again. As soon as you submit this, DO NOT CHANGE anything, background investigators will review this with you. DO NOT change your answers in front of the investigator when he asks you the same questions that you were supposed to write honestly and correctly on your PHQ sheet. These are the same questions that psych and polygraph folks ask- DO NOT CHANGE your answers or omit a thing. Everyone is trying to catch you make a hairline fracture of a mistake and this could make or break your acceptance to an agency. You are going to reveal yourself and they will know more of you than your mother or your wife. The only time you change something is when a reference is not able to be reached (short of dead really) and the investigator is asking for someone else.
Don't forget to thank the investigator at the end. Regardless of the outcome. Always thank the folks who are trying to help you get a job whether you think you have a shot or not at their department. These guys just did a lot of legwork. Before your selection hearing, give him/her a call to say thank you. Sometimes it's nice to hear that you just humbled yourself and tell him you really want the job.
Please do not mention that you were a sharpshooter or know how to disassemble a bomb blindfolded or run a 2-minute mile. There is no place for show-offs. You are going to the academy and you are only as fast as the slowest guy/gal in your class. Everyone starts from scratch and we work our way to SWAT teams and bomb squads; we all go to the same academy, do the same number of push-ups and mountain climbers and read the same learning domains. Unless your old man is the chief or you own your city and wanna put up your own department, cockiness should be set aside. I know someone who was a pastry chef (at 42 years old) who attended the same class I did 15 years ago. Up to now I have never met a harder worker, humble and just killed everyone with kindness (yes even the bad guys).
Good luck to all and hope this helps somewhat.
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