As the economy continues to falter the number of people applying for a police oral board interview is growing rapidly. This means that applicants who want to succeed in this situation must prepare carefully and look for some professional guidance as well. Above all, they need to become familiar with the wide range of questions that are used and be ready to answer them correctly.
To achieve a high score in this type of interview, you will need outstanding communication skills, which include body language, so that the panelists can find out everything they need to know about you. Their goal is to determine exactly how knowledgeable you are and learn how you intend to use that knowledge as a police officer.
Learning about the interviewers
The panel that conducts a police oral board interview consists of 3-5 members who ask candidates a set of job-related questions, rate the answers they give, and score them as well. Then, these scores are compared with those of other applicants and the required passing score. In some police departments, candidates cannot proceed with the application process if they fail their police oral board interview.
Remember that panelists are chosen by the department based on their professionalism and their dedication to the community and public safety. Note also that they are not permitted to accept school transcripts, resumes, commendations or any other supplemental material you have received that might unfairly influence their decision.
What you should know about the process
A police oral board interview is made up of two parts. Part one is used to examine the candidate’s personality and determine his or her suitability for working in law enforcement, and part two contains situational-type questions to assess their problem-solving capabilities and judgment in dealing with real-life situations.
Preparing for a police oral board interview
Begin by doing some research and learning all that you can about your target police department. This can be easily done today with access to the Internet, and you will want to arm yourself with valuable information regarding the way in which it functions and the names of its key personnel. Use the website to determine the municipality’s population, the police chief’s name, the number of officers it employs, the size of the jurisdiction, its mission statement, and the department’s prevailing law enforcement philosophy.
Developing confidence as you prepare
Before your interview day arrives, try to minimize any sign of nervousness or any indication that you fee unsure of yourself in going for the interview. To accomplish this, you can spend time observing yourself in a mirror, or even arrange a mock interview that you can videotape, When you view the tape, zero in on those moments where you did well and those other moments where something seemed to be lacking. There is no question that you will learn a lot from doing that and be better prepared for the test.
Checking your appearance
On the day of your interview, you will want to be looked upon as a total professional. With this in mind, men should opt for a dark suit with a conservative shirt and tie, and women should wear suitable business attire as well. Beyond that, every candidate will also want to be well-groomed.
When your interview day arrives
As is always the case when we meet someone for the first time, making a good first impression is basic to the success of a candidate’s oral board interview. When you enter the room, say “hello” and extend your hand to the first panel member. If it is accepted, shake hands with every panelist as you introduce yourself. Since each member will probably do the same, make every effort to remember the way in which they introduced themselves.
At a police oral board interview, the applicant is seated across the table from the panel members, and they take turns asking questions as they take notes and score the candidate’s answers. At the start, one of them will explain what is about to happen and how a police oral board interview is conducted. If you are provided with paper and pencil, you can use them to record the main points of the questions the board presents to you.
What you should know about the panel’s questions
They may vary from one police department to another, but as a rule, the questions are structured to see if you are familiar with various laws and procedures, and to determine if you are being truthful as well. A few of them are even designed to discover if you will give the department’s interests priority after you have been hired and are on the job.
Eye contact matters
Whether a spokesperson speaks for the panel or each panel members asks questions, be sure that you make eye contact with everyone in the room. Remember that in the world of law enforcement, when asking questions, making eye contact is regarded as a sign of the responder’s confidence and respect, and your effort to do that will not go unnoticed.
Know the elements of criminality
Many panels, especially those interviewing applicants who have completed a program at the police academy, question them on the elements of common violations of the law. This means that you should study your state’s criminal statutes and how they apply in a given situation. For example, you may be asked to supply a definition of burglary, or presented with a situation that contains the legal components of burglary.
When the interview has ended, stand up and approach every panel member, address each one according to their title or rank, and thank them for the opportunity they have given you as you shake their hand.
Getting the test results
In most cases, candidates who have received a passing score on their police oral board interview will be notified in a week or two via mail or e-mail, based on the timing of the next tests in the cycle. Using overall performance as a guide, the names of the most highly qualified applicants are submitted to the police department for additional processing. Also, final employment as a recruit is contingent on other factors in the hiring process, such as a written test, medical assessment, background investigation and physical agility.
Remember that even if candidates successfully complete every stage of the application process, including the police oral board interview, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be hired by the police department they have targeted. Those who make these decisions will weigh several factors, including every candidate’s performance during the interview, the applicant’s prior education, preparation, training and commitment, and the needs of the police department at the time.