In many police departments, it is common for the promotion process to include an oral interview. At the interview, a panel will ask you a variety of questions, but several in the series will likely focus on your strengths and weaknesses. Preparing ahead of time will help you appear decisive, honesty, and straightforward.
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Strength Question
Before the interview, pick a clear set of strengths you want to highlight. For example, some strengths are being self-motivation, a team player, determined, a natural leader hard-working, or self-confident. For each strength, be prepared to refer to previous work- including cases and arrests-to back up your claims.
It is best to pick strengths directly related to the position and to draw links about how they apply. This will give you an opportunity to highlight again how you are suited to the position. The oral examination board may ask you directly what are your greatest strengths, but there are a variety of ways the question is asked.
For example:
- What makes you uniquely qualified for this position?
- Tell us about yourself.
- How would your friend describe you?
However the question is phrased, it is your opportunity to showcase yourself and to drive home why you are the best person for the promotion. You can also use the question to show that you can have good judgment-making skills and leadership experience.
Weakness Question
As with strength question the oral examination board may probe more deeply than simply asking you to list your weakness. Everyone has a weakness, so pick one carefully and be prepared to provide an example of how it impacted follow up by explaining what you learned from the situation or how you now manage that weakness
Example:
- What do you find most stressful about your job?
- Discuss a time you lost your cool on the job.
- Highlight some areas where you need self-improvement.
If possible, try to qualify your weakness in a way that could be seen as a virtue. For example, if you say can be impatient, add that you have high standards and are demanding of those around you.
Another way to pick a weakness is to look at the job description for the position. Most police jobs have a page of duties and responsibilities. Pick one or two skills off the list that you need to work on and briefly describe them.
Be prepared, thought to explain how you’re already working toward improving in those areas, such as enrolling in classes to learn cyber-crime in investigative techniques. When these questions come up, it is important to answer truthfully and to give a response that shows you took some time for personal reflection ahead of being asked.
Also check – First Job Interview Tips / Harvard Interview Tips
Police Oral Board Interview Questions
The job of a police officer is often one of the top career paths for many men women. To become a police officer, however, it is as simple as deciding which police department you want to work for and checking the job opening. There is a comprehensive hearing process that includes several stages which can last a month to complete.
While many candidates worry about the written test or the background investigation, there is yet another component that you n need to be prepared for in order to get hired-that is the police oral board interview.
This is an important part of the selection process for many police agencies and most of them place significant importance on it. Thus, it is necessary to be aware of what the oral board interview looks like and what type of question you can expect in order to answer them properly.
Why do you think you would make a good police officer?
Everyone has a reason to choose the career of a police officer. Tell the interview what are your reasons. It might be because of a personal example you want to follow a relative them.
It might be because you are not satisfied with your career to people and serve the community. Mention that you have the passion and skills to do the job.
There is no wrong answer here, except perhaps saying that you will look cool with a gun and thus you can nail a partner.
What have you done to prepare yourself for a career in law enforcement?
This question aims to check whether you want to work as a police officer. You can tell the board what made you decide to pursue such a career and mention the steps you have made so far. This can be a degree that is suitable for a law enforcement career, for example, or you have done some community-related work, or that you have taken special courses in a given language or how to cope with teens, etc.
What is your weakness?
It is much easier to talk about your strengths but you will most certainly be asked about your greatest weakness as well. This is a tricky question as you need to provide an honest answer but still an answer that gives you some credit.
Choose a weakness that can become a strength in certain circumstances. Whatever you chose you to present it as a flaw that will not hinder your work as a police officer and that you are working on improving.
Note that too harsh answer such as “I cannot put up with stupidity! “Or “I am not good at following orders “will automatically disqualify you.
Police Interview Tips
- You must ensure that you arrive for the interview on time-plan your journey in advance.
- During the interview, ensure you listen to and answer the question.
- Remember the interview panel can only score you on what you say do not assume the panel knows anything about the situation or task you are describing.
Best of luck with your interview.
