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15 Tricky Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
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2. Tell us about yourself.
Bad answer:
“I graduated four years ago from the University of Michigan, with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology – but I decided that wasn’t the right path for me. I switched gears and started volunteering with a local police department as an admin. Then I went on to work in another department and started watching the training courses. After that, I took a few months off to travel. Finally, I came back to start working again. And now, here I am, looking for a more challenging law enforcement role.”
“I graduated four years ago from the University of Michigan, with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology – but I decided that wasn’t the right path for me. I switched gears and started volunteering with a local police department as an admin. Then I went on to work in another department and started watching the training courses. After that, I took a few months off to travel. Finally, I came back to start working again. And now, here I am, looking for a more challenging law enforcement role.”
Instead of giving a chronological work history, focus on your strengths and how they pertain to the role. If possible, illustrate with examples.
Good answer:
“I’m a very energetic and well-rounded person who can follow instructions well. I am a good communicator and quite a team player. At the last department I was with I initiated advanced medic classes for the officers who were interested in learning new first-aid techniques. It had such a positive impact that they are offering the same course again this year.”
Anonymous
over 1 year ago
Because i can help people with there problems
ojidbs55
over 1 year ago
14 Comments
@Franlcastle I agree the question "Tell us about yourself" is probably the worst interview question there is, but the truth is it is not going away. That's why it is important to answer it correctly without sounding vague. I'd suggest looking over the top 100 most commonly asked police interview questions at http://policeoralboardinterviewsecrets.com
jatlanta06
about 2 years ago
2 Comments
I wanted to drive fast and shoot guns.
fireems31
about 2 years ago
274 Comments
This will be a great foundation for me since I am just starting out and need to brush up on my interview skills.
TRPD758
over 2 years ago
32 Comments
Very informative
mmmm
over 2 years ago
514 Comments
As I approach retirement from my current employer I have begun to seek my next employment. This article was helpful to remind me of some job interview tecniques that I have not used in some time.
clobster
over 2 years ago
1552 Comments
FrankCastle43, the example for the "tell us about yourself" questions is a bad one. Most departments ask for single greatest strength or multiple strengths as it is. And few people work with a department before making the move to a job as an officer.
However, it's not necessarily a bad question to ask. It gives the panel an idea of who you are. It's an opportunity to establish yourself as a hard working member of society looking to give back to their community, not some boob who sits on the couch and goes drinking with his friend's and works part-time at McDonalds.
ac314stl
over 2 years ago
52 Comments
Thanks! This is very helpful!
FrankCastle43
over 2 years ago
4 Comments
The question "Tell us about yourself", is the single worst interview question there is, yet this question continues to be used in not only law enforcement departments, but many other fields as well. Open ended, vague, and wide focused questions will produce the poorest of answers. I wish board panels would realize, that type of questioning fits in the be political world, not with potential police officers.
ddeangelo
over 2 years ago
176 Comments
I belive in all of my officers, so I think I can trust you gyes with that answer.
ddeangelo
over 2 years ago
176 Comments
You gyes, know about me, but I am educated in this field and I have a great appration for our officers, and their safty, as well as my own in mind every single day.
ddeangelo
over 2 years ago
176 Comments
I always, looked up to my father when he whent out their on duty, putting his life on the lines for our safty. I amire, and apprate all of you who do the same, each and everyday for our pertection and our safty in mind. Now I fill it's my obigatied to serve and pertect the ones who, like my father, and you who made me fill safe, knowing when i am hurt, your my friends, and you'll be their when I am sard or ingered.
ddeangelo
over 2 years ago
176 Comments
I want to help others, reallize that when you have been hurt by someones negient actions, you can and have the right to tell the police. I can relate to anyone who is hurt by someone bad choices, and when I arrest that indivigle, I will qustion them, and they will answer to what they did to the other person. You may had though you won, but really hurting someone else, and lying to me, wont fly, the law is law. Now your going to jail. What I want to tell the person who has been hurt by the crimimails actions, You did the one thing you can do: You servied, now you need to put this man behind bars, HOW OFFICER?: testify thats how young lady.The rest is my job, and I will, I promess to do my job. Your going to be alright, and heres my contact information incase you want to talk somemore.
blue2thebone
over 2 years ago
2 Comments
Thanks, the 15 questions will come in handy. I have an interview in aprox 2 weeks.