Post by lich on Nov 23, 2004 21:37:49 GMT -5
Hey everyone. Let me give you a breakdown of what it took for me to get a job offer:
3 years
12 applications
In that time, I graduated college and lost a lot of weight. I got in the best shape of my life and was able to stay motivated with the help of this website, so I want to thank the owners and fellow members. I know I have not been active lately, but it is not because I have not been watching the site. I just haven't had anything positive to contribute.
In the last few selection rounds, I made it all the way to the end and was still not hired. I'm pretty smart and I interview well. I am also now in good shape and have a nearly spotless background. My references and former employers sing my praises. I just want to let everyone who has thought about giving up know that even with the best credentials you may not get hired immediately.
In the interest of helping newcomers and anyone who needs a few pointers I've picked up along the way, here is my permanent advice for the phases I saw most often:
1. Written test: Just relax and do your best. You can't make yourself smarter, but you can get into trouble if you overthink it or anticipate some sort of trick questions or unlikely scenarios that would make a good episode of 'Law and Order'. If you think the answer is 'B', it probably is.
2. Physical test: Be in shape before you get there. Test yourself ahead of time and make sure you can pass the test in its entirity before the day of the test. That's an important part because you may not always be able to rest in between events. Oh, and if the run is the last thing you do and you think you are out of energy... do not give up! I've seen plenty of people who ran a mile and tried to walk the rest because they ran out of steam. They could have passed if they sucked it up and held on. Passing poorly is better than failing any day of the week, and it gives you the chance to impress them at the interview.
3. Oral Board/Inteview: Before you get in there, practice with someone. Don't joke around about it. This is a crucial stage in the process because it is the first time you will be evaluated as an individual. Dress as sharp as you can and be ready for the typical questions ("Why do you want to be a police officer?" etc. - see other posts for typical interview questions). Hold eye contact and control your body - no fidgeting. Your entire presence is being evalutated... body language, appearance, mannerisms, not just what you say, but how you say it and how it comes across. You don't need to act like a cop stereotype, you just need to be calm and confident, and assertive without being aggressive. It's not hard if you practice. Get some friends who won't take it easy on you and you'll be ready for anything.
If you get past this part, you are getting closer. Lots of people have been weeded out... so stay sharp and you might get hired!
4. Background/Polygraph: Ahh, the source of the most questions I've seen posted here since I started checking this site. No matter what, you need to be completely honest in every part of the process, but this stage is especially important. I could leave this point of advice as simply: "Tell the truth, dummy!" Instead, I want to explain why it matters. First of all, you will be going up against a seasoned police officer who has years of experience with people lying to him/her. You think you can hide the truth? Good luck. The officer will have your application, background packet, oral statements, and possibly polygraph packet and results to review. How good is your memory? You will be confronted on conflicting information. Are you the type that cracks under pressure? What about that polygraph? I won't debate here whether the machine works as advertised. I will tell you the results are taken very seriously by police departments and people who are lying or attempt to alter the results of the machine will find themselves out of the employment process. If you tell the truth you will not have to worry about any part of this process.
5. Chief's Interview (some departments): This event occurs in smaller departments. If you make it to a chief's interview, understand this means the department is small enough that the chief wants to know you as a person because he/she will be working with you on a much more personal level than a department whose members number in the thousands. This is your time to shine, and it was something I did not understand until recently. I went into one chief's interview knowing the number of applicants left, the number of positions available, and how well I compared to the average recruit. I figured as long as I didn't shoot myself in the foot by saying something stupid or offensive, I would get hired. Instead, the chief saw me as disinterested and uninspiring, and I was shocked to find out I was not selected. You need to sell yourself to the chief and don't hold back. He/she will use the interview to get to know you and will consider the conversation you have to be at least as important as the rest of the steps you've taken in the process. Remember, you may have everything that happened to you in the past few weeks memorized, but the chief does not. Your application packet will be about the same size and appearance as every other applicant. Imagine the chief has 50 interviews to give for five positions. There just won't be time for him/her to read everyone's packet thoroughly. In some ways, every step to this point was just to prove you are qualified for this interview. Do not underestimate it.
At this point, many departments will offer a conditional letter of employment, which means you will be hired if you pass a psychological test, a medical screening, and (in some cases) another physical test.
6. Physical test: Hope you stayed in shape! Keep up the training program you started for the first physical test and you will do fine.
7. Medical screening: Turn your head and cough. This is where the urinalysis, eyesight, hearing, blood pressure, and other assorted medical tests are performed. No need to study for this one. Just show up and get through it.
8. Psychological screening: As I have only taken this test once, I'll just tell you how it went. I spent three hours answering almost 900 multiple guess questions and drawing a picture of myself. These were forwarded to a psychologist for review prior to our interview. The interview lasts 15 minutes and he asked about my family and my goals in life. That was it.
Good luck out there! Don't give up on your dreams!
3 years
12 applications
In that time, I graduated college and lost a lot of weight. I got in the best shape of my life and was able to stay motivated with the help of this website, so I want to thank the owners and fellow members. I know I have not been active lately, but it is not because I have not been watching the site. I just haven't had anything positive to contribute.
In the last few selection rounds, I made it all the way to the end and was still not hired. I'm pretty smart and I interview well. I am also now in good shape and have a nearly spotless background. My references and former employers sing my praises. I just want to let everyone who has thought about giving up know that even with the best credentials you may not get hired immediately.
In the interest of helping newcomers and anyone who needs a few pointers I've picked up along the way, here is my permanent advice for the phases I saw most often:
1. Written test: Just relax and do your best. You can't make yourself smarter, but you can get into trouble if you overthink it or anticipate some sort of trick questions or unlikely scenarios that would make a good episode of 'Law and Order'. If you think the answer is 'B', it probably is.
2. Physical test: Be in shape before you get there. Test yourself ahead of time and make sure you can pass the test in its entirity before the day of the test. That's an important part because you may not always be able to rest in between events. Oh, and if the run is the last thing you do and you think you are out of energy... do not give up! I've seen plenty of people who ran a mile and tried to walk the rest because they ran out of steam. They could have passed if they sucked it up and held on. Passing poorly is better than failing any day of the week, and it gives you the chance to impress them at the interview.
3. Oral Board/Inteview: Before you get in there, practice with someone. Don't joke around about it. This is a crucial stage in the process because it is the first time you will be evaluated as an individual. Dress as sharp as you can and be ready for the typical questions ("Why do you want to be a police officer?" etc. - see other posts for typical interview questions). Hold eye contact and control your body - no fidgeting. Your entire presence is being evalutated... body language, appearance, mannerisms, not just what you say, but how you say it and how it comes across. You don't need to act like a cop stereotype, you just need to be calm and confident, and assertive without being aggressive. It's not hard if you practice. Get some friends who won't take it easy on you and you'll be ready for anything.
If you get past this part, you are getting closer. Lots of people have been weeded out... so stay sharp and you might get hired!
4. Background/Polygraph: Ahh, the source of the most questions I've seen posted here since I started checking this site. No matter what, you need to be completely honest in every part of the process, but this stage is especially important. I could leave this point of advice as simply: "Tell the truth, dummy!" Instead, I want to explain why it matters. First of all, you will be going up against a seasoned police officer who has years of experience with people lying to him/her. You think you can hide the truth? Good luck. The officer will have your application, background packet, oral statements, and possibly polygraph packet and results to review. How good is your memory? You will be confronted on conflicting information. Are you the type that cracks under pressure? What about that polygraph? I won't debate here whether the machine works as advertised. I will tell you the results are taken very seriously by police departments and people who are lying or attempt to alter the results of the machine will find themselves out of the employment process. If you tell the truth you will not have to worry about any part of this process.
5. Chief's Interview (some departments): This event occurs in smaller departments. If you make it to a chief's interview, understand this means the department is small enough that the chief wants to know you as a person because he/she will be working with you on a much more personal level than a department whose members number in the thousands. This is your time to shine, and it was something I did not understand until recently. I went into one chief's interview knowing the number of applicants left, the number of positions available, and how well I compared to the average recruit. I figured as long as I didn't shoot myself in the foot by saying something stupid or offensive, I would get hired. Instead, the chief saw me as disinterested and uninspiring, and I was shocked to find out I was not selected. You need to sell yourself to the chief and don't hold back. He/she will use the interview to get to know you and will consider the conversation you have to be at least as important as the rest of the steps you've taken in the process. Remember, you may have everything that happened to you in the past few weeks memorized, but the chief does not. Your application packet will be about the same size and appearance as every other applicant. Imagine the chief has 50 interviews to give for five positions. There just won't be time for him/her to read everyone's packet thoroughly. In some ways, every step to this point was just to prove you are qualified for this interview. Do not underestimate it.
At this point, many departments will offer a conditional letter of employment, which means you will be hired if you pass a psychological test, a medical screening, and (in some cases) another physical test.
6. Physical test: Hope you stayed in shape! Keep up the training program you started for the first physical test and you will do fine.
7. Medical screening: Turn your head and cough. This is where the urinalysis, eyesight, hearing, blood pressure, and other assorted medical tests are performed. No need to study for this one. Just show up and get through it.
8. Psychological screening: As I have only taken this test once, I'll just tell you how it went. I spent three hours answering almost 900 multiple guess questions and drawing a picture of myself. These were forwarded to a psychologist for review prior to our interview. The interview lasts 15 minutes and he asked about my family and my goals in life. That was it.
Good luck out there! Don't give up on your dreams!