New to Boards...Interview Advice

[Graham]

Just found this site tonight - it seems like a good resource for information and advice.

Bio
- 21 yr. old male
- unsuccessful at passing interview stage with the Ontario Provincial Police. It was my first police interview.
- upcoming interview with the recruiter from London Police Service in mid december.

Main interview question problems
1) list and discuss negative traits? or what do you consider to be your greatest liabilities?
- this questions has me a little stumped - the only advice I received was turn negatives into positive (swiftly followed by a pat on the head and few words of encouragement)

2) the final question of the interview - Is there anything you would like to add before we conclude?
-anyone have any advice on what could be said here? I don't just want to re-hash what was already discussed. or is that what is expected? I know you should NEVER leave this one unanswered.

Thanks everyone, and good luck to any and all that are testing or interviewing in the near future.

[Drakor]

I would do the opposite and turn what you do into a negative. I have gotten this question and I have found what you think is a negative is actually very positive.
I pick apart things until I understand them and this drives my wife crazy because we can sit and watch a movie. I pick apart the plot and if something doesn't add up well you know. I also have a very strong willpower and when most people are packing it in and going home I'm right there and I'm not giving in to what everyone else does.
I care to much what happens to people and our neighborhoods. I rather finish the job today and work into the night.
Find somethings in you that are positive. "These may be positive things but I feel like this is these are the only things I feel are negative"
Final thoughts may include you actually asking to be hired. Thanking the interviewer, telling them you look forward to working with them. I can't wait to get out there and make a difference. good luck KUP

[PATrooper4347]

What I have learned from experienced cops in my field, is when asked about your negatives it is best to also explain how you plan to improve these problems. The ending question leaves you an oppertunity to wrap things up, I feel it is best to thank the interviewers for thier time and to add a nice little comment like, I am looking forward to working with this department or with yourselves sometime in the future. This shows the interviwers of your confidence and you leave on a good impression. - Just something to consider, good luck!

[T.COTE]

Graham,

Some great advice has already been posted. I would like to add what can be said at the end of the interview. I found it very usefull to ask " If I get a letter saying that I am no longer being considered in your hiring process could I contact any of you on how I can improve myself with these oral boards?"

The question shows incenctive on correcting yourself and shows that you are capable of admitting error.

One more thing, If you get asked a question about the law that is so complex you can't even understand the question, don't try and B.S. an answer. The proper answer is " I don't know, but I will find out"

I recently passed an oral board and the chief told me that I gave the best answer out of everyone else.


Best of luck and keep us posted.

T.COTE

[Graham]

Thanks for the great advice guys. I really appreciate it. Let's hope it pays off, I go in front of the board of a police service before the end of the month. No more foolin around - time to earn my career...

[guest]

I would not say anything negative about yourself. Portray your self as an upstanding, positive, go getter. Would you want to hire soemone who has nothing but negatie things to say about themsleves? Not me. At the very least I would say things like "I am too persistant in following things through, I work at soemthing almost to the point of stubbborness! I can't and won't let a task go without finishing it no matter how long or hard it becomes." Stuff like that. Never talk yourself out of a job. Buy an interview book. I bought one and they had some great responses for interview questions just like the "tell me about your negatives" one.

One good thing to add when they ask you at the end of the interview if you want to add anything might be "I just wanted to state that I know I have done some stupid things in my past (provided you aren't squeeky clean! Kid mistakes etc, never divuldge anything more probalematic than stealing from your moms purse as a kid type stuff) but I have matured and now know they were wrong and have learn't from those mistakes. I know I will never make them twice and pride myself on trying to teach others from my mistakes." Something along that line might help?

[PATrooper4347]

I would have to disagree with not stating anything negative about yourself. I dont belive anyone should not have negatives about themselves, it dosent mean a weakness but it shows that you are human, and gives you motivation to better yourslef, department's aren't looking for perfect cadets, but people who can admit to thier short comings and work to imrpove them. A large role of this job is being honest with yourself and accepting responsibility for what you do and how your handle yourslef. As foe the end of the interview when it is up to you to close, I would not state a negative, these last words might be what they remember most, and talking about making mistakes and doing stupid things may linger on thier minds, you want to leave the interview on a positive note. - Just my opinion.

[NDP1979]

These are the oldest interview questions in the book - not only for a PD interview but for almost every job I've ever had.

1) A good response for the first one is "A bad trait about myself is that I don't give up. People get annoyed, if you will, that I will not drop an issue that I didn't like the outcome of." or "I am an over achiever" take that one from there. These are cheesy but they have worked for me in the past.

2) Thank the interviewers, as stated in a recent post, and tell them you look forward to working with their department. State that you are excited to start your long career as a police officer and you know that you are the best man or woman for this job.

Let us know how it goes.

Dont make the same mistake as me and curl your toes so hard out of nervousness that your legs cramp and you start to make weird faces.

ITS ALL TRIAL AND ERROR - Learn from the past to improve the future!