Oral Board Interview Tips

[Mike Romeo]

I've seen many threads created over the last couple of years asking about Oral Board and Chief Interviews and thought this might be helpful. A neighborhing jurisdiction has the following posted on their web site and I found it useful in preparing for the Oral Board and my interview with the Chief (just to give me an idea what questioins might get tossed at me). Some or most of these questions were asked verbatum. Some asked in different context. All I did was look at each question and think of how I would answer each one with the intent of selling myself to the Chief. In addition to these questions, you may be asked ethics based questions, too. I'd be able to tell the board or Chief what "integrity" means to you.

Types of Questions Encountered in an Oral Board Interview:

Why do you want to become a Police Recruit with the City of __________ ?
How have you prepared for this position?
Tell us about your experience and training as it relates to the position of Police Recruit?
Why are you considering a career in law enforcement?
What are your qualifications?
What do you consider to be your greatest strength?
What do you consider to be your greatest weakness?
How would you rate your ability to get along with others? What is the basis for this rating?
How effective are you in working in a team environment and why?
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
How would you describe your work ethic?
How has your education and training prepared you for a career in law enforcement?
What accomplishment has given you the most satisfaction and why?
In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable.
How would you rate your ability to work under pressure? What is the basis for this rating?
You can also expect several scenario type questions that are designed to measure your reactions to certain situations. Generally, these questions have no clear cut right or wrong answers. Instead, the raters will be looking at your decision-making ability and justifications for your actions.

The key to being successful in these questions is to be yourself. Answer the questions the way you would actually handle the situations. The raters DO NOT expect you to have any prior law enforcement experience to answer these questions. They DO expect you to approach them logically by applying common sense and interpersonal skills.

Typically the final question of an Oral Board will be something like this:
"Is there anything you would like to add that will help us in making our ranking?"

You should prepare a well thought out answer. This is your last opportunity to sell yourself.

[Kimble]

Moderators: can we make this a sticky?

Good post, Mike.

[mobrien316]

And if we went back in time 100 years, and I walked into the Boston PD looking for a job, my interview would have gone like this:

SGT: Faith and begorrah... O'Brien with an "e", is it? Ray's son or Kevin's son?

Me: Ray.

SGT: Welcome aboard, lad. You start tomorrow at 8.

[Darin]

And if we went back in time 100 years, and I walked into the Boston PD looking for a job, my interview would have gone like this:

SGT: Faith and begorrah... O'Brien with an "e", is it? Ray's son or Kevin's son?

Me: Ray.

SGT: Welcome aboard, lad. You start tomorrow at 8.

There's some Sheriffs Offices still around that would hire like that.

[Mike Romeo]

There's some Sheriffs Offices still around that would hire like that.

And probably FIRE like that, too. :D

[Kimble]

There's some Sheriffs Offices still around that would hire like that.

Miller County, GA comes to mind (the city of Colquitt makes up this county). I met the sheriff at a dinner party once and he offered me a deputy position after a few beers. I don't know if he was serious or not, but I would have been one of three deputies ( :eek: ) for his department.

[Kimble]

...don't have the "beans and cabbage special" for lunch before the interview.

Why? How would that be bad for the interview? Is this incase the interviewers are prejudice against legumes? :p

Personally I would think an applicant who did so may be a worthy candidate for the department's Fast Action Response Team.

[Terminator]

Why? How would that be bad for the interview? Is this incase the interviewers are prejudice against legumes? :p

Personally I would think an applicant who did so may be a worthy candidate for the department's Fast Action Response Team.

Well, it also qualifies you for the Super Human Intensity Team... :eek:

[ASUsundevil5]

nice job on the questions, very helpful

[mcsap]

Make friggin eye contact with everyone on the panel !!

[mobrien316]

Typically the final question of an Oral Board will be something like this:
"Is there anything you would like to add that will help us in making our ranking?"

You should prepare a well thought out answer. This is your last opportunity to sell yourself.

Excellent advice.

I came out on top of the sergeant's test because I got a 96 on the oral board. I'm convinced that a big part of that score was due to the answer I gave to the very last question, which was something like:

"Is there anything you would like to add?"

If you blow them away on that one you leave them with a powerful impression as they talk about what score to give you.

[jp1tx]

A few other good question to know the answers to:

1.) Who is the police chief/sheriff?
2.) How many officers work for the department?
3.) Can you tell me what are some current events/issues going on involving the department?

I don't know if knowing these answers got me into the academy (starts Monday), but I'm sure it helped.

[michiganstud]

GREAT post mike!! Thanks! I have an oral board upcoming. :(

[cntryboy0531]

Great Post.

[pjb6282]

If interviewee doesn't know the name of the chief but knows other people within the organization how is that perceived? Is it strike against you if you don't know the chief?