Oral interview question

[SPYKE]

Just got a call yesterday and I am scheduled for my Oral interview next week. How long do they usually last?

[acreature]

Why?






All Agency dependent.

And applicant dependent..... usually, the shorter they are, the less favorable you were.

[SPYKE]

I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect. I've never done one before and I was asking the question to those who have experienced several oral board interviews OR someone who has sat on the board that was doing the interviewing.

[WPD 801]

It is dependent upon each agency and how their process is defined. Usually, there is a set of "canned" questions that each applicant is presented with. Depending on your response to those questions you may be asked to elaborate or it may lead to add-on questions from the panel. Typically, interviews will be scheduled for 30 to 60 minute intervals. In our agency, the first round of interviews lasts about 30 minutes. If you are called back for the second round, it could last about an hour.

[SPYKE]

It is dependent upon each agency and how their process is defined. Usually, there is a set of "canned" questions that each applicant is presented with. Depending on your response to those questions you may be asked to elaborate or it may lead to add-on questions from the panel. Typically, interviews will be scheduled for 30 to 60 minute intervals. In our agency, the first round of interviews lasts about 30 minutes. If you are called back for the second round, it could last about an hour.

Thanks WPD for the response. That helps alot.

[mobrien316]

In my department applicants go before a board of four police officers and one police commissioner. Each person asks one scenario-type question, and the senior officer on the board also opens the interview by asking something like, "Tell us something about yourself" and closes the interview with something like, "Is there anything you would like to add? Or anything you'd like to ask us?"


It is generally desirable to have a well thought out answer to the opener of, "Tell us something about yourself."

It generally makes a terrible first impression when your answer is something like this: "Uh... well... I went to high school in the next town over... uh... I was on the baseball team... uh... then, like, I went to college for a year... uh... now I'm here... uh... Oh, on the baseball team I was the shortstop... ummm... uh... Is that okay?"

[SPYKE]

Yea, I kinda wandered how I should answer the "Tell us about yourself...." question. How in-depth or far-back should I go? I mean, I'm not just out of high school. I am 32 years old and have a degree and work in a profession unrelated to law enforcement. I should probably mention where I graduated college, my current job and how long I've lived here and maybe a comment about my family. Does that sound appropriate?

[mobrien316]

Yea, I kinda wandered how I should answer the "Tell us about yourself...." question. How in-depth or far-back should I go? I mean, I'm not just out of high school. I am 32 years old and have a degree and work in a profession unrelated to law enforcement. I should probably mention where I graduated college, my current job and how long I've lived here and maybe a comment about my family. Does that sound appropriate?

You need to make a favorable first impression on the board. And you need to do it in no more than 45 seconds.

How you do it is up to you. None of us can tell you what to say because none of us know you or what you have done in your life.

[SPYKE]

Fair enough...Thanks!