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The image you present in
your Police Oral Board Interview is one of the most important elements to
consider in any preparations you undertake.
The most positive image to present is one that displays character traits
that are universally perceived as positive. Bringing a powerful combination
of accepted positive images to your interview is a sure way to make a
winning impression that puts you one step closer to your ultimate goal
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becoming a police officer.
WHAT MAKES A POSITIVE IMAGE
Some positive image elements to incorporate into your
interview would include showing:
Appreciation - for the opportunity to interview for the
position.
Enthusiasm - for the job. Your interest should be genuine
and informed.
Empathy - for others and displaying an understanding for the
role compassion plays in police work.
Confidence - in yourself and your abilities. Be comfortable
with your beliefs and reveal your trust in the abilities of
others.
Practice applying these image elements to everything you do,
every encounter with another person, and soon, they will
become a part of you -- natural and supportive in all your
social interactions -- ready to reassure others of your
capable nature and social skills.
WHAT TO DO
A number of important actions need to be strictly under your
control for the best chances of success in your interview,
these include:
Do Not Be Late! Target your arrival to be at least 20
minutes prior to the scheduled interview time.
Walk into the interview room smiling, head up, and with
excellent posture.
Make eye contact with each interviewer and introduce
yourself -- give a firm handshake -- if the courtesy is
offered.
Wait to be seated, then sit when invited to do so, smile and
say, thank you.
Let the interviewers begin the conversation.
Small talk should be responded to with respectful phrases
appropriate to a police department -- yes sir, no sir, yes
ma'am, no ma'am -- while keeping additional comments brief
and to the point.
WHAT TO SAY
Once the interview begins, the positive image you have
worked to establish so far must be given depth and reality
with effective speaking. Your ability to convey your
thoughts clearly and concisely is a powerful factor for
success in your interview.
To achieve successful communication, you must:
Control what you say.
Do your homework and be prepared to respond intelligently.
Take Your Time - Think Before You Speak.
Control how you say it.
Your emotional attitude must be kept moderate.
Your tone of voice must convey confidence and
self-assurance.
Your pattern of speech must be relaxed and natural.
Your physical posture must be composed, alert, and
purposeful.
Successful Speaking Tips
Do:
Listen Carefully.
Let the interviewer finish their question.
Look at the person speaking to you, show active listening
with affirming nods.
Take time to think before answering.
Give an answer that reflects the interviewers line of
thought.
Speak slowly and clearly pronounce your words.
Don't:
Let your mind wander, forcing you to ask for the question to
be repeated.
Interrupt the interviewer.
Answer before giving yourself time to think.
Use poor grammar, slang, or jargon.
Speak too rapidly or too slowly.
Give unrelated or off subject ideas or opinions.
WHAT TO WEAR
Wearing proper interview attire goes a long way towards
creating a positive image. Ideally, your qualifications and
character should be the ultimate criteria for judging you as
a police officer candidate, but in reality, surface
impressions play a significant role.
Putting your best-dressed foot forward is fairly simple and
straightforward and can be applied to male or female
candidates:
Wear conservative colors - dark blues and browns,and grey.
Wear clean, pressed clothing that fits well.
Wear your hair neatly groomed.
Wear minimal jewelry.
Wear mild cologne or perfume, lightly applied. Better yet
wear none at all.
Wear black or brown leather shoes in a simple style, clean
and polished.
Wear makeup appropriate to daytime business.
WHAT YOUR BODY SAYS
Two-thirds of what we communicate to others is through
nonverbal body language. Skilled interviewers are trained in
interpreting nonverbal communication and consider your body
language to be the truest indicator of your character.
Learning what nonverbal signals you are sending to others
and controlling those signals will help you make the most
positive impression possible with your interviewers.
Friends and family are excellent resources for learning your
particular, nonverbal communications in certain situations.
They can help you see the image your body language presents,
especially in stressful situations.
Some nonverbal communication tips you may find useful are:
Do:
Show you are alert, interested, and energetic by maintaining
good posture.
Show honesty, confidence, and interest by maintaining
consistent eye contact.
Show active listening with appropriate gestures -- like a
nod of understanding.
Show openness by smiling, keeping arms at your sides, hands
relaxed in your lap
Don't:
Appear casual by slouching in your seat, crossing your legs,
or sitting at an angle to the interviewers.
Appear fearful by sitting rigidly or at the edge of your
seat.
Appear aggressive or confrontational by leaning too far
forward.
Appear nervous by tapping your feet or talking with your
hands.
Appear dishonest or lacking confidence by looking down or
away from the interviewers.
Appear to lack the ability to focus by staring at the
interviewers. Staring is considered rude and antagonistic.
RECOVERING FROM A POOR FIRST IMPRESSION
A poor first impression can be derived from a number of
things, from an ill-timed laugh to tripping into the room.
Whether the damaging event was avoidable or not is not
important in this situation. The only important thing is
taking action to recover control of the interview and
yourself.
How does this happen? What can be done to get your interview
back on track?
Recovery is simple.
Do not panic.
Maintain your composure.
Take a deep breath and smile.
Make steady, friendly eye contact with the interviewers.
Offer a brief, sincere recovery statement that establishes
your commitment to becoming a police officer.
Shake off your jitters and hold your course for a strong
finish.
The bottom line in facing your police oral board interview
comes down to your ability to present yourself in the most
easily assimilated, universally accepted, integrity-driven
manner. You should appear professional, polished, poised,
and comprehensively able. Your interviewers should be able
to visualize you in their department's uniform, enforcing
the law in their community, and supporting their department
regulations with every action you take and decision you
make.
Read more articles by Sgt. Godoy:
Police Written Test Tips
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Police Exam: Getting
Hired Faster
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Police Oral Boards
About this article:
This
article was written by Sgt. George M. Godoy of
PoliceExam911 and was republished with permission.
Sgt. Godoy offers a Police Training Video Course that
guarantees improved scores and results for police
applicants. RealPolice endorses the PoliceExam911
training method and highly recommends it for police
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