Bad Experience/Oral Interview Panel

[LawEnfWB]

A short time ago, I went to a panel oral interview being conducted by a Virginia county police department. The panel consisted of 4 members; three were uniformed officers. During the interview, all of the panel members made obvious facial expressions and hand gestures of dissatisfaction regarding my responses to questions. One panel member in particular, a female officer, made repeated facial expressions and hand gestures to a point where I seriously considered openly criticizing her for what I felt to be inappropriate behavior. However, I decided to remain calm and simply try to answer questions as I did not want to

[cleetus0219]

Answer #1 was terrible. They gave you numerous opportunities to answer that you were concerned for his safety, which you never came out and said. All you said was that you were concerned about getting home.

Answer #2 was fine, imo.

Had you said anything about how you felt their behavior was inappropriate, you would have been booted out in a heartbeat.

Welcome to the wonderful world of interviews. Some go like that, some don't.

[pkagel]

They were trying to add stress to your interview to see if you would buckle under. Face it, they have very little to go on when hiring somebody if you have a clean record and no military combat experience. If they can get somebody to snap in the interview it saves them a lot of money in not going any further with them. I'd say they were acting appropriatly and your answers were not bad. Could they have been better, sure, everyone can come up with something better with time to think about it and no pressure, but they were not bad at all. As to the second question, I think that was a pretty darn good answer.

FWIW, nearly every question on my last interview was like that and I passed just fine. Like the previous poster said, some interviews are like that, some aren't.

[pkagel]

No disrespect here but I would take his first answer to imply that he was worried about the health and safety of his brother and that is why he was trying to get home. Otherwise, why would he worry about going home at all. Maybe they took it like you said though and he should have expanded his answer to include that.

[QUOTE=cleetus0219]Answer #1 was terrible. They gave you numerous opportunities to answer that you were concerned for his safety, which you never came out and said. All you said was that you were concerned about getting home.
QUOTE]

[jjr1134]

[QUOTE=LawEnfWB]A short time ago, I went to a panel oral interview being conducted by a Virginia county police department. The panel consisted of 4 members; three were uniformed officers. During the interview, all of the panel members made obvious facial expressions and hand gestures of dissatisfaction regarding my responses to questions. One panel member in particular, a female officer, made repeated facial expressions and hand gestures to a point where I seriously considered openly criticizing her for what I felt to be inappropriate behavior. However, I decided to remain calm and simply try to answer questions as I did not want to

[x5150x]

I've heard of oral interviews where they are openly hostile and will even yell at you...

[Evnings]

This sounds like a stress oral interview. This is not an uncommon type of oral interview. The objective is to see how you react under stress.

One thing you need to remember is in an interview is it is you who wants the job, not them. If you were to criticize me or another panel member during an interview you won't have to worry about working for my department.

[LHPCop]

Don't sweat it. Some Oral's are designed to see how you handle stress. Just wait until you see an aggressive Psycologist! They are far worse. :D

[LawEnfWB]

While driving home it did cross my mind that I was being tested. On the other hand, my responses and presentation could have been better; so I thought maybe I did stink the place up pretty badly. Who knows--maybe it was a combination of both?

At any rate, I appreciate the valuable input.

Thank you.

[Chiram]

I underwent an oral board in which the interviewing personnel were openly critical of my answers and one even seemed angered by one of my responses in particular. Question/response was as follows:

Q: "What do you think you can bring to the department, professionally?"

A: "I have worked along side detectives from <department name clipped> in investigating some crimes such as breaking and entering, motor vehicle, theft from retailer, theft from person, and some others. I feel that the things I was able to learn from these detectives as well as the other police officers that I have worked around and known will help me in any investigation I may be called on to do as well as better prepare me for a career in law enforcement."

One of the people (can't remember if he was a detective or civilian, but he was in a suit, not uniform) responded, "Yeah, I bet those guys have never even heard of you." I looked at him, gave him that "go to hell" smile I'm famous for, and said, "Sir, if you believe I am lying, I can call every single one of them right now. Or I can give you their phone numbers at their district offices. By the way, when you talk to JC, ask him if he's going to Ted's this weekend for Ted's dauther's b-day party and tell him that I'll have his CDs ready for him." Guy didn't say another word. However, I did get DQd at that point for having an attitude.

So, no, I wouldn't recommend talking back to the interview board or getting as snotty with them as they did with you. If they acted that way and you got DQd, they don't deserve to have you as an officer. Find somewhere else. And if you get on in Albermarle, send me a message. I'll give you a couple of drug tips. ;)

On the other hand, on my second oral board (and true first choice), I knew every single person sitting on the board personally (3 civvies and the Chief) and was asked very sensible, easy questions. As I answered, everyone made eye contact with me as I talked, smiled at me, and pretty much assured me with facial expressions that I was doing a great job. And that I passed with no deductions. *shrugs* Guess it's all relative.

[Chiram]

The only reason I did it was because he said I didn't know anyone there while he had the names sitting right in front of him. But, like I said, that wasn't my first choice. Wasn't even my 10th choice. Probably right near the bottom, maybe above Mexico City Vice. Maybe. I agree, I shouldn't have gotten the attitude. I shouldn't have dropped names. I was wrong to do that, I accept full responsibility for it. Look where it got me. Rather than going through the academy April to June, I'm probably going to have to go July through September. On the other hand, I'll get to go with a couple of good friends and I have more time to get into shape for the running. So it's all good. Don't regret it at all. :)