Oral Interview

The oral interview is designed to measure the candidate’s suitability for the position of Police Officer. During the interview, you will be asked several questions to determine suitability for hire. The oral interview is designed to measure the candidates’ communication skills, professional qualifications, and life experience as it may relate to the position of Police Officer. Candidates should wear professional attire during the interview process.

Oral Evaluations

Each candidate may be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Training and Experience: The interview provides a unique opportunity for candidates to clarify or elaborate on the responses they provided on their application and/or personal history statement. Work experience, education, and training may be explored.
• Interpersonal Skills: These skills include attributes important for successful personal interactions with others. Questions may be asked that directly relate to interpersonal skills; however, by its very nature, the interview provides a unique opportunity for the candidate to demonstrate these attributes.
• Oral Communication: Another skill that the interview, by its very nature, is uniquely capable of assessing. In fact, this skill is manifested in every response by the candidate, making the creation of separate questions about oral communications optional.
• Work Habits: Includes such things as dependability, initiative, conscientiousness, adaptability and perseverance. It includes the candidate’s likelihood of adhering to the basic rules and policies of the job and organization, such as attendance, overtime, off-duty behavior, etc.
• Problem-Solving / Decision-Making: The interview is well suited to assess problem-solving and decision-making by requiring candidates to think on their feet in addition to discussing their decision-making experiences. Entry-level candidates are not necessarily expected to provide solutions equivalent to those of experienced officers if asked a law enforcement related question.
• Interests, Motivation and Values: The interview taps the applicants’ reasons for interest in the job, their preferences for specific work environments (e.g., working alone or in teams, traditional vs. community-oriented policing) and their attitudes about work (e.g., possessing a strong customer service orientation).