Issue link: http://lawandordermag.epubxp.com/i/98779
SPECIAL REPORT Upgrading Your Police Officer Oral Interviews SUMMARY Structured interviews are a mainstay in the police officer hiring process. Generally, the interview is one of the only times that the local hiring authority meets the applicant and is able to evaluate how the applicant presents him / herself. Here is how to improve that. New recruits arriving at the Academy. Were the right questions asked during their interviews? Were enough questions asked? Was enough time spent with each candidate? MORE INFORMATION www.selectionworks.com UPGRADING YOUR POLICE OFFICER ORAL INTERVIEWS Common errors strip the interview of its validity. By Chad Legel T he interview is a critical part of the hiring process and is one of the few times, if not the only time, that the applicant���s job-related 42 LAW and ORDER I December 2012 skills are assessed. The written examination may have measured cognitive ability and, in some cases, personality traits. However, the interview is aligned to measure critical skills such as interpersonal orientation, customer service, problem-solving, verbal communication, etc. Despite the unique and valuable contribution of oral interviews, they are often the most poorly executed part of the entry-level hiring process.