The police oral board is normally the next step in the hiring process after an applicant passes the written test and physical agility exam. Unfortunately, it is also where a large number of applicants, no matter how well they scored on previous exams or how great their experience and background, are disqualified and lose any further opportunity to get hired by their department of choice.
Most of those disqualified during the oral board could have stood a greater chance of succeeding if they had done one thing: Prepared.
Since the law enforcement field is one of the most competitive and difficult career field to get into, entering an oral board without any proper preparation is as deadly as going into combat with just a slingshot.
The following is information that will help you prepare and score well enough on your oral board, so you may continue to the next phase of the hiring process.
1. Take care of your well being for an oral board: Be sure to get a good night’s sleep. A night of good sleep is especially critical the night before an oral board. You should take steps that ensure the quality of your sleep since disrupted, or poor, sleep will affect your memory, mood and general well being. Caffeine before bed, or excessive caffeine throughout the day, may make it more difficult to fall asleep and will affect your quality of sleep. It is a good idea to refrain from caffeinated products at least six hours before your regular bed time.
Your diet can also affect your ability to perform well during an oral board. It is suggested you eat a nutritional meal before the oral board. Warning: Do not eat so much that you feel ‘stuffed’ as this will only make you sluggish and unable to perform as well as you should.
2.Dress appropriately: The oral board is a professional job interview and should be treated as such. If you don’t take the time and effort to wear appropriate clothing to the oral board, you will very likely lose the opportunity to advance even before you have a chance to explain why you are the best applicant for the position.
Whether you’re male or female, you should dress in a conservative manner. A well pressed business suit is ideal but, if you are female and choose to wear a skirt, the skirt’s hem is not advised to be much higher than the knees. Be sure your shoes are shined and, if its muddy outside, take a moment to step into the restroom to clean off the bottom of your shoes. You don’t want to be remembered as the applicant who trailed mud all over the interview room floor.
Hairstyles should be neat and conservative. Do not over style your hair. Avoid excessive jewelry and use a minimal amount of cologne or perfume, if any. Many people suffer from allergies and the last thing you want to do is to cause one of your Raters to suffer an allergy attack because of something you wore.
Good personal hygiene is a must. Shave as close to your determined board appointment as possible. This affords for a clean shave when you arrive and you won’t need to worry about a ‘five o’clock shadow’ if you shaved in the morning and your oral board is in the afternoon. Brush your teeth and clean your fingernails. Pay attention to detail. Your Raters are trained observers and they will notice the small things, even if you don’t.
3. Do your homework: Research the department your applying to as well as city information that may be pertinent to the oral board. Examples of this would be: Who is the current Chief/Sheriff? What is the city’s population? What are some of the current issues pertaining to the city and department. A great source of information is the internet, specifically the city and department websites. Other sources of information can be found through the Chamber of Commerce, local newspapers and private citizens of the city. Go on ride-alongs with current members of the department. Not only is this a great way to obtain information about the department, it will allow you to possibly meet officers, or other department staff, who may have an influential person’s ear and may mention something positive about you. Ride-alongs also allow you to see just what an officer does during a shift and affords you the opportunity to ask questions about the oral board or other hiring process examination from someone who has been through it.
4. Arrive early: It is advised that you arrive to the oral board at least 15 minutes early, if not more. This shows that you are punctual and can be at an appointed place when directed. Be sure to afford for unexpected delays such as traffic or last minute unexpected personal business. Also, by arriving early, it will give you time to gather yourself, review what you are going to say during the interview and calm your nerves as much as possible before being called in.
If you have never been to the police department, (or other location where the oral board is being conducted), it would be a good idea to drive through the city the day before and locate it and the closet area for parking. You do not want to find yourself in a position where you arrive 15 minutes early for the board only to discover the nearest parking is a 20 minute walk away.
5. Refrain from using tobacco products: Do not smoke or chew tobacco prior to your oral board, if possible. If you must smoke, be sure you have a supply of breath mints that you can take before meeting the Raters. Keep in mind that, even if you take breath mints, the odor of cigarettes will linger in your clothing long after you put out your last cigarette.
6. Go to the oral board alone: There is absolutely no reason for anyone to attend your oral board with you and this includes parents, children, spouses and/or significant others. If you are having a friend or relative drive you to the board, politely ask them to wait outside for you. If you have children, and you are serious about getting hired by the police department, you should find someone to watch them while you take the board. If you are unable to locate childcare, you may want to consider waiting until your department’s next hiring period since arriving with a child to something as important as an oral board is an almost sure way to not get advanced to the next phase.
7. Prepare your answers: In the days leading to your scheduled board, take the time to consider that questions that may be asked then come up with intelligent, clear and original answers for each one. For example, if asked, “Why do you want to be a police officer?” develop an answer more original and thought-out than, “Because I want to help people.” Not only have the Raters heard this response a million times but it also shows a complete lack of preparation and thought. Once you have thought of acceptable answers, practice answering the questions out loud in front of a mirror or before friends and/or family. The practice will pay off by your being more comfortable during the oral board as well as having a smoother flow of words. Having friends or family think of additional questions will also help greatly.
8. Turn off electrical devices: Turn off your cell phone and pager or, better yet, leave them in your car or at home. Nothing is more distracting, to you and the Raters, than being interrupted during your answer, or their questions, by an ringing phone or pager.
9. Be polite: When arriving at your oral board, be polite and courteous to everyone you meet. This doesn’t pertain to just the Raters but also to the administrative assistant or any other staff you may have contact with. This is extremely important for two reasons. First, those people may be your next co-workers and, secondly, you never know who may have an influential person’s ear and will report your seemingly rude or inappropriate behavior the second you walk out the door.
10. Behave professionally: When meeting the Raters, look them in the eye and smile pleasantly. This doesn’t mean to give them a teeth-filled smile like a used car salesman but a comfortable, friendly smile is a good idea. Be sure to shake each of their hands as they’re introduced and acknowledge them by rank and name along with a greeting (for example: ‘Good day, Sergeant Jones). Try not to give the same greeting to each Rater as it makes the greeting less sincere if it sounds like a broken record or automatic response. For example, if there are three Raters, say “Good Morning” to one, “Pleased to meet you,” to the other and “How do you do?” to the third. Again, follow each greeting with the Raters name since this helps show your attention to detail as well as assists you during the board in remembering who they are.
11. Be honest: This cannot be emphasized enough. Honesty and integrity are the cornerstones to becoming a police officer. During the oral board, (in fact, during the entire hiring process), be completely honest and forthcoming in your answers. Even if your honest answer may require that you detail something negative about yourself or your past, with a little forethought you can easily turn a negative into a positive.
12. Pace your conversation: There is a fine line between not talking enough and talking too much. Answer the questions directly and clearly, elaborate on answers when necessary but do not ramble. Although it’s expected that you’ll be nervous during the board, try not to relieve that nervous energy by continuing to talk after a question has already been properly answered. When asked a question, do not be afraid to pause and take a moment to gather your thoughts before answering. If you begin speaking before you have your thoughts together, you’ll end up tripping over yourself.
13. Sell yourself: Be enthusiastic but sincere in your answers. Remember that the Raters may be police officers from the department your trying to get in to. They are listening intently to your responses since you may be their new co-worker. They want to ensure that the best applicant gets hired. Since they want to hear what you can offer their department, don’t be afraid to highlight you skills and attributes. This is the time to “toot your own horn” and make yourself look as good as possible. Let them know of your accomplishments and the different ways you’ve worked through problems and acted as a team player. Your experiences are important. Don’t sell short your previous achievements. Tell the board of your experience with volunteer work, military service, playing on a team (sports or other functions that show team work), any ride-alongs you participated in with current officers, or anything you have done to contribute to the community. This is not the time to be modest because if you don’t detail your good points, and what you can do for the department, the next applicant will.
14. Finish strong: Have a list of questions to ask the Raters after your questioning is done. Try to come up with original questions that show some thought and the level of seriousness you have pertaining to becoming an officer with their department. Then have a closing statement prepared. This would be the time to reiterate what would make you the best applicant for the position. Stress the positive aspects that you would bring to the department. Then leave with a good impression. Shake the Raters’ hands again and thank each of them by name.
After the oral board interview, you will be contacted by a member of the department, in order to set an appointment for the next phase of the hiring process, or you will receive a letter stating that you did not score high enough on the oral board to continue. Either way, you will receive a letter, normally within two to three weeks, telling you what your score on the oral board was. Most departments require an applicant score a 70% or higher on the oral board in order to move on to the next step in the hiring process. By following the above recommendations, you should greatly increase your chances of scoring well enough on the oral board to continue with the hiring process. Good luck!
