Interview tips

[theoak01]

we covered the what not to wear portion of it,but now i really need help with questions and anything else what may help.

Im usually very confident in interviews as it has all been in a field in quite experienced in,however im totally switching things up here,there are alot of ties ins such as conflict management,use of force,but then the social work aspect comes into it and im a bit nervous of that,I feel i have good common sense and a good grasp of people but im just a bit nervous is all.

any tips you guys could offer would be fantastic,please help me ease my nerves

 

[samoth]

You can always get free information on job sites, for example, Monster.com. They almost always have articles with often-asked questions, and how to answer questions asked and the like.

 

[OfficerNate]

What job are you applying for?

 

[jenscats5]

Dont' say the "F" word during the interview.....

 

[theoak01]

You can always get free information on job sites, for example, Monster.com. They almost always have articles with often-asked questions, and how to answer questions asked and the like.

been there bud,just looking to see if anyone has anything else.


Nate-its working in a group home for young offenders, just a stepping stone into corrections or police work,but its something i really want to do until then.

 

[spongebob]

any tips you guys could offer would be fantastic,please help me ease my nerves

pop a xanax and just relax.

 

[samoth]

pop a xanax and just relax.

I've heard this a surprising number of times, lol.

If anyone were to consider this, they definitely make sure they know what the drug is and how it effects them.

 

[theoak01]

ive got lorazepam,mainly for sleep but i figure if i take a .5mg dose ill be much more relaxed

 

[spongebob]

I've heard this a surprising number of times, lol.

If anyone were to consider this, they definitely make sure they know what the drug is and how it effects them.

ofcourse, maybe .5mg. actually i wouldnt do it but its an idea!

 

[OfficerNate]

It's hard to give you much information or input unless I knew exactly what you would be doing a at group home for juveniles. Are these non-violent juveniles who have been taken from their parents by a court. Are they juveniles who have just been released from detention facilities, are they juveniles who are mentally ill?

 

[theoak01]

It's hard to give you much information or input unless I knew exactly what you would be doing a at group home for juveniles. Are these non-violent juveniles who have been taken from their parents by a court. Are they juveniles who have just been released from detention facilities, are they juveniles who are mentally ill?

its a group home for violent female young offenders who have all been raped at some point,i will be there to counsel,offer advice on many different problems they have,help with homework etc,and intervene when they get violent or self hurt. they are really looking for males ,and so far have one on staff but they want to show these girls not all men will rape or hit them so they are looking for more male staff,apparently i have the qualifacations according to my friend who works their,she gave me insight saying it will be alot of scenarios etc,but i just suck at interviews when im out of my comfort zone which i will be since ive been more in the private security field since college.

 

[OfficerNate]

It sounds like you need to try to emphasize your communication skills. I think they are going to be more interested in you as a person and why you want to do this job then trying to get you to respond to alot of what if questions. How you answer is going to be important. For example, when interviewing for a job as a police officer, they didn't ask too many hypothetical questions. They weren't so much interested in whether you provided the "right" or "wrong". It was more could you justify your response. For example, one of the common hypothetical questions posed to a police officer in an interview for employment is "you pull the chief of police over, he's drunk, do you arrest him?" or "would you give your mother or best friend a speeding ticket". Now, if you answer "well, he's the chief of police, I would give him a ride home". Then they are going to jump you and say "so who else are you going to give a ride home too" or "so when a drunk cop crashes into somebody's car, you'll let him go". If you say, "I'll arrest him", they are going to say "you are going to arrest the guy who just hired you", "your are going to ruin the career of a guy that has a family and thirty years of experience for one mistake, he didn't hurt anybody or kill anybody, you know you have discretion as a police officer". They know you aren't going to ticket your mom or your best friend for speeding and if you pulled over your drunk boss, someone a little higher up on the food chain is going to make the decision what to do. But if you answer "I hope the chief of police would never drive drunk and I hope I never have to ticket my mom or best friend, but everyone is subject to the same laws and should be treated equally, that includes the chief of police, my mother, my best friend, and especially myself. If anyone of them broke the law, it would be my resposibility to enforce it and I would without hesitation.

 

[mountain muscle]

Dont' say the "F" word during the interview.....

Fuck, I am out then.

I'll stick with the oilfield.


Good luck Oak, although I have no idea why you would want to take that job.

 

[OfficerNate]

I think you will be fine, just remember in the interview what you are applying for, your not applying for a law enforcement position, so don't answer like a cop, you are not applying for a security guard position, so don't answer like a secuirty guard. Your going to be a "counselor", a "mentor", a "big brother", to some of these girls. If they ask about what you should do if a juvenile girl becomes violent, you would say "I would hope I could use my verbal skills to de-escalate the situation in a non-violent fashion and I would only use force if it was absolutely necessary to ensure the physical safety of the juvenile, my self or another staff member. I would never use force as a means of punishment or revenge, I would only use force as an absolute last resort and only if there was no other way to resolve or de-escalate the situation".

 

[mountain muscle]

I think you will be fine, just remember in the interview what you are applying for, your not applying for a law enforcement position, so don't answer like a cop, you are not applying for a security guard position, so don't answer like a secuirty guard. Your going to be a "counselor", a "mentor", a "big brother", to some of these girls. If they ask about what you should do if a juvenile girl becomes violent, you would say "I would hope I could use my verbal skills to de-escalate the situation in a non-violent fashion and I would only use force if it was absolutely necessary to ensure the physical safety of the juvenile, my self or another staff member. I would never use force as a means of punishment or revenge, I would only use force as an absolute last resort and only if there was no other way to resolve or de-escalate the situation".

Don't listen to him. Good answers:

"Tazer first, ask questions later."

"If she can't breath, she can't hurt anyone."



Be sure to include the QT smilie at the end though.

 

[OfficerNate]

I don't think you will have to worry much about "use of force" questions. Most places like the one your are trying to work at emphasize physical restraint and isolation techniques than actual physical confrontation. I think they will probably tell you when things get really dicey, they call the police. I don't they are going to give you any tools like we get, so I don't think you will be allowed to use much "force" anyway. I guarantee if you get in a situation where you strike one of the girls with anything other than your voice, not matter what the scenario, you won't be working there very long.

 

[theoak01]

thanks for the really solid advice nate, I know there is restraint training and apparently the police arent called very often at all unless it goes to where they assault with weapons,I guess this place is a very rough one where there is alot of violence directed towards staff,and they do want to hire more men as they seem to be less violent towards the male staff.

but your advice did help me alot,i do have to look at this different from law enforcement type situations and more the nuturing caring role.

im giving you karma