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| The oral interview is the 3rd step in the hiring process after the application and the written exam. Your interview will be administered generally by 2 Police Officers. The interview will last approximately twenty minutes and will carry a pass/fail score. You may take the interview only once every 12 months. The following information is provided to assist candidates with preparing for their oral interview. There are no sample questions, only ideas on what to expect. The oral interview exemplifies the meaning of Police Officer - always prepared. | DRESSED AND ON TIME | Q&A | PAST TO PRESENT | You will be expected to present a neat, businesslike appearance for the interview - suits for men and pantsuits or skirts for women. You should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled interview time and allow at least 2 hours total for the interview and necessary processing. You must bring a valid picture identification. Keep in mind that false or incomplete statements made or presented during any part of the hiring process may be cause for dismissal or disqualification. Failure to appear for any portion of the hiring process may be cause for dismissal or disqualification. If you cannot keep your interview appointment, contact Personnel at least 24 hours in advance at (213) 353-4224. The impression you make during the interview will be largely determined by your conduct - courtesy, alertness and self-confidence are extremely important. Speak in a self-assured tone, smile occasionally, and look directly at the interviewers as you listen and talk. Sit erect and be prepared to answer questions. The interviewers realize it is normal for candidates to feel nervous in this situation, although only a small amount. Do not drum your fingers, twist clothing, or chew gum. You will be better prepared and less apt to be nervous if you review the information you submitted on your application and study the information presented below and throughout the Department's Web site. If you still become nervous during the interview, ask yourself, "what have I to lose?" You should be fearless since there is nothing to lose and everything to gain! The interview follows a question and answer format. Your ability to answer quickly and accurately is important, but do not rush your answers. A direct answer, even if it seems unfavorable to you, is better than exaggeration, which may confuse you during follow-up questions. Be prepared to explain what you have learned from your experiences, good and bad. Avoid "yes" or "no" answers whenever possible. Expand on your answers by volunteering information, which is often helpful in showing how you qualify for the position. It is also important to know when to stop answering a question. You should avoid repeating yourself, rambling, or giving information that is unrelated to the question. Be concise and complete. If you do not understand a question, ask the interviewers to repeat or rephrase the question. It is important to get your good points across. If you are describing your best qualities, give concrete examples and explain how these qualities have helped you and benefited your former employers. It is well established that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior and, by extension, future performance. The oral interview has been designed to elicit from each candidate examples of actual past behavior that is determined to be critical to career success as a Police Officer. During your interview, you will be asked to demonstrate, through past behavior, why you are qualified to be a Police Officer. You are not expected to have previous training or experience in law enforcement. Police Officer is not a 9-to-5 job and requires a lifetime commitment. Be sure to have an accurate understanding of what a career as a Police Officer will be like, what you expect to accomplish and derive from it. Plan to talk about how your education, prior employment, or other life experiences have given you this understanding and have prepared you for the duties and responsibilities of a Police Officer. Police Officers must always be success-oriented. Think about how you have demonstrated personal effectiveness through achievement and success in work, education, or other areas, how you have set and achieved personal goals, and the achievements in your life that you are most proud of. Police Officers must be responsible for their own actions when
Police Officers must be able to assume this responsibility, which requires critical thinking and sound decision making skills. Plan to talk about your past behavior and how it has prepared you to adapt to this behavioral flexibility. Police Officers do more than just catch criminals. They are the most visible face in the community and on the front lines of efforts to improve or maintain a community's quality of life. Think about your past endeavors and how these actions have demonstrated your commitment to improving your community. Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities in the world. Police Officers must deal effectively with all people, treating each with courtesy, dignity, and fairness. To do this, you must have a profound appreciation for human diversity itself. Try to recall your contacts with people of various cultures, attitudes, opinions, and ethnicity in various situations and the effectiveness of those interactions. This is what a Police Officer does on a daily basis. In Village Policing, it becomes even more critical. Police Officers are expected to recognize small problems and solve them before they become big problems. They must note trends and develop preventive solutions to potential long-term problems. Think about how you handled problems in the past and how you would handle similar problems in the future. In Closing... You will be asked to give a closing statement. Do not use phrases such as, "I can do a good job and thank you for your time" or, "I will be a valuable asset and work very hard". Your closing statement should be a quick, focused effort to impress the panel with your enthusiasm and energy, and if you made any mistakes during the interview, one last opportunity to clear up those issues. Your interview panel will consist of veteran Police Officers asking many questions regarding your qualifications. Do not invent or embellish experiences related to the factors discussed above. You only need to demonstrate how your life experiences have prepared you to become a Police Officer.
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 Oral Interview |
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