Why Do You Want to Be a Police Officer?

A new police officer gets grilled with a series of exams, the toughest one of all being the interview. A face-to-face interview for the Police Academy is very different than any of those you might have faced before.

It is a daunting experience, for you have to answer all sorts of tough interview questions.
After reading this article, you may be interested in reading the article, “Police Officer Job Interview.”

How does one answer the question, “Why do you want to become a police officer?”

Here are some pointers to consider:

• You have the required commitment.
• You know how to deal with different types of people.
• You are socially competent.
• You are patient and tolerant.
• You perform well in stressful conditions.
• You have effective listening skills.
• You like working in a team environment.
• You have some qualities of leadership.
• You know how to initiate new ideas and to motivate people around you.
• And of course, you look for a challenging work environment.

There are a few tips that you should keep in mind while answering the question:

1. Radiate Confidence: You need to be confident in demeanor while entering the interview room and interacting with the interviewer. Remember, the post requires a confident person who can stand up for causes and not budge. Maintain a firm posture and be assertive.

2. Do your homework well: You cannot afford to go unprepared. You should be well acquainted with the workings of the police department you have applied for, the crime rate in the given area, the number of policemen assigned for patrolling per shift, etc. Be well informed and precise.

3. No need to be witty:  Although humor often helps an interviewee break the ice with the interviewer, in such an interview, it is a strict NO. Do not behave casually. Be straightforward and to-the-point.

4. Honesty is the best policy: Stay away from bragging about yourself for achievements that you haven’t done. You should not lie about the skills you do not possess. However, you may divert the question to a topic of your interest.

5.  Exhibit you strengths: You should try to exhibit your strengths. To do so, you need to narrate instances where you have been able to utilize those strengths. No matter how small your achievements are, highlight them. For example, you may talk about the community bravery award that you got when you were in 7^th grade.

6. Listen more and talk less: A police officer is required to be a good listener. He is one person who listens to orders, to people’s complaints and problems, and acts on it. So you need to be attentive while facing the questions.

Another important point to remember is to maintain your calm even if the interviewer tries to instigate you.