Audio Version
Summary
Timeline of Events
- Podcast Episode Launch: Russell, the host of “Let’s Talk Police Applications,” releases Episode 8, focusing on interview stages for police applications.
- Focus on Interview Questions: Russell discusses behavioral-based evidence questions that require applicants to share experiences.
- Personal vs. Professional Examples: Russell addresses a common applicant question of whether they should share personal or professional examples in interviews.
- Analysis of Question Wording: Russell emphasizes listening carefully to the wording of the question to determine the type of example required (professional vs. personal). He also distinguishes between specific questions (professional environment) and more general questions (resilience).
- Emphasis on Providing Evidence: The main point, according to Russell, is that the interviews are designed to elicit proof of skills, qualities and values through examples from either personal or professional experiences.
- Seeking Permission: Russell suggests applicants can seek permission to share a personal experience if they are unsure, and also having a professional example ready as a backup, in case personal experiences are not preferred.
- Preparation for Future Episodes: Russell mentions that the following episodes will continue focusing on interview questions. Episode 9 will be the next episode.
Key Themes and Ideas:
- Focus on Behavioral-Based Questions: The podcast episode centers on how to answer behavioral-based interview questions, not general questions like “Why do you want to join the police force?” These questions seek evidence of specific skills, qualities, and values. Examples include: “Can you give me an example of where you’ve had to communicate under pressure?”
- The Core Question: The central issue discussed is whether to use personal or professional examples when asked to share experiences in behavioral interviews.
- Listening to the Question: The speaker, Russell, emphasizes that the key to deciding whether to use personal or professional examples lies in carefully listening to the specific wording of the interview question.
- Specific Questions (Professional Focus): Questions like “When have you contributed to a team in a professional environment?” explicitly require work-related examples. The use of the term “professional” strongly implies they want a work-related example. Even professional athletes, though not a typical applicant, should be considered when it comes to professional experience.
- General Questions (More Flexibility): More general questions, such as “Could you provide us with an example from your own experience that shows you are a resilient person?” allow for greater flexibility. Either professional or personal examples can be used as long as they are relevant.
- The Purpose of the Questions: Ultimately, interviewers are seeking evidence or “proof” of an applicant’s skills, qualities, and values. They want to see that these are not theoretical but are applied in “real situations.”
- As Russell states, “They want evidence. You know they want proof. that you have these particular qualities or skills or values and that you’re actually utilizing these things in real situations.”
- Weighing Personal vs. Professional:
- While professional examples are often the go-to for job interviews, the podcast suggests personal examples can be more impactful, especially when demonstrating qualities like resilience: “something like resilience, I tend to think that personal examples of where you’ve shown resilience can be a little bit more and I think can tend to carry a little bit more weight than demonstrating how you’ve gone through a really challenging work uh period or a challenging project at work.”
- A good personal example, like overcoming a real personal hardship, can show specific steps taken to cope with a challenge and show that one has come out at the other end stronger.
- Seeking Permission: If uncertain about using a personal example, the podcast suggests asking the interviewer for permission.
- For example, if asked about resilience, you could ask: “Look, I I’ve had a personal experience recently that I think is a really good example uh and provides some evidence of my my resilience and my ability to cope. Would it be okay if I share that personal experience?”
- This provides an opportunity for the interviewer to specify whether they are more interested in a professional or personal example. If they do prefer a professional example, then you need to follow with one.
- Have a Backup: If you plan to share a personal example, it’s wise to have a backup professional example in case the interviewer expresses a preference for a work-related situation.
- Focus on Evidence: The most crucial aspect is that the example, whether personal or professional, provides strong evidence to demonstrate the skills, qualities, or values they are looking for. As the speaker notes, “if it provides that good evidence, it proves your case, it convinces them that you have the skills and qualities or the values that they’re asking about.”
- Good Quality Answers Are Key: The speaker asserts that a well-articulated, relevant answer, regardless of whether it’s personal or professional in nature, is unlikely to be met with resistance from the interviewer.
Key Takeaway:
- Successful responses to behavioral-based interview questions hinge on careful analysis of the question and providing solid evidence of skills, qualities, and values through relevant and well-articulated examples. While professional experiences are often assumed to be preferred, personal experiences can be more impactful and should be considered, especially if they strongly demonstrate the qualities being sought. When in doubt, seek permission before sharing.