QAP Thurs. 1/12

[uoplax13]

Hey guys,
I've been preparing some notes on how I'd like to answer some general questions at my QAP this Thursday. Do you think it'd be appropriate to have these notes with me? I want to make sure I don't leave important things out, but at the same time I don't want to have notes there with me if it's going to detract from the interview/ have the panel question my ability to think on the fly, etc... Thoughts?

[K-Lo]

I might be wrong, but I don't think you can bring notes in with you. You can bring your state application with you to review before the interview though. Have your dates down as far as schooling and jobs. Don't stress. The panel knows that you are forced to answer without thinking things out for long periods. I think the applicant study guide covers that under the QAP section. Just answer honestly and clearly. Watch out for "ummms" and "yeahs".

Good luck. Keep us posted.

[Kojak]

uoplax13-

You will not be allowed to use notes during the actual interview. If you have any notes with you when you go into the interview room the panel members will ask you to put them on the floor under your chair. Having said that, I know you'll be very nervous during your interview and might forget to mention some important points. What I found to be helpful is writing the most important things I wanted to say on a couple of lined 3x5 index cards, they were easy to review prior to entering the interview room and easily stored in my pocket when I was called into the room. Hope this helps. Good Luck!!

[redhead]

What I found to be helpful is writing the most important things I wanted to say on a couple of lined 3x5 index cards, they were easy to review prior to entering the interview room and easily stored in my pocket when I was called into the room. Hope this helps. Good Luck!!Ditto.

and Good Luck!

[uoplax13]

Well, that makes sense. Thanks guys. I'm guessing that if I just take a minute to relax I should be able to remember everything. I'll also have a couple hours in the car beforehand to go over stuff.....so if you see a crazy looking person talking to himself on 80, that might be me!

[uoplax13]

......AND, if they ask how I've prepared, should I come up with something better than watching re-runs of Real Stories of The Highway Patrol? :smile:

[Tom]

.....so if you see a crazy looking person talking to himself on 80, that might be me!

Or it could be the other 10 million drivers out there...... :lol:

Good luck brother.

Tom

[retchp]

Take three deep settling breaths before you go in. Seat yourself comfortably after shaking hands and making eye contact. LISTEN to the question and respond as yourself in a calm and professional manner. Don't try to puff up your credentials or on the other hand denigrate yourself either. Just be who you are. These interviewers are not looking to find a polished CHP officer. They are looking for diamonds in the rough. Remember thousands have been through the process and most felt the same pressure you are feeling.

[undertow999]

As many have already said, be calm. Eat a balanced meal before the interview, so your stomach doesn't tighten up or act up during the interview. My interview was in the morning, so I ate a couple hours before, and gave my food time to digest. Just the most important thing is to be honest. If you lie, they will find out, and all the time up til now will have been a waste. As far as the notes, when I went I did not bring anything with me, except my application.

Probablly the most beneficial thing for me, was to do a mock interview. I think the recruiting officers at your local office can run through one with you. I have a family friend within recruitment that did three mock interviews with me, and it helped greatly. If you can't get to an office, just have someone you know run through one with you, trust me, it helps. If you have any other questions about the interview let us know, but there are obviously certain things we cannot answer. :smile:

[Kojak]

Probablly the most beneficial thing for me, was to do a mock interview.

undertow is right on with this, it helps to actually verbalize what you will be saying in the interview. Doing mock interviews will help you iron out anything that might trip you up during the interview.

[dw]

Recording yourself (audio or video) and reviewing your planned responses can also be helpful.

[uoplax13]

Thanks for all the advice. The interview went very well, but it looks like I will have to do it all again the next cycle. It turns out that when I took the written I was just short of the amount of time needed between "experimentation" and the test date- 20 days. I feel like a complete idiot, but oh well. Both of the panel members were nice and said that I was doing great aside from that, so I guess I'll see whoever at the next PAT in March...unless I end up testing in a different division- I'm going to call up the recuirter and ask her about that tomorrow, does anyone have any thoughts about going and testing in a different division at this point in lieu of waiting until March? I can't complain too much about my current position, largely because it was my fault, and I'm "working" at a ski resort.....but not living at home would be nice too, so if testing at a different division would speed things up, I'm all for it.

[redhead]

Thanks for all the advice. The interview went very well, but it looks like I will have to do it all again the next cycle. It turns out that when I took the written I was just short of the amount of time needed between "experimentation" and the test date- 20 days. I feel like a complete idiot, but oh well. Both of the panel members were nice and said that I was doing great aside from that.... I was in your shoes back in 2001. Telling the truth is the only policy, and it will hopefully pay off in the long run as it hopefully is for me. Wish nothing but the best of luck to you.

Red~

[Kojak]

Thanks for all the advice. The interview went very well, but it looks like I will have to do it all again the next cycle. It turns out that when I took the written I was just short of the amount of time needed between "experimentation" and the test date- 20 days. I feel like a complete idiot, but oh well. Both of the panel members were nice and said that I was doing great aside from that....

It's nice to see that you are staying positive and taking responsibilty for your actions instead of blaming others. Like redhead, I found myself having to reaaply and he's right, honesty is the only policy. As for reapplying in a division that's testing sooner than the division you live in...I was thinking about doing that and called the recruting unit in Sac to make sure it was okay. The officer I spoke with said it would be fine but that I needed to be prepared to travel to the test sites as there would be no special accomodation for me because I was choosing to test there. I wasn't expecting any accomodation and was willing travel to expedite the process as I'm sure you are. Even still, I would call recruiting to confirm. The best of luck to you!!!!

[Dipmo]

Thanks for all the advice. The interview went very well, but it looks like I will have to do it all again the next cycle. It turns out that when I took the written I was just short of the amount of time needed between "experimentation" and the test date- 20 days. I feel like a complete idiot, but oh well. Both of the panel members were nice and said that I was doing great aside from that, so I guess I'll see whoever at the next PAT in March...unless I end up testing in a different division- I'm going to call up the recuirter and ask her about that tomorrow, does anyone have any thoughts about going and testing in a different division at this point in lieu of waiting until March? I can't complain too much about my current position, largely because it was my fault, and I'm "working" at a ski resort.....but not living at home would be nice too, so if testing at a different division would speed things up, I'm all for it.

Keep going you'll get there soon. This last week was my third QAP and I'm already getting ready for the next one in case I didn't get a high enough score this week. My scores keep going up so I'll keep coming back. Eventually I'll get it right.

The bright side is that we get extra time to get our bodies ready for the challenge of PT.

Good luck to you, and congrats on your integrity and ability to be honest even when it hurts. Not many folks have that going for them.

Alright, I?m off to smack the Pollyanna off my shoulder.

[uoplax13]

Thanks everyone. I spoke with Cadet Hiring and a recruiter and they both said testing in another division would be fine....minus the travel, etc... So now I just need to decide what to do....do I wait until March and do it again up here, or head down to border div. or what? Testing again up here would put more time in between my "use" ....Not so sure at this point, but I guess I'll figure it out pretty quick. Hindsight is 20/20......I could have waited- Golden Gate just had thier final final date yesterday....