{"id":6643,"date":"2017-10-13T06:28:08","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T10:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?p=6643"},"modified":"2017-11-02T07:02:58","modified_gmt":"2017-11-02T11:02:58","slug":"police-psychology-how-to-pass-your-pre-employment-psych-screening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?p=6643","title":{"rendered":"Police Psychology: How to Pass Your Pre-Employment Psych Screening"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Pass Your Pre-Employment Psych Screening<\/strong><\/h1>\n
(without driving yourself nuts)
\n<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Laurence Miller, PhD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong>Many prospective LEOs ask me if there\u2019s any special \u201cadvice\u201d I can offer about how to pass their agency\u2019s pre-employment psychological evaluation.\u00a0 So I\u2019m going to offer some straightforward recommendations for giving the most positive and accurate representation of your abilities and personality during the exam.\u00a0 And I\u2019m not going to teach you any sneaky tricks or violate any trade secrets to do it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Why do a psych screening?<\/em><\/h3>\n
\u00a0<\/em>Law enforcement is a high-stress, people-intensive profession.\u00a0 Before a department invests the time and resources in hiring, training, and fielding an officer, it wants to be reasonably sure that officer will be able to perform his or her job, will not pose a risk or danger to the public, and won\u2019t create a liability for the department.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
What are you guys looking for?<\/em><\/h3>\n
The purpose of most pre-employment psych evals is not to certify you as a paragon of mental health \u2013 otherwise there wouldn\u2019t be very many working police officers (or psychologists, for that matter).\u00a0 Rather, the psych screening is designed to rule-out significant mental health disturbances, personality disorders, or dysfunctional behavioral traits that would be incompatible with the role of a police officer. This point is important because, as I\u2019ll emphasize below, the most common mistake police applicants make is trying to be too perfect<\/em> and thereby leading the evaluator to suspect you\u2019re not being truthful.\u00a0 So remember, we just want to know you\u2019re basically normal, not perfect.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em>What does the exam consist of?<\/em><\/h3>\n
The exact content and procedures of pre-employment screenings may vary widely from agency to agency, but typically consist of two main components: a clinical interview<\/em> and one or more standardized (usually paper-and-pencil) psychological tests.<\/em>\u00a0 During the interview, the psychologist will ask you a range of questions about your background, work history, current lifestyle, any symptoms or problems you may be experiencing, and what your expectations are about the job.\u00a0 A properly conducted psychological interview should not feel like an adversarial interrogation, and the aim is not to trick or trap you.\u00a0 Correspondingly, the less defensive and more honest you are, the more favorable impression you\u2019ll make.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
The number of psychological tests employed may range from few to many, but typically, between two and four well-standardized measures will be administered.\u00a0 In fact, you\u2019ll probably spend most of your psych eval time hunched over a table with a number-2 pencil in your hand, blackening in little boxes and circles on multiple pages (increasingly, this is done by computer).\u00a0 Do your best on each test; this data is important.\u00a0 The evaluator will put the results of these tests together with his or her impressions from the clinical interview to determine your overall psychological fitness for the job.<\/span><\/p>\n
How should I act at the interview?\u00a0 How should I answer the examiner\u2019s questions? <\/em><\/h3>\n
First, don\u2019t assume the worst. \u00a0The psychologist is not your enemy.\u00a0 For that matter, he or she is not your friend, either.\u00a0 This professional\u2019s only job should to objectively evaluate your mental status and relate it to the specific referral requirements of your job description as a police officer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Second, come prepared.\u00a0 Show up on time.\u00a0 Bring any records or other materials that were requested.\u00a0 Other commonsense recommendations include bringing reading glasses and having a good breakfast or lunch prior to a morning or afternoon exam.\u00a0 Accordingly, the examiner should make sure that he or she is ready at the appointed time and is prepared to conduct the evaluation.<\/span><\/p>\n
Third, don\u2019t be afraid to ask questions.\u00a0 If something is unclear about what the examiner asks or a test that\u2019s being given, let them know.\u00a0 A reasonable examiner won\u2019t object to reasonable questions.\u00a0\u00a0 Bear in mind, however, that they may not be able to answer many of the questions \u2013 e.g. \u201cWhat does that test result mean?\u201d \u2013 at the time of the evaluation.\u00a0 That\u2019s because the answer would compromise the validity of the test or because the actual results of the exam are supposed to be transmitted directly to the hiring agency.\u00a0 If the examiner can\u2019t answer a particular question, they\u2019ll tell you so, but there should be no harm in asking.<\/span><\/p>\n
Fourth, be honest and do your best.\u00a0 <\/em>The entire validity of the evaluation hinges on the accuracy of the information obtained.\u00a0 To put it plainly, if I think you\u2019re trying to bullshit me, how do you think that\u2019s going to look on my report?\u00a0 Remember the point I made earlier: normal, healthy people can accept not being perfect, but if you unrealistically try to oversell yourself, it will probably backfire.\u00a0 Just tell it like it is. \u00a0This goes for both the interview and the written tests.<\/span><\/p>\n
Finally, expect to be treated courteously, and behave accordingly.\u00a0 <\/em>Even though the examiner may have to ask you some personal or pointed questions, you should never be made to feel unnecessarily demeaned or treated like a criminal suspect.\u00a0 Likewise, you\u2019ll be expected to behave with reasonable respect and decorum.\u00a0 Both examiner and examinee should keep in mind that they are both professionals who are here to do a job.<\/span><\/p>\n
How are the results determined?<\/em><\/h3>\n
Usually, the examiner will weigh three things: the clinical interview impressions, the psychometric test results, and his or her review of the officer applicant\u2019s past medical, employment, and other records.\u00a0 These factors are then placed into a rough sort of formula that yields one of several determinations, often expressed in terms of \u201crisk.\u201d\u00a0 That is, this applicant fits a low-risk, medium-risk, or high-risk officer candidate profile in terms of projected future performance as a police officer for this agency.\u00a0 The report is then sent to the agency hiring committee for them to consider all of your other application materials (background check, medical exam, etc.), and at some point, they will let you know the good or bad news.<\/span><\/p>\n
What if I think my results are invalid?<\/em><\/h3>\n
Policies vary from agency to agency.\u00a0 Some departments, usually larger ones with many applicants, give you little recourse if your application is rejected, for psychological reasons or otherwise.\u00a0 Other departments, usually smaller ones with a more sparse applicant pool, may allow you to reapply after a certain time period or, more rarely, may allow you to seek your own \u201csecond opinion\u201d from an outside psychologist.\u00a0 As a general rule, when you apply for any job, LEO-related or otherwise, you should always inquire ahead of time about that organization\u2019s hiring policies.<\/span><\/p>\n
So while there are no guarantees in life, for your law enforcement pre-employment psych eval, present yourself positively, truthfully, and nondefensively, act with courtesy and dignity, answer oral and written questions honestly to the best of your ability, and give the examiner a taste of the professionalism you plan to bring to your law enforcement career.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Site Administrator:\u00a0 Gary S. Aumiller, Ph.D. ABPP<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
Please share this article from down below.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
Please join the email list on the top of the sidebar and you can get these sent to your email.\u00a0 Also follow me on Twitter (https:\/\/twitter.com\/ThinBlueMind<\/a>) for other articles and ideas, and YouTube at\u00a0 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCfjNw0510ipr3bX587IvAHg<\/a> .<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
How to Pass Your Pre-Employment Psych Screening (without driving yourself nuts) Laurence Miller, PhD \u00a0Many prospective LEOs ask me if there\u2019s any special \u201cadvice\u201d I can offer about how to pass their agency\u2019s pre-employment psychological evaluation.\u00a0 So I\u2019m going to offer some straightforward recommendations for giving the most positive and accurate representation of your abilities […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17168877],"tags":[17168803,17168868,17169014],"class_list":["post-6643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tests","tag-police","tag-police-pscyhology","tag-screenings"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":682,"url":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?p=682","url_meta":{"origin":6643,"position":0},"title":"Police Psychology | Fit To Be A Cop? 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Aumiller, Ph.D.\u00a0 ABPP \u00a0 A soldier may have a few days in combat but they are interspersed with time back at their base.\u00a0 The regular cop has what I like to call \u201cburst stress\u201d where\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Police Stress"","block_context":{"text":"Police Stress","link":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?cat=17168885"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7041,"url":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?p=7041","url_meta":{"origin":6643,"position":5},"title":"Police Psych: Sex Crimes Cop Part 3: The Delusions","author":"Gary Aumiller","date":"April 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Police Psych: Sex Crimes Cop Part 3:\u00a0 The Delusions \u00a0 \u00a0 With Easter having just past, I thought I would show you how a Sex Crime Cop sees the holiday (sent to me on Easter Sunday by a sex crime cop with the statement \u201cthis is how I see Easter.\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Police Stress"","block_context":{"text":"Police Stress","link":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?cat=17168885"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/policepsychologyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Picture.-gif-bugs.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p60sbO-1J9","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6643"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6643\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6678,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6643\/revisions\/6678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}