Need some confidence boosting

mrrocknroll

New member
Hi guys let me explain.

For the last 4 years I\'ve been trying to leave my present job and join the UK police force, I\'ve applied now 3 times and in that time I\'ve had an interview before which I was unlucky in and failed by 1% and then later had a failed application. Now I am about to have my second interview tomorrow afternoon.
This for me is the job of a life time, I don\'t care for money nor do I care about the hours of the job, its something I\'ve wanted to do since I was a young lad. So the problem is this.
Since I\'ve already done the interview and failed it I know how hard it can be and how much of a strain it is. Worse being that if I was too fail I would have to wait another 6 months before I can reapply!!! Then it can take anything up to another 6 months before I hear back from them as to if I got another interview. For everyone outside the UK the police force here are extremely strict and extremely hard to join.
I\'ve been studying hard now for over 3 weeks and over the last 2 weeks I\'ve been on over drive trying to familiarising my self with all the information that I need to know (Problem with that is I\'m so far behind now with my painting as its had to be put on hold, I\'ve even had to turn a date with a girl down yesterday night because I so badly want to get in). I feel now that I know what I need to know but I\'m lacking that all important confidence to get me over the hill, so if there\'s anyone here that\'s an existing policeman /woman or anyone that\'s been here before or even an ex policeman/woman can you give me some words of advice or encouragement.

Thanks all.

Nick.
 

DaRat

New member
Sounds like you have gotten very close twice now, so that if you keep on making runs at the process, you will get in.

The only real advice that I can offer is that it is possible to want something too much. Not in the sense that you keep trying when you should stop, but in the sense of wanting something so much that you end up failing because you were too worked up to relax and let things flow.

So, get a good night\'s rest tonight and eat well. Try to relax tomorrow morning and put your heart at ease. Then go through and confidently ace the interview.

Good luck!
 

Zora

New member
Yes, don\'t \"over confidence\" yourself out of it.

But DO feel confident in the level of desire you have for this and the level of work and dedication you\'ve put into this.

So just relax a bit and go get it!
 

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
Originally posted by Zora
So just relax a bit and go get it!
Agreed. A big part if this is seeing how you manage and function under stress. Face it, as a Law Enforcement Officer, you very likely could be putting yourself into some stressful situations.

What they are giving you is a cakewalk compaired to looking down the barrel of a 12 guage shotgun with a crackhead holding it. So relax and remind yourself how much and why you want this job.
 

mud duck

New member
I think that Zora has the right idea, Relax.
This sounds like a promotional interview in the US Army. Now the review board isn\'t really looking to see what you know, but how you react to the questions, your over all demener <sp?> and what nots. I think that the one piece of advice that I got was if you don\'t know the answer tell them \"Sir/Madam, I don\'t have that answer at this moment, if you\'d like I can get you the answer later.\" Not sure how well it will work for your situation but....

Good Luck! Fingers are crossed.
 

PegaZus

Stealth Freak
Originally posted by mud duck
I think that Zora has the right idea, Relax.
This sounds like a promotional interview in the US Army. Now the review board isn\'t really looking to see what you know, but how you react to the questions, your over all demener <sp?> and what nots. I think that the one piece of advice that I got was if you don\'t know the answer tell them \"Sir/Madam, I don\'t have that answer at this moment, if you\'d like I can get you the answer later.\" Not sure how well it will work for your situation but....

Good Luck! Fingers are crossed.

Had a college professor like that. He said that at the oral exam for PhD students (can\'t recall the proper name for that right now), he would keep pressing them for more and more information and questions until they finally said the magic words: \"I don\'t know\". He said that he had one student hanging on for hours before the student finally gave up.

Guy looked like Fire Marshall Bill, if anyone remembers the character.
 

mrrocknroll

New member
Well I just got back, the interview started at 13:30 and finished at 18:00. In that time I had to do 5 exercises, 1 maths exam, 1 English exam, 1 Logical exam, a 20 min interview 1 on 1 with some examiner and 5 series of Role Plays involving 5 RP actors.
As I said I was totally nevous when I woke up but when I got there I felt alright and did what I felt was my best. But I don\'t wanna say I\'m confident and I won\'t say I\'m not confident that I passed or not. Either way I won\'t find out for 14 working days time, so I\'m gonna just relax and get on with things, If I get in then totally brilliant I\'ll be the happiest bloke in the world, if I don\'t I\'ll continue to apply untill I get in.
 

DaRat

New member
Originally posted by mrrocknroll
As I said I was totally nevous when I woke up but when I got there I felt alright and did what I felt was my best. But I don\'t wanna say I\'m confident and I won\'t say I\'m not confident that I passed or not. Either way I won\'t find out for 14 working days time, so I\'m gonna just relax and get on with things, If I get in then totally brilliant I\'ll be the happiest bloke in the world, if I don\'t I\'ll continue to apply untill I get in.
Sounds like things went relatively well and that you have a good attitude. I hope that you have good news in 14 working days time.
 

Dragonsreach

Super Moderator
Staff member
I hope you get in, and even if you don\'t keep plugging away at it.

If you get in I\'ll give you a piece of advice from some of the policemen I know, most of whom are \"Old School\" with 12+ years service.
Listen to the guys with experience, they are the ones who\'ve taken the knocks and kept going, so they have a wealth of knowledge which will help to keep you out of the Sh*t.

There is a tendancy within a lot of current police forces to cater to Statistics on Crime Prevention and forget the real issue..............You are dealing with People, some good, some bad. Remember that and you\'ll do OK.
 

airhead

Coffin Dodger / Keymaster
Do you have other options?

We have
city police
county sherrif
highway patrol (state troopers)

There entry standards are about in that order as well (easiest at the top there).
 

Dragonsreach

Super Moderator
Staff member
Kevin; the UK is divided in to 60(+/-) County Constabularies. The only other police forces are British Nuclear Fuels, Transport (Rail) and Airport police.

However the regular Police Forces do have part time (Special Constables, normally respected by their full time colleagues) and Community Support Officers regarded as \"cardboard cops\" by all and sundry as they have no powers and are described as \"Copping on the Cheap\".

We don\'t have a Unified National Law enforcement organisation, or any other body outside of the \"Security Services\" which can act throughout the UK.
 

Sand Rat

New member
Yeah, Kevin left of the federal level here in the states -

We\'ve got the FBI (AKA the Feebies) - best known to local law enforcement for having streets named after them - One Way.

ATF - Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms - which should be a store not a federal agency

DEA - Drug enforcement agency - Cowboys one and all

Federal Marshalls, Air Marshalls, and the Secret Service - Dont get as much attention, but hard working guys.


And before anyone asks, my grandfather was a cop, and my father was a cop - my mother threatened to remove body parts if I went into the family business.
 

wiccanpony

Official Freak Bar Witch
Originally posted by steelcult
Yeah, Kevin left of the federal level here in the states -

We\'ve got the FBI (AKA the Feebies) - best known to local law enforcement for having streets named after them - One Way.

ATF - Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms - which should be a store not a federal agency

DEA - Drug enforcement agency - Cowboys one and all

Federal Marshalls, Air Marshalls, and the Secret Service - Dont get as much attention, but hard working guys.


And before anyone asks, my grandfather was a cop, and my father was a cop - my mother threatened to remove body parts if I went into the family business.

and working in \"The Sand Box\" is such a nice safe job...:eek:
 
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