Are you an Officer?

Question

In the next few days approaching, they schedule me for a Psychiatric evaluation for a position as a Correctional Officer. As you probably may be familiar with the complicated phases of obtaining a law enforcement position. I already passed my background check, interview (that was intense, 5 personnel in a small room interviewed me, and the questions were mostly targets at my past )
and I still have to pass my psychiatric & physical.

My question to you is, if you went thought the hiring process . . . During this phase with the doctor, what kind of questions he or she might ask? How do I conduct myself? I know you have to be yourself, but I heard from a friend that during this phase, you must be very carefully of how you say your responds. For an example, the doctor might ask you, Have you even get mad? Now . . . I know everyone to get mad at one point of their lives and I would answer yes. Nevertheless, that is not the favorable responds, and could work against you.

It is this type of questions that have me worry a bit. According to researches, they said mind doctors think very complicated. They do not think normally. If a person says, I like to eat apply.... they translate that as . . . I like to suck whatever . . . If you say A, and you really mean a they see Z.

What should I do? I really want to get this job. Any advises?

13 answers

Answer 1

Don't lie about anything. They look to cross you up and make you step on your own words. In Ca. they issue you a 700 question phych eval test. Many q's are the same in different form. The computer red flags certain answers you give in that test, maybe they don't jive with another q you gave on same subject. After your background is done and pass everything and move on to the psych interview the good Dr. will ask you many q's based on the info given to him that was derived from your 700 q test. Yes, he will ask you about anger and drinking and if your parents loved you and if you loved your parents. He or she will try to get you upset but don't let them, just answer each question truthfully and very briefly. Don't talk about anything they don't ask you about, don't lead into anything unless they take you there. The more you say the more fuel you give them. Keep it simple and short. Prepare yourself mentally before your interview and be prepared to answer questions that you feel have nothing to do with anything and make no sense to you at all. The psych interview was the worst part of my hiring process to get on with Ca dept of corrections. I thought there was no way I passed it and they were going to kick me to the curb. I have never been so stressed out in all my life. I have talked to many other people who did not experience this, they say their's was a walk in the park and there psych Dr. was totally cool. I am figuring that you are obviously not in Ca or at least not in CDC because of the 5 person panel. I would guess that your interview would be like our 700 q test given orally only not near as long. I don't know what else to tell except prepare yourself in the head and don't let them make you lose your temper, that is what they want. You need to be able to control your temper. It is ok to get mad but if you can display to them that you can think and act rationaly while you are upset and not lose it, that will be a plus for you. Alot of being in corrections is taking verbal abuse just about everyday. Inmates will call you things you didn't know existed, they will hate your uniform and take it out on you. If you can't handle it you will be miserable. I have been called everything you can think of in the short time I have been at Pelican Bay prison. I have seen some cops come unglued and I have seen some like myself just say "whatever" and go on doing their job. I feel like I have rambled senslessly but I think it's good advice. Oh yeah, one more thing. Be confident in yourself and let them see that. Don't be a doubter.

Answer 2

Most of the questions asked are repetative, just asked in different ways. Also some of the questions that are asked are intended to create stress, to see how you handle it. For example you could be asked an off-the-wall question such as "if you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be and why?" There's really no right or wrong answer to this question, it's just intended to throw you off and to see how well you think under pressure.

Above all be honest in your answers. If you don't understand a question, make it known and don't try to guess your way through it.

Also, if you think that you're normal now, you won't by the time the psych is over with. I remember questions asking if I thought people were following me, if people were after me, and so on. By the time I was done I felt a bit paranoid! =)

Answer 3

I can't speak with any authority since I am neither a psychiatrist nor a correctional professional, but I'll throw in my two bits.

If you aren't worried about your own mental health, chances are they won't be either. Yes, they will sometimes interpret your "A" answer to mean "Z", but my guess is that the manner in which you answer the questions also will play a part. If you say "I rarely get angry" in a matter-of-fact manner, that's probably good. If you say "NO, I NEVER GET ANGRY!!! WHO TOLD YOU THAT???", then obviously that'll be a check mark against you. ;) An outright denial of ever getting angry might indicate a certain amount of delusion or hubris about yourself. So be yourself and be your best, but also be clear and honest about your answers. While you want to "sell yourself", any interview that involves a psychiatrist likely isn't one where you want to pretend to be someone you're not.

So, did I confuse you even more? ;) Sorry if I did. Good luck on getting that job!

Answer 4

First and foremost, you need to be honest, like you said earlier. If the doctor detects that you are lying, you may be disqualified immediately. As a correctional officer, you are entrusted with a lot of responsibility. They do not want to hire dishonest people for those kinds of positions. Good luck! Also, in Minnesota, we have the MMPI (Multiphasic Personality Inventory) exam for law enforcement officers. It is about 500 questions and there is not much face to face discussion with a psychologist, so you may only have to meet with them for a short time.

Answer 5

Been though 3 , one for federal, two for state jobs.

2 were merely wiitten pick the best answer questions. with a short 5 min visit

3rd, things if I was a tree what type would I be, If you had to choice between fishing and painting a house what would you pick.
Figureed, just be yourself and be honest, the only people I have ever heard of failing them are people who tried to fake it or be someone they are not.

Answer 6

So you actually have to see a doctor. Never done that. I took what is called an MMPS-2 test. But regardless you must act normally and respond honestly. Just relax things will be fine. They expect you to be nervous. They are not there to interrogate you, they just want to do a mild evaluation. I think the test though is hilarious. It asks things like do you like to play with dolls and do you enjoy your sex life.

Answer 7

Boy I'm glad I didn't have to go through all of this to get my position as sheriff. I would think being honest would be best, but too much information might not be a good thing. Answer with as little information as possible. Yeah that's my advice.

Answer 8

I have taken half a dozen of those exams. Don't worry about it. Unless you are obviously crazy there is nothing to it. Just anser the questions.

Answer 9

You will fail !
Reason is,you think and call people stupid without investigating,analyzing the situation at hand.
If I knew who was testing your "Psychiatric evaluation " I would gladly foward your "Stupid ***" responce to my question.
God forbid they give you a gun! Cheers Mate!

Answer 10

everything is too long to read