Anybody have USCS S/A S.I. at JFK

[robjorg]

Hey folks. I had my Customs 1811 S.I. at JFK on Monday. I consider myself to be fully able to elucidate ideas clearly and concisely and I believe that I am full of common sense. I have spoken to audiences of literally thousands. To that end, I am not sure of how well I did on my S.I.. Other posts have said that they joked around with their panel interviewers; mine were all business. Others had said that they knew they nailed it; I am still unsure. As is natural, I keep second guessing my answers, but I am not sure as to what I would change. I avoided responses like, "I would follow the rules and procedures of the USCS" because I feel they would have wanted something more substantive. Does anybody want to offer their thoughts as to how they thought they did on their S.I.? I'd really like to hear from folks who interviewed at JFK airport, but would be more than eager to hear from people who interviewed anywhere. Thanks.

[EnconNY]

Rob-

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Structured Interviews are a very funny thing. I've been through at least six of them (passed them all) and each one was dramatically different from the next. Most times, the agents sre very professional, but dry personality types. On one, we laughed for twenty minutes straight. Point is you never know how they are going to go. As long as use used your common sense and gave rational answers that you could justify and stand behind, you should have nothing to worry about. Winston Churchill once said "There is nothing sharper than twenty-twenty hindsight". This is true, and this is why we over analyze the answers we give, I know I did. Don't sweatit, I'm sure you did fine.

EnconNY

P.S. USCS SI (Manhattan Office) was one of the dry, no-laughing interviews.

[Mister Jinxy]

Like I tell most people who ask about this type of thing: As long as you didn't tell them that you shot the neighbor's cat out of the tree while working primary on that surveillance job, you probably did fine.

[robjorg]

Thanks for the insight, guys. As you know more than most other folks, Jinxy, in the words of Tom Petty, "Waiting is the hardest part."

[zz25]

Robjorg

I'm 3 for 4 on 1811 posiiton structured interviews. The one I failed.....you guessed it, Customs. Probably with the same group you interviewed with. To say it was business-like was an understatement. The room was 32 degrees when I walked in and about 50 below when I walked out. Hopefully it was just a bad day, although I blame it on the fact that I took the INS Officer Corps exam that morning (had an hour to get to the USCS interview). I got a 105 on the exam, but that hasn't gotten me anywhere yet. I left there knowing I had failed it, so it wasn't a surprise when I got the "we don't want you" letter a month later. The worst was that 2 weeks after the interview they scheduled me for the med, got my hopes up that I passed, and then called the morning of the med to cancel it. That hurt! Anyway, forgive and forget. It's been almost a year and they've given me the green light to re-apply. I've already sent in my bubble sheet. Customs seems like a great agency, and with "Virginia" on the board, it seems like they can do no wrong. Anyway, sorry for the depressing post----I'm sure you did fine. Good luck, keep us posted, and shotgun those applications!----ZZ

[ThomasAckerman]

Robjorg:

Paulsala was just selected for an 1811 position with Customs at JFK. (See the
Selections (http://www.911jobforums.com/vB/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=10958) thread posted by Virginia.) Perhaps he can help you.

TOM

[robjorg]

Thanks to all of you folks for your input. Tom- I PM'd Paulsala as per your suggestion. If anybody else would like to chime in, I'm all ears.