What to expect

[Deputy2B]

I have an interview with the Sheriff Monday. I will have to start in Corrections for now, but I hope to be on the road within a year. The Sheriff has known me and my family for over 20 years. What can I expect at this interview? Is this going to be different than interviewing in front of a panel of officers? It's kind of weird interviewing with someone that I have known for so long. Any suggestions?

[Joe159]

If this were a panel interview where you were competing with other applicants and the interview is a behavior-based/question answer format where you are rated and scored, in my opinion it is not proper for someone you have known for 20 years to be sitting on that panel. For your smaller depts there may be no way around this although your larger depts may give you the option to request that another person sit on that panel. Some depts will just not allow it to happen period. They wont let you(as an applicant) be questioned/interviewed by someone you know.

If this is an informal interview, then thats a different situation.

[Birky]

It is probably an informal interview that is standard procedure for the department. When I worked for the sheriff's department the sheriff wanted to interview everybody he hired. If you didn't get an interview with the sheriff then you didn't get the job.

[DelC]

Even though the sheriff is an old family friend, be prepared for a lengthy professional interview. Conduct yourself as if you weren’t personal friends with the sheriff, until you see how the sheriff is going to conduct himself. Then go with the flow. Good Luck.

[augiedare]

Not meeting the Sheriff doesn't necessarily mean you didn't get the job. I was hired and have been working for a Sheriff's Office and STILL haven't met the Sheriff!!! The hiring process was taking so long they just bypassed the interview. One of these days I'll meet the guy!!!

[Deputy2B]

Thanks for the input. I'll post an update after the interview next week.