SWAT teams have an important role in many communities to protect the public in potentially dangerous situations. If you want to become a SWAT officer, it’s important to demonstrate your skills and qualifications during the interview process to show you can handle the various responsibilities of the position. When applying for a position on a SWAT team, it’s helpful to know what you can expect during the interview process so you can prepare effectively.In this article, we explain what a SWAT team is, describe their responsibilities and provide a list of steps for how to prepare for a SWAT team interview.
Preparing for SWAT School PT (with Iron Infidel)
Research common interview questions
Before you interview for a SWAT officer position, take some time to research common interview questions that a committee may ask you. If you know someone on a SWAT team, ask them what types of questions they received during their interview. You can also do a search online for some common SWAT team interview questions. Here are some examples of questions you may get during your interview:
Follow up with interviewers
After the interview, its important to follow up in a timely manner to convey your continued interest in the position. Send a group email within 24 hours to everyone who interviewed you. Thank them for their time and reiterate your interest in the position. Let them know youre available to answer additional questions they may have about your qualifications for the SWAT team. Heres an example of a follow-up email you can send after an interview:
Dear [name of each interviewer],
Thank you for taking the time to interview me yesterday for the open SWAT officer position. I appreciated the opportunity to discuss my skills and qualifications for the position, including my robust medical training and proven negotiation tactics. Please let me know if you have any additional questions for me regarding the role. I look forward to hearing from you soon with your decision.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
What does a SWAT team do?
A SWAT team responds to situations that may threaten law enforcement officers or the general public. To prepare for these situations, the team participates in regular physical training to ensure they have the physical fitness to do their jobs effectively. They also train with various weapons they may require during a high-risk situation, such as sniper rifles. Most departments expect their SWAT team members to maintain on-call availability so they can respond to situations quickly.
The types of situations that may require a SWAT team can vary widely, but typically their duties include:
How to prepare for a SWAT team interview
If youre interviewing for a position on a SWAT team, here are some steps you can take to prepare:
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Preparation – Days Prior to the Interview
- Review your application and background statement.
- Be familiar with key aspects of your education, job history, and other relevant job components such as licensures, training, and driving record.
- Obtain and study the job announcement/job description to determine the employer’s expectations.
- Research the employer/department.
- Use the employer’s/department’s website or homepage to gather information (annual reports, employee handbooks, policy statements, employee newsletters).
- Read current periodicals and trade journals to learn about the latest trends in the industry or occupational area.
- Review mission statements and company literature.
- Familiarize yourself with the employers organizational structure, clients, their competitors, etc.
- Anticipate difficult questions:
- Do not try to avoid these questions, explain the situation honestly and in a positive manner.
- Try to turn a weakness into a strength, i.e., “Yes, my GPA is low, but it is because I worked thirty hours a week to put myself through school.”
- Practice selling yourself.
- Be prepared to talk about yourself (your accomplishments, experiences, and skills).
- Prior to the interview, think of specific work or educational experiences in which you demonstrated skills (technical and interpersonal) that would be important to the position. Provide examples of how you have developed your skills.
- Think about your interests and values.
- Know your strengths and weaknesses, and be able to give examples to demonstrate your strengths.
- Think about important decisions you have made, the thought process behind each one, and the outcome.
- Identify accomplishments of which you are proud, and how you achieved them.
- Avoid being ‘overzealous’ in your presentation.
- Explain why you are interested in this occupation and position – show your personality.
- Define your short-term and long-term career plans and goals.
- Prepare a few relevant questions to ask the interviewer(s). This conveys your genuine interest and preparation.
- Anticipate and practice answering common/key interview questions with a friend, and/or use a video or tape recorder to record your answers. You can then critique your answers, or ask a friend to do so. Strive to improve your method of delivery and the content of your answers.
- Memorize your résumé so you can quickly answer questions about it.
- Prepare questions for your interviewer:
- The end of the interview is usually reserved for your questions.
- Do not ask generic questions or questions that could easily be found in company literature.
- Ask questions that will help you determine if you are a good match for the position and organization and demonstrate your genuine interest in the position.
You can create a connection with the interviewer by being expressive and making conversation. This is especially easy if you share a common interest with the interviewer—you can pick up some hints during your interview. Your interview might be in the middle of an extensive list of people, connect with your interviewer and make an impression. Do not force conversation with the interviewer, however, just let it flow naturally.
Before your interview, ensure that all potential distractions are limited or eliminated. Silence your cell phone and keep it at a distance from your interview position, close animals safely in a room, turn off all electronics other than your computer and wait to start laundry until you have finished your interview.
The worldwide pandemic has changed the hiring process, possibly permanently. Technology regularly evolves, and for the last while, this evolution has coincided with COVID-19. Advertised positions are applied for online; many are working from home and pursuing new jobs online. Applicants can also expect a virtual interview where once they would apply for a job and wait in anticipation of a face-to-face interview.
To do this, you should dress as though you will be sitting in front of the hiring manager at their desk. Wear business attire. Depending on the lighting, and your wall colour, light colours on the webcam can wash you out, and dark colours can do the same thing. You will also want to ensure that you are sticking to simple patterns and accessories so that the hiring manager focuses on you rather than what you are wearing. When interviewing for a position on a police service, it is important to remember that policing is conservative. Dress for the part— conservative dress and colours are essential.
Once you have agreed to a virtual interview with a hiring manager, you must ensure that you have the type of technology required for the interview. Check your internet or wireless connection from various rooms in your house. Find out where your computer has the best connectivity, and set yourself up in that room ahead of time. You can test this by calling a friend- check your camera and microphone, and have the friend provide feedback.
