What NOT to Do During Your Law Enforcement PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVIEW / EXAMINATION

By Mark D. Lerner, Ph.D

Clinical, Forensic, & Police Psychologist

Mental Health Director, Hero Link

Founder, Law Enforcement PEPtalk

Chairman, The National Center for Emotional Wellness

• Arrive late

• Ask too many questions

• Show feelings of anger if confronted

• Use profanity

• Try to present yourself in an overly favorable light

• Become confrontative

• Become agitated

• Assume the worst

• Be defensive

• Be guarded

• Be fidgety

• Sit slumped in your chair

• Be afraid to ask relevant questions

• Ask for the results of your evaluation

• Assume the evaluation is aimed at deterring you from becoming an officer

• Have visible piercings and tattoos

• Make excuses

• Make negative comments

• Treat the interview casually

• Focus on salary and job security

• Seems desperate for the job

• Chew gum or smell like cigarette smoke

• Bring a relative or friend to the evaluation

• Tell jokes during an interview

• Be soft-spoken

• Speak negatively about anyone

• Be aggressive

• Be overly talkative

• Make excuses or minimize transgressions

• Text or use your cell phone

• Fix your hair or rub your head or neck

• Sit with your arms crossed

• Wear cologne or perfume

• Try to overly impress the evaluator with questions

• Be overbearing or conceited

• Use poor grammar

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