What do you make of this psych interview experience?
I did the usual battery of long, multiple choice tests. Then, I was asked to complete a series of very personal and intrusive questions about my background: My sex life, number of partners, how often, when was the last time I had sex, how many friends I spend time with, what do we do and on and on.
After this came the interview with the psychologist who, from the beginning was in my face. He told me that I was too “perfectâ€, that I had answered too many questions with the “right†answers. His whole manner was very accusatory.
He picked up with my past relationships. It seemed to bother him that I haven’t had very many sex partners. And I also told him that I wasn’t currently involved with anyone. He didn’t seem to like that – “Well what do you do for your sexual urges???†was his next question.
It also bugged him that I don’t have a history of getting angry with co-workers or neighbors. I’ve not been involved in fistfights or other physical altercations since childhood --- that got picked on, too.
Another issue was that I couldn’t describe any traumatic experiences in my childhood other than the unexpected deaths of a few relatives and friends. I got reamed for that, too: “THAT’S the most traumatic thing that’s ever happened to you?†And I could go on.
Throughout this ordeal I remained calm, polite and unruffled. I replied that I was simply telling the truth, presenting myself exactly as I was.
All I want to ask is: Is this typical? Are pre-employment psych assessments normally so confrontational? And what the heck are they looking for: Hotheads who blow up easily, people who sleep around all the time and have indiscriminate relationships, or those who have witnessed lots of robberies and drive-by shootings? I’m a suburban brat, not an inner city gang member. Can’t a nice, even-tempered person be a cop?
Sorry for the long post, and thanks.
I did the usual battery of long, multiple choice tests. Then, I was asked to complete a series of very personal and intrusive questions about my background: My sex life, number of partners, how often, when was the last time I had sex, how many friends I spend time with, what do we do and on and on.
After this came the interview with the psychologist who, from the beginning was in my face. He told me that I was too “perfectâ€, that I had answered too many questions with the “right†answers. His whole manner was very accusatory.
He picked up with my past relationships. It seemed to bother him that I haven’t had very many sex partners. And I also told him that I wasn’t currently involved with anyone. He didn’t seem to like that – “Well what do you do for your sexual urges???†was his next question.
It also bugged him that I don’t have a history of getting angry with co-workers or neighbors. I’ve not been involved in fistfights or other physical altercations since childhood --- that got picked on, too.
Another issue was that I couldn’t describe any traumatic experiences in my childhood other than the unexpected deaths of a few relatives and friends. I got reamed for that, too: “THAT’S the most traumatic thing that’s ever happened to you?†And I could go on.
Throughout this ordeal I remained calm, polite and unruffled. I replied that I was simply telling the truth, presenting myself exactly as I was.
All I want to ask is: Is this typical? Are pre-employment psych assessments normally so confrontational? And what the heck are they looking for: Hotheads who blow up easily, people who sleep around all the time and have indiscriminate relationships, or those who have witnessed lots of robberies and drive-by shootings? I’m a suburban brat, not an inner city gang member. Can’t a nice, even-tempered person be a cop?
Sorry for the long post, and thanks.
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