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Hey everybody. First off, for the purpose of anonymity, I am not going to disclose the name of the agencies involved. Before I begin, this is my brief background: I possess a bachelor's degree, some graduate work, I am a military veteran and retiree, and do not have so much as a parking violation, although I had a few problems as a minor (15 years ago)
So I have been in the hiring process for several different agencies (more than a dozen in western Washington) and I thought the background interview was going to be like any other interview. Well, I was extremely nervous, just as I was in every oral board (the panel interview) that I had been to. However, I was not expecting to be treated hostilely from the moment I walked in the room. During the course of the interview, I perceived his demeanor to be teetering on the edge of belligerent and was definitely unprofessional.
At one point, the investigator asked me about an arrest when I was a minor (a misdemeanor that was thrown out of court). I gave him all the details that I could remember, as the incident occurred nearly 15 years ago. I told him that (honestly) I didn't remember all of the details, but gave him the names and contact information (including those of both the arresting officer and the judge that presided over the case). After asking the same question several times, I once again answered, then told him that I wasn't lying about anything he asked and to please refer to the individuals I cited for him if he needed more information. He was the one who brought up contacting people in the first place. But for some reason, that just wasn't good enough. Then he told me that my written information was incomplete, because three of my references did not have email addresses... Not my fault if some people haven't evolved into the information age.
So, I stood up and, very composed, told him that we were finished, shook his hand and asked for my documents back. He looked shocked, as if he'd never seen this before. I decided to leave, because after 45 minutes of asking me the same questions 20 times, asking me "why don't you stand up for yourself", and continuously telling me that "something is just not adding up here", I was tired of someone telling me they didn't believe me. I was telling the truth and had the proof to back it up.
So, the following day, I contacted his lieutenant. Essentially, he told me that maybe he thought I was holding something back, just applying pressure to see how I would react, etc.... all the excuses they could produce if they didn't like someone. I told him they could just consider me permanently DQ'd because I would never think of applying to that department again.
Although, they still haven't sent me any confirmation that they have done this. This was unfair treatment and I still have strong feelings about it. However, I'll never know, because I took myself out of the process. I later learned from the civil service examiner that, after I took myself out of the process, I was the #1-ranked candidate before I entered the background interview.
I learned a lot (what to expect in the process) from this experience, but confused as to why the investigator acted the way he did. Not that it matters, I am moving ahead to the same stage with several other agencies. However, I'm being told by LEO's that I know that just walking out on a background itself is going to come back to impede my progress....maybe for every agency I ever apply to. I knew that they communicate between agencies and the consequences. Guess I'll have to take my chances, it's not like I have a choice.
I welcome any feedback from other candidates, current LEO's and general public. I would like to hear what others have to say on this.
So I have been in the hiring process for several different agencies (more than a dozen in western Washington) and I thought the background interview was going to be like any other interview. Well, I was extremely nervous, just as I was in every oral board (the panel interview) that I had been to. However, I was not expecting to be treated hostilely from the moment I walked in the room. During the course of the interview, I perceived his demeanor to be teetering on the edge of belligerent and was definitely unprofessional.
At one point, the investigator asked me about an arrest when I was a minor (a misdemeanor that was thrown out of court). I gave him all the details that I could remember, as the incident occurred nearly 15 years ago. I told him that (honestly) I didn't remember all of the details, but gave him the names and contact information (including those of both the arresting officer and the judge that presided over the case). After asking the same question several times, I once again answered, then told him that I wasn't lying about anything he asked and to please refer to the individuals I cited for him if he needed more information. He was the one who brought up contacting people in the first place. But for some reason, that just wasn't good enough. Then he told me that my written information was incomplete, because three of my references did not have email addresses... Not my fault if some people haven't evolved into the information age.
So, I stood up and, very composed, told him that we were finished, shook his hand and asked for my documents back. He looked shocked, as if he'd never seen this before. I decided to leave, because after 45 minutes of asking me the same questions 20 times, asking me "why don't you stand up for yourself", and continuously telling me that "something is just not adding up here", I was tired of someone telling me they didn't believe me. I was telling the truth and had the proof to back it up.
So, the following day, I contacted his lieutenant. Essentially, he told me that maybe he thought I was holding something back, just applying pressure to see how I would react, etc.... all the excuses they could produce if they didn't like someone. I told him they could just consider me permanently DQ'd because I would never think of applying to that department again.
Although, they still haven't sent me any confirmation that they have done this. This was unfair treatment and I still have strong feelings about it. However, I'll never know, because I took myself out of the process. I later learned from the civil service examiner that, after I took myself out of the process, I was the #1-ranked candidate before I entered the background interview.
I learned a lot (what to expect in the process) from this experience, but confused as to why the investigator acted the way he did. Not that it matters, I am moving ahead to the same stage with several other agencies. However, I'm being told by LEO's that I know that just walking out on a background itself is going to come back to impede my progress....maybe for every agency I ever apply to. I knew that they communicate between agencies and the consequences. Guess I'll have to take my chances, it's not like I have a choice.
I welcome any feedback from other candidates, current LEO's and general public. I would like to hear what others have to say on this.
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