NEW JERSEY COPS â– JULY 2014
TEST PREP
81
The toughest parts of promotion exams
James Harris provides some insight to help candidates prepare for upcoming exams
Captain
Civil Service: The Civil Service Captain's Examination is very difficult. During candidates’ careers, they have not had to do scenariobased testing with an oral board component until this moment. This is
why it is extremely important to understand the dynamics of answering scenario-based questions and preparing for them immediately. By
having the proper preparation, candidates will score extremely well by
presenting all the leadership dimensions to the assessors in a fluent and
organized manner.
Non-Civil Service: Although some police departments are continuing to utilize similar methods for captain as they do for sergeant, some
of the more progressive agencies are utilizing more effective testing
techniques to find the right candidates for these positions. These agencies are having testing companies utilize oral board presentations and
in-basket style examinations, which rate the candidate's level of competence in critical areas of leadership and management. This is why it
is extremely important to utilize a professional coaching staff to assist
in your preparation.
Lieutenant
Civil Service: For this exam, the biggest hurdle is to ensure that candidates learn the segments necessary to score well. Areas of concern are
Criminal Law, Case Law, Motor Vehicle Law, Management, Report Writing and the laws surrounding current Arrest, Search & Seizure. Like the
sergeant's examinations, it is a great deal of material to learn if the candidate has not been staying current in the field.
Non-Civil Service: While some agencies continue to use the same
process as they do for sergeant, many non-civil service agencies are
moving to a scenario-based, in-basket style of examination. With this
style of test, the candidate is given scenarios that encompass operations, budgetary issues, staffing concerns and public relations issues.
For this, it is important to understand the scoring dimensions. The
exam is very taxing and will require the candidate to prepare for the
transition from front-line supervisor to mid-level manager. The most
effective way to prepare for this type of an exam is through repetition,
strategic planning and practice during the candidate's promotional
preparation.
Sergeant
Civil Service: The toughest part of this examination is the process
itself. With the consent decree and ongoing changes to the system, candidates are struggling to stay motivated to prepare and avoid becoming disconnected from their careers in general due to the moral issues
this testing process is creating.
Non-Civil Service: NJ Chiefs and other similar testing companies
utilize an oral interview board as part of their examination. This is usually comprised of a very difficult technical board and/or scenariobased questioning. The exam requires the applicant to memorize all
the material and present it with no visual clues to jog their memory. In
addition, by having the candidate present this to a board of chiefs, it
adds an element of stress. d
James Harris is an instructor and owner of Police & Fire Promotions
(www.policepromotions.net). P&F Training Centers are located in
Woodbridge, Toms River and Egg Harbor Township.