Montana police test - what to expect?
March 13, 2016 11:19 AM Subscribe
My son is interested in taking the Montana Law Enforcement Testing Consortium police test, and obtaining a job as a police officer in Montana, presuming he does well on the written and physical test. We live in Illinois. Does anyone have personal experience with this test?
It seems like there are a lot of open law enforcement positions in various MT locations, but I wonder what the odds are for getting a job - how many interviews are typical? What's it like being an out-of-state candidate? Any other comments or feedback from anyone who has gone through this test and getting or not-getting a job as a result, are appreciated. (Son is twenty-something with a few years of criminal justice college, and is fairly well-prepared for the physical test.)
It seems like there are a lot of open law enforcement positions in various MT locations, but I wonder what the odds are for getting a job - how many interviews are typical? What's it like being an out-of-state candidate? Any other comments or feedback from anyone who has gone through this test and getting or not-getting a job as a result, are appreciated. (Son is twenty-something with a few years of criminal justice college, and is fairly well-prepared for the physical test.)
Are you looking for information only about the Montana process? Or the hiring process in general?
posted by Beti at 3:28 PM on March 13, 2016
posted by Beti at 3:28 PM on March 13, 2016
Response by poster: from OP: I'm looking for info on the Montana process, or any other state that has a similar "one test for many municipalities in that state", although any law enforcement hiring info is welcome.
posted by j810c at 4:54 PM on March 13, 2016
posted by j810c at 4:54 PM on March 13, 2016
My husband is a retired officer turned background investigator and I've been through the process a bunch of times so I can share what I know. I never got hired I think mostly because of a bunch of little things adding up to me not being an ideal candidate (and they have their pick of candidates so I get it). My issues were things like job-hopping, not awesome physical shape, etc., so take my advice with a grain of salt.
WRT to being out of state it's hard to say. It kind of depends on how much they are scraping the bottom of the barrel for locals (kind of joking but kind of not). Being out of state certainly won't be a bar to employment in and of itself, though, or they wouldn't open the process to out-of-staters. The best thing your son can do it demonstrate in the interview process what he knows about the area and the department. He needs to be able to talk about why he wants to up sticks and move to Montana and why he wants to work with that specific department.
He needs to be able to articulate clearly why he wants to be a cop. I hear the stories and there's always a few young dudes who really want to be a cop on TV not a cop in the real world. Can he articulate that he understands it's a boatload of paperwork and talking to people (often the same people fighting with the same family members every. freaking. weekend.) and about 5% action?
Also, what has he done to prepare for the job besides criminal justice classes? Cadet program? Volunteering? Ridealongs?
Also, I think one of my issues was applying in shotgun fashion at a lot of departments. I saw it as "I'll be loyal to whomever gives me a chance." They saw it as "she might jump ship to another department since we clearly aren't her first choice." So tell him to apply carefully. A few departments is fine just don't go crazy like I did.
Looking at the MTLETC website, the fitness test looks like what I did. If he's young and in decent shape, I can't imagine he'll have trouble with it. (I hated that goddamned hurdle.) Most people I tested with seemed to do just fine.
The written test info looks pretty standard also. How's his handwriting? It needs to be legible. Proper spelling, grammar, coherent, etc.
Some departments in Oregon use the centralized testing but some have their own process so he needs to make sure he knows what his chosen department(s) use.
WRT to interviews, I mostly had a board interview (mostly one candidate in front of an assortment of officers/sergeants/lieutenants but for one department it was a group of candidates and a group of officers - that was weird and awkward) and then an interview with the background investigator. There might be an additional interview with the background investigator to do follow up questions/ask about discrepancies. Then, hopefully, a chief's interview for the final ruling.
Somewhere in there will be a pre-psych/suitability, a psych test, and a medical test.
Some general tips:
1. Your son should be collecting all his background investigation information now:
-residence addresses
-work addresses and phone numbers, supervisors
-current contact info if possible for supervisors who have moved on
-personal, current address, phone number (double check each time he applies that references are still willing to be contacted
-professional, same as above
-put all of this information in one place to make it easy to complete the Statement of Personal History. Usually they'll want ten years worth of info. Make sure the SPH is complete. Even if he has to write "I could not track down my manager Bob Smith but X, Y, Z are the steps I took to try to locate him." Make it easy for the background investigator to find out how awesome your son is. Make it easy for the investigator to write a positive report.
2. When it comes to the background investigation, be scrupulously honest. Departments can be pretty forgiving these days if candidates are straight up. Weed smoking in college is nothing compared to lack of integrity. When a police officer is on the stand in court, no one is going to care if s/he smoked weed ten years ago. But if a defense attorney gets hold of an instance when a police officer lied? Game over.
3. The investigator will contact your son's references but will also ask those people who else should be contacted and also ask those people who else can be contacted. Primary, secondary, tertiary references. Obvs your son can't control what people say but needs to be aware of the process.
Okay I have to study now but I'll come back if I think of more stuff. Good luck to your son! My husband loved his job and I'm sorry I never got the chance to go in to that field. It's hard as hell and stressful but I think it can be pretty rewarding. MeMail me if you/your son have any more questions.
posted by Beti at 6:27 PM on March 13, 2016
WRT to being out of state it's hard to say. It kind of depends on how much they are scraping the bottom of the barrel for locals (kind of joking but kind of not). Being out of state certainly won't be a bar to employment in and of itself, though, or they wouldn't open the process to out-of-staters. The best thing your son can do it demonstrate in the interview process what he knows about the area and the department. He needs to be able to talk about why he wants to up sticks and move to Montana and why he wants to work with that specific department.
He needs to be able to articulate clearly why he wants to be a cop. I hear the stories and there's always a few young dudes who really want to be a cop on TV not a cop in the real world. Can he articulate that he understands it's a boatload of paperwork and talking to people (often the same people fighting with the same family members every. freaking. weekend.) and about 5% action?
Also, what has he done to prepare for the job besides criminal justice classes? Cadet program? Volunteering? Ridealongs?
Also, I think one of my issues was applying in shotgun fashion at a lot of departments. I saw it as "I'll be loyal to whomever gives me a chance." They saw it as "she might jump ship to another department since we clearly aren't her first choice." So tell him to apply carefully. A few departments is fine just don't go crazy like I did.
Looking at the MTLETC website, the fitness test looks like what I did. If he's young and in decent shape, I can't imagine he'll have trouble with it. (I hated that goddamned hurdle.) Most people I tested with seemed to do just fine.
The written test info looks pretty standard also. How's his handwriting? It needs to be legible. Proper spelling, grammar, coherent, etc.
Some departments in Oregon use the centralized testing but some have their own process so he needs to make sure he knows what his chosen department(s) use.
WRT to interviews, I mostly had a board interview (mostly one candidate in front of an assortment of officers/sergeants/lieutenants but for one department it was a group of candidates and a group of officers - that was weird and awkward) and then an interview with the background investigator. There might be an additional interview with the background investigator to do follow up questions/ask about discrepancies. Then, hopefully, a chief's interview for the final ruling.
Somewhere in there will be a pre-psych/suitability, a psych test, and a medical test.
Some general tips:
1. Your son should be collecting all his background investigation information now:
-residence addresses
-work addresses and phone numbers, supervisors
-current contact info if possible for supervisors who have moved on
-personal, current address, phone number (double check each time he applies that references are still willing to be contacted
-professional, same as above
-put all of this information in one place to make it easy to complete the Statement of Personal History. Usually they'll want ten years worth of info. Make sure the SPH is complete. Even if he has to write "I could not track down my manager Bob Smith but X, Y, Z are the steps I took to try to locate him." Make it easy for the background investigator to find out how awesome your son is. Make it easy for the investigator to write a positive report.
2. When it comes to the background investigation, be scrupulously honest. Departments can be pretty forgiving these days if candidates are straight up. Weed smoking in college is nothing compared to lack of integrity. When a police officer is on the stand in court, no one is going to care if s/he smoked weed ten years ago. But if a defense attorney gets hold of an instance when a police officer lied? Game over.
3. The investigator will contact your son's references but will also ask those people who else should be contacted and also ask those people who else can be contacted. Primary, secondary, tertiary references. Obvs your son can't control what people say but needs to be aware of the process.
Okay I have to study now but I'll come back if I think of more stuff. Good luck to your son! My husband loved his job and I'm sorry I never got the chance to go in to that field. It's hard as hell and stressful but I think it can be pretty rewarding. MeMail me if you/your son have any more questions.
posted by Beti at 6:27 PM on March 13, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
I am sure things are different for law enforcement but I can imagine that local applicants are given first priority. This is the case most places but especially true in Montana, a state with a smaller population and, therefore, fewer job opportunities for people who want to stay local.
I'd absolutely start applying now and see what happens: his reasons for wanting to move to Montana are very important, and that cover letter could really make or break his application getting seriously considered. If it's financially possible, I'd see if he could go to the state and visit various departments to get a foot in the door as well as their advice.
I wish your son the best of luck, and hope another MeFite can write in with more specific advice!
posted by smorgasbord at 12:46 PM on March 13, 2016