Dear future Correctional Officer,
I will keep this page short and to the point. Here’s what I have for you today:
In the eBook, you will find multiple great answers to each of the following questions:
- Why do you want to work as a correctional officer?
- What do you want to accomplish on this position?
- How do you imagine a typical day in work?
- What motivates you in this kind of job?
- Is there any situation/person you are afraid of?
- We have rules for everything here. Tell me about the time you found it difficult to follow the rule.
- Imagine you saw four prisoners beating fifth in the corridor. What action would you take?
- Describe a typical inmate, in your point of view.
- Give me a time when you have worked with a younger individual, to resolve behavioral problems.
- A friendly inmate with a great discipline record in recent years tries to start a relationship with you. What would you do?
- What will make you leave this job?
- … and ten other tough questions you may face in your interview.
Check the sample to see how this eBook can help you:
Sample from the eBook
Q: Describe a typical inmate, in your point of view.
Hint: The most important thing is to avoid any remarks pointing to a race, sex, or religion. Everybody knows that 40% of all incarnated people are Black and another 20% Hispanic. This is a high number considering that these two groups combined count for less than 30% of total US population.
However, saying that a typical inmate is black would cost you your job application…
In my opinion, there are only two good answers to this question:
First one is saying that a typical inmate doesn’t exist, that everyone has their own story and problems, and that you do not like to categorize people.
If they insisted on some categorization, however, try to show compassion. You can say that a typical prisoner is emotionally hurt, unpredictable at times, feeling innocent, and probably has a tough past behind them…
Sample answers
– I really do not like categorizing. Each of us has their life story, their own dreams, worries, and joys. In my opinion prisoners are no different.
Typical inmate does not exist, and that’s exactly why it’s crucial to keep record of each inmate’s conduct in jail, their felonies and other things. We should not approach people with prejudice. Everyone has a chance to walk out of prison a better person, and we should not take this opportunity away from them.
– I would say that a typical prisoner comes from a difficult background. Broken family, financial problems, experience with drugs—you name it. They are often emotionally hurt and difficult to deal with, and they can be unpredictable. For this reason it is necessary to be extremely cautious when working with them, and invariably follow the rules of safety and security in prison.
Q: What do you consider the toughest aspect of this job?
Hint: Fast food chains and call centers are perhaps the only places with higher employee turnover than prisons and jails.
The last thing they want in any detention facility is to hire a new officer who wears pink glasses, who does not see their job realistically.
Talking to correctional officers with more than five years of experience, I was quite surprised with the answers, with the things they considered tough.
Number one was routine. Few jobs are as repetitive and routine as this one. Always the same faces, walking the same corridors, always the same rules to stick to, and the same place to watch. It’s hard to find motivation or enthusiasm in such circumstances, especially after few years in service.
Other answers referred to staying focused for twelve hours or even more, and working with unpredictable people from the fringe of society.
One guard said that for him the most difficult thing was coping with the fact that he hasn’t seen any positive changes in inmates during his time in prison.
Anyway, you should ensure the interviewers that you don’t expect an easy ride. Your team, motivation, and goals will help you to cope with the difficulties and possible disappointment.
Sample answers
– In my opinion, it’s tough to stay motivated. The tasks repeat, and often you have to do nothing but watch a certain spot, or walk up and down a certain corridor, for many hours.
That’s not easy to do, and it can be both physically and mentally demanding. But I am aware of this, feel ready to handle it, and believe that my sense of responsibility for the team, and for all people in prison, will help me to stay focused and do my job, regardless of the routine we experience.
– Our working environment has always some impact on us. When you spend your days working with inmates, sad and angry people, it can easily get to your head. It can also alter your thoughts and perceptions of the world. To put it simply, sometimes it’s tough to stay sane when you work in prison. At least that’s my opinion.
But I do a lot of sports, and I try to spend my free time with positive people. This helps with my psycho hygiene, and I believe it will help me to cope with this part of the job. I do not expect an easy ride, but I believe I know how to handle the tough part.
End of the sample
These are just two questions. You will find 20 in the eBook, including difficult behavioral questions. Questions from real interviews for correctional officer jobs.
What is more, to ensure you will get the job, I included in the book six principles you need to understand before you can ace the meeting with the employer.
Without talking too much about them, let me show you another sample from the book:
Sample no. 2
Principle no 2: Focus on attitudes
Whether you answer a simple question, or a seemingly difficult one, whether you shake hands with your interviewers or choose a chair to sit on, whether you write your answers online, on a piece of paper, or say them, people who consider hiring you (and want to do so at the end, because they need new officers) observe only two things: Your attitudes, and opinions.
They look mostly for the following attributes in a good candidate for a job of a correctional officer:
Confidence. They want you to be confident about your ability to handle the job, to work with inmates, to take care of your working duties, to handle difficult situations. Unless you are confident that you can do it, nobody else will be.
Respect and discipline. There are rules for everything in prison, and a strong line of hierarchy. They want to see that you like such establishment, that you prefer to have rules and obey them, that you see your place and are ready to respect your superiors and their commands. Playing Mr. Important or Mr. “I know everything” won’t take you far in this interview.
Let them lead the meeting with you. Calmly listen, and answer each question. Do not interrupt. Show respect to their position and the way they lead the interview.
Motivation. I tell you something: Most people apply for this job because it pays better than most occupations for high school graduates, they get many benefits, and they can retire sooner than employees in a commercial sector. That’s their motivation, and maybe also yours?
One way or another, you should try to show different attitude. There should be some enthusiasm in your voice anytime you speak about working with inmates, and eventually helping them to get back on track.
They do not want to hire another guy who’s in only for dollars and will leave after few difficult shifts or encounters with inmates. Convince them that you are different, that your motivation reaches beyond your monthly paycheck, and …………
End of the sample
So that’s it. I do not want to waste your time with lengthy sales pages, and imaginary discounts or fake reviews, just like other people do on their websites.
You have read the samples, you know what the eBook is about, and surely you can tell whether it will help you.
I sincerely believe it will help you. And you can read it easily in two or three hours, it’s 11,000 words. Only things that truly matter, no secondary content. A holistic approach to your interview…
Plus, of course, like with everything else we sell here on InterviewPenguin.com, you have a risk free sixty days money back guarantee. If you don’t like this eBook for any reason, or no reason at all, just let me know (email me at matthew[at]interviewpenguin[dot]com) within 60 days and we will give you a full refund.
Quick Summary
- Brilliant answers to twenty difficult questions you may get in your interview for a correctional officer job, covering all important areas.
- More answers to each question, so you can choose one that reflects your values and experience.
- Six principles of acing the interview, things you simply need to know in order to make the right impression on the interviewers.
- Instant download, .PDF format (you can read it on any device (mobile, kindle, PC), and you can easily print it).
- Secure and simple checkout with PayPal, you can pay with your credit/debit card, or with your PayPal account.
- Price: $9.95, one time payment, no hidden fees or upsell, no crappy bonuses. 60 days risk free money back guarantee.
- Click the checkout button below to proceed to the payment.
(After the payment you will be directed back to our website, to a protected page, to download your eBook. You will also receive a download link and instructions to your email, just to ensure that you will get the book without waiting, even if the redirect fails.)
That’s it. Your interview does not have to be stressful, or difficult. You can interview with confidence, and give brilliant answers to all tough questions. Download the guide today, and ace your correctional officer interview.
Sincerely,
Matthew Chulaw, Your personal job interview coach
P.S. Feel free to send me a message if you are still not sure how this guide will help you to get a job, or if you have any questions. I try my best to answer all messages within twelve hours (matthew[at]interviewpenguin[dot]com).
