Communication – RCMP Right Fit Interview Competency 6
As I continue my series breaking down the eight RCMP Right Fit Interview (formerly Regular Member Selection Interview) Competencies, we are going to focus on Communication. As I stated in my previous posts, going through the RCMP Application Process and getting ready for this “Right Fit” Interview can be one of the most challenging stages of the process, and one not to be taken lightly.
At the interview, you will be asked behavioural and situational questions that will be used to assess if you meet this competency.
Taken from the RCMP Preparatory Guide for the Right Fit Interview, the definition for this competency is:
Effectively receives and conveys ideas and information in a way that increases the understanding of the target audience. Can communicate effectively and interactively with others.
Communication for Behavioural Based Questions
The behavioural question will target your past experiences that demonstrate that you have a strong ability to communicate effectively with others. And as you can see in the definition, communication isn’t just about speaking. It’s also about listening. So make sure your stories reflect both aspects of the competency.
For example, the interviewer might ask you to tell about a time when you had a difficult or complex message to convey, and how you ensured your message was received and understood by the audience. Or when you really had to listen to what someone was saying to ensure you understood the message.
When you are preparing for the “right fit” interview, think about all of the situations when you used strong communication skills, and because of your ability to communicate, the result of the encounter was positive. Try and think of examples where you used a number of communication tools, i.e. verbal language, body language, visual aids, etc. Something that demonstrates that you understand there are a variety of ways to communicate with people, and understanding the other persons needs helped you to determine the best way to approach the situation. You can use volunteer time, sporting events, or periods during your education. Prepare several stories that you can use during the interview that demonstrate that you are committed to communicating effectively in all situations.
Remember, when answering these questions, you will articulate your example using the S*T*A*R principle.
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Communication for Situational Based Questions
The situational question will be a hypothetical scenario that will assess how you would handle a certain situation.
The interviewer will provide you with a scenario and ask what you would do. You will respond by stating the action that you would take if faced with that situation, why you would take that action and what factors you considered. This is called the A*R*C principle.
Action
Reasoning
Considerations
The interviewer might ask you a question about what you would do if you were dealing with someone who was having difficulty in understanding your message. Or if you were embroiled in a conflict with someone and how you would use good communication skills to rectify the situation.
Situational questions can be somewhat lengthy, so you have to be careful to pay attention to the entire question and focus on the parts that are relevant. Think about the action as a series of steps, then state why you would do those steps and what you considered at each stage.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when focusing on this one competency. And as I continue to stress, you must be prepared. Have your examples ready and practice delivering them using S*T*A*R. Come up with sample scenarios on your own and practice answering them using the A*R*C principle.
Catch up on all parts of this series: RCMP Competencies.
Do you know someone who is faced with this challenge? Feel free to share this post by using the share links at the top of this page. Also, if you’d like more interview tips, feel free to check out the interview resource page.
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