RCMP RMSI – When Should I Start to Prepare?

RCMP RMSI – When should I start to prepare?

What is The RCMP RMSI?   It is the Regular Member Suitability Interview, and is a key component to the overall RCMP applicant process.  It’s actually broken down into two parts.  The first part is called the Attribute Interview.  This is the portion that has replaced the Right Fit Interview.  It has been modified from the previous interview that assessed eight competencies, using two different formats.  It now only covers four competencies, and only uses Behavioural based questions during the interview.   The second part of the RMSI is the Regular Member Applicant Questionnaire (RMAQ)  where the interviewer will review your application.  This post will focus on the Attribute portion of this interview.

So, when should you start getting ready?  As soon as you decide to apply to become a member of the RCMP?  Yes!

Don’t wait until you are notified that you have an interview date.  I’m hearing from my clients that applicants are getting as little as one week’s notice that they are scheduled for an interview.  And one week is not much time if you are just beginning your preparation.

So what can you do now to start this all important preparation?

Research

• There are four competencies the RCMP assesses during the RCMP RMSI.  Do your research and learn more about these competencies and understand the definitions. Go to the RCMP website to gather additional information.
• Behavioural based questions will be used to assess whether you meet these competencies.  The RCMP uses the STAR format for the delivery of your answers.   Learn what that means and how formulate your answers using that model.

Gather Information

• Once you learn what the competencies are, and understand the definitions, start gathering stories from past experiences that you can use when answering the Behavioural questions to demonstrate that you meet each of the competencies.
• Look at each competency, i.e. problem solving, and ask yourself, “What have I recently done that demonstrates that I meet this competency?”
• Once you identify the story, start to formulate it using the model that the RCMP uses:  STAR (Situation Task Action Result)

Practice

• Once you have identified your stories, now start practicing delivering them.  It’s not good enough to just decide what story you will use.  You have to be able to articulate that information to the interviewer, in an organized, concise manner, using the STAR model.

As you can see, there are definitely steps you can take now to start the preparation for this all important interview.  The point of this is, don’t wait.  If you wait until you are invited to the interview, you will quickly learn that you don’t have enough time to adequately prepare yourself.  And once you have started the preparation phase, don’t be afraid to reach out for some additional support.  Find someone who has recently and successfully been through this process, or engage the services of an experienced  Certified Professional Career Coach who has expertise in this type of interview.  Again, don’t wait until you receive the invitation to interview to get help.

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.