Your education and life experiences are critical, but your OPP interview preparation and communication skills will land you the job.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Interview Coaching
OPP Interview Coaching by human resource specialists and police recruiter specialists
anEDGE's OPP Interview Coaching and Preparation Approach
During your OPP interview coaching and preparation, you will be paired with a coach from a team of highly experienced recruiting RCMP, Police Officers, and Fortune 500 human resource specialists. Their expertise will guide you to success. anEDGE’s OPP Interview coaching will prepare you to gain confidence and execute.
At anEDGE, we recognize that each candidate is unique, and the OPP interview can be a challenging experience. Our personalized 1-1 approach is designed to bring out the best in you, addressing your specific needs to succeed
anEDGE will equip you with all the essential presentation and wording skills to excel in your OPP interview. We focus on developing your core competencies for handling behavioural and situational questions.
Our OPP interview preparation effectively coaches you to structure your answers using the S.T.A.R. and ARC format required by the OPP interviewing panel, ensuring you are fully equipped and ready.
Ontario Police Interview Coaching you to Success
Our OPP Interview Coaching program is structured to prepare you to excel in the Interview, including a mock interview with our experienced Police Recruiters
There are two parts to the OPP Interview:
1) the Local Focus interview and 2) the Essential Competency Interview (ECI).
1) Local Focus Interview (LFI)
The LFI focuses on your employment history and knowledge of the Ontario Provincial Police. The interviewer will ask you about the jobs and positions you have held, your responsibilities, any skills you need for those positions, and any current or past volunteer or community service work. You will also be asked questions about the OPP, assessing your knowledge and understanding of the organization.
The purpose of the LFI is to learn about you as an applicant. You can prepare for this part of the interview by reviewing your resume and supporting documents and researching information about the OPP via their OPP and general Interview preparation websites.
For this part of the interview, you may be asked questions such as:
• Tell me about yourself.
• What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you know about the Ontario Provincial Police?
• Who is our Commissioner?
• How many commands do we have?
• What is our police jurisdiction, and what would your 6 preferred postings be?
• What motivates you to become a police officer, and why the OPP?
• Tell us about your past and present commitments to volunteering.
• Please describe any leadership skills/roles you have or have been involved in.
Specific questions may also be asked about your driving experience and driving record, education, and Fitness.
2) Essential Competency Interview (ECI)
The ECI is designed to evaluate your existing knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the seven core competencies the Ontario Provincial Police is looking for. They are looking for real examples from your life that demonstrate these required competencies, not hypothetical actions in the future. Please remember actions from your life that demonstrated these needed competencies. These may be from work, education, volunteering or your personal life. Try to use examples that are as recent as possible. However, a strong example from 3 years ago is better than a weak example from last week.
The competencies that the Ontario Provincial Police are looking for are:
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Analytical Thinking
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Self-Confidence
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Communication
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Flexibility/Valuing Diversity
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Self-control
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Relationship Building
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Achievement Orientation
Competency Based Interview
The competency-based interview is vital to the OPP interview coaching and selection process and is structured around the specific skills the OPP seeks. The interviewer poses questions tailored to assess your abilities and compares your responses against predetermined criteria to evaluate your suitability for the OPP role.
anEDGE’s OPP interview preparation will help you develop your competencies, allowing you to feel confident and well-prepared for the interview.
The S.T.A.R Format
The STAR interview approach is the format in which the Ontario Police Department want you to answer the questions. This abbreviation denotes:
- Situation
- Task
- Action
- Result
These types of questions typically start with prompts like “Describe a time when,” “What would you do if,” and “Provide an example of,” evaluating candidates’ ability to handle typical or challenging workplace scenarios.
Key Preparation Steps
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the OPP Interview?
Many individuals perceive the OPP interview selection as the most daunting phase of the selection process. Yet, with anEDGE and their Police Interview coaching and meticulous preparation, it can transform into a rewarding encounter. Our Toronto Police Interview preparation will turn the tide in your favour.
What is a local focus Interview
Here’s what the Local Focus Interview generally involves:
Community Knowledge: Candidates are expected to demonstrate their knowledge of local issues, demographics, and the specific challenges faced by the community. This can include crime trends, social issues, and cultural awareness.
Motivation to Serve Locally: The interview will often explore why the candidate wants to work in this particular community, as police services prefer candidates who are genuinely motivated to contribute to the local area.
Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity: Police officers work with diverse populations, so it’s essential to show an understanding and respect for the cultural, social, and economic backgrounds within the community.
Problem-Solving in a Local Context: Candidates may be presented with hypothetical local scenarios or issues and asked how they would approach solving them, showcasing their ability to handle real-world situations specific to the area.
Community Engagement Experience: The interview may ask about any previous community work, volunteerism, or other relevant experience in the area, highlighting the candidate’s commitment to local engagement.
The Local Focus Interview is an opportunity to show that you’re not only prepared for police work but also attuned to the unique aspects of the community you’ll serve, emphasizing your commitment to making a positive impact
Does anEDGE only do OPP Interview coaching and Toronto Police interview preparation
No, we are a Canadian-based law enforcement application coaching and mentoring company. We have coached and mentored applicants through every step of RCMP, Provincial, or Municipal police service departments. Toronto Police Service interview coaching is only one small part of our work.
How many OPP interview coaching sessions will I need?
We don’t believe we can confidently coach you in a single telephone session so that you will receive at least 4 or 5 sessions via Zoom or MS Teams, but we will never leave you unprepared
How many interviews does the OPP interview preparation sessions preparer me for ?
There are two parts to the OPP Interview:<br>1) the Local Focus interview and 2) the Essential Competency Interview (ECI).
What is a OPP core competency ?
A core competency is: “A visible and quantifiable trait, whether it’s knowledge, skill, ability, or personal attribute, framed by the actions necessary for you to fulfill the performance objectives and outcomes of the OPP standards of excellence.”
Does anEDGE's OPP Interview preparation prepare each competency with me?
Yes, there are several core competencies. Based on your life skills, we systematically develop them during the interview coaching sessions. Then we coach you on structure and deliver your answer to each competency using the S.T.A.R format
What is the STAR method used during the OPP Interview stage
anEDGE will coach you through the OPP interview process, but candidates must present their responses in the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format. This approach ensures that recounting an experience or event flows naturally as a storytelling progression.