Allied Universal Mock Interview
Practice 35 Allied Universal interview questions covering security operations, client service, and situational judgment.
Question 19 of 35
What would you do if a civilian called you a racial slur or another derogatory term while you were patrolling?
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Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
It is critical in the security services industry that you remain in control at all times. For this reason, the interviewer at Allied Universal is looking for signs or red flags indicating that you may be short-tempered. Even in terrible and uncomfortable situations, you cannot let your feelings or emotions get the better of you. Discuss what you would do if you felt verbally attacked while on patrol by a random passerby (This example does not refer to a situation where there is a safety threat). If this has happened to you in the past, you can use your real-life example.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"From my experience, I have been called racial slurs and other derogatory terms like 'rent-a-cop,' for instance. When people see a uniform but know that you are not a police officer, they sometimes like to push the envelope and see what they can get away with doing. I continue in my job and ignore them unless they become a safety threat."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"If someone were to be rude, I would ignore them. It's not my job to care what other people think of me. My job is to protect people, my clients' premises, and their belongings. Keeping my cool, and never internalizing a rude comment, is always the best choice."
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
Focus on showing the interviewer that you do not take verbal attacks personally and that you can remain calm and professional even when faced with negativity. It is best to ignore such attacks as you could cause further problems if you choose to address the civilian who is slinging racial slurs or derogatory comments your way.
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Anonymous Answer
Smile, ignore the comment, and walk away.
Stephanie's Feedback
This is a tough situation to be in, and it sounds like you have excellent interpersonal skills and are able to handle unusually complex situations! I suggest developing this response a little more by adding a closing sentence or two, such as, "While this is always a challenging experience to encounter, I've learned that it comes along with the role, and I am confident in my ability to de-escalate in a calm and professional manner."
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