Investigator Mock Interview

Master 40 Investigator interview questions covering case analysis, evidence handling, and investigative methodology.

Question 30 of 40

Do you consider yourself a leader?

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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.

Investigators often need to take the lead on the job, ensuring that tasks are met with authority and urgency. The interviewer wants to see that you have a natural ability to lead others. Whether you have led a group of 500 or a team of 2, you must display the capability to handle the responsibility of being a leader and mentor. If you have never held a formal leadership role, talk about a time you have unofficially led a group, encouraged your counterparts, or been the face of a project.

Rachelle Enns

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.

"I do see myself as a leader. I currently oversee three junior investigators and some administrative staff. I guide team meetings, disseminate information, monitor performance, approve scheduling, and debrief my team. I have managed people for many years, but I believe that leadership does not always equate to management. I am sure to lead at all times by providing the best model of discretion and work ethic."

Rachelle Enns

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.

"I have qualities that will make me a good leader in the future, once I have more experience in my investigative career. I am a keen listener, and I understand how to look at the big picture without losing momentum with small tasks. I enjoy coaching others and am an advocate for continued learning."

Krista Wenz

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.

Focus on giving examples of your leadership qualities. The interviewer wants to hear what you consider a leader and how you inspire those around you. If you do not have much experience in a leadership role, describe how you look forward to growing into a leadership capacity with on-the-job experience, taking leadership courses, or reading books on developing these qualities.

Krista Wenz

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.

If you do not consider yourself a leader, avoid telling the interviewer that you do not have leadership qualities. Even if you do not feel comfortable as a leader, you will need to strengthen your leadership skills to succeed as a criminal investigator. A better response would be that you are inexperienced as a leader and describe the measures you will take to improve those skills.

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40Investigator Interview Questions & Answers

Behavioral

1.Tell me about your most challenging criminal investigation.

General

2.What are the core responsibilities of a criminal investigator?

Discovery

3.Do you have formal training in interrogations?

Education

4.Tell me about your post-secondary education, and how it relates to your career as a criminal investigator.

Discovery

5.Why did you choose to become a criminal investigator?

Discovery

6.What makes you a stand-out criminal investigator?

Discovery

7.What are your long-term career goals as a criminal investigator?

General

8.What do you know about our community and the criminal activity present here?

Discovery

9.In three words, how would you best describe your investigative style?

Behavioral

10.How do you react to an increase in your investigative workload?

Behavioral

11.How do you handle the stress and pressure of being a criminal investigator?

Behavioral

12.How do you react when the outcome of a case is discouraging?

Discovery

13.What do you find to be the most difficult part of being a criminal investigator?

Discovery

14.For you, what is the most rewarding and motivating part of being a criminal investigator?

Discovery

15.As a criminal investigator, clear documentation and reporting are critical. How are your written communication skills?

Discovery

16.How will you build rapport with your fellow investigators?

Discovery

17.What qualities should a good criminal investigator possess?

Situational

18.Tell me about a time when you made a tough ethical decision.

Behavioral

19.What is your weakest characteristic, and what are you doing to improve on it?

Behavioral

20.When an investigation suffers a setback, what is your initial reaction?

Situational

21.Think about a difficult superior or fellow investigator. How did you successfully interact with this person?

Discovery

22.What is the worst thing a previous supervisor could say about you?

Operational

23.What methods do you deploy in order to properly read people and behavioral indicators?

Discovery

24.What would your coworkers say about your attention to detail?

Discovery

25.How perceptive are you?

Behavioral

26.How do you withstand the ethical dilemmas associated with this unique type of work?

Direct

27.Are you able to work with minimal supervision?

Direct

28.Are you able to communicate with people from all walks of life?

Direct

29.Are you a trustworthy person?

Leadership

30.Do you consider yourself a leader?

Education

31.Have you taken any courses in reading body language?

Discovery

32.What do you like to do in your free time?

Direct

33.Some cases require you to work long hours. Do you have an issue working long hours when needed?

Direct

34.This position requires random drug testing twice a year. Do you have an issue with random drug testing?

Discovery

35.How do you stay current with changes in this industry?

Direct

36.Occasionally, our investigative team will travel to pursue evidence or a suspect. Do you have an issue with traveling when needed?

General

37.What can you tell me about our organization?

General

38.This concludes our interview. Do you have any questions for me?

Direct

39.Our agency performs a thorough, pre-employment background check on all candidates. What is the worst thing that will show up during your background investigation?

Direct

Investigator Mock Interview

Do you consider yourself a leader?

40Investigator Interview Questions & Answers

1.Tell me about your most challenging criminal investigation.

2.What are the core responsibilities of a criminal investigator?

3.Do you have formal training in interrogations?

4.Tell me about your post-secondary education, and how it relates to your career as a criminal investigator.

5.Why did you choose to become a criminal investigator?

6.What makes you a stand-out criminal investigator?

7.What are your long-term career goals as a criminal investigator?

8.What do you know about our community and the criminal activity present here?

9.In three words, how would you best describe your investigative style?

10.How do you react to an increase in your investigative workload?

11.How do you handle the stress and pressure of being a criminal investigator?

12.How do you react when the outcome of a case is discouraging?

13.What do you find to be the most difficult part of being a criminal investigator?

14.For you, what is the most rewarding and motivating part of being a criminal investigator?

15.As a criminal investigator, clear documentation and reporting are critical. How are your written communication skills?

16.How will you build rapport with your fellow investigators?

17.What qualities should a good criminal investigator possess?

18.Tell me about a time when you made a tough ethical decision.

19.What is your weakest characteristic, and what are you doing to improve on it?

20.When an investigation suffers a setback, what is your initial reaction?

21.Think about a difficult superior or fellow investigator. How did you successfully interact with this person?

22.What is the worst thing a previous supervisor could say about you?

23.What methods do you deploy in order to properly read people and behavioral indicators?

24.What would your coworkers say about your attention to detail?

25.How perceptive are you?

26.How do you withstand the ethical dilemmas associated with this unique type of work?

27.Are you able to work with minimal supervision?

28.Are you able to communicate with people from all walks of life?

29.Are you a trustworthy person?

30.Do you consider yourself a leader?

31.Have you taken any courses in reading body language?

32.What do you like to do in your free time?

33.Some cases require you to work long hours. Do you have an issue working long hours when needed?

34.This position requires random drug testing twice a year. Do you have an issue with random drug testing?

35.How do you stay current with changes in this industry?

36.Occasionally, our investigative team will travel to pursue evidence or a suspect. Do you have an issue with traveling when needed?

37.What can you tell me about our organization?

38.This concludes our interview. Do you have any questions for me?

39.Our agency performs a thorough, pre-employment background check on all candidates. What is the worst thing that will show up during your background investigation?

40.Do you have much experience testifying in court?