Do you have formal training in interrogations?
As a criminal investigator, you may be required to perform, participate in, or even lead interrogations of suspects, witnesses, and family members. Whether you have on-the-job experience, formal training, or are new to the industry, the interviewer wants to hear that you are able and willing to learn what you need to perform an investigation successfully. Describe any formal training you have received in interrogations or any training you are signed up to take.
"I took a couple of classes including interview & interrogation when I was pursuing my criminal justice degree. These courses taught me helpful basics. Over the years, I have further mastered different interrogation techniques, including cognitive interviews, leading and loaded questions, and kinesic interviews. I am very confident in my interviewing skills; however, I am always open to deeper learning."
"I recently completed my level I and level II interview & interrogation courses. There was a great deal of focus on PEACE, which is Preparation and Planning, Engage and Explain, Account, Closure, and Evaluate. This form of interrogation is prevalent in the UK and highly effective because it makes the examination feel like an interview. The purpose is to ask many questions and get the suspect to talk for a long time, eventually becoming friendly and encouraging a confession. Although I have primarily practiced the PEACE method, I am very open to gaining more knowledge in methods such as cognitive investigations and kinesic interviews."
Focus your answer on where you received your training and what you learned. If you have not received specialized training in interrogations, it would be a good idea to look into training and sign up for a course. It can only increase your skills as a criminal investigator and it shows the interviewer that you have the motivation and the drive to improve.
Avoid saying that you do not have formal training in interrogations and you have no desire to learn. Suppose you do not want to improve your skills and gain valuable information from an interrogation course. In that case, the interviewer will determine that you lack the motivation to better yourself as a Criminal Investigator.
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