How perceptive are you?
To be perceptive means that you are observant, good at solving problems, and figuring out solutions. Often, you see factors that other people miss or notice details that other people typically overlook. The interviewer wants to know that you have this skill, which is essential for criminal investigators to possess. Talk to the interviewer about when your perceptiveness was a considerable benefit to a problem or situation.
"I have a strong sense of perception and am often the person to notice an error or oversight before anyone else. What I have done in the past is taught myself to be an extra-keen listener. I ask open-ended questions and make sure that every conversation I am a part of brings value to an investigation. I also look for many verbal and non-verbal cues, primarily when questioning a person, which often leads to insights that my colleagues may not pick up on."
"I like to get an accurate read on people and situations by first being a quiet observer. I will ask questions with purpose and listen intently for discrepancies or gaps of information in a response. There is always more to learn, and I look forward to gaining more tips and tricks in perception as I grow in my investigative career."
Focus your answer on providing an example of your perceptiveness put to use in the workplace. When you can describe a situation that benefitted by your perceptiveness, the interviewer can see that you are an excellent criminal investigator and one that would be a good fit for their team.
If you want to be offered the criminal investigator position, you want to avoid saying you are not perceptive. If you cannot pick up on clues by observing and interrogating suspects, the interviewer will determine you may not have the skills they are looking for in an investigator.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I consider myself to be a keen listener and a quiet observer. I like to listen for confirmations, information gaps, and discrepancies when interacting with an interviewee. I am also keenly observant of a person's body language, gestures, and facial expressions and their changes. I like to get a snapshot of an interviewee's initial body language just before the interview and then observe their changes during the interview. I often identify discrepancies that my colleagues may not pick up on.
Marcie's Feedback
Excellent! It sounds like you're extremely perceptive. Can you provide an example of a time you observed someone's behavior and talk about what you concluded from that interaction?
