You will be in constant communication with our criminals, what type of experience do you have communicating with this class of people?
Be candid with the interviewer and share your experience. This will provide the interviewer with a good idea of what type of training you should be provided after you are offered the job to ensure you are set up for success in the role. Be sure to discuss any past work experience, volunteer experience, or internship experience communicating with criminals in your response.
"I love people, especially the fun of communicating with individuals from varying backgrounds and classes. In this work, you form and maintain strong collaborative alliances with clients, families, staff, community partners, victims, and the public. This is the best part! I take pride in building collaborative and effective relationships with people including offenders, court and law enforcement personnel, and the general public."
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
Unfortunately, I do not have any experience communicating with the class of people that this job deals with on a day-to-day basis. However, I am willing to learn how to talk to and handle the class of people that the job requires.
Marcie's Feedback
Since you don't have experience in this area, try to think of something similar that you have done. For example, have you taken public speaking classes in the past or had any jobs where you spent time communicating with others? If so, mention this and do your best to connect any communication experience you do have with the needs of the role. Emphasizing that you are willing and enthusiastic to learn is definitely positives as well. See below for an example of another way to answer this question.
While I don't have direct experience in communicating with criminals, I am a skilled communicator in other areas of my life. In the past when I worked as a security officer for a large university, I gained experience in communicating with the students and general population. I learned how important it is to always remain calm, professional, and respectful toward others, and I plan to act similarly if you hire me for this role. I'm sure there are other things I will need to learn when it comes to dealing specifically with criminals; I am open and eager to learn so I can excel in this position.
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