Process begins with a standard application. If your application is accepted, the HR department sends out a job fit questionnaire to fill out and send back. The questionnaire asks about driving records, convictions of any type, drug use, educational and work background including disciplinary actions and any problems with former or current positions. Upon review of the questionnaire the applicant is scheduled for an exam of basic knowledge including filing, mathematics, reading comprehension, spelling, grammar and a few driving questions. The exam itself is fairly easy. The top percentage of applicants are then scheduled for an interview.
The interview was a panel interview with the HR Manager, a police Sergeant and a Battalion Chief of the Fire Department. The interview questions were pre-prepared and each applicant was to be asked the same questions. The questions involved mostly negative aspects of a persons past history and employment. Questions included drug use, driving history, employment record and attendance records. Most questions about work experience dealt with problems you had faced with employers or co-workers and things you had done wrong; e.g. When did you break a policy and why? Tell us about the last time you didn't follow a written procedure at work. Tell us about a problem you had with a co-worker etc..
I'm not exactly sure what type of person they were looking for or what answers they really wanted to hear in the interview because they seemed unbelieving of the answers I would give when asked a question.
The Battalion Chief I spoke with was by far the best to interview with and didn't show much reaction to answers while the HR Manager and Sgt. made clear what there opinions were in their mannerisms and features. The HR manager was pleasant enough but doesn't seem extremely personable. The police Sergeant was standoffish and let you know exactly how things would be in the position if you said something he didn't like.
The other HR representatives I spoke with or had any dealings were very nice and helpful.