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Starting March 2020, the Regional Headquarters of New Territories South (NTS) conducts weekly workshops on techniques for Extended Interview (EI) and Final Interview Board (FIB) for potential inspectors, both direct entry and force entry, who work in NTS or other regions.
The workshops are held by Deputy Commander of Lantau District Simon Southgate and Training and Staff Relations Officer (TSRO) of NTS Mak Ka-po. The former has been holding similar workshops for ten years and over 60 participants are already inspectors in the Force, whereas the latter, with four years’ experience as a course instructor of probationary inspectors, assisted Simon this year in providing practical tips for participants not only to pass the selection process, but to sustain the challenges beyond and successfully complete the training.
Anyone interested in joining the workshops please email TSRO NTS Mak Ka-po (tsro-nts@police.gov.hk).
Keung Pei-ying, Inspector of Patrol Sub-unit 3 of Kwun Tong District (Direct entry participant)
The workshop can definitely help me to be well equipped for the EI and FIB. In the workshop, we discussed different new policies, strategies and orders which may very likely to be appeared during the interview. Apart from the discussion, mock leadership exercises were held so that we can practise more on it. Simon shared some tips for us to show our command presence and clear briefing skills.
Simon would provide mock FIB sessions for both force and non-force members who have a confirmed FIB date, and he is always more than happy to take requests from us so that we can practise any questions that we find problematic. I have found the mock FIB sessions helpful because they were able to mimic the real interview, which helps me practise giving a response immediately after a question has been asked.
Koden Lam (University graduate who has passed EI)
The workshop provides a platform for one to practise for the EI. Simon also provides participants with practical suggestions on answering techniques. He teaches us the philosophy behind policing, which can be applied to follow up questions, group discussions and management exercises. The workshop also provides participants with an opportunity to practise their leadership skills. During the mock leadership exercises, participants have an opportunity to practise their briefing and gain hands-on experience.
Michael Chan, Sergeant of Patrol Sub-unit 2 of Kwai Chung Division
The workshop not only focuses on interview skills, but also personal growth and development. It provides a platform for Force members and outsiders to share their views on policing and also strengthens Force values in our mind. This workshop offers inspiring views and guidance from the valuable experience of senior Force members. I have learnt a lot in aspects such as thinking and structuring answers in an interview.
Yvonne King (University graduate who has passed EI and FIB)
I have been referred to Simon’s workshops by a friend working in the Force. Simon has provided me with some very good advice on how to approach scenario questions during the FIB, filling me in with Force knowledge along the way. Scenario questions may be the most unpredictable part of the FIB, but the skills I have acquired from the workshops gave me a new perspective on how to approach them, in the sense that they have provided me a skeleton to formulate my answers, therefore giving me some direction on where to start. Those skills are in fact a bunch of easily-remembered acronyms, which means user-friendliness. They are very versatile too, since they can be applied to most scenarios.
