CRJU 495 - Field Placement Interview Application 

(Required for Admission to CRJU - 495)

Note to students:

As you near graduation, the manner in which you approach the critical transition from "student" to "professional" could well influence the kind of career opportunities you will have available to you in the future. As such, your placement appointment should be viewed not as a typical student-instructor meeting, but as a "formal" pre-employment interview.  It is an opportunity for you to practice presenting yourself professionally in a setting where discussions of criminal justice matters often take on a very different tone than what is typical in the classroom. Your professional bearing during this contact will be assumed to represent your "best foot forward" and will highly influence the type of placement you are recommended for. (Note - Though career opportunities in the field of criminal justice are better now than possibly ever before, the instructor will not place a student in an environment where he could not, if asked, write a legitimate letter of recommendation. During the period of your Field Placement, you will be in an environment where serious decisions that directly affect peoples' lives are made daily. As representatives of the University of Delaware, it is assumed that all participants in the Field Placement program will at all times maintain the highest standards of professional excellence. Anything less is not acceptable. ) 

The items below address information about you that is likely to be requested during professional job interviews. You should spend some time thinking about these questions and should be comfortable discussing them verbally and in writing. Please read over this form and consider your answers before submitting. The information you provide will guide your initial placement interview with the instructor and will, if requested, be made available to potential placement supervisors. The information recorded here will not be considered private.

In addressing each topic, you may write as much as you feel is necessary to help a decision-maker evaluate your employment potential. You will be contacted about scheduling an interview appointment by email within 48 hours of submitting hours of submitting this form. Your permission to register for CRJU495 will be recorded upon completion of the interview.

 

I have read and understand the requirements of CRJU 495 - Field Placement as discussed in the course syllabus (Required)

I have read the "Note to students" above and understand that my Field Placement opportunities will be determined primarily by my pre-placement interview. (Required).

Last name, first name, middle initial

Phone number where you can be contacted during the Field Placement semester

Expected date of graduation

Criminal Justice GPA

Overall GPA

When did you decide to pursue a career in Criminal Justice? What were the key factors leading to your decision?

What direct experiences have you had with the criminal justice system? (Include volunteer work, internships, contacts through family, friends, etc. If "none," state how you will address this question when it arises at a future job interview )

 

In what component of the criminal justice apparatus do you plan to seek a career (e.g., law enforcement, judiciary, institutional corrections, probation -adult or juvenile- public defender, policy and planning)?  Why? What skills do you have that makes you feel uniquely qualified to work in that area?

 

What type of criminal justice agency would you like to be placed in for you Field Experience?  Note - This is not necessarily the same as the type of agency you intend to seek a career in. Many feel that establishing professional networks in various facets of the field is one of the keys to a successful career.)

 

What aspects of the criminal justice do you feel to be the most frustrating or in need of reform? Why? (Note - Be careful of this question. Students  report being taken "off guard" by the question at employment interviews in criminal justice agencies. A comment such as "None really..I think the system is working fairly well.." will be viewed by an interviewer experienced in any part of the system as indicative of a very shallow understanding of the issues surrounding criminal justice in America. This question provides an opportunity to demonstrate critical reasoning skills applied to a basic knowledge of policy issues without resorting to partisan hyperbole. This could well be a "make or break" question for future job offers!)

 

What do you consider to be your most interesting educational experience during your college career? How did it change or influence your overall "world view?"

 

What do you expect to learn and otherwise gain from your Field Placement?

What do you expect to be doing professionally five years from now? Do these plans include further education or training?

 

What questions do you have about the Field Placement experience that you would like for the instructor to address during your pre-placement interview?

 

Consider the following professional skills and check as appropriate in the spaces provided. Your responses will be discussed during your pre-placement interview (It is possible that more than one block could be checked):

Working closely with others on projects with specific goals and deadlines
I consider this to be one of my stronger skills
I feel that I am reasonably competent in this area
I look forward to developing this skill as my career progresses
I would probably not pursue a career where this skill was required on a regular basis

Working alone and being individually accountable for the completion of projects and other assignment
I consider this to be one of my stronger skills
I feel that I am reasonably competent in this area
I look forward to developing this skill as my career progresses
I would probably not pursue a career where this skill was required on a regular basis

Working in environments characterized by high levels of human diversity
I consider this to be one of my stronger skills
I feel that I am reasonably competent in this area
I look forward to developing this skill as my career progresses
I would probably not pursue a career where this skill was required on a regular basis

Basic criminal justice data analysis and presentation
I consider this to be one of my stronger skills
I feel that I am reasonably competent in this area
I look forward to developing this skill as my career progresses
I would probably not pursue a career where this skill was required on a regular basis

Professional research and report writing
I consider this to be one of my stronger skills
I feel that I am reasonably competent in this area
I look forward to developing this skill as my career progresses
I would probably not pursue a career where this skill was required on a regular basis

Enforcing unpopular laws or policies
I consider this to be one of my stronger skills
I feel that I am reasonably competent in this area
I look forward to developing this skill as my career progresses
I would probably not pursue a career where this skill was required on a regular basis

Working in an environment characterized by strenuous physical demands
I consider this to be one of my stronger skills
I feel that I am reasonably competent in this area
I look forward to developing this skill as my career progresses
I would probably not pursue a career where this skill was required on a regular basis

Conducting legal research and interpreting appellate court decisions
I consider this to be one of my stronger skills
I feel that I am reasonably competent in this area
I look forward to developing this skill as my career progresses
I would probably not pursue a career where this skill was required on a regular basis

Coping with the demands of shift work and required overtime
I consider this to be one of my stronger skills
I feel that I am reasonably competent in this area
I look forward to developing this skill as my career progresses
I would probably not pursue a career where this skill was required on a regular basis

Willingness to be trained in the use of lethal and non-lethal weapons (This includes a willingness to actually carry and use such weapons as necessary.) 
I consider this to be one of my stronger skills
I feel that I am reasonably competent in this area
I look forward to developing this skill as my career progresses
I would probably not pursue a career where this skill was required on a regular basis

When you are satisfied with your answers, submit your request by clicking on the button below.