City of Norfolk (Virginia) Interview Questions
& Process

This was a one panel interview with the supervisor and two others. It was a general behavioral interview with no technical questions. A writing portion followed the face-to-face interview.

After your resume is reviewed, you'll get a call from the receptionist. Then, you'll meet with a panel of three people: the Assistant Director, someone from Risk Management, and another Safety employee. They have a list of questions, mostly about different scenarios, that they will ask you.

Initially, I was informed of a two-interview process with a writing assessment preceding a job offer. However, the actual process involved three interviews and a combined writing and Excel assessment. The final interview was an in-person event that included a four-hour city tour, lunch, and an office orientation where I met the entire team. While not a traditional Q&A, this part involved observation of my behavior and interactions. I was later told I didn't get the job due to a lack of state and local government experience, requiring significant training, despite my resume clearly stating federal-level government experience. Be aware that travel reimbursements are processed very slowly, so manage your funds carefully for interview travel. Prior approval is needed for ticket purchases to ensure cost-efficiency, leading to numerous email exchanges. Also, ensure you complete the W-9 form via the government portal through HR to process refunds. During my visit, I observed a high staff turnover rate, with some employees having started very recently. Additionally, deadlines are frequently missed; I received travel instructions only a week after being invited to the city. I was explicitly told I'd receive a decision on a Monday via email and a scheduled call, but instead received a generic email on Wednesday.

It's a thorough process like any other law enforcement job. It involves physical training, an initial written test, a psychological evaluation, a background check, a polygraph test, and then a final panel interview. The entire process can take between 3 to 6 months, depending on how busy they are.