[IPAC-List] Professional recruiters for entry-level Firefighter exam?

[Lance Seberhagen]

Most police & fire departments use sworn staff from within the dept, not 
professional recruiters, to recruit applicants for entry-level jobs. 
  There have been stories over the years in the Washington Post about 
departmental recruiters giving "extra help" to applicants when 
recruitment goals were hard to meet.  I have heard similar stories about 
private sector recruiters.  I'm not saying that it is common, but it can 
and does happen.

RELATED COMMENTS

I know an I/O psychologist who was hired by a police union (many years 
ago) to conduct a workshop on how to take an assessment center.  The I/O 
had no connection to the department or the consultants who developed the 
promotional exam, so there was probably no ethical problem, but there is 
always the appearance of conflict, if not actual conflict of interest.

I also see a big problem when high-ranking sworn officials in a police 
or fire department conduct promotional exam tutoring sessions for a fee 
on their "personal time," outside of the department.  This is bad 
practice and should be prohibited for several reasons.  First, the 
consultants developing the promotional exam need all high-level job 
experts available to assist in developing the exam.  I know of 
high-level officials who have disqualified themselves as job experts 
because they were giving private exam tutoring for a fee.  Second, there 
is the appearance of conflict of interest, if not an actual conflict of 
interest, which undermines the integrity of the promotional exam

Lance

-- 
Lance Seberhagen, Ph.D.
Seberhagen&  Associates
9021 Trailridge Ct
Vienna, VA 22182
Tel 703-790-0796
www.seberhagen.com





> Have you heard of hiring professional recruiters to assist in recruiting

> applicants to take an entry-level exam for the job of Firefighter?

>

> Where might I find such a person or group?

>

> Thanks.

>

> Joel

>

>