Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatcher Interview Questions & Answers

Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers, also called public safety telecommunicators, answer emergency and non-emergency calls.

Interviewers look for candidates that demonstrate excellent skills such as:

• Communication skills
• Decision-making skills
• Ability to multitask
• Listening skills
• Empathy
• Typing skills

In this blog, we discuss commonly asked interview questions during job interviews for Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatcher positions. We also discuss the qualities that interviewers look for in successful candidates. In other words, we’re here to help you out!

Also, read more about frequently asked job interview questions here and check our job interview preparation checklist.

Skills Interviewers Look For In Successful Candidates

Below we discuss the skills you can highlight in your answers to demonstrate that you’re qualified for the job.

Ability to multitask

Why interviewers are interested in your ability to multitask:

Dispatchers must stay calm in order to simultaneously answer calls, collect vital information, coordinate responders, use mapping software and camera feeds, and assist callers.

Related: What Does a Car Rental Agent Do?

Communication skills

Why interviewers are interested in your communication skills:

Dispatchers work with law enforcement, emergency response teams, and civilians. They must be able to communicate the nature of an emergency effectively and coordinate the appropriate response.

Related: Dispatch Supervisor Interview Questions & Answers

Decision-making skills

Why interviewers are interested in your decision-making skills:

When people call for help, dispatchers must be able to determine the response dictated by procedures quickly.

Empathy

Why interviewers are interested in your empathy:

Dispatchers must be willing and able to help callers who have a wide range of needs. They must be calm, polite, and sympathetic while also collecting relevant information quickly.

Listening skills

Why interviewers are interested in your listening skills:

Dispatchers must listen carefully to collect relevant details, even though some callers might have trouble speaking because of anxiety or stress.

Typing skills

Why interviewers are interested in your typing skills:

Dispatchers type the details of calls into computers, and speed and accuracy are of the essence when responding to emergencies.

(source: bls.gov)

Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatcher Job Interview Questions & Answers

During a job interview, the hiring manager wants to discuss several things. Think of your:

• Employment history
• Skills and abilities
• Accomplishments
• Job qualifications
• Educational background
• Career goals
• Personality

Below you find a list of commonly asked interview questions.

Examples Of General Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatcher Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. How would you describe yourself?
3. Why do you want to work here?
4. What interests you about this position?
5. Walk me through your resume.
6. What motivates you?
7. Why are you leaving your current job?
8. Describe your work ethic.
9. What is your greatest strength?
10. How does your experience qualify you for this job?
11. What is your greatest weakness?
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
13. Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you overcame it.
14. What are your expectations for this position?
15. What are your career goals?
16. Why should we hire you?
17. What did you like most about your last position?
18. What did you like least about your last position?
19. How do you handle stress?
20. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Learn how to answer these common job interview questions!

Examples Of Specific Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatcher Behavioral Interview Questions

Learn more about answering behavioral interview questions by using the STAR interview technique.

1. Describe a time when you had to make an important decision quickly. What happened? What did you decide?
2. Give me an example that demonstrates how you deal with stressful situations. What do you do to keep performing your duties?
3. What is your strategy to successfully multi-task in your work? How do you ensure you stay focused?
4. Tell me about a time you made a mistake. What happened? How did you fix it?
5. If you receive a call from a panicking person who is speaking incoherently and unintelligibly, how would you handle the situation?
6. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment in your career as an emergency dispatcher?
7. Tell me how you keep track of your calls and your actions for each of the calls.
8. Can you tell me more about the dispatch equipment or dispatch software you have worked with?
9. What important factors do you need to know before you determine the appropriate follow-up action?
10. Tell me about a time you had to make a decision when your supervisor was not around. What did you do?

Learn more about questions to ask the interviewer during your job interview.