You go for an interview and are handed this question.

[xmas74]

64. I've been a 911 dispatcher

and that's not something they would ask.

I interviewed three months ago back into the field and that still isn't a question they would ask.

So, what do they ask? The interviewer presents a number of scenarios and wants to know exactly in what order they should be dispatched, what additional info is needed, sometimes if any additional agencies should be alerted, etc. (A good example is a rolling domestic-you'd get as much info about the vehicle as possible, weapons, direction of travel, people involved, if situation is dangerous for the participants and possibly for civilians. In a rolling domestic you would also run an agency assist notification for any agencies that might also make contact-other local municipalities, sheriff's department, highway patrol, etc.)

I used to be an interviewer in round-table interviews with my old agency and every question always leads back to a "what would you do"scenario. What they want is someone who can make quick decisions, even if it overrides what the programs want, and keep a calm head. Everything else can be taught.

BTW-dispatch isn't what it used to be. It used to be a job that paid a decent wage but it's not what it once was. Some decent size departments now pay barely over minimum wage, which is why I left the field.