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Mastering the "Why You, Why Now?" Question in Police Promotion Boards

The Secret to Standing Out in Your Police Promotion Interview

If you're preparing for a police promotion board—whether it's promotion to sergeant, promotion to inspector, or even a specialist role—you've likely been thinking about how to answer that dreaded opening question: "Why do you want this role?"

It sounds simple enough, but this question trips up even the most experienced officers. Why? Because most candidates completely miss what the board is actually looking for.

The Common Mistake That Costs Officers Their Promotion

After supporting police officers through promotion processes for over 37 years (and helping thousands succeed), I've noticed a pattern. When asked why they want promotion to sergeant or inspector, most officers immediately launch into:

• A detailed CV of their policing career

• Generic statements about "giving back to the community"

• Vague references to their experience and knowledge

Sound familiar? If you're nodding, you're not alone. But here's the truth: this approach is scoring you a 1 out of 10 with your promotion board.

Why? Because the chair of your promotion board wants to "delve into your personality"—not hear rehearsed clichés or a rehashed version of the CV they already have in front of them.

The "Love" Approach to Police Promotion Success

The secret to answering this question effectively lies in one word: love.

When preparing for your police promotion board, you need to identify what you genuinely love about policing and leadership. Not what you "like" or what sounds good—but what truly drives you.

As one inspector candidate discovered during our webinar, the difference between:

"I've got 16 years as a Constable across response and CID with a wealth of knowledge I can pass on..."

And:

"I love seeing officers develop their potential. What truly drives me is watching someone's confidence grow after I've invested time in teaching and supporting them..."

The first answer tells the board nothing unique about you. The second creates an emotional connection that makes the interviewer lean in and think, "This person would have to work hard to fail."

Building Your Promotion Story: Hook, Story, Close

The strongest answers to the "why you, why now" question follow a clear structure:

1. Hook - Begin with what you love about policing and leadership. This creates an immediate emotional connection with your interviewer.
   
   

2. Story - Develop a narrative that illustrates your passion in action. Show, don't tell.
   
   

3. Close - End with clarity about why this makes you the perfect candidate for promotion.
   
   

This approach ensures your answer is cliché-free and completely unique to you. No other candidate will have your story or your motivation.

Taking Imperfect Action Towards Police Promotion

One consistent factor I've observed in successful promotion candidates over my 26 years of coaching is their willingness to take "imperfect action." The officers who succeed aren't waiting until they've perfected every answer; they're practicing, making mistakes, and learning from them—with me in webinars and one-to-ones, not in their actual promotion board.

Remember: the promotion board is not the place to make mistakes. That's what preparation is for.

Your Next Steps Towards Promotion Success

If you're serious about your promotion to sergeant, inspector, or any specialist role, don't leave your success to chance. Our structured approach has helped thousands of officers across the UK achieve promotion success—evidenced by our 750+ five-star TrustPilot reviews.

Whether you're just starting your promotion journey or facing a board in the coming weeks, we have proven resources to help you succeed:

• Join our weekly webinars where we practice answering tough questions

• Book a one-to-one coaching session for personalised feedback

• Access our online courses designed specifically for police promotion

And with our success guarantee—full refund if you don't pass after completing our recommended preparation—you have nothing to lose and a promotion to gain.

Ready to Master Your Police Promotion Board?

Click here to join the thousands of officers we've helped secure their next rank. For serving officers, join or Promotion Academy— for expert promotion guidance that could change your career.

Don't just prepare for your promotion board—prepare to excel.