I few weeks ago I was recruited to apply for a Department of Corrections job. Yesterday I took our state PAT test. I wasn't sure how well I would do but was fairly confident that I could pull it off with the run.
The first test is push-ups. You have to do perfect form military style with your elbows below 90 degrees. I didn't have anyone to help me so I had to guess for my training. I used a 3" cup and touched my chest to it on each rep. That was a good plan - in on minute you had to do a minimum of 15 or maximum of 23. I did 23 without a miss and ended up being one of 4 (out of 25) who maxed out within 1 minute.
The next test was sit-ups, again military style with legs at 90 degrees. You had to have your hands cupped over your ears (fat boy style) or interlocked behind your head. Changing positions would automatically disqualify participants. I chose to interlock my fingers and that was a bad plan. My expanding gut would not allow my elbows to touch my knees - I was about 1/2" off on my first rep. Being carefule not to loose my grip and become disqualified, I loosened my grip to the second knuckles and easily did the 19 maximum. I was very close to being disqualified on the first rep, but ended up being one of 4 (out of 23) to max out within 1 minute.
Next was the 1.5 mile run. The standards for this run are maximum 15 minutes, minimum just under 18 minutes. I did the run in 12:37 finishing second. I think about 8 runners maxed out.
In the end I had the highest overall score by being the only applicant to max out on all 3 tests. This doesn't say too much as the test wasn't very challenging.
I also did a preliminary mental test, panel interview and drug screening.
I guess they will call if I am qualified...
The first test is push-ups. You have to do perfect form military style with your elbows below 90 degrees. I didn't have anyone to help me so I had to guess for my training. I used a 3" cup and touched my chest to it on each rep. That was a good plan - in on minute you had to do a minimum of 15 or maximum of 23. I did 23 without a miss and ended up being one of 4 (out of 25) who maxed out within 1 minute.
The next test was sit-ups, again military style with legs at 90 degrees. You had to have your hands cupped over your ears (fat boy style) or interlocked behind your head. Changing positions would automatically disqualify participants. I chose to interlock my fingers and that was a bad plan. My expanding gut would not allow my elbows to touch my knees - I was about 1/2" off on my first rep. Being carefule not to loose my grip and become disqualified, I loosened my grip to the second knuckles and easily did the 19 maximum. I was very close to being disqualified on the first rep, but ended up being one of 4 (out of 23) to max out within 1 minute.
Next was the 1.5 mile run. The standards for this run are maximum 15 minutes, minimum just under 18 minutes. I did the run in 12:37 finishing second. I think about 8 runners maxed out.
In the end I had the highest overall score by being the only applicant to max out on all 3 tests. This doesn't say too much as the test wasn't very challenging.
I also did a preliminary mental test, panel interview and drug screening.
I guess they will call if I am qualified...
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