More Resources

What Makes A Great Manager?
Supervision tips and free resources.  Answers to supervision and management situations.

Winning cover letters and resumes lead to winning interviews - Try the recommended resources below:

Federal Job Resume writing services with a 100% guarantee.

Corrections

Testing for most civil service jobs happens only periodically and sometimes as little as once every two years.  An exam may consist of one test or a number of different tests.  Note that once you pass the test and you're on a civil service list, you'll be interviewed to determine if you receive a job offer.  Make the most of your opportunity with the resources below.

• Sample Questions

• Practice Interviews

• Assessment Center

• Test Guides

• Management/Supervision Positions

Need help for a specific subject such as word problems and math?  Click here for guides and free help for the most difficult test areas.

The most often requested study guides are listed below.  If you don't see the guide that you're looking for, enter the title of the job in the search box below.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

• California Department of Corrections sample questions for Corrections Officer, Youth Correctional Officer, and Youth Correctional Counselor.

• Massachusetts Correction Officer Preparation and Practice Booklet

• New York State Civil Service Study Guides for entry level Corrections Officer.

• State of Connecticut Correction Officer sample test questions.

• State of Delaware - Sample questions for Correctional positions, DNREC Enforcement Trainee, and Probation and Parole Officer I. 

• Texas Department of Justice sample pre-employment test for Correctional Officer

PRACTICE INTERVIEWS

ASSESSMENT CENTER

1. A Preparation Guide for the Assessment Center Method, Tina Louise Rowe, 2013 - RECOMMENDED

2. How to Be Successful on "Oral" Assessment Exercises for Police Promotion, Donald Shroeder, 2005

3. The Police Assessment Center: Important Keys for Success: What You Need to Know and May Not Have Been Told, Barry Malkin, 2009

TEST GUIDES

Guides with reader recommendations are in bold.

1. Barron's Correction Officer Exam, Donald J. Schroeder, 2014

2. Correctional Officer Supervisor I, Jack Rudman, 2014

3. Corrections Officer Exam Secrets Study Guide, Mometrix, 2013 

4. Corrections Officer Exam Study Guide 2015, 2014 

5. Corrections Officer Exam: The Complete Preparation Guide,  Learning Express Editors, 2008

6. Master the Correction Officer, Arco, 2010

MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISION POSITIONS 

• The New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan: How to Take Charge, Build Your Team, and Get Immediate Results, George Bradt, 2011
  The New Leader's 100-Day Action Plan will help ensure that you achieve all of your goals in your next leadership role by implementing an effective plan, starting even before Day One.

• The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Michael Watkins 2013
  A hands-on guide for moving successfully into a new role.  Walk through the transition as Watkins identifies the most common pitfalls new leaders encounter and provides tools/strategies for how to avoid them. 

• Skills for New Managers, Morey Stettner, 2013
  Specific answers for key responsibilities including delegating work, communicating effectively, mentoring, leadership, and coaching.  Includes bulleted lists, checklists and definition of terms.

• 101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees: A Manager's Guide to Addressing Performance, Conduct, and Discipline Challenges, Paul Falcone, 2009
  Covering everything from substandard performance reviews to personal hygiene to termination meetings, this guide helps managers on what to say and how to say it.  Good resource for test questions regarding frequently encountered supervision situations.

• Complete Interview Guide with Supervision Guide
  From job-interview.net, 200+ possible interview questions on supervision including behavioral/situational questions. Plus, answers to the toughest supervision interview questions.