Getting hired as LEO...tips?

[BearArms]

I'm finishing up my BA degree in Criminal Justice in Spring '12 and will then be applying to PD's. I'm still unsure where I prefer to work - city, county, CHP, but I will really take anything I can get considering the economy. What should I do now to better prepare myself for things such as the oral board. You can't prepare for the background check or the poly, and I am already working/have been working on the physical, so I'm not too worried about those. I have a spot clean record without even a speeding ticket, but I still am worried I won't get hired. I think they'll see me just as any other college grad "Kid" and not as someone who is mature and motivated and wants to be a lifer LEO. I've gone on ride alongs and loved them and know it's what I want to do. I feel that I lack in the life experience department, growing up in middle-upper white suburbia of SF Bay Area and not having that hard of a life.

Any tips on what I can do? Tips on what I shouldn't do? Likelihood of getting hired in 2 years?

[meangreen46]

Get a job or volunteer somewhere. You have two years....would it be possible to change your degree? You would be better served getting a different degree if possible. Hard life doesn't mean anything....showing that you are into your community will show alot.

[Cpl. Haas]

What college are you going to? I'd recommend walking into the campus police starion and asking them about their Community Service Officer program if they have one.

[aquaelvis]

Agree with what the others said. It is good to be able to talk about something you have done that isn't only geared for the job. Community service shows you care about the public and have taken ime to give back. You are right that many applicants look the same, give yourself something extra other than a degree.
Many depts have youth programs. (youth academics, sports, etc.) Those are a great place to start. (some may or may not let you help out if not a LEO) The work is good, run by good people. Also, allows you to get to know people in a dept you might want to work in. (or get good refs from those guys if you decide to look at CHP or another acency)
If your local depts won't let you help out with thier program they can point you in the right direction. (their programs work with others in the community much of the time)
I'd say for orals, start talking. Get used to looking people in the eye (don't be creepy though) and speaking clearly.
Good luck.

[BoJackUSMC]

+1 on changing career
Might want to look into accounting, computer forensic. or pre law.

[ankyle62]

With how things are right now, it's not where you prefer to work, it's about who will hire you. It's not the job market right now to be picky. If I were you I would major in something else so you have a career to fall back on just in case law enforcement doesn't work out for you.

[Recession]

Definitely do something PD related. Walk into your local PD and ask them if you can do some volunteer work. About a year ago, I was the front runner for a LEO position at a local PD. It was down to me and one other guy. They ended up hiring him over me because he was an Explorer when he was younger.

[Bizcuits]

Almost every Police or Sheriffs Department has volunteer positions... From getting coffee, to cleaning cars, to answering phones, to passing out fliers. They vary from internships, to flat volunteer work.

Just go to each of your local departments websites and look up volunteer work. Most of the positions are staffed by old farts or college students. I'd recommend volunteering at the department you want to work.

Figure if you volunteer 1 or 2 days a week, for the next 2 years you'll have some great contacts built into the department as well as you'll ALWAYS have their letter head on your resume.

Imagine how great it will look having "Mountain View PD" on your resume even if it is as a volunteer. The fact is you still will have worked for the department, you still will have references from the department and it'll show most importantly, work experience. You do not have to get paid to put something on your resume.

On the note of your BA. Unless you are dead set in a BA in CJ, I'd recommend switching majors to something like English, Business, Social Science, Sociology or Psychology. You need people skills, writing skills, management skills and socially diverse skills far more then you need to understand laws or CPTED concepts. You'll learn about those in the academy.

Also in the off season, consider getting a PC832 Cert and Firearms Qual from your local community college. A lot of Sheriffs Departments like Sacramento and LA have security officer branches of the department (they guard the folsom dam, court houses and other county buildings) that those certs will allow you to apply for, as well as look good on a resume.

[BearArms]

Thank you all for the wealth of information.

@meangreen46 - no I can't change my major, I'm in my junior year and am already delayed in graduating, not going to change.

@Cpl. Haas - I go to San Francisco State University. I will check to see if they have any volunteer positions, thanks for that tip, didn't think of looking at CSU PD.

@aquaelvis - Thanks for the info in regards to other volunteer/community service possibilites. I've definitely been working on speaking well and my last job I had was at a Customer Service call center and although that job sounds lame, it really helped me learn to talk politely while also making up answers to their questions immediately. If I fumbled on my words or didn't know an answer I felt stupid and it was unprofessional so I quickly got very good at thinking on my feet.

@ankyle62 - LE is the only career I want and if it takes me years to get it, then that's what it will take. I won't ever accept "No, you're not qualified" as an answer, I'll fix whatever needs fixing, get whatever certification or ANYTHING they want and be back re-applying.

@Bizcuits - I've been looking on some local cities websites and although my hometown says they aren't accepting volunteers (They don't want free labor?), many cities do have positions and I will be definitely trying to land a 2-3 day/week position at one and then work a typical 40/hr job on my other days. Unfortunately, my community college no longer has a shooting range, but according to an Officer I spoke with who used to go there said they used to have an indoor range...it must have been torn down. I'll see if there's anywhere to get a certification at another location though. Thanks for the idea - like you said, even if I don't apply for those positions, it will still be something to add to my resume to make me stand out on paper that bit more than the other big pile they have.

[BoJackUSMC]

Also, military background will help you stand out even more against those who does not have any. Military background with college degree is always welcome in any LEO service. You might want to look in National Guard or reserve while attending university.

[BearArms]

Already tried to join the USMC (58xx) and was medically DQ'd and waiver denied. :\

Just going to finish school and apply.

[aquaelvis]

Kern County Sheriff is hiring. I think they are looking at 40-80 new deputies NOW.

[Recession]

Already tried to join the USMC (58xx) and was medically DQ'd and waiver denied. :\

Just going to finish school and apply.

Woah woah woah.. hold up a minute. You do know you have to go through an even more intensive medical for PD's. You don't have to answer but can I ask what you were medically DQ'd for?

[davedog665]

I agree with avoiding the Criminal justice degree, i opted for Accounting myself. My tips are to start tracking down your background everything you ever did time and date tickets, work history, reprimands, and any changes of address. Also very important be proactive any seminars, ride alongs, community service,and research in the department will go very far. You want to be very professional people who are not prepared and proactive in the process do not look very professional and will not go very far.
Personal experience: 22 months into the CHP hiring process so be prepared for a long process.

[fullrearview]

Don't do drugs. There, my good dead for the day!