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[Foriegn power]

Hi all,

[Roddd]

Community service may help. Learn a foreign language. You'll be surprised to find out how many people with Master's degrees are applying. Your having many part time jobs can't compare to people that have held one job for 6 years. It's tough out there but you have the right attitude. Schedule ride alongs, make sure everybody knows you. Stay clean.
What's your past history like? How old are you? Feel free to PM me if you want.

[emvampyre]

Have you thought about becoming a reserve deputy/officer? Often times this can be a huge boost to a career in law enforcement. Find out if one of the departments you are interested in has a reserve program.

[retired]

Have you thought about becoming a reserve deputy/officer? Often times this can be a huge boost to a career in law enforcement. Find out if one of the departments you are interested in has a reserve program.

This.^ You are in competition with many laid off leos who may have years of experience and have only been laid off due to the difficult economic straits cities and counties are in. You really don't have a chance until things turn around, so the reserve leo is your best bet IMO.

Also, start going on ride alongs. If you get to the oral stage, they will ask you if you have gone on any and if you haven't, you will be marked down.

[Roddd]

Keep going on ride alongs. What foreign language do you speak?
The reserve thing could work, you'll have to look into putting yourself through an academy. The competition is tough normally, in this economy with all of the officers who have been laid off, it's even tougher. Also look into what agencies are hiring parking enforcement officers. Get your foot in the door anyway you can. Good luck and keep the positive attitude. Persistence pays off.

[mixicus]

It's tough right now. The depts. that are hiring tend to be hiring to maintain minimum staffing levels not total authorized staff. There are plenty of LEO's that have been laid off or are facing the strong possiblilty of getting laid off. So the talent poolis getting deep. Sorry.

Best strategy right now is to put yourself in the best possible position when an opening comes up or when the economy turns around in a few years and depts got on a binge to come up to authorized levels. Since you already have a degree, consider putting yourself through an academy. That will put you in the 'academy grad' stack of apps instead of the 'recruit' stack. If you graduate and still don't have a slot, go for a reserve position at the department you are most interested in. If financially the academy is not in the cards, consider getting a job as a Police Service Officer/Jailer. If possible at the depts you are interested in. It will get you some exposure and experience.

Whatever you do, don't give up if this is what you want.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

This might sound crazy but if I was in my 20's with a Bachelor's degree and hopeful for a career in law enforcement, I would join the Military Reserves or National Guard with a commission and then start applying to departments as soon as you finish your military training.

[judoguy]

I am also 23 this year. And yeah from many officers I've asked , its tough and minimum required staff seems to be the trend.

But don't be discouraged, i only have my high school diploma, and some what units in college. No degree, been maintaining a family run restaurant for 4 years now .

So as far as your friend having military to you having a bs. I got neither except several years in management and customer service.

But I am putting myself through to academy, this comin august, and its unbelievable how many officers tell me that its tough to nearly impossible to get picked up these days. But out of the 50 negative stories the 1 or 2 that do get hired on, push through it regardless of the bad news.


Psalm 112:7 NIV

They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Good luck brotha, I'll be pushing forward as well.

[Roddd]

Judoguy, keep the job at the restaurant and go to college full time. Having gone through the academy on your own might not mean too much when people with Bachelor's and Master's are applying alongside of you. It's competitive but worth it.

[Notorious]

Dude, just realize that there are tons and tons of laid off experienced LEO's as well as highly educated professionals with advanced degrees applying for these very rare and highly competitive jobs. I think the last posting we put out for lateral/pre-service, all we got were laterals and we had enough to screen out pre-service since there were enough people with experience applying that we didn't have to chance it on a guy straight out of the academy.

We even have active LEO's applying in droves because they are hedging their bets against being laid off since they were lower in the seniority scale so they see the writing on the wall.

We also have a lot of professionals in other fields such as accounting, real estate, even medical or legal that is looking for a job with more stability. They got true, stable job work histories and also advanced educations for the most part.

Gauge yourself against that and you should understand what you are up against.

[tyrist]

Many departments have a veterans preference program so your friend probably got extra points on his oral interview.

Also just "passing" isn't enough; You are competing against everyone else who applied and must beat them.

[ankyle62]

Many departments have a veterans preference program so your friend probably got extra points on his oral interview.

Also just "passing" isn't enough; You are competing against everyone else who applied and must beat them.

Yeah no such thing as passing, you need to be pushing the limits or the top performer. If I were you I would go join the military as an officer, or start graduate school and hope things clear up by the time you are done.

I havent had any luck either, last department sent me the same "due to the amount of applicants not everyone can be selected" type letters. Im starting to think I wont be able to get in the career field, but Im going to keep trying.

[fullrearview]

Hard? Yes. Impossible?? Hell no.

[bubbagump]

I remember when I was going through the process for "Public Safety Officer"...

100 people showed up to the test. About 20 made it to interviews. Six made it to backgrounds. Three got the interview with the chief/captain. 3 of us got hired.

That was back in 2007.

I remember when the background investigator showed up to my apartment. He was asking about some pictures on the walls. Talked to my neighbors.

And I'll never forget when he took a big red marker to one of my references. I thought I was going to be DQ'd for sure.

And then the brick I sh*t out during the Captains interview. That guy actually read through my whole packet.

It took about 4 months. Huge pain in the *ss.

[Foriegn power]

It's nice to hear events like yours, thanks for sharing.