Police Academy

[brantly04]

I know this is probably asked a lot but I am thinking about putting myself through the academy.


Are agencies recruiting academy graduates on a regular basis?

I noticed some agencies are continuously taking applications....


Advice needed!


anyone with some BI experience wanna chime in?
Thanks

[ls2monaro]

The job market for LEO's is tough right now. You will be competing against thousands of other applicants who might have more to offer than you. I don't know anything about you but there are plenty of applicants with no a clean background, good credit, bilingual, military, college education, etc. just waiting in line for job openings.

So if you think you can be competitive in the market then go for it, but if not you might be wasting your time. Your certificate only makes you eligible for hire for up to three years after you graduate.

[BigDogatPlay]

There are also a lot of applicants who have been laid off and who already have their POST Basic Certificate. They'll go to the head of the line in most cases. that makes the job market even tighter. An academy grad competing against experienced peace officers is going to have to be clean, and show a lot of top spin or have some specific talent, training or education that the agency is looking for.

There are still some agencies, I'm sure, that would hire academy grads since they'd have fewer bad habits and be essentially a clean training slate to be molded from the ground up. But I don't know what agencies those are any more.

[Watchur6]

Its hard route to take but it could pay off. For example my friend put himself through the academy, worked hard and kept a clean background. He applied at a few agencies but was determined to be hired with OCSD. He turned down an offer from a police agency in LA in hopes of being hired with Orange County. He has a high school diploma and less than a year of experience with a probation department (he
was laid off). Im happy to say that he was just fitted for his uniform and starts work with OCSD in a few weeks. It is possible but it takes a lot of hard work and determination. He went through hell for 2 years before getting this offer. Good luck and stay safe.

[TheExpertish]

The job market for LEO's is tough right now. You will be competing against thousands of other applicants who might have more to offer than you. I don't know anything about you but there are plenty of applicants with no a clean background, good credit, bilingual, military, college education, etc. just waiting in line for job openings.

So if you think you can be competitive in the market then go for it, but if not you might be wasting your time. Your certificate only makes you eligible for hire for up to three years after you graduate.

I agree with this pretty much. The job market out there is tough, but if you put yourself through it opens you up to almost any department. You'll compete and apply as a lateral. You can PM me with what you think your issues might be and I can give you some pointers.

[ls2monaro]

I agree with this pretty much. The job market out there is tough, but if you put yourself through it opens you up to almost any department. You'll compete and apply as a lateral. You can PM me with what you think your issues might be and I can give you some pointers.

Hate to nitpick but he would be hired as pre-service. Laterals usually have at least a basic POST certificate meaning they completed a probation period as a LEO. But many job openings consider them one in the same.

[TheExpertish]

Hate to nitpick but he would be hired as pre-service. Laterals usually have at least a basic POST certificate meaning they completed a probation period as a LEO. But many job openings consider them one in the same.

That's what I meant as far as the application process. You usually get to skip the written and physical testing.

[Notorious]

Pre-service and laterals may be in one recruitment, but laterals may be preferred due to the experience as long as they were for neutral reasons such as a lay off versus a lateral who was fired for misconduct.

Some agencies may actually stipulate certain amounts of experience which rules out anyone but laterals. Not very common, but has been done and in this market, may be de facto anyway.

[brantly04]

So what's the consensus here? Slim chance hiring for me

[fullrearview]

So what's the consensus here? Slim chance hiring for me

Depends on you and your ability to present yourself.

Can you solve problems? Can you go into a room where everyone arguing hates you, hates that you are there, and solve the problem leaving everyone feeling like they won the argument?

The market is tough right now... But also remember, some departments get certain grants which require them to hire a certain amount of pre-service applicants.

[Notorious]

Which grant mandates hiring pre-service versus recruits or laterals?

[brantly04]

Do you have to take the Test over again for a T-score when applying for employment with agencies?

[TheExpertish]

Do you have to take the Test over again for a T-score when applying for employment with agencies?

What's a t-score?

[brantly04]

What's a t-score?

The P.O.S.T written test...

[BoJackUSMC]

I think so.. When I took my written test for LASD two months ago. There was a guy who graduated from Rio Hondo Police Academy. He had to take the written exam for LASD just like everyone else.