How much influence on hiring does........

[dirtracer24]

How much influence does an LT, commander or even a patrol officer have when putting in a good word for someone. If you don't feel comfortable posting please pm me. Thanks fellas

[tahoetarga]

All depends on the agency, who is putting in "the good word", and the applicant....an employee could say the applicant walks on water, but the background shows otherwise. At that point, odds are the 'good word' won't mean a thing.

[M&P40FAN]

People may not like said employee. Then his or her word makes you look worse!

[Ron-Solo]

All depends on the agency, who is putting in "the good word", and the applicant....an employee could say the applicant walks on water, but the background shows otherwise. At that point, odds are the 'good word' won't mean a thing.

People may not like said employee. Then his or her word makes you look worse!

Yup.....

[dirtracer24]

Ive got a buddy in backgrounds with a certain agency that I won't mention. The commander (2nd in charge behind the chief) is a good family friend. He's hoping that commander is able to pull strings and help his chances. And yes the comander has a good name and everybody likes him so his word would matter and help. I was just curious if you guys felt that this day in age if favoritisim helps the process along.

[Notorious]

Depends on where and who. I know guys who breezed through the process and should not even be trusted with being an entry level dog tag inspector. I also know guys who are solid and could not get past the interviews because they were told they were "too educated" or "the job will bore them" or whatever else you can think of.

If someone has influence in a department and bends the right ear, yes, it definitely helps, a lot, sometimes it's all that is needed. Sometimes, it doesn't matter who says good things on your behalf, the machine rolls right over you. Such is the nature of LE hiring. It's both the best and the worst process that we got.

[nickbackouris]

My opinion...it's all well and good to know someone, but knowing someone, getting hired, and being a terrible cop doesn't help anyone.

Make your own impressions, show your work ethic, make a name for yourself, and impress people. When YOU do it, it means something.

[troysland]

More true than not......"It's who you know, not what you know".

[Notorious]

My opinion...it's all well and good to know someone, but knowing someone, getting hired, and being a terrible cop doesn't help anyone.

Make your own impressions, show your work ethic, make a name for yourself, and impress people. When YOU do it, it means something.

That used to be true... and it's an ideal we all hold to. But it's not something I have seen in many places, unfortunately.

Your abilities will carry you well and get you ahead, but having connections and influence will carry you farther than your abilities if you are a known quantity.

I always tell people, you can excel at everything and be the silent professional that does everything great, but if the higher ups don't know you, when they start talking about prospects, your name won't even come up for consideration. Then when it gets to the actual competition, the powers that be will be talking about who they know and then when they get to you... it'll be like... well... who's that? What's he done?

I wouldn't say it if I haven't seen it more than I would like.

[bubbagump]

Do it all on your own.

IMO, having someone put in a good word (who already works for the dept), is going to be detrimental sooner or later.

[Notorious]

I've seen it work out for the better more often than the guys who try to do it by merit. Sorry, just my experience. Maybe I am just jaded after decades in public service and seeing it all from the inside.

[2nab]

The larger the agency, the less likely the "friend" can help. State, or other large gencies have their own internal departments and even outside agencies that control, monitor, oversee hiring. Those hiring units typically do not belong anywhere in the same chain to the "friend", they don't answer to the "friend" and typically recruiters are good people who want to hire good people, and really don't care a lick about the "friend". what the "friend" might pull at most is for that applicants file to get looked at sooner. However, the standards by which they are evaluated are and should not be reduced. Can they maybe get their process started faster and wait less in line, yes. Will they get special consideration, have background or ability be overlooked. Absolutely not. they will still have to earn it, they will just get their shot a little sooner.

[Notorious]

The larger the agency, the less likely the "friend" can help. State, or other large gencies have their own internal departments and even outside agencies that control, monitor, oversee hiring. Those hiring units typically do not belong anywhere in the same chain to the "friend", they don't answer to the "friend" and typically recruiters are good people who want to hire good people, and really don't care a lick about the "friend". what the "friend" might pull at most is for that applicants file to get looked at sooner. However, the standards by which they are evaluated are and should not be reduced. Can they maybe get their process started faster and wait less in line, yes. Will they get special consideration, have background or ability be overlooked. Absolutely not. they will still have to earn it, they will just get their shot a little sooner.

Again... it depends... some of the biggest agencies here are not very different than the smallest agencies when it comes to that. Actually, the smaller agencies might even get more scrutiny since they don't hire as much or as often and have everyone in your business whereas a larger agency can hide someone if needed.

Like I said, I've seen it in big and small agencies, it really is who you know and what they can do for you, unfortunately.

[constable]

It doesn't hurt to know the right people ,but it's all about ability to do the job. You are looked at as an investment. Ability to work, to be a part of a team, motivation level, ability to learn and take responsibility for your actions, and how to promote a positive work environment all while being safe.

My experience so far. (However little it may be)

When told to eat **** ask for seconds and do it with a smile. Puke when you get home

Best of luck to him it is rough trying to get any job right now, much less a public safety career.

[Notorious]

Believe me, I don't agree with it, just jaded after seeing it for almost two decades in pretty much every place I have worked or worked with in private and public employers, large and small.