New member

[logan]

Good afternoon everyone. I am a new member to this message board. I was on-line late last night and after reading some really insightful posts from different members I figured it was time for me to stop looking in from the outside and join in the camraderie that obviously exists here.

Quick history:
I am currently in the BI stage of getting hired by a southern California PD. I have already passed the written and physical tests as well as the polygraph. I have had a federal clearance in the past so I think I should be alright with the BI. But you never know.

Over the past 5 years I have applied to numerous federa, state and more recently, local agencies. I have always passed the written tests, but seem to flub up on the oral assesments. I, like many of the other readers here, have tried to take something from every session and store in my experience cabinet to draw on another time. I was very close to being picked up by a federal agency within the last couple of months, but poor timing in my personal life left me a bit jumbled and I think it really showed during my orals.

But, no problem, I have great support with friends and family and now thatI have come in here I feel that I will find even greater support and advice.

If anyone has any questions that I may be able to helpk out with ( as I have very recently gone through most of the steps in the hiring process) please let me know. I will be happy to share in whatever way that I can.
Thank you all and keep up the good work with the posts! Theyare very helpful!

Lonesrch13

[Charlie]

lonesrch13--May I extend a sincere welcome! I think without a doubt, there is a wealth of information here that may help most anyone with their quest to start a LE career!

Your situation sounds somewhat typical BUT, the only thing that I think MAY be a factor in your situaiton is: HOW MANY agencies have you applied to in the past? A common "mistake" a lot of people often do is what I would refer to as the blanket approach. Or, applying to any and every LE agency under the sun. This is generally not the best approach to take for two big reasons:

* Agencies will question you genuine interest in their department. After all, regardless of WHO they hire, they are going to invest a lot of money in you! AND,

* Even though there may be nothing wrong with you per say, other agencies will wonder WHY you were not hired with other agencies that you've applied with before. Rest assured, they will likely contact the other departments you've applied with and find out what they can about you and WHY they did not hire you.

There is nothing wrong with applying to multiple agencies but I would recommend that you (or anyone else) sit back and determine which departments you really want to work for. I'd recommend no more that say 3-5 departments at the most. And also keep in mind that it is commonplace to apply and completely process with a department more than once before one is finally hired! As the ole' saying goes, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!"

Charlie

[Logan1]

Thanks Charlie.
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back on board. I agree with what you said in your reply to my letter. While I realize that I have applied to more than my fair share of agencies, the majority were applied to before I had the experience to be seriously considered. On top of that, as I am sure you already know, the LE field right now is VERY competetive and I believe that I must apply to numerous departments to give myself an ample opportunity of being hired. My ultimate goal (right now) is a federal agency. But I do admit that I am inexperienced and may find out that I love working on a police department instead. I really can't say until I have the opportunity to do so.

I am still waiting for word from a PD here in southern CA. They are conducting my BI right now. Hopefully this coming week I will hear something.

I signed in with another name because, as I am sure you saw before, I am not familiar with websites like this and often screw things up (my first letter repeated 3 times under three names). I didn't think it went through the first two times.

Logan

[Drakor]

I've know a couple of guys and girls that have went to work for the local and state police departments and then went to work for he FBI. Maybe this is something to consider.... Anyway good luck to you

[Logan1]

Drakor,
I have seen your posts around this page and like what you have had to say. Thank you for the input.
I have also heard of people working for a municipal or state agency and then going federal as well. I was maybe a little naive and too eager when I first began applying to different federal agencies. I have realized (or at least think I have) my mistakes on previous interviews and such and hope to bring that experience with me to whichever process I may be going through.

While federal is still my goal, I am very excited about the possibility to work for the department to which I have applied. We shall see what happens.

Has anyone heard of a foreign post possibility? An NYPD detective I used to work with talked with me about it about 6 months ago but I have since loost touch with him and can't find it on the web. My understanding was that you sign up to work (with the UN maybe?) for one year in a specific hot spot and they pay for everything for you and the income is tax free and quite acceptable! If anyone has any knowledge of this program or has any idea what I am talking about please, set me straight.

Thanks

[Jenny]

Hi I am new to this message board also and the funny thing is that I don't want to be a Police Officer. My husband actually took the exam in May 2002 and got an excellent score. He still has not recieved his certification letter and I would like to know what is the process after that? We live in NJ. I am so anxiuos and so is he. Would you have any suggestions for us? Thanks.

[Drakor]

I have heard that there is an extreme amount of people who want to work for NJ State Police. Something like over twenty thousand applicants a year. It may take you some time to hear back from them. Good Luck

[Charlie]

Jenny--The overall application process varies from one department to the next. Therefore, to completely process for a LE agency can generally take several months to, in some cases, well over 1-year. It just depends. AND, one has to factor in:

* The number of applicants ratio to the number of positions available.

* Number of background personnel processing individuals.

It can be quite a competitive process and may be slow going to process. Again, depending on the department, it can sometimes take a lengthy period of time to completely process. AND THEN, even after processing completely, it does NOT mean someone will be hired just because they've completed all of the steps in the process! ONe may find themselves in the position of applying and processing AGAIN if they really want the job bad enough! ;D

I would advise hubby to hang in there. If he has done well on the scoring as you have noted, they'll contact him before long. But keep in mind it can sometimes be a VERY competitive process to get on board somewhere depedning upon the agency in question.

Charlie