Applying to several agencies at a time

[Robb]

I have seen this topic raised many times, specifically, the advise not to apply to too many police agencies.  when starting my application process I was concerned about the optics of applying to many agencies at the same time.  However, as I am from western Canada, the recruiting sergant with the Calgary Police Service ( a large municipal agency) gave me some excellent advise; he said that there is a great deal of competition between different police services for the best candidates.  He considered it his mandate to bring those applicants to Calgary, regardless of where and how many times they had applied.  

I thought I would add a different perspective of this topic.  I look forward to hearing everyones's input.

[Glenn]

Thats good advise Robb, I will be in Calgary in July for my interview. But I have  also applied with the Edmonton Police service, just have to do the physical at the end of June.
I figured that if Edmonton and Calgary are fighting over recruits, they might as well fight over me.....thats the way I see it anyway...high hopes I guess.
If I can pass Edmontons physical I can do anything. Working out at the gym to make sure that I do. Just trying my hardest to be the best applicant that I can be.
Good luck
Glenn

[Romano]

I have to agree with Glenn and the Sergeant from CPS.  The best candidates should be the ones getting hired regardless of where or how many times they have applied.  I personally have only applied to Calgary because it is where I live and I really think that they are the best agency to work for.  However I am not going to wait around forever for Calgary to give me a job.  If for some reason my first few applications are not working out with Calgary (God I hope not) I have considered applying to Edmonton, Lethbridge, Vancouver, RCMP, etc.  It is my goal to become a cop in one place or another, so like Glenn I am just trying to make myself the best and most suitable candidate out there.  Eventually with a little determination and hard work I will get there...the big question that remains is WHEN

[ace13]

I was also considering the same options.  My boyfriend has applied to PEEL Regional Police in Ontario, and I have an ongoing application with the RCMP . . .so I was contemplating applying to PEEL as well, just not sure if I should or not.  Although, how I look at it is that I will at least wait til my PARE with RCMP to see how that goes and then make the decision.  If things don't work out with the RCMP, I still have many years to keep trying as I am only 23 years old.  I figure right now, I told RCMP that I have only applied to them, and I don't want them to think that I was lying at that time.  We'll see how it goes.  While I am in Ontario this summer, I am going to check out the many forces up there and check out their organizations.

Ace13

[Charlie]

Robb and others--Tis' true that a lot of agencies in both the US and Canada are in dire need of applicants to hire on board their agencies BUT, to reinterate a point I've made before:

Applying to too many agencies at one time MAY be a bad thing to do. Note that the word is "MAY" and does not necessarily mean this applies to any or all situations.

In the past, the emphasis with this point was simply:

* Applying to too many agencies MAY cause other agencies to wonder why you were not hired at the other agencies. (And yes, it is a sure bet they'll call the other department to find out why you were not hired).

* And, if one has applied to too many departments, an agency MAY think you're not serious about coming to work for them as opposed to other departments. After all, an agency that hires you invests a lot of money into you. And, I am certain they expect you to hang around their department for a little while before going elsewhere.

So, the question remains: HOW many is TOO MANY to apply to at one time? Difficult question to answer but I would suggest that you keep the number no higher than 3-5 departments at once. AND, I would insure that the departments you select are agencies you have a sincere interest to work for.

Again, applying to too many agencies MAY have a negative impact on your application BUT, apparently as you pointed out, some departments may view this in more of a favorable light.

And finally, always remember my golden rule: "Not all departments do things the same way." Departments do differ as far as what they're looking for.

Charlie