Need some advice

[J]

Hello,
I found this website a while ago and I occasionally look through what people have written. Just by doing this I have gotten some real motivation from some of you people! So, finally, I decided to write for some personalized advice.

Here is a little about me. I am a college junior about a year away from obtaining my bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice (I already have my 2 year degree). I'll be 21 in just under 3 months... Other than one car accident over 2 years ago, where a ticket was issued to me but was "taken away" in court due to insufficient evidence, I have a perfectly clean driving record. I have also never touched drugs and have a clean record in those regards too... Also, I have a stable but unrelated work history, and I am a volunteer first responder for the company I work for now.

Now, I have some important questions and some silly questions. Don't laugh too hard.
I basically just want to know when I am supposed to start applying at departments. My GPA is about a 2.8, so I am having a hard time getting an internship, and am a full time student and I work almost full time, so that leaves little time for getting experience through volunteer work.
Also, I have some cousins that have been in jail and have had many tickets and run-ins with the police. Can that have an effect on me getting a job?
Just out of curiosity, being new and inexperienced, am I more likely to be hired in a large town or a small town? I am a small town girl, but I would love to work in both settings some time in my career.
I have asthma, but it doesn't bother me unless I get really sick or run really hard, but I am definitely working on and improving the running thing. Can that be a problem?
FINALLY... I am honest. Maybe too honest sometimes. For example: yes I stole something once, but I took it, I left, then I came back to the place, and put it back because I felt so bad (I was in my early teens and didn't get caught, thank God). Is that going to get me in trouble eventually when I do testing?

Thanks for your time! Any input would be helpful.

[journey2depot2]

Hi J,

Can't answer all the questions "definetly"...but...

A lot of getting accepted to almost ANY form of LE, is about life experience. Volunteer work is a big one too. If possible, (Time permitting ;D) Try and get some volunteer time with your local police force. Most have a very small required commitment, Calgary for example is only 4hrs/week...as for the theft when you wer a teen, don't sweat it, as long as your clean for the last 3-5 years, detected or undetected, you will be fine. We were all a little dumb when we were younger... Just make SURE you disclose it...If you hide stuff your done.

My advice on when to apply would be around 24, but that's just me. I know people who wer accepted at 21, but you usually don't have enough life experience at that age...Your cousins BG, shouldn't be a problem, unless you were involved in the incedents But you never know for sure...

My 2 cents, for what it's worth....

Journey2Depot

www.enterthemind.com/~jmalo/rcmp/

[J]

Well, thanks for your time. It really does help a little to ask people questions that have and idea of what you're talking about. I appreciate it!

[J]

Well, I went to a job fair and some police cheifs from the "local" departments gave me tons of information. They said I should get involved in the testing processes now. They said that practice will take the pressure off when I am seriously looking for a job... Plus then if I don't do well I don't have to worry about it... BUT they said sometimes if a person does good and they like the person, but they are still in school, they will wait for the applicant to graduate. I thought that was pretty cool.
So anyways, I am going to take a written exam for one department next week, and a physical exam for another department about 3 weeks after that. I'm excited!

[Charlie]

J--

Allow me to share my thoughts:

"I basically just want to know when I am supposed to start applying at departments. My GPA is about a 2.8, so I am having a hard time getting an internship, and am a full time student and I work almost full time, so that leaves little time for getting experience through volunteer work."

* I'd recommend applying when you're ready for it BUT, I would also suggest that you finish school first! Generally speaking, if you are a female applicant at most any department, chances are a little more in your favor because departments often try very hard to find, process and hire female recruits.

"Also, I have some cousins that have been in jail and have had many tickets and run-ins with the police. Can that have an effect on me getting a job?"

* I seriously doubt it. What do THEIR ACTIONS and poor decision making have to do with you? UNLESS you had something to do with their situations in someway.

"Just out of curiosity, being new and inexperienced, am I more likely to be hired in a large town or a small town? I am a small town girl, but I would love to work in both settings some time in my career."

* The reality is, QUALIFIED female applicants are in high demand at most any agencies. Depending upon your qualifications and the agencies you decide to apply with, I would suspect that you could apply with either large or small departments as long as you met their applicant qualifications. It really depends upon what YOU want to do.

" I have asthma, but it doesn't bother me unless I get really sick or run really hard, but I am definitely working on and improving the running thing. Can that be a problem?"

* Depends upon a given agency's policies concerning health/physical qualifications. AND, most likely if you get to the physical examination point in the hiring process, you will most likely have to undergo a complete physical. So, it'll generally depend upon without going into in-depth detail: (1) Physical/health-related requirements of a given police department and IF you meet those requirements and, (2) The results of your physical examination with the doctor.

" FINALLY... I am honest. Maybe too honest sometimes. For example: yes I stole something once, but I took it, I left, then I came back to the place, and put it back because I felt so bad (I was in my early teens and didn't get caught, thank God). Is that going to get me in trouble eventually when I do testing?"

* In your case, I suspect it probably won't IF we're talking about something relatively small in value. I'd suggest being honest and up front about this issue to the background investigators and provide athorough explanation about it. Usually, this whole issue depends upon: what was taken?, how long ago since last episode?, value of property taken?, how many times have you engaged in this activity?, were you ever caught? Prosecuted, etc. Basically, the totality of the circumstances. A positive would be a significant amount of time between the last time you did it and the present time.

Otherwise, I hope in some way this will be of help to you. Food for thought. ;D

--
Charlie

[Storm]

J

Charlie hit a lot of you questions cold. Are you in the US or Canada? If you are Canadian you are in luck for recruiting.

Storm

[J C]

Wow, it's been a long time since I have posted, but I just wanted to write about where I am at in the "process." What Charlie posted helped a lot. I just had some beginner questions that I needed to ask, and when I got the response, it really made me more comfortable with everything.

Well, I am a college senior now. I will have my bachelor's degree of science with a major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology in May.

I have been applying like crazy at every department in Wisconsin that I can find that has open positions (I live in Wisconsin). As of now, I have done lots of written tests, 2 physical tests, and I have a panel interview coming in 3 days.

To me, it is amazing that these departments are even interested in someone with 7 months of school left. But they are. So, if my advice means anything to any other students out there, apply, apply, apply. Every written test I have taken is TOTALLY different, but the practice is unbelievably helpful. One physical test I took was REALLY competitive and almost intimidating. At the other, all the applicants in each group were supportive of each other and pushed each other to do their best.

It's been a great experience, but I have a lot of steps to go through yet. If anyone has any advice for the panel interview, feel free to write.

Thanks so much!

J

[J C]

By the way, in this section J is the same person as J C.
I just couldn't log is a J this time for some reason.

[YC]

Seems like you are progressing J! Good luck!

[Charlie]

JC--

"I have been applying like crazy at every department in Wisconsin that I can find that has open positions (I live in Wisconsin). As of now, I have done lots of written tests, 2 physical tests, and I have a panel interview coming in 3 days.

To me, it is amazing that these departments are even interested in someone with 7 months of school left. But they are. So, if my advice means anything to any other students out there, apply, apply, apply. ..."

>>>>

Applying at EVERY department in Wisconsin is NOT a very good approach to take! WHY? Here's a couple of reasons to consider:

-- It MAY show that an applicant is NOT serious about working at the agency in question. After all, departments will make a significant investment in someone they hire. They want someone who'll stay for at least a few years to get some benefit from the investment they make. The "applying to every agency under the sun" approach, (a common mistake made by a lot of well-meaning people), will possibly make you look insincere in your interest in a given department. The higher number of departments one may apply to often does NOT increase your odds of getting successfully hired somewhere. It MAY work AGAINST you!

-- IF you're NOT hired by several agencies for whatever reason, other departments you may have a pending application with will wonder why the other departments did NOT hire you! They might think there is some specific reason why you were not hired. Therefore, they might think twice about hiring you.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

-- AVOID the "blanket" approach of applying to a significant number of agencies at one time! Don't follow the mistaken belief that applying to several departments will help guarantee you'll get hired by a department somewhere. This approach is simply not recommended!

-- I would HIGHLY recommend to you, (or anyone else for that matter), that you sit down and pick out say, for example, 3-5 departments maximum that you, really, REALLY want to work for and stick with those departments. You can apply and process with A FEW departments at the same time, and generally in most cases, that's not regarded to be a much of an issue. There is some expectation there will be competition with applicants.

-- I would find out what I can, (background stuff about the department) about the department(s) in question you're applying with. Consider finding out information about the size of the department, reputation, history, traditions, etc. Who's the Chief, the Mayor, etc.

-- Keep in mind that you can apply to a department, successfully PASS all testing of the hiring process and STILL not get hired! It is not uncommon for someone to apply more than once and completely process before getting hired! (Yes, it is possible to get hired after applying only once!)

Even though someone is not doing anything "wrong" with regards to this issue, (Applying & processing with a significant number of departments at the same time), it can cause you some problems. AND, it can get expensive especially when you may have to obtain copies of documents such as birth certificates, transcripts, etc. OR, if you have to stay at hotels or something like that!

And, keep in mind that departments can and often do talk to each other about applicants who have applied at both their department and others. i.e.: they compare notes about you!

Hope this helps!
--
Charlie

[j]

Wow, thanks for the advice. I guess thought about departments talking to each other, but didn't really think they would. Honestly, out of all the departments I have applied to, only one has asked me about the other departments that I have sent applications to, and I have an interview with that department coming up in 3 weeks. ;D

Another thing, I'm not applying at EVERY department in Wisconsin. That was my original plan, but there is just not enough time in a day to do that. All of the departments I have applied to are in towns that are close to home or that I have visited/vacationed in/have family in/ etc etc etc... or that I have researched either on the internet or in newspapers. So, my approach to applying isn't completely insincere, but I can see how departments will think that if they ever look into it.

Also, from what I have observed, I am not doing things completely differently than anyone else looking for a job in Wisconsin. Every test I go to has a large majority of the same people there taking the tests, and almost every time, you will hear that 'so and so' got hired here or there.
To me it seems like there are a million applicants and only a hundred job openings, so the competition is crazy, and they just slowly pick people from the pool of applicants they have here.

Do I make any sense? This is all just what it seems like here. I'm not claiming I know anything about what's going on, because I definitely don't. Let me know what you think!