Civil Service or Disservice?

[Jeff Clifton]

Afternoon,
I recently applied at my local police dept. for the second time and after making a good impression with the board the last interview and reentering college for my degree in CJ , volunteering at the same dept. and tons of other volunteer work I was denied even an interview based on "something" in my background that they reviewed one week before my interview time and threw me out. However I have never been arrested and never done drugs and the only thing a little shaky is my credit due to a failed business in the struggling economy. I have worked relentlessy for this city and the chief and all the officers in the dept. thought I was their up and coming golden boy. I came to find out that all applicants were denied an interview and they are in process to repeat the whole thing again. The ad for the three positions comes out tomorrow and I cannot believe it. Advice?

[Cpl Mike]

Sorry to hear the bad news-credit,unfortunately IS a major fctor.You tried to make your dream come true, but like most small business men-that business failed(90% of the small businesses that start,tend to fail by the end of their fiscal operating yr).My opinion-apply for at least 5 different area depts,take whatever letters of introduction you have from that agencies' officers or command staff that viewed you favorably, and apply that with applications to other depts.As far that credit issue-letter writing to your creditors may help(especially if ther are legit explanations and you tell them why you are writing),particularly if you've paid what you owed-their favorable responses go along way in the backgrounds phase.Almost all agencies will look at it as this-you took on the liability,you should have been "responsible enough to handle it".I'm not putting you down, but thats just the hard reality of it.Your experiences may make you the ideal candidate,based on having faced mature ,real life issues, but we are still in the era of the rampart scandal , and the idea of an officer getting fanancially "compromised" sends gov't officials running, and thrills the ACLU -types that swear up and down that all of us are currupt, and will take a bribe or steal to pay our bills.By all means reapply,but at least show where you have improved the issue(matbe in 6mos to 1yr)-be persistent(IT WILL PAY OFF)

[Cpl Mike]

Also ,Jeff- I may have "jumped the gun" on the credit issue, if indeed that was the reason for the rejection.Try to contact that agencies' background investigator(s) ask how you can better prepare yourself to apply or re-apply(maybe they can tell you what snagged you).Knowledge is power and if you know then it can't be a hinderance to you later.....

[Cpl Mike]

Also ,Jeff- I may have "jumped the gun" on the credit issue, if indeed that was the reason for the rejection.Try to contact that agencies' background investigator(s) ask how you can better prepare yourself to apply or re-apply(maybe they can tell you what snagged you).Knowledge is power and if you know then it can't be a hinderance to you later.....

[Jtclifton]

I appreciate the input. I understand the concern over the issue of credit, it was just a little startling to hear from the detective himself that everything looked good and I was recommended to the civil service board as "their guy". What's interesting is that every one of us in the applicant pool got bumped out and denied even an interview to defend any accusation of bad credit. I mean it's a little relative when you say "bad" credit and they certainly don't seem to be holding the feet of their present employees to the fire in terms of paying all of their bills. Anyway I'm still trucking and maybe something will turn up.--Jeff

[mikegee]

hey jeff,try to check out the larger area agencies also-they may not have the familiar comfort your used to,but they usually to pull you about the nose, so to speak