OK, completely unjustified, but then again, That's sort of a de facto definition of "bitching", right?

Guys, I get it. Times are tight. Budgets are slashed. That's all well and good. But if you say you're hiring, and let me test, let me go through the whole process, and then at the last bit cut my happy ass out without telling me anything more than that I'm "not qualified" then all I have to say is


Well, all I have to say is, thank you very much sir, and I look forward to testing again for your department, because it seems to me to be the perfect blend of a great department with a good reputation for professionalism, good opportunities for professional development, great work environment, and a wonderful opportunity to work with the community to solve problems in a proactive manner.

I mean, I do want to end up getting hired sooner or later.

But seriously, this is like the fifth "thanks but get lost" letter in the last year. It's not like I'm a crappy candidate, no criminal record, bad references, or anything, but I guess just not quite good enough when there's a couple hundred guys lined up for each and every position.

Ugh. I wanna scream and break stuff.

On the other hand. I'm healthy. Getting my sack of blubber ass into shape to pass the PT testing has been a big help in that regard. I went from a tub of lard sitting in front of a desk twelve hours a day to being able to hit six miles in just barely over an hour last week. Situps are my bitch. I laugh in the face of pushups. So, I've got that going for me.

My family is healthy. (Good thing, since we've got no insurance!) I cringe when I read about those who get hit with health problems.

I still have a roof over my head, internet connection, a computer, a truck to drive (as long as I can scramble up the payments!) compared to large swaths of the world's population, I'm living like a king.

So I try to keep it in perspective.

But damn, I'm still feeling pretty sorry for myself!

F it, more JW red and a run in the AM.

BR

Stay focused man.


I just got another "Dear John" letter from a dept. I interviewed with last week. Again, i was down to the final four people and they chose the candidate with experience over the rookies.

It sucks, but keep on truckin'


On day, we will be the guys who are getting jobs over the other guys because we have experience. It's a buyers market right now for the depts because they have SO many applicants.

Kevin

You MIGHT want to read the very first post of this section.

Btw, you have a family that needs to you stay calm, cool and collected.

quote:

You MIGHT want to read the very first post of this section.

Upper row characters eliminated!

Sorry about that, but yeah it completely went over my head with the stress level today.

The worst part is not really my reaction, I can deal with "no thanks" but my wife's, she's really pulling for me and I think it hits her harder then me when I get these "get lost" letters.

Oh well, I'm sticking to my theory that eventually you've just gotta get some points for sheer "don't give up"!

Bill R

Keep applying. We need good people......

Perserverance pays. Have a good printer duplicate a hundred of your resumes. Keep a binder with every application you've ever filed in it, and write each one better than the last. Study the agencies you apply for. After a test or interview, takes some notes and give yourself an honest assessment. Look at agencies you may have never considered, but don't jump aty the first offer you get - it's a marriage, and working for a bad agency can effect both you and the agencies that mightconsider hiring you.

Don't focus on one agency and let it all ride on it. I've worked for some I'd never heard of before applying, but after checking them out decided it was worth a chance to to it I fit them and they fit me.

There are some cops that get hired right out of the gate at the first place they apply, but in my experience, they aren't the norm.

Think of it as unpaid "OJT" for all the times you will encounter the continual folks who try your patience when you are sworn, badged and doing the duty.

All the excuses, same old repeat dumbassery.
All those things that you will have need for extreme patience and tolerance when the natural thing one would do is thump a not on their noggin.

Unfortunate for all when a "poster boy" gets greased into the slot because he wow's everyone, just to turn out to be a bad apple.

It happens in all professions, but when it occurs in some occupations, it hurts far and wide.

Hang tough, as a civilian, I appreciate those who endure for the prize.

Now relax and have a good time with your family this weekend.

Stick w/ it!!! You will get it. I could not tell you how many letters I received before I got my job. It is a real kick when you are broke, right out of college you drive for hours, take time off work, pony up for a hotel and then get the boot. After making several trips to get that letter. This is also a bad time to try to get a job. Many many people want the few jobs out there. A couple years ago you could not get a few people trying for a lot of cop job openings. It will get better for you!!

Hang in there.
One thing - In Kentucky, you have to be hired by a department or office before you can attend the Kentucky Law Enforcement Basic Training. I know several people that have taken positions with smaller departments or offices just to be able to get into and complete the training. Once they've been certified they have an advantage over others when applying at the larger departments (which pay more and have better benefits)since the new department won't have to pay a newbie's salary and do without him for six months while he's in training and they also have some amount of on the street experience.
I'm not downing the small departments or offices, I work for a very small one and love it, it's just that the larger ones that pay more and have better benefits also have the largest number of applicants for any open positions.
If Law Enforcement is were you want to be, keep a stiff upper lip and keep trying, I wish you the best of luck.

Good advice all around. Just stick with it, and do your research on the dept you want to work for. I wish I had done some on my agency. If I had, I wouldn't have applied with them, as they do this for the wrong reason. Some things happen for a good reason.....

In my old agency, it was very common to not get hired the first time. If you want it, apply again.

What are your weaknesses? Do you have a degree? Are you prior military? Any reserve or other police experience? If you apply at an agency with a good reputation, pay and benefits, then you need to stand out from the pack. Assess your weaknesses and work to plus them up.

I come from an agency that at one time would have a 1,000 qualified applicants for a 50 - 80 man class. Keep trying!

Ken

What state are you in? Things vary state to state on hiring processes and POST training, but if you are in the west (CA, NV, AZ,ID) then they're all pretty much the same.

Are they telling you at all what you are deficient in? Have you asked them?

Have you looked at volunteering at all (like becoming a reserve)?

I know guys that it took four or five years of trying to get hired and then there are people that it took two months. There may be things you can do to make yourself a better canidate. Do you have any friends that are cops local to you that are helping you?

Hey Stylophiles, keep the faith alive brotha. I applied with a local dept in LV for a lateral postition back in early 06. After doing all the paperwork I had an oral board with the Chief and two captains. After being told I passed the interview and I was the kind of officer they wanted and I would be a credit to the department, I left with a pretty high expectation that I would be hired.

Well after about a week I got a letter saying basically the same thing they told you. Needless to say I was pretty bitter. About five months later the dept. I work for now picked me up, and its actually a much better place to work.

Morale of the story is keep your chin up, and theres many many good depts to work for.

Thanks all for the encouragement....

I test well, and usually do well on the oral boards. I end up with a high spot on the list and everything goes great from there. Do the background interview, do ride alongs with the departments, etc, etc. I keep hearing things like "you'll fit in great here", "you'll make a good cop", and I've been told that I ask the right questions and behave myself well. Makes me wonder what these guys see from their other riders....

Then I get a letter from the human resources department saying that they've determined that "I'm not a suitable candidate".

Now, If I were hearing this from someone else, I'd say that they're finding stuff in the background investigation. Since it's me though, I can say that there simply isn't anything to find! No arrests, no drugs, the only crimes minor theft when I was eighteen (22 years ago). Good credit score, great personal references, Good employment history 13 years with one company, then self employed (very solid references from companies world-wide for whom I've done work).

No, I do not have a degree, and I know that's not a good sign, but on the other hand, I've never yet had anyone able to figure that out from meeting me. In fact, I usually get a lot of surprise that I don't have at least a four year degree. I know that's not the same as having the piece of paper, but I do come across as very well educated, well spoken, etc. I dress sharp for every encounter with personnel from the department, never less than a jacket and slacks, and for anything that will involve a sit down chat, it's suit and tie (shoes polished!)

I'm not quitting though. I figure I can keep applying just as long as they keep shooting me down. They're going to get very tired of seeing me showing up at their oral boards...

As my dad (USMC) would say, "Hell, if it was easy, any asshole could do it"

Bill R

could it be an age thing? I know that where I grew up 35 was the cut off for new hires with no active military background.

Could be age I guess... Although I keep hearing that my age is actually a benefit, more life experience, maturity, etc, etc.

I know they've got to be careful about not doing or saying anything that might get them sued, but I really wish they could be a bit more forthcoming about why they turn you down.

On the other hand, got a letter today I've got another oral board scheduled for early December.

Bill R

I know a lot of the departments around here require a degree.

are they letters from both police deparments and sheriff's departments?

which part of the country on you applying in?

usually " not qualified " refers to not meeting some requirement in the job anouncement as opposed to " not best/most qualified " which refers to a better canidate or "not suited", "not best suited", or "not suitable" which refers to a background issue

if several departments are sending the same message, i think it's time to take a very frank self-evaluation and try to figure out what they are all seeing that isn't apparent during ride-alongs and personal contacts

To get all philosophical about it, you had an experience, now it is up to you to make it a good one or a bad one. Look how far you got in the process. Try and find out what stopped you and work on overcoming whatever. DON'T QUIT NOW. I have rarely seen someone get that close and not eventually succeed unless they gave up.

quote:

usually " not qualified " refers to not meeting some requirement in the job anouncement as opposed to " not best/most qualified " which refers to a better canidate or "not suited", "not best suited", or "not suitable" which refers to a background issue

if several departments are sending the same message, i think it's time to take a very frank self-evaluation and try to figure out what they are all seeing that isn't apparent during ride-alongs and personal contacts

I'm getting "not suited", "not best suited", and "not suitable".... I'd agree that it would seem to be background related, but I really can't come up with anything that sounds like a good reason.

For perspective, I was hired, ten years ago by a local large department. Failed the entry PT test for the academy and was asked to resign. (But the hiring officer said I needed to retest as I was a good candidate) Right after that, my then wife left, and I started on being a single parent. Made the call to hold on changing careers to law enforcement and stick with my previous job, which offered steady schedules, 9-5 style. Fast forward to last year, daughter is older, I'm married, it looked like I was cleared to go back to my original career dream and I started testing.

So, I've passed all the hoops ten years ago, and been if anything even MORE blameless since then as far as anything in a background investigation would look for.

Also, I have made it through all the hoops with a small department locally, and I'm #1 on their list.... Only problem is, it doesn't look like they're going to have the budget to add an officer anytime soon....

I was wondering if the larger departments, (with a lot of applicants right now) might not use the background as a stage where they can cherrypick applicants regardless of their numerical place on the list? Maybe I'm #5, for ten openings, but there's a guy at #11 who's just as "good" a candidate as I am, but he's also got a four year degree and speaks Spanish. Now, neither of those things are a "requirement" for the department, and they don't help your numerical score, but I guess I wouldn't blame them for using this as a chance to say, "#5 you're out", #11 welcome to the party".

Heck I don't know. I'm looking into trying to get into some kind of program to get at least a two year degree, maybe pick up a second language. Oh yeah, and practice for the upcoming oral board.

And maybe cross fingers for a surprise budget surplus at that small town!

Bill R