Article

Preparing for a Career in Law Enforcement

Law enforcement agencies are actively looking for qualified candidates for peace officer and correctional officer positions. Many people who are thinking about a career in law enforcement are under the impression that in order to be an attractive candidate they must have completed criminal justice classes, served in the military, worked as a security officer, or be a certain height, weight, sex, or age. Fortunately, agencies are casting a much wider net as they search for new officers.

While agencies do not use a specific profile to recruit and hire officers, there are several skills and characteristics that you can acquire or improve to give you a competitive advantage during the hiring process and increase your chances of being a successful officer. Consider what you can do in the following areas to prepare yourself for your new career.

Education: The majority of agencies require candidates to possess a US high school diploma or satisfactory GED scores as the minimum requirements. Most candidates, however, have completed between 30 and 60 units of college coursework and many have an AA or BA college degree. If you are considering supplementing your education you should consider enrolling in classes at your community college. The most relevant courses are writing, critical thinking, sociology, psychology, political science, public speaking and foreign language. Criminal justice classes are helpful but they are not a substitute for the broad based education you will need to effectively serve a diverse community. If you follow the general education pattern toward an associate degree you will not only increase the chances of being hired, you will increase your chances of successfully completing the academy, field-training program, and deliver better service to the public.

Communication Skills: Officers spend enormous amounts of time speaking with people, writing reports, and testifying in court. You have to develop skills that will allow you to confidently and effectively communicate within a variety of settings and there are many ways to enhance your skills in this area. Start to consciously monitor your own communication style to see what you might be doing that detracts from your ability to listen effectively or speak in a way that gets your message across clearly. Go to your local bookstore or library to get a book on communication styles, body language, and assertion skills. Talk to someone you know who has experience in sales. Salespersons are among the best communicators and persuaders. Start learning or at least familiarizing yourself with a language other than English; there is a great need in California for Spanish speakers in particular.

Physical Fitness: Although you don’t have to be an Olympian athlete, the demands of the job require you to be confident in your ability to project physical force when necessary. You should have a daily exercise routine that builds and maintains your strength, endurance, and flexibility. A good routine will alternate between aerobic conditioning (running, cycling, swimming) resistance training (weights or calisthenics), and stretching. Proper nutrition and adequate rest will ensure sustained energy levels and body weight. If you smoke, quit. It is also important to moderate your alcohol consumption as too much drinking can lead to both health and social problems.

Employment History: There are some aspects of military service and security work that could help you develop job relevant skills but in today’s job market there are other options too. One of the most important things in building your employment history is to simply be a good employee at whatever job you have. Agencies will be conducting reference checks with all recent employers and will be looking for basic habits such as punctuality, dependability, cooperativeness, attitude, leadership, flexibility, and the ability to work with the public, coworkers, and supervisors. Many candidates are surprised to find that they were not selected because they had basic problems with previous employers in jobs the candidates considered irrelevant or even menial. Every job you have is important as you build your employment history.

Driving History: Officers spend a great deal of time in a car, frequently drive under stress conditions, and have to do several things at once including radio communications, operation of emergency equipment, locating addresses or landmarks, observation of conditions and circumstances, and mental preparation for the service call. That list doesn’t even include using cell phones, computers, and map books. In other words, if you are not a good driver now, all of the extra details could make you a dangerous driver. One of the way agencies evaluate your ability to drive is to look at your driving history including moving violations and accidents, length of driving experience, and whether or not you have been exposed to driving in adverse or unusual conditions. It is critical that you develop safe driving habits and eliminate habits that could cause you to get tickets or cause an accident. If you are hired you will be trained how to operate a vehicle under emergency conditions but those skills will be dependent on your basic driving skills. Buckle up!

Credit History: Candidates sometimes don’t realize that their credit and financial history could have anything to do with getting a job in law enforcement. If you think about it, your credit history says a lot about your reliability and maturity. When you buy something on credit you promise to pay; if you don’t you broke your promise. It’s also an indicator of your ability to control your spending habits and balance your wants and needs. Most agencies are looking for 2 to 3 years of excellent consumer credit history, although exceptions are frequently made for disputed medical claims. Be certain to pay your bills on time and contact creditors to negotiate a plan before you are referred to collections. Be sure to file your income taxes and stay current on any court ordered payments such as child or spousal support. Don’t forget to pay your student loans back.

Residency: During the background investigation your past and present landlords and neighbors will be contacted. Agencies will ask landlords if you violated tenancy contracts, left the house or apartment in poor condition, gave proper notice on leaving, and paid on time. Neighbors will be asked if there were any disturbances or disruptive behavior or disreputable persons visiting the home. Remember, a law enforcement officer represents an institution that depends on the public’s trust; therefore, agencies are looking at the whole person when selecting a candidate. Establish a good business relationship with your landlord and be considerate of your neighbor’s peace and privacy.

Officers are held to high standards by their department, the public, and the justice system. Sometimes candidates are well qualified but they have issues in their background that might cause a disqualification: recent drug use, an adult criminal conviction, domestic violence, failure to register for selective service (males only), or concerns about credibility. An informed candidate will obtain information on both the qualification and disqualification standards of departments they are considering.