Having second thoughts..

[Gil]

I have my oral board interview at the end of this month with a county that is one of my first choices. Problem is, I am starting to have second thoughts about going into LE. Mainly, the fact that I could miss holidays, my sons birthday and other family events, compared to other jobs where they are closed on holidays.. The only other profession I would consider is being a teacher, but that doesnt excite me like police work.

I am stuck in a bind, I dont want to drop out of the application process and the regret it, but I hate to continue it, if I am not 100% sure..

This is the only thing that is making me have second thoughts... Any suggestions or ideas??

Thanks

There are many sacrifices that come with being an LEO, and working holidays/weekends/birthdays are a few of them. If you are unwilling to miss these days, then this is not the career for you. Furthermore, don't continue the process if you are not 100% certain. You are only wasting the department's time and your own. If you are not 100% certain about anything, do not pursue it. Just my thoughts. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[469881Q]

Do you realize just how few the 9-5 monday thru friday jobs are?

I am curious as well to see exactly what the "average" recruits hours would consist of (and I know all Departments are different). Or for that matter, what the hours of established officers whom are posting in this thread are. Maybe the shifts/hours won't be that bad for FutureLE. I work 55 hours per week in the business world with no OT so I don't see how LE hours can be worse. Yes it sucks to miss time with my baby and wife but I get to do so on the weekends. And in LE if you have to work the weekends, than I would spend time with them on any other day of the week I had off.

Also FutureLE, as a father of a baby I sympathize with you. But I think you'd be hard pressed in today's economy to find very many rewarding and decent paying jobs in which your schedule would be accommodating (except a teacher of course but that's not high paying).

Follow your dreams FutureLE, everything else will fall into place.

[pumpkin]

How about apperance ? Are you overweight, or small ?
Many things combine to get you cut out of the hiring process...

What does small have to do with not being hired? And what is considered small? Thin? Short?

[FutureLE]

Does anyone think that going 0/6 is unusual if there are skeletons in the closet? Not talking about anyone in particular but Im saying that teenage drugs, minor arrests etc.. etc.. might make 0/6 not that surprising.

Why are these people posting about their cases in my thread?? Just curious as to why you guys are starting your own?

[IGrokIt]

Does anyone think that going 0/6 is unusual if there are skeletons in the closet? Not talking about anyone in particular but Im saying that teenage drugs, minor arrests etc.. etc.. might make 0/6 not that surprising.

[kingsman]

Do you realize just how few the 9-5 monday thru friday jobs are? I have never held one, ever in 32 years. If you are a lawyer, or a doctor, or another professional that works for yourself, that may be a possibilty, but if you work for any corporation, the odds are against you.

So I see Law Enforcement no different than any other job. Hard work and long hours, but punctuated with sheer terror and comic opera of humanity you interact with. Plus you get to work with a lot of good people.

[FutureLE]

Thanks, I appreciate the very helpful reply. I too disagree with Bodie, I thought having a passion or excitement for LE was a good thing.. Anyway, I think I am going to keep going for it and if it works out, then worst case I wont like it and I can move on. I may find that I am able to see my family and enjoy my work. But as you said, I will never know till I try it.

Thanks again for the encouragement

FutureLE,

As a 20 yr veteran and still on the job, and as a former Police Recruiter, I suggest you go for it. That is the only way you will know for sure if LE is for you. I commend you for expressing your doubts, which are normal when making a radical life change like becoming a Police Officer.

I disagree with Bodie and feel that you MUST be excited about the job when you start!!!!!!!!! Most cops are at the job because they LIKE the work and are pumped by the action. This is very important for a new Officer because there is damn sure little else attractive about the job (stress, pay, shift work, administration, etc.)

It's not until you get about 10 yrs on that the action gets a little old, and your main goal is making it to retirement (which is pretty good compared to private industry) By the time you get 20 yrs under your belt you are sick and tired of LE and just want to get out of the chaos. I retired at 20 and left for about a year and got back into LE because I realized that I missed the job itself- the act of doing a noble job that helps other people. It gives my life meaning to be a cop, and you will know if the job is right for you almost immiedietly. You will know for sure then.

Go for It!! Just my .02

DeltaCop

[DeltaCop]

FutureLE,

As a 20 yr veteran and still on the job, and as a former Police Recruiter, I suggest you go for it. That is the only way you will know for sure if LE is for you. I commend you for expressing your doubts, which are normal when making a radical life change like becoming a Police Officer.

I disagree with Bodie and feel that you MUST be excited about the job when you start!!!!!!!!! Most cops are at the job because they LIKE the work and are pumped by the action. This is very important for a new Officer because there is damn sure little else attractive about the job (stress, pay, shift work, administration, etc.)

It's not until you get about 10 yrs on that the action gets a little old, and your main goal is making it to retirement (which is pretty good compared to private industry) By the time you get 20 yrs under your belt you are sick and tired of LE and just want to get out of the chaos. I retired at 20 and left for about a year and got back into LE because I realized that I missed the job itself- the act of doing a noble job that helps other people. It gives my life meaning to be a cop, and you will know if the job is right for you almost immiedietly. You will know for sure then.

Go for It!! Just my .02

DeltaCop

[FutureLE]

Thanks for the advice. It definetly has been weighing on my conscience lately..Family or what I really want to do career wise-- Guess I need to decide soon.. Thanks for the replies

FutureLE,

I went to a residential academy where we left Sunday afternoon(between 2-5:00PM) for the academy and we got home between 9:00PM and 10:00PM Friday night. (Those who lived in Buffalo often got home early hours of Saturday)

All those people on the fence concerned about missing their family and family occasions quit the academy at some stage or another. One of the guys I car pooled with quit after 6 weeks because his kids and wife cried every week he left and this guy spent7 yrs in the military including tours in Bosnia and Afganistan!?!?

Now that I have just started the job I noticed my 12 hour days are closer to 14hours away from my family. I have no regrets because they annoy me most of the time, but that is just me!

Anyway, whatever decision you make good luck, but if you chose LE expect to be away from your family.. Don't be a long haul trucker or join the military either...

[chktovegas]

I used to think the same way. I originally wanted to work in the 9-5 business world. I look at it as job security. With all the downsizing and bankruptcies in the private sector (which I experienced first hand) I just happy to have steady employment. I may not have a 9-5, Mon-Fri job with weekends and holidays off but I'm alot happier. With all the BS I put up with regarding poor schedules and other dangers, I feel I am compensated with Off-Time and other little perks..

[wannabeenytrp]

FutureLE,

I went to a residential academy where we left Sunday afternoon(between 2-5:00PM) for the academy and we got home between 9:00PM and 10:00PM Friday night. (Those who lived in Buffalo often got home early hours of Saturday)

All those people on the fence concerned about missing their family and family occasions quit the academy at some stage or another. One of the guys I car pooled with quit after 6 weeks because his kids and wife cried every week he left and this guy spent7 yrs in the military including tours in Bosnia and Afganistan!?!?

Now that I have just started the job I noticed my 12 hour days are closer to 14hours away from my family. I have no regrets because they annoy me most of the time, but that is just me!

Anyway, whatever decision you make good luck, but if you chose LE expect to be away from your family.. Don't be a long haul trucker or join the military either...

[Bodie]

If you after 3 attempts are not getting a full time leo position then the problems does definately lie within. So a mirror will be your best tool to help get you hired. Nothing else can help.

[towncop]

well i got another letter stating i would not be moving on to the background process.. i live in Indiana, im ilea certified reserve for large dept in indiana. completed 470 hr training academy just to be a reserve. im 25..possess a a.s. degree in law enforcement and have been a reserve for about 3years.. i am currently 0/6 when it comes to trying to get on somewhere full time. this latest i scored 94 on the written. did the interview. they stated they would combine the written and oral scores and top ten move on..interview was ok but i did not think it was that bad. im not big into bragging about myself when it comes to the interviews. my dream since i was young was to be a police officer, yet it seems someone up above has other ideas...is this even worth it to keep being let down...ive got a interview tomorrow, and another on monday but starting to think what in the hells the point.....should i start looking for another profession???

Here we go again Nadster.....

Maybe you come across as too cocky for the interviews you have been unsuccessful on. Maybe it's your demeanor. I mean if the department you are a reserve for won't even give you a full time shot, you're not doing something right. Take an interview class or a public speaking class. I'm curious now as to what the other department's are that didn't hire you, aside from Ft. Wayne. Care to give that info?

[FutureLE]

Okay WTF?? Yes the idea of doing police work "excites" me.. Maybe you dont understand what I mean by that.. I mean its my passion and something I look at and say I would love to do that.. So yes it excites me.. Sorry if you dont get it.. I think your overreacting just a tad..

BTW--I know what police work involves, My grandfather was a PO. LIke I stated before.. I was only having second thoughts in the fact that I could miss holidays, birthdays, etc.. and I was just looking for some people who dealt with the same feelings

You sound like you hate your job..listing all the negatives, maybe you should think of another profession

Thanks for the helpful responses..

Excites You ???
That is the worst excuse I have heard in 25 years for wanting to be a police officer.
You will miss almost all holidays, work weekends, nights and even third shift.
You will mis 95% of your childs life. You will be out in all kinds of bad weather and you will come in contact with some very ill people that could make you sick or you could carry home to your family.

Still Excited ?????

You could get seriously hurt or killed and your attitude and temerment will change and your family will seem dstant from you. Many of your current friends will no longer be around.

You have given one of the worst reason sto be a cop. Go be a teacher and be home evenings and weekends and have the summer off. And retire
healthy.

Still interested in being a cop because it excites you ?
Become a sepecial deputy and put in 16 hours a month that should be enough excitement for you.

My dad missed a lot of our lives as we grew up. I missed a lot of my child's life almost the entire first 8 years and that is precious time I can't get back.

[jnojr]

well i got another letter stating i would not be moving on to the background process.. i am currently 0/6 when it comes to trying to get on somewhere full time. this latest i scored 94 on the written. did the interview. they stated they would combine the written and oral scores and top ten move on..interview was ok but i did not think it was that bad. im not big into bragging about myself when it comes to the interviews.

If you're serious about getting into LE, you need to fix the interview problems. Get a video camera and have a friend interview you. tape yourself, and watch it. It'll probably be tough, but things you never knew you were doing / not doing will glare like a supernova

You might also benefit from something like Toastmasters or some sort of speech class that requires participation in front of an audience. When I've had positions where I've interviewed people, what usually kills them isn't lack of knowledge, it's how the present themselves... someone who slouches, mumbles, keeps waving their hands around, avoids eye contact, sits like a robot, etc. is going to leave a poor impression. If you come across as very put-together, personable, professional, etc. then one or two "bad answers" doesn't weigh nearly as much.

Remember, a lot of LE is dealing with people. And usually in stressful situations. If you fall apart in an interview, how well are you going to do when surrounded by angry, drunk, methed-out bikers?