How many depts have you applied to before getting hired?

[Maxx102]

Hi all. Please forgive, but I need to vent and ask.

I was wondering how many different agencies you folks applied to before you were hired.

I have reached 30 depts that I applied and they are as follows.

30 total.

21 are Police Departments
7 are Sheriff Departments
2 are State Agencies.

Here is the breakdown.
For the Police Departments I am at below stages.
7 Depts. sent letters only after receiving my application. No test - no interview.
5 Depts. have yet to send me anything - either they haven't sent anything out or something got lost in the mail.
4 Depts. disqualified me after the 1st interview.
2 Depts. I will be testing for.
1 Dept. I was too sick to travel to take the test - (It was a 4 hour drive from the cities.)
1 Dept. I didn't make the cut for the test to continue and interview.
1 Dept. interviewed me - initially rejected - and then the chief called to ask if I was still interested. - I am still waiting to hear back on my background investigation.

For the Sheriff's Departments
Here is the breakdown
2 Depts. I passed the test but didn't make it past the 1st interview.
1 Dept. I didn't pass the test.
1 Dept. test was going on at the same time as a different agency.
1 Dept. I couldn't travel due to not being able to get the time off from work (again it was a 4 hour drive from the cities)
1 Dept. I missed the physical testing date.
1 Dept. sent a letter only after receiving my application. No test - no interview. (I applied twice for this agency - they posted an opening twice and I received the same rejection letter - except the date was differnent. Obviously they didn't even look at my app even though they said they would keep it on file for a year.)

For the State Agencies
Here is the breakdown.
One agency I messed up on the testing dates (me bad)
One agency I will be testing for in October.

Since I started applying in Febuary I have been keeping track of how far I progress in the application process.

Any thoughts/Advice????

[40cal]

I was very fortunate.

I applied at one major city and was hired

I applied at the MN SP and was hired

[Maxx102]

So the Minnesota State Patrol is the 2nd agency you've worked for?

[40cal]

Yup

Previously I worked for KCMO PD

[K9 Police]

Applied to one small city PD in WI, hired. Applied to one large city PD in MN, hired. For some its easier, others its harder. It was easier for me as I decided to leave MN to get my intial LE experience and then head on back to MN.

K9

[richx528]

I am going in to skills this fall, and I must say the one thing I am not looking forward to is competing for a job. There are SO many qualified people in MN looking for a job. Good luck maxx, hope you get hired.

[Maxx102]

My one wish is that I would like to hear something from the agency that is doing my background packet. Yea or Nea.

My wife is currently enrolled in school for L.E. and I think she is getting scared because of what I am going through.....she is applying to be a CSO and the last Dept. the Capt. called her and told her that she was one of the top 4 canidates out of 12-15.

And it is now 31 agencies......I mailed another app out today.

[Medici]

Minnesota is tough on the hiring.
These are the department I have applied for. Then suddenly the Police Gods from above selected me to work in thier city.

St. Francis Police
Sauk Rapids Police Department
Anoka County Sheriffs Department
Aitkin County Sheriffs Dept.
Willmar Police Department
Champlin Police Department
Wright County Sheriff
South Lake Minnetonka Police Department
Jordan Police Department
Woodbury Police Department
Golden Valley Police Department
Elk River Police Department
New Hope Police Department
Burnsville Police Department
Eagan Police Department
Anoka Police Department
Apple Valley Police Department
Maple Grove Police Department
Madison, Wisconsin Police Department
North Dakota State Patrol
Brainerd Police Department
Coon Rapids Police Department
Annandale Police Department
United States Border Patrol
Fargo, ND Police Department
West Fargo Police Department
Sartell Police Department
Blaine Police Department
Metropolitan Transit Police
Forest Lake Police
Plymouth Police
St. Cloud Police Department
Maplewood Police
St. Francis Police
Moorhead Police
Anoka County Sheriff
Minnesota State Patrol

[Hutch]

Applied in AZ (MCSO) = Hired.. Obviously.. They need all the COPS they can get.
Applied in WI = Hired.. Small town dept.

I haven't applied in MN yet... I am going to get my degree finished up this fall and maybe then throw some apps out at the agency's and fish for a position...

Seems that MN is a hard place to get a JOB... With 4 years experience or maybe more depending when I deciede to apply, I will stick out above the guys just out of CJ/LE school.

[Maxx102]

UGH!!!!!!

Well it was nothing but bad news today and I am a little upset. The two departments I was waiting to hear from I called to see what the status was and one lady at one of the departments told me that they had already interviewed - backgrounded - and offered a job to someone - meanwhile me and who knows how many other canidates didn't hear anything. The other department I called said I should receive a letter within 7 days - it arrived - rejection.

And the agency I had been waiting on for my background claimed that I "failed to include a signed authorization for financial data release and financial account information" Well I am going to be calling them and tell them that they are mistaken because I made two complete photo copies of my background packet - the finacial history is there and so is the signed authorization.

The closest I get to getting hired and I don't get it because of lost paper work that I KNOW that I submitted. UGH!!!!!!!

[squad51]

be very carefull here..you start making noise and no one will hire you. I got rejected from Brooklyn park cso right after I got of the miliatry because I did not understand and or my understanding of a question was different then theres and they said i lied when in my opinion I told the truth. Anyhow....I was going to call and make noise and was told to Sit down shut up and take it. Its good advice because you get backgrounded by another agnecy they are going to call and they are going to find out you make noise..and that is not a good thing...my opinion but I would tread lightly if you call at all.

[Maxx102]

So basically I should just shut up and not say anything even though I submitted it?

[40cal]

Well, look at it this way.
If they really wanted you wouldn't you think they would have called or something and told you that they did not have the signed form they are talking about?

[Maxx102]

I would think that they would have called just to double check make sure, but apparently not.

Has anyone else been rejected and have been able to go on with another dept?

I also want to appologize for what I believe was an outburst - but this was the closest I have been able to get to becoming an law enforcement officer and not to get it due to a paperwork snafu is rather iritating.

[squad51]

yeah me...I have been rejected by several agencies..and i am a federal cop....hmm I wonder what that says..LOL