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I'm look for guidance on my path into law enforcement. I am 30 years old and just got a letter from a department stating my "application has reached a stage where i would not be hired as a trainee. " This particular department doesn't tell you why so i don't know if it's temporary or permanent. I'll outline my situation and application process and i appreciate any and all feedback. I will lay it out in the form of questions along with background info. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the "perfect" candidate.
On the application, it asks about what other departments have you applied to. What constitutes applying? Any department you've taken a written test for or the ones where you were called back and turned in background paperwork for consideration? I've taken a # of tests and heard back from some and not from others. I listed on my application the ones where i submitted paperwork following the advice of others. However, on a previous application, i believe i listed departments where i just took a test. Do agencies share info like this and have i made myself seem untruthful? One department gave me a polygraph after passing the written and agility but never had me submit an application with background info. Should that be listed? The result of that was rejection due to drug use. After reading up, it makes sense because i had smoked 1 year prior.
Also, on a previous application done years ago, i listed my drug use history. Marijuana only and a best guess for time and total use. The most recent application i also listed my marijuana history which was also my best guess for time and total use. Going back to what info agencies share, if there is a discrepancy between the two, how big of a red flag comes up. Not that i'm lying but just trying to be as truthful and accurate as possible. The discrepany isn't like 20 vs 5 but more like 4 vs 6. The dates should be close if not the same as the usage was on an out of country trip but the usage i'm taking a stab at. It was in 04 and 06. How can i reconcile that next time without appearing dishonest?
For motor vehicle history, i furnished my ny driver abstract. I've never had points but i have had a few convictions for offenses like expired inspection, expired registration, and license plate light out. By a few i mean 2 for the inspection, 1 for the registration, and 1 for the plate light. Never any tickets for speeding or what i would deem reckless. I did have a suspended license which was for an insurance lapse which was converted to restricted license for work and family transport in 2007. It was also suspended for 2 days in 2009 for paying the ticket 2 days after the due date. I was involved in 1 accident where i was rear ended by a drunk driver and i have the police report to support it.
Criminal history consists of 1 summons which was dismissed for disorderly conduct where i was given the summons for being in the street as opposed to the obstructed sidewalk. This was back in 04 i believe. I have a HS diploma but no college credits. I graduated a year after i was supposed to due to failing two required classes due to absences. My grades could have been much better but i was one that didn't do homework and would cut school. I had regents and AP classes because the teachers knew my potential, but i never performed to it. As for the skipping school, it wasn't to hang out. I had my first child at 16 and i used to cut school to visit my son and his mother in a different city. Im terms of post HS education, the only thing I've gotten was my NY state EMT license.
Being a young parent, I've been working since HS. I turned in 11 pages of employment history with the dates as accurate as possible as per my SS earnings report. I've been terminated from 4 jobs all before the age of 21. 1 job was for making personal phone calls from the job phone which resulted in a $60 phone bill which i paid. The next job was for not counting inventory as we were to do every night and the count being inaccurate the next day with items missing. The next 2 jobs were more performance related. I only collected unemployment for the last one and it was because the separation was mutual and the employer said they would not contest it. Since 21, I've almost always had a steady full time job even having 2 jobs most of the time as i had my second child at 19 and my 3rd at 24. I'm not married but they all have the same mother. We've just been an off and on HS sweetheart type of thing.
My credit is terrible. I attribute some of it to ignorance and irresponsibility. I also attribute some of it to hardships of life. I have a total of 7 collection/charge off accounts, 1 judgment, and no active tradelines. I've been trying to clean it up but it's not easy. My girlfriend/fiancé has been out of work for a few years now due to a back injury and subsequent spinal surgery so I'm the only income. I had 2 repossessions and i just finished paying off 1. I even submitted the satisfaction of judgment letter to show that i'm working on it. The total of all is approximately $20,000. I'm sure this looks very bad but the notion that i'm more likely to take a bribe is ridiculous. These accounts are past the point of worrying about due dates. I'm just trying to pay them as i can and i've been trying to avoid bankruptcy as I'm sure that's also frowned upon. My application had no place to list members of my home which would show that i'm supporting 5. They probably just see single as my marital status and assume i just don't care. My address history is long but only because i moved out at 19 with son and then pregnant girlfriend. Aside from having to move back to my parents a few times due to loss of income or relationship issues, I've never been evicted or had rental issues.
The steps i got to were, written test, physical agility, and written psych/turning in of documents. This place doesn't tell you what you go on your written test aside from you passed and what the next step is. Another department specifically told me i did very well on their test and that it could help me overcome other possible negative areas. I didn't get picked but i feel i was at least given more consideration. On the written psych i think i may have hurt myself. I over analyzed the questions but tried to remain as honest as possible. Example: i generally got good grades in school. T or F Now, i didn't know what to put. I did get good grades when i went and did the work but i didn't have transcripts to support that and i didn't want to seem like a liar trying to make myself look good. Also questions regarding social activities, i answered true to the questions about liking to go out and going to parties. What's so wrong with that? I would think having an outlet is good. It doesn't necessarily mean i go out drinking every night but i didn't want to make it seem like i was a homebody either. Couple that with the question about if my spouse says i don't spend enough time at home to which i answered true. I work almost 2 hours away from home so my work day is all day and she doesn't work. To her, not being home when I'm not working constitutes not spending enough time. Even if i want to go play basketball, not necessarily going to a party. I don't know if these things hurt me but i can see how it can be misinterpreted. With job related questions, they asked about sick time usage. Where i work now, vacation days and personal days are difficult to get especially last minute. Having 3 children and a fiancé who is disabled with a back injury, i sometimes have to call out sick to handle things or to just relax from the chaos. Therfore i answered true to that question.
The letter i got came very quick so i doubt they verified much. This leads me to believe something really stuck out. I'd like to think it's my credit because i know it's bad. I hoped though they'd at least give me an opportunity to explain things and verify my info. Between my most recent jobs and references, i hoped they would attest to my true character and job performance. Then if the credit was the main issue, i could be put at the back of the pile while i tried to rectify it. It that was the case, will just paying it off be good or do i need to re-establish myself with new positive tradelines and if so, for how long?
I know this is long and i thank you if you took the time to read it. My kids were excited as was i and this is very disappointing. At 30, I'm not old but i do question if i should continue to try. Having kids young hasn't allowed me to properly prepare for their future which i regret. This is why i want to establish myself in a career position ASAP. Given my overall info, what do you see as my things that can be worked on, have i done myself in with the possible application discrepancy, and should i just forget it and move on. I sometimes regret not doing this in my early 20's before i made certain mistakes. However, i think my life experiences and interaction with many different type of people and situations is something you can't put a price on or teach.
Thanks for your help
On the application, it asks about what other departments have you applied to. What constitutes applying? Any department you've taken a written test for or the ones where you were called back and turned in background paperwork for consideration? I've taken a # of tests and heard back from some and not from others. I listed on my application the ones where i submitted paperwork following the advice of others. However, on a previous application, i believe i listed departments where i just took a test. Do agencies share info like this and have i made myself seem untruthful? One department gave me a polygraph after passing the written and agility but never had me submit an application with background info. Should that be listed? The result of that was rejection due to drug use. After reading up, it makes sense because i had smoked 1 year prior.
Also, on a previous application done years ago, i listed my drug use history. Marijuana only and a best guess for time and total use. The most recent application i also listed my marijuana history which was also my best guess for time and total use. Going back to what info agencies share, if there is a discrepancy between the two, how big of a red flag comes up. Not that i'm lying but just trying to be as truthful and accurate as possible. The discrepany isn't like 20 vs 5 but more like 4 vs 6. The dates should be close if not the same as the usage was on an out of country trip but the usage i'm taking a stab at. It was in 04 and 06. How can i reconcile that next time without appearing dishonest?
For motor vehicle history, i furnished my ny driver abstract. I've never had points but i have had a few convictions for offenses like expired inspection, expired registration, and license plate light out. By a few i mean 2 for the inspection, 1 for the registration, and 1 for the plate light. Never any tickets for speeding or what i would deem reckless. I did have a suspended license which was for an insurance lapse which was converted to restricted license for work and family transport in 2007. It was also suspended for 2 days in 2009 for paying the ticket 2 days after the due date. I was involved in 1 accident where i was rear ended by a drunk driver and i have the police report to support it.
Criminal history consists of 1 summons which was dismissed for disorderly conduct where i was given the summons for being in the street as opposed to the obstructed sidewalk. This was back in 04 i believe. I have a HS diploma but no college credits. I graduated a year after i was supposed to due to failing two required classes due to absences. My grades could have been much better but i was one that didn't do homework and would cut school. I had regents and AP classes because the teachers knew my potential, but i never performed to it. As for the skipping school, it wasn't to hang out. I had my first child at 16 and i used to cut school to visit my son and his mother in a different city. Im terms of post HS education, the only thing I've gotten was my NY state EMT license.
Being a young parent, I've been working since HS. I turned in 11 pages of employment history with the dates as accurate as possible as per my SS earnings report. I've been terminated from 4 jobs all before the age of 21. 1 job was for making personal phone calls from the job phone which resulted in a $60 phone bill which i paid. The next job was for not counting inventory as we were to do every night and the count being inaccurate the next day with items missing. The next 2 jobs were more performance related. I only collected unemployment for the last one and it was because the separation was mutual and the employer said they would not contest it. Since 21, I've almost always had a steady full time job even having 2 jobs most of the time as i had my second child at 19 and my 3rd at 24. I'm not married but they all have the same mother. We've just been an off and on HS sweetheart type of thing.
My credit is terrible. I attribute some of it to ignorance and irresponsibility. I also attribute some of it to hardships of life. I have a total of 7 collection/charge off accounts, 1 judgment, and no active tradelines. I've been trying to clean it up but it's not easy. My girlfriend/fiancé has been out of work for a few years now due to a back injury and subsequent spinal surgery so I'm the only income. I had 2 repossessions and i just finished paying off 1. I even submitted the satisfaction of judgment letter to show that i'm working on it. The total of all is approximately $20,000. I'm sure this looks very bad but the notion that i'm more likely to take a bribe is ridiculous. These accounts are past the point of worrying about due dates. I'm just trying to pay them as i can and i've been trying to avoid bankruptcy as I'm sure that's also frowned upon. My application had no place to list members of my home which would show that i'm supporting 5. They probably just see single as my marital status and assume i just don't care. My address history is long but only because i moved out at 19 with son and then pregnant girlfriend. Aside from having to move back to my parents a few times due to loss of income or relationship issues, I've never been evicted or had rental issues.
The steps i got to were, written test, physical agility, and written psych/turning in of documents. This place doesn't tell you what you go on your written test aside from you passed and what the next step is. Another department specifically told me i did very well on their test and that it could help me overcome other possible negative areas. I didn't get picked but i feel i was at least given more consideration. On the written psych i think i may have hurt myself. I over analyzed the questions but tried to remain as honest as possible. Example: i generally got good grades in school. T or F Now, i didn't know what to put. I did get good grades when i went and did the work but i didn't have transcripts to support that and i didn't want to seem like a liar trying to make myself look good. Also questions regarding social activities, i answered true to the questions about liking to go out and going to parties. What's so wrong with that? I would think having an outlet is good. It doesn't necessarily mean i go out drinking every night but i didn't want to make it seem like i was a homebody either. Couple that with the question about if my spouse says i don't spend enough time at home to which i answered true. I work almost 2 hours away from home so my work day is all day and she doesn't work. To her, not being home when I'm not working constitutes not spending enough time. Even if i want to go play basketball, not necessarily going to a party. I don't know if these things hurt me but i can see how it can be misinterpreted. With job related questions, they asked about sick time usage. Where i work now, vacation days and personal days are difficult to get especially last minute. Having 3 children and a fiancé who is disabled with a back injury, i sometimes have to call out sick to handle things or to just relax from the chaos. Therfore i answered true to that question.
The letter i got came very quick so i doubt they verified much. This leads me to believe something really stuck out. I'd like to think it's my credit because i know it's bad. I hoped though they'd at least give me an opportunity to explain things and verify my info. Between my most recent jobs and references, i hoped they would attest to my true character and job performance. Then if the credit was the main issue, i could be put at the back of the pile while i tried to rectify it. It that was the case, will just paying it off be good or do i need to re-establish myself with new positive tradelines and if so, for how long?
I know this is long and i thank you if you took the time to read it. My kids were excited as was i and this is very disappointing. At 30, I'm not old but i do question if i should continue to try. Having kids young hasn't allowed me to properly prepare for their future which i regret. This is why i want to establish myself in a career position ASAP. Given my overall info, what do you see as my things that can be worked on, have i done myself in with the possible application discrepancy, and should i just forget it and move on. I sometimes regret not doing this in my early 20's before i made certain mistakes. However, i think my life experiences and interaction with many different type of people and situations is something you can't put a price on or teach.
Thanks for your help
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