Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

So what's the best way to find out about police job openings? I myself have no experience and I don't know how to go about it. Do you even need experience?

So what's the best way to find out about police job openings? I myself have no experience and I don't know how to go about it. Do you even need experience?

I have found that going to the agencies web site that you are interested in and word of mouth the best way to do it. Posting on this site is also an excellent way to get information. I would suggest seeing what others are going through in the Backgrounds thread. In there, you have a better chance of catching someone that is actually on the job where you want to go.

As far as experience, it is helpful...but not required. Most departments are asking for at least some college, and degrees are preferred. You really have to ask yourself what you want to do with your career. Do you want to work for a city (big or small) or a county (sheriff's dept) or Highway Patrol (more military oriented). Research, research...RESEARCH. Do a ride-a-long and know what you are getting into before you sign on with a department. This is critical steps that will make the difference between being happy and not with work.

You don't want to spend all that time and effort training and getting hired to discover that you don't like a city/ region/ state.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

So what's the best way to find out about police job openings? I myself have no experience and I don't know how to go about it. Do you even need experience?

Have you tried looking in the paper in your town, or calling local police departments and asking?

And instead of just asking questions every few months when they occur to you, you could introduce yourself and stay a while. Look in the "New Member Introductions" area and start a thread with an intro...

-Citicop.

Some states have job postings on the criminal justice governing agency's webpage.

For instance, in Washington:

https://fortress.wa.gov/cjtc/www/employment/index.htm

If you can't find anything through the above listed ways, sometimes you can also call the equivalent of the Employment Security Commission (Unemployment Office) and ask if they have heard of any police openings, a lot of departments will list jobs with them as well.

Definitely try the actual agency sites first though.

My area newspaper stopped listing want ads and now their link goes straight to Monster Jobs... on which I have seen LE jobs.

Another good source, believe it or not, is Craigslist, but you have to be especially careful there of the "jive" ads that are actually fronts for college degrees, among other money grabs.