Input Needed: Reserve Hiring Process

[Greaser]

I have been applying as a reserve officer with several different departments in my area. Since the academy starts in just two months I am starting to get antsy since I really what to go. I don't want to complain but I am get really frustrated with the communication coming from these departments. Here is what is going on with each department. Please keep in mind none are doing written tests.

1) Department One - Turned in Background first about 3 months ago. I heard nothing from the department since the new Sergeant took over. All of a sudden last night I get a letter saying orals will be next week. They are my third choice since they are the furthest away. They are a very busy department with tons of crime. They are actually featured on COPS all the time. Since this is my first time trying to become a reserve I am not 100% sure I want to work with such a busy department. When I first applied I didn’t realize how busy they actually where.

2) Department Two - Turned in Background about 1 month ago and since then have heard nothing back. None of my references, neighbors, employers have been contacted to my knowledge.

3) Department Three - Turned in Application. The called and said I was going to go straight to the Chief's interview then to the Background, Poly, Pysch etc. They indicated the chief would want to meet with me the following week (two weeks ago) and the Reserve Co-Coordinator said he would call on Monday to schedule. A week later I had not heard from him so I called and left a message. That was a week ago.

Department Three is who I really want to go with. They are a very small department but the constantly backup a neighboring department. So they stay fairly busy but there is also a lot of down time where you need to be proactive. I think this would be the best fit for me.

I understand these things take time and BI's take a lot of time.

I don't want to come of like I am bugging them but I don't want to sit around and do nothing either especially since the academy is coming up and they are few and far between now days. None of them have really set my expectations on the process.

Do you think it is cool to do follow up calls? I already called Department 3 once. But I don’t come off like I am being pushy. If I can get on with Department 3 I withdrawal from Department 1 as not to waste their time.

Do other people going through this dilemma?

[fenderbender]

Greaser, you may as well get used to the waiting. I have been waiting since Feb. 2004. I may actually get hired on in 2 months as a reserve and from there get hired on permanently (in about another year).

I would follow-up with the depts. where you applied. I dropped off my first App and it was lost. After 3 weeks of sweating about getting the call, I called and they lost the app. So I resubmitted. I would not call too often, but just ask your point of contact when you should hear something and call back a week later or so if you don't.

Good luck and be prepared to hurry up and wait. The waiting is not too bad once you know it is part of the process.

[Greaser]

[QUOTE=fenderbender]just ask your point of contact when you should hear something and call back a week later or so if you don't.
[QUOTE]

That is what I have been doing with Department 3. That is why I am feeling a little frustrated. I would call... it would take him a week to get back to me... tell me he would call at a specific time... then I would not hear back and a week later I would call he.

I too have applied at a department and they lost my app.

[HR_RIM]

If you expect the LE hiring process to be expeditious (full time or reserver), then you are sadly mistaken. It's not uncommon to not hear anything for months and months and months (or even longer), just to get the process going. Be patient.

[fenderbender]

I feel your pain brother. I think (and from talking to others) it is the nature of the beast. I have been in contact with the my liason via email and that seems to work well for both of us. I don't know how that would be viewed by other dept's prfessionally speaking but it worked for me.

Also (this is me talking from my head, not from knowledge) I think that part of the waiting is intentional to see how serious you really are. I interviewed for a paid position and they hired another LEO laterally. I am eligible for other positions that may come open but they are pushing me towards the reserves. If I have to work for free, they will know that it is something I am serious about.

Don't know how old you are, but if you are younger there is truth in the adage "Patience is a virtue". I doubt you will make it as a LEO without it. ;)

[Greaser]

I guess my two "issues" are really this.

With the academy starting in two months I want to make sure I get in. If I fail with one department I want to be able to apply with someone else. But at the same time I don't want to be applying to every department in town either and have 15 applications our there.

I was really patient 3-6 months ago. But we are now getting down to the wire. That is truely what is getting me antsy. I don't want to wait another year for the next academy.

[fenderbender]

Unless you are paying for the academy yourself, you may still not be hired on to any department before it starts. Is this academy for reserve officers and can you get in that way? I would take the reserve route if that is what you are saying.

[Greaser]

"Also (this is me talking from my head, not from knowledge) I think that part of the waiting is intentional to see how serious you really are. I interviewed for a paid position and they hired another LEO laterally. I am eligible for other positions that may come open but they are pushing me towards the reserves. If I have to work for free, they will know that it is something I am serious about.

Don't know how old you are, but if you are younger there is truth in the adage "Patience is a virtue". I doubt you will make it as a LEO without it. "

I am 32. I have wanted to do this all my life. Though in my 20's I didn't feel I was ready mentally for such a job. So I have been “patiently” waiting for over a decade. 

The whole "they want to see how serious your" thing doesn't fly well with me. ( I have heard that a bunch of times before ) I think there are a lot of ways to figure out how serious someone is. By me willing to spend $3000 for the academy and all my equipment shows that I am serious If people feel like they are being put on the back burner they will just go other places. That is what kills me. A lot of departments out here are begging for officers but I have known a several people who went to other departments since their first choice wasn't keeping in communication with the applicants.

I hope I am not coming off like I am being an A**Hole.

[fenderbender]

If people feel like they are being put on the back burner they will just go other places. That is what kills me. A lot of departments out here are begging for officers but I have known a several people who went to other departments since their first choice wasn't keeping in communication with the applicants.

Well this does seem to happen frequently. A few of my friends actually quit pursuing LE because of this. I don't know what the answer is as I am not in the know. I do know that anyone applying is at the mercy of the system. I know that may not be the answer you are looking for, but (to me) if you really want to be a LEO, you may have to go through some hoops. It gets discouraging sometimes but in the end if you are hired, did you not receive your desired result? That is why I come here. There are plenty of others in the same boat as I, sitting still with no wind.

[Greaser]

Well... I suppose I will give my top department a call today.

Maybe there is a BI investigator / Reserve Coordinator out there that can shed some light on this and answer the question as to why deapartments don't maintain communication through the process or at least set the expectation of the applicant at the beginning of the process so we understand what is going on. I understand there can be this disconnect for large departments like NYPD or LAPD but smaller departments with only 2 or 3 applicants like the departments I have applied to and one department I am the only applicant it seems like they would want to keep there applicants informed so they don't stray.