Best Resume Building Jobs for LE

[soulhydration]

I want to get into law enforcement and I am currently working a degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science.

I understand that what police departments are looking for most of all maturity. However I have heard that it also important to have a job record. Currently I am working with an elderly man and this is great job. I am allowed to study most of the day and this has allowed me to greatly increase my grades. One of biggest reasons I like my job because I really enjoy helping people.

I am a little concerned that this job would see seen as a "wimp out” to Oral Board and/or police department. To be honest I enjoy this more than like a restaurant or a retail store, which are just about the options for college students in my city.

What sort of job would you guys/girls recommend as a resume builder or something that shows maturity/responsibility?

Any advise?

[kelly]

military experience is the best. Active duty is ideal but Reserves or National Guard will do. It shows your responsible, can work under stress (unless you join the airforce JOKE people no death threats) , lets them know where you've been for the past at least 4 years and you will get a lot of good work experience to add to your education. Plus you will get hiring preference and points added to your score.

[soulhydration]

I have looked into the Military as an option but I really want to finish college. With the Iraq thing I might be called up and I am getting married in the summer. Don't get me wrong I would love to serve my country but if I try to put off getting into LE and settling down any longer , my fiance would probally hurt me

[rdp]

To help your previous jobs, try volunteer work with a PD or look at internships as part of your degree.

The military is good, but it doesn't have the weight it used to have.

[kelly]

yeah definately im not saying don't finish college that's why I mentioned reserves I go to college as well and i have active duty and reserve experience now. It may not be a good as it used to be (whenever that was) but it's still your best bet for law enforcement. but internships and stuff like that will still put you above someone who doesn't have it.

[rent-a-cop]

There is one thing that looks GREAT on any resume, and if you notice, some LE apps. have a space just for it:

VOLUNTEER/UNPAID EXPERIENCE

Nothing shows maturity and a genuine desire to help people and the community than the willingness to perform work for nothing in return.In college, I was in a social fraternity, and I organized volunteer work such as serving meals to nursing home residents, adopt-a-highway,elementary school crossing guard duty,Salvation Army store clerk,.......also, you can give one day a week to be on call for your local volunteer EMS or Fire company,after you are properly trained. I am soon going to volunteer for my town EMS company, after I get EMT certified and my job situation settles down. Military looks good, but for me, I thought about it, but I'm 23....I'm sure it's a great experience,but I can't wait until I'm 27 to be discharged, and like was mentioned above, military experience isn't the "end all be all" of experience it used to be. I know plenty of guys who were in the Navy or Marines who wanted to be cops, and now they're flipping burgers or some ****.......it depends on the person , I guess.........I think more and more depts. are becoming more "community policing"oriented,and with the changing economic and social climate, people are switching careers in their late 20's and early 30's and looking for jobs in law enforcement.Instead of military experience,and CJ degrees, you'll find a few more cops out there with Masters in Education,Social Work,Psychology and other degrees. Gone are the days when most cops had a High School Diploma and 4 years in the Marines or Army. ........anyway, this is only my opinion, if you ask 20 more people,you'll probably get 20 different answers.

[danah]

if you get a degree while in the military then you are headed, in my opinion, in the best track for any job. for any job, military is good because of the commitment and toughness of training it shows you went through. it may even provide relevant training (computers, medical, ect). btw, im not or never was in the military. anyway, if you dont' want to take the military and/or college route then any good job will be good for a resume. police departments don't want the same type of people as officers, they want different backgrounds.

[K9 Police]

Military is not the best. Nothing is the best. It is based on much as who you are and your morals/values as the type of work and educational experience you have. Some departments prefer military, others perfer or warrant college education. Some don't care, some care about who you know.

When it comes down to it, do what you want to do. If that means college, tech school, military, etc. then do it. I never did military and I know that my non-sworn positions with PD's helped a lot.

K9