What credentials will make me a better candidate?

[rohardi]

I was just wondering what credentials and qualifications will make me a better candidate for a police department. There are the obvious, things like school and military look great, but what other little resume builders should I be thinking about? I'm a NRA pistol instructor, going to be working on my dive master qual soon and will look for a department to do an internship or volunteer with. But what else can I do to make my self more marketable to a potential department? How do things like EMT look?

[Roger Dat]

I know of one department in my state that sends all their officers to school to be trained EMT's My department has one for SWAT other then that alot of agencies dony want you playing EMT. You will most likely get some sort of basic support or first responder class. That will be sufficient.

[DeltaV]

Other than college or the military, learning a second language is probably the most beneficial qualification to have.

Things like scuba certifications and being an NRA instructor don't mean anything. Our dive unit actually doesn't like prospective divers to have higher than a rescue certification, as most public safety diving is technical in nature and the procedures and training are totally different from normal recreational standards. Your state law enforcement regulating board will also have its own instructor certifications, so being an NRA instructor does not qualify you to be a LE firearms instructor in most states.

As to the EMT thing, it wouldn't hurt but it also wouldn't help much either. Once you get your initial certification you must renew it every two years. NREMT and most state boards require that you be working the the EMS/healthcare field in order to renew your certification. LE doesn't count. I was unable to renew my EMT certification after it lapsed because I'm no longer working in the field. The medics on our SWAT team are all trained tactical paramedics from the fire department who are commissioned as reserve police officers and train with the SWAT team. We don't have regular cops doing stuff like that, as they aren't out there practicing their skills like the fire guys are.

A pilot's license can also help if you go to an agency with an air unit, however most use helicopters and getting a commercial helicopter license will probably cost you upwards of $10K.

[rohardi]

has any one here used any thing like roseta stone to pick up a second language like spanish? What's the quickest way to become proficient in a second language?

Any other ideas on things I can do to make myself more appealing?

[Norm357]

From reading threads in AAC, it seem like you need multiple arrests for drug usage and prostitution.


ETA:

You have to boink a dog too. Forgot about that one.

[rohardi]

From reading threads in AAC, it seem like you need multiple arrests for drug usage and prostitution.


ETA:

You have to boink a dog too. Forgot about that one.

???

[noelchabanel]

From reading threads in AAC, it seem like you need multiple arrests for drug usage and prostitution.


ETA:

You have to boink a dog too. Forgot about that one.

???

Trust me, if you read up to figure out what Norm is talking about, you will wish you had amnesia...I know I do :eek:.

[BaseballFan]

has any one here used any thing like roseta stone to pick up a second language like spanish? What's the quickest way to become proficient in a second language?

Any other ideas on things I can do to make myself more appealing?

Rosetta Stone is supposed to be the best among learning new language tools. It's expensive though and I'm sure acquiring a pirated version/theft would not go over well.

[Roger Dat]

If your still in school take the classes through the colleg much cheaper.

[BaseballFan]

If your still in school take the classes through the colleg much cheaper.

This I disagree with. By the time you take 3 levels of Spanish to develop the ability to use it in a conversational manner, you will have spent tuition on 3 classes and purchased books for each of those classes which will consume about a year's worth of time.

It's up to that individual person as far as whether or not going to school or using the software will help them learn Spanish better.

I've never used Rosetta Stone, but have only heard good things about it.

[DeltaV]

This I disagree with. By the time you take 3 levels of Spanish to develop the ability to use it in a conversational manner, you will have spent tuition on 3 classes and purchased books for each of those classes which will consume about a year's worth of time.

How do you figure? You'll be taking other classes if you aren't taking the language classes, so why not take them? Most universities require at least a year of a foreign language and all degree programs give you tons of elective hours, so it's not like you're going to be spending extra money or extending your time in college if you're already there.

[BaseballFan]

How do you figure? You'll be taking other classes if you aren't taking the language classes, so why not take them? Most universities require at least a year of a foreign language and all degree programs give you tons of elective hours, so it's not like you're going to be spending extra money or extending your time in college if you're already there.

It all depends on your situation. If you're in school & have general electives that need to be filled, by all means, take Spanish.

In regards to the author of the thread, it appears that he/she isn't enrolled in college and between college or learning Spanish via booklets, it would be quicker and cheaper for them to learn it without going to school.

[LidaRose]

has any one here used any thing like roseta stone to pick up a second language like spanish? What's the quickest way to become proficient in a second language?

Any other ideas on things I can do to make myself more appealing?

Rosetta Stone is only useful if you're willing to commit to learning. That means working on the language every day & trying out new sounds. Having taken Spanish lessons since I was 12, I can tell you that dedicating yourself to the language is so important. Also, you cannot learn a language without learning about the cultures of the ppl who speak it. I have traveled to Spain & interacted with dozens of Hispanic ppl in the United States. Practice really does make perfect!

[noelchabanel]

My college requires a language, and part of that includes sitting at the coffee shop and chatting with a native speaker for an hour...well, except for Latin, they don't dig any actual native speakers up ;) You really can't use a language if you can't actually speak and understand it with actual people who actually use it daily.

[rohardi]

For my associates I'll need a 3 credit class in a language. Obviously this will be Spanish. I'm also looking to find a way to be proficient/fluent in Spanish and taking Spanish 1,2,3 ect. may not be the quickest way to do this. That’s why I'm looking in to other options. I’m just trying to figure out what's going to be the best, easiest and quickest option to actually learn to fluently speak Spanish.

I have a basic background in spanish from high school. Then when I was in the Navy I worked with a bunch of Chicanos (Mexican Americans) in the Navy and learned more with them than I ever learned in a class room.