Received Conditional Job Offer and Question

[Excalibur]

Just wanted to update a bit, since failing the oral board for TxDPS I got call the next day from the local PD that I applied to scheduling a polygraph which was yesterday (the 16th of Nov). I passed and received a conditional job contingent upon the psych and oral board with the Chief. I took the written part of the psych and go for the psych interview Dec 1st. I took the psych in a room with the other applicants that are remaining but none of the others had received conditional job offers (from what I could tell; i.e. they were not on the desks next to their stuff). After I passed the poly and took the psych (MMPI-2 and CPQ or CAQ can't remember the acronym) I noticed on the conditional it says that I must pass all these things (which is obvious) but on the bottom it said that is was also based on funding and vacancies in the academy. I understand the funding, but why would they give a conditional if there was not a spot. The reason I don't understand is because a buddy of mine also applied and he got an alternate spot, so it seems to me that the department would only give out conditionals to people they had room for and if they did not meet those conditions they would then move to the alternates and give them conditionals. Could someone enlighten me?

[pafindr]

Could be that they gave a bunch of people conditionals and if they all pass the psych or oral they won't have the room for everyone. If some people fail the psych or oral they will have more room.
Good luck and I hope everything pans out for you.

[dkl1986]

first off, congrats on getting a conditional job offer.

i'm thinking that they offer more positions than they have room for as a safety net. there may be issues that they don't find out until one completes the psych, or maybe the chief wants to 86 them after the interview with him/her. i think they will give the final offer to only a few of the conditional offers.

while you should feel proud that you got this far, know that you don't have the job as of yet. i talked to a coworker of mine who got offered a job with a local sheriff's dept. i asked him why he wasn't celebrating yet. "i haven't sat down in the patrol car yet. nothing is certain until you start your first day. even then, you never know."

good luck to you!

[Excalibur]

Many thanks to both posters! I figured as much just was curious. I also have found out that only a few of the 12 that are still in competition have actually received conditionals...so I am feeling very optimistic but I know I still have to pass the oral boards before I start celebrating! Also just curious any Central Texas officers out there?

[DeltaV]

Employment laws prohibit administering a psychological or medical examination to a job applicant if they do not already have a conditional job offer. Usually a larger number of conditional offers are given than currently available positions because the department knows that some people will fail the remaining tests.

[TXCharlie]

Also just curious any Central Texas officers out there?

Far North Central here (Dallas / Ft Worth), but I'm just a reserve so far.

I did something similar (failed Dallas Reserve oral board when I was halfway through the Academy, then got picked up by a much smaller department after I got out).

I enjoy the smaller department atmosphere a lot better than I think I would have enjoyed Dallas. What they lack in equipment and personel they make up for in a lot of other ways. For one thing, they're a lot friendlier than anyone I met in Dallas.

[Excalibur]

I called the dept. on Monday to see what time my oral was on Tuesday and they informed me that the board decided not to review my application because when I worked at AT&T my boss "encouraged" us to look at random accounts and change features (same plan and price just new names, i.e. text message starter for 4.99 to text message 200 for 4.99). By encourage I mean do it or lose your job. I actually received no profit from it, but I do understand the position of the board and respect it highly. The personnel department instructed me because it had been too recent (one year) and was technically theft they were not reviewing it but he told me to apply again in a year because he has no doubt in me becoming an officer. I think this is simply a blessing in disguise because now I can get experience and apply again with TxDPS again. I have applied with the Texas Youth Commission as a Juvenile C.O. and I know they are hiring like crazy so hopefully I can get in and get some experience that way.

P.S. as for the applicant at the the department I applied to and found out my alias, Good Luck!

[mikecrazy]

How the hell does that even come up in a conversation?

[Excalibur]

On the poly, questioning if I had done anything at a job that was dishonest or against company policy but did not get in trouble for. It was not only dishonest but also against company policy but my manager (who was also the district manager), like I said, basically forced us to do it or lose our jobs, but I don't work there anymore and just going to take this as a learning experience and apply again!

[dart9]

So when are you going to re-apply to TXDPS? I don't know that they have filled up for the March academy yet, you might want to call the office and see.

I was told by my BI that if you don't pass something (oral board, Poly or whatever) that you can re-apply like the next day and they should start your process over again.

I went through the hiring process with a guy who applied with TXDPS five times before. (I think he said he had failed his poly).

Anyway, definitely call the office and re-apply. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Excalibur]

I called recruiting and they said has to be next academy. That gives me time to get some experience, if I am hired as a C.O. Yeah I hear not many get DPS on their first try, at least not without some sort of experience. My problem is I am 21 and graduate college in 10 days(Baylor B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice), at least I fear that is my problem.

[mikecrazy]

Wow I would never pass a poly. Thank god for the NYPD.

[Excalibur]

I just spoke with my uncle who has been a police officer for close to 30 years and has just been sworn in with the US Marshals and US Secret Service for a fraud task force (so I believe he knows his stuff) and he told me that he understands their position as well but believes it is bull b/c it was part of my job. He told me to get a letter from my boss stating that it was encouraged and take it to the personnel department. He said don't call just get it and show up there and ask to speak with personnel and give them the letter and if need be take it to the chief. Does anybody have any opinion on this? To me it sounds perhaps too pushy, but maybe that is what I need to be :confused:

[Roger Dat]

Your still changing a customers plan to something that you did not ok with them which breaks the contract you have with them. While I dont necessarily think you should be on the hook for it I can see why they DQ'ed you for it.

If you knew it was wrong the onus was on you to bring it to a higher level of management.

[bell4fan]

Because from their standpoint, you didnt stand up to the wrong, or have the integrity to report it up, and have that boss canned.

Like you said, good learning experience for ya, get that DPS application in next month, learn from your mistakes, and get hired already.

The imporatant thing is you were honest about the whole thing.