Hiring process time line

[jfloirendo]

Hello, I'm currently an active duty Marine nearing the end of my contract. I am interested in being a cop and have been doing all my research along with all the help from my father who is a cop also. I am married and have a kid on the way come July and have about a year and 8 months left (not counting any terminal leave or early separation for educational reasons.) I'm looking to be able to leave the Marine Corps and within days or weeks be going to the academy with a job.

I am planning on living back at home which luckily is only a 3 hour drive so driving up to take tests or anything like that is no problem. I was wondering if anyone has been through the same process and know about the time to start applying to departments so I can hopefully have a job before I get out? Thank you for all of your help in advance.

[Citicop]

Welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately, there is no one magic answer to your question.

Every department has different practices, policies and procedures. Hiring times can vary greatly, but speed is never an option.

If you get out in 8 months, apply to as many places as you can right now. This will dramaticly increase your odds of success. But there is no guarantee that you will get hired at any one place at all, let alone within the time frame you want; competition for positions is pretty fierce when the economy is in the shape it's in.

I would say that most processes can take anywhere from 3 months to a year (longer if you are going Federal...)

Best of Luck-

Citicop.

[jfloirendo]

I figured there is no clear time line, just hoping someone went through the same process. I actually am getting ready to put in an application to take a written test early next month, but it wouldn't really be helpful to them that I still have 18 months to go unless that's what they are looking for. Oh well, at least I can take the test and have the experience taking it and I will know what to expect for the next ones and I can really blow them out of the water.

[ChaosXIW]

I applied to the agency I currently work for when I KNEW they were having a scheduled academy, they were actively hiring, and the economy was not in a total spiral. The process took 13 months. I've known guys who applied to departments and took 2 months to get processed. It depends on the size of the department, how easy it is to do your background, how on point you are with providing necessary paperwork, and if they are having an academy soon. Your best bet is to apply to a department that is in a large city in my opinion. They usually have frequent academies and are looking for new recruits every few months. Good luck

[GoDirectly2Jail]

3-12 months on the average for a local or state level agency.

8-36 months on the average for a federal agency.

Nothing is set in stone.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Hello, I'm currently an active duty Marine nearing the end of my contract. I am interested in being a cop and have been doing all my research along with all the help from my father who is a cop also. I am married and have a kid on the way come July and have about a year and 8 months left (not counting any terminal leave or early separation for educational reasons.) I'm looking to be able to leave the Marine Corps and within days or weeks be going to the academy with a job.

I am planning on living back at home which luckily is only a 3 hour drive so driving up to take tests or anything like that is no problem. I was wondering if anyone has been through the same process and know about the time to start applying to departments so I can hopefully have a job before I get out? Thank you for all of your help in advance.

Semper Fi and welcome aboard.

The way hiring is right now and the near future, I don't see you having an academy start date within a few weeks of your separation. You're competing against hundreds (if not thousands for federal LE) that have similar qualifications and experience. It's the luck of the draw right now.

Don't quit trying, but consider reenlisting - especially when supporting a family.

[bell4fan]

Dont re-enlist just because hiring is tough. You can do alot more when you get inside of a year left.

Dont know where you're from, but I know California Highway Patrol hires active duty members and holds spots for them for awhile.

I applied in January 08 for a September 08 academy. My EAOS was November 08. The command had already told me if accepted they would adjust my EAOS to facilitate my academy start date. I found out I was accepted in early July, took about a month to have my EAOS adjusted, and I was in the academy in September. I was actually on terminal leave the first 2 1/2 weeks of the academy.

[MSG6972]

I just got out of the Marines in August and I am going through the hiring process right now. I wish I would have started while i was still in the Marines so I could have knocked out alot of the preliminary stuff at first and been ahead of the game when i got out, but I was overseas so I didn't have a chance. As far as the timeline, alot of police dept's I am applying with only keep you on the eligibility list for a year. So I would suggest waiting until the last 10 months or so before you start, but check with them first to find out for sure. I will say it is tough out here, I was pretty high up on 3 different dept's hiring list only to be told due to budget issues they are no longer hiring new officers and are probably going to be laying people off. Hopefully by the time you are ready things will be looking up. Good luck

[jfloirendo]

Yes I researched the separations manual and I could get my eas moved up due to furthering education up to 90 days so hopefully if I do get hired and the academy starts August or later I should be good. Thanks everyone for your help and insight.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Dont re-enlist just because hiring is tough. You can do alot more when you get inside of a year left.

Definitely. But if he doesn't have a civvie job lined up, reenlisting is not a bad option. Hell, even a 6-month extension isn't bad IF nothing is solid on the outside.

You got into an LE academy almost 2 years ago just as the hiring was slowing down. Same thing happened here in AZ. Now, hiring is all but completely dried up and the few jobs that are available are taken by laterals. People have put themselves through academies to get certified, but still can't get hired. I don't expect to see things turn around for hiring cops again for another 2-3 years at least. Phoenix PD is now looking at laying off cops and AZ DPS has similar conditions. You don't go from laying off cops to hiring a bunch of people in just a year or two.

The military is also becoming more difficult to get back into once you've left. There often is no guarantee of MOS and depending on how long you're out, you may lose a stripe. Rank doesn't come as easy in the Corps as it does the Army, so losing rank can make a huge impact, especially taking care of a family. You obviously also miss out on any reenlistment bonuses if one is available.

From what I've seen, Texas seems to be the place to go for cop jobs right now. Dallas PD and Texas DPS look to be hiring the most. If you're up for one final move, check it out. There are always the cop job websites where departments advertise their opening.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

[jfloirendo]

Yea, I've looked into re-enlisting and it's not too appealing to me. I work with HMX-1 so I have a top secret/yankee white clearance at my disposal. I could always use that. I'm looking around the Philadelphia, Delaware, Jersey area, because I am from the suburbs of Philadelphia. A few departments around me are on a hiring freeze like my dad's department, but others are hiring. Hopefully when I am getting out a few more jobs will be open.

[bell4fan]

Texas is a prime place to be for anyone wishing to become a police officer right now. We were really not affected that bad by the recession. While alot of state police agencies were laying off, taking manadatory furloughs, etc, we got a pay raise.

But your right, if he doesnt have someting lined up before he gets out, an extension or short re-enlistment would be a great way to buy some more time.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Yea, I've looked into re-enlisting and it's not too appealing to me. I work with HMX-1 so I have a top secret/yankee white clearance at my disposal. I could always use that. I'm looking around the Philadelphia, Delaware, Jersey area, because I am from the suburbs of Philadelphia. A few departments around me are on a hiring freeze like my dad's department, but others are hiring. Hopefully when I am getting out a few more jobs will be open.

Your clearance (depending on your MOS, too) will help if you look on the web for security clearance jobs. There are a couple websites dedicated to those jobs requiring a clearance. It won't be police work, but maybe another job lead to explore if you still feel compelled to leave the Corps.