How competative is it??

[jmeti000]

So I've been doing some surfing through the forums, and its been mentioned more than a couple of times how competative the hiring process is. After a little more searching, it seems like most of the comments regarding this issue are made assuming that the individual is your typical caucasian male. I was wondering how competative it is for those that dont fall into that catagory (other ethnicities and/or women)? Im know answers will vary given the demographics of your location...but was just wondering?

Cheers

[retdetsgt]

Depends entirely on where you're applying. My old department continually sweats making the Affirmative Action numbers so minorities and women generally have a leg up on testing, especially minorities.

One example is that they offer a class to help people pass the written part of the exam. It's openly offered to minorities. White males can go IF they know about it and ask, but they are not routinely notified of its existence. That's just one way they discriminate. I think they do less for white women because they've kept up the percentage of them on the department. But given the choice of hiring a white woman or a white male, the female will be hired every time.

A minority woman applying would be treated like the Queen of England as she went through the process.

A lot of departments are much more fair.

[mcsap]

While the bulk of the answers seem to lead toward white males ....that is because white males make up ( my numbers and it's a guess) about 90% of the officers in the USA today.

Everyone should have an equal shot at a job regardless of who they are or what they look like. BUT the competition drops off sharply when we get into the background investigations. It is there that your degree , no degree , military , no military , physicla resemblance to Hulk Hogan or Pee Wee Herman doesn't matter.

If you have a criminal background or one involving drug useage ( depends on what and how long ago ) , then you are going to find yourself DQ'd.

We go through MANY. MANY applicants to get to the few that have a GOOD background. This doesn't mean perfect. We have hired people who have had some traffic tickets , minor summary arrests etc as few are 99% pure these days.

What you have done in your past along with who and what you are now along with any education and or military that you will all be considered as part of the process.

[capnc423]

[retdetsgt]

While the bulk of the answers seem to lead toward white males ....that is because white males make up ( my numbers and it's a guess) about 90% of the officers in the USA today.

Which is exactly why some agencies give people who aren't white males an edge in hiring. All you need is a community yelling that a minority group isn't responsibly represented on a police department.

Everyone should have an equal shot, but that isn't always the case.