Posted: 12/7/2012 9:46:38 AM EDT
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Just got a call from a Sheriff's Department from a few counties north of me wanting an interview for a Corrections deputy next Wednesday. Damn I'm excited. Never expected anything to come of it considering I'm 20 w/o a college degree. Now I have to face the wonders of an oral board.  |
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Quoted: Quoted: Never expected anything to come of it considering I'm 20 w/o a college degree. That was me when I started working for the PD I just retired from. I'm more surprised than anything else, especially considering how competitive the LE job market is in Michigan, and I know I have nothing that makes me really standout resume wise. I actually got a letter from them two weeks or so ago saying that I wasn't going to be within the initial group going to be interviewed. So I'm very happy to have(and for them to give me) this opportunity.  |
| So it's for a correctional officer job? Not law enforcement? Corrections is a good career and one that as far as I know, isn't too hard to get into without a degree. It's also a great stepping stone to get into law enforcement if that's what you want to do. That's how I did it. I started as a CO and then got a job at the local sheriff's department. Here in WV, jails are operated by the state so there is no transfer to a sheriff's department like a lot of other areas. They are two completely different entities. I know some places you work for the sheriff's office as either a CO or LE and you can transfer from one to the other. Some require so much time working in the jail before you can go out on the road. Anyways, good luck on the interview. Like I said, it's a good field to get into. |
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Quoted: So it's for a correctional officer job? Not law enforcement? Corrections is a good career and one that as far as I know, isn't too hard to get into without a degree. It's also a great stepping stone to get into law enforcement if that's what you want to do. That's how I did it. I started as a CO and then got a job at the local sheriff's department. Here in WV, jails are operated by the state so there is no transfer to a sheriff's department like a lot of other areas. They are two completely different entities. I know some places you work for the sheriff's office as either a CO or LE and you can transfer from one to the other. Some require so much time working in the jail before you can go out on the road. Anyways, good luck on the interview. Like I said, it's a good field to get into. Your post is very much appreciated. Here in MI, every Sheriff runs their own county jail, while prisons are run by the State. Hiring standards vary wildly. The Department I applied at didn't have college education as a requirement to apply, though it was recommended. IIRC, the county next door to them when they were looking for CO's were wanting a bachelor's degree at minimum. State level is at least a 2 year degree, unless you have qualifying experience. |
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So, is there anything to really expect, or is this one of those things where it's best to take a deep breath, walk in and roll with the punches? It's not that I'm unfamiliar with interviews, but this is uncharted territory for me, and the interview is always what I'm worst at. |
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That's surprising to hear that college degrees are required. I mean the reality of it is, you are just a babysitter. Not sure what you need in college that will help you work in corrections. I can understand to become a supervisor, but not just an officer. Still though, it's a decent field and if you get in to a larger facility, especially a state facility, there's some pretty neat things you can do like becoming an investigator, K9 handler, SRT member, ect.
As far as the interviews I have been on for corrections jobs, for me they have been pretty much roll with the punches. They want to make sure you have confidence, are a team player, work within the rules, maintain professionalism, have aspirations...ect. So just make sure you show them these things in your attitude and answers and you should be fine. |
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Thanks Chad. Well, it went way better than I was expecting. I had visions of guys in lab coats psycho-analyzing my every move, but it turned out to be just pretty much a regular job interview. Well, it's on to the background investigation. They said hopefully they will notify who they want to hire by the end of the month. Interviewed 20, going to hire 3. |
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Quoted:
Thanks Chad. Well, it went way better than I was expecting. I had visions of guys in lab coats psycho-analyzing my every move, but it turned out to be just pretty much a regular job interview.
Well, it's on to the background investigation. They said hopefully they will notify who they want to hire by the end of the month. Interviewed 20, going to hire 3. Did they specifically say they were doing the background check? They can't really do that without you filling out a huge packet of paperwork and this is usually after you get a conditional job offer, because it's conditional of how your background investigation goes. It took 2 months from the time I was interviewed to when I was called with a conditional job offer. Then I had to do all my background paperwork and start the other tests and evaluations. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Thanks Chad. Well, it went way better than I was expecting. I had visions of guys in lab coats psycho-analyzing my every move, but it turned out to be just pretty much a regular job interview. Well, it's on to the background investigation. They said hopefully they will notify who they want to hire by the end of the month. Interviewed 20, going to hire 3. Did they specifically say they were doing the background check? They can't really do that without you filling out a huge packet of paperwork and this is usually after you get a conditional job offer, because it's conditional of how your background investigation goes. It took 2 months from the time I was interviewed to when I was called with a conditional job offer. Then I had to do all my background paperwork and start the other tests and evaluations. Well, that's what they said was next in the process. I signed a release and they had it notarized. I will make a correction though, they said that they wanted to notify who they wanted to hire by the end of the month, then the psych and physical testing etc... |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks Chad. Well, it went way better than I was expecting. I had visions of guys in lab coats psycho-analyzing my every move, but it turned out to be just pretty much a regular job interview.
Well, it's on to the background investigation. They said hopefully they will notify who they want to hire by the end of the month. Interviewed 20, going to hire 3. Did they specifically say they were doing the background check? They can't really do that without you filling out a huge packet of paperwork and this is usually after you get a conditional job offer, because it's conditional of how your background investigation goes. It took 2 months from the time I was interviewed to when I was called with a conditional job offer. Then I had to do all my background paperwork and start the other tests and evaluations. Well, that's what they said was next in the process. I signed a release and they had it notarized. I will make a correction though, they said that they wanted to notify who they wanted to hire by the end of the month, then the psych and physical testing etc... oh ok. It's probably just a quick "check" to check for obvious things (felonies) and then they will do the full investigation if they give you a conditional hire. I did my PFT, written exam, and interview all in the same day. Then, after a little over 2 months of hearing nothing, I got a call with my conditional and started the real background, did my psych, medical, and poly within the following 4 weeks ,and started a couple weeks ago in detentions. Academy is in March. Good luck! |