Joining the Police
Discussion
Mk3Spitfire said:
Good luck. Remember, you are being assessed from the moment you pull up in the car park to the moment you drive out.
And I hope you're wearing a suit. I have seen people turn up in board shorts and flip flops before!
Without a doubt I've got a suit. Better to be overdressed than underdressed. And I hope you're wearing a suit. I have seen people turn up in board shorts and flip flops before!
A friend was telling me on his a bloke turned up in jeans and a t-shirt.
Ki3r said:
Without a doubt I've got a suit. Better to be overdressed than underdressed.
A friend was telling me on his a bloke turned up in jeans and a t-shirt.
There is an argument that what a candidate wears, shouldn't impact on his chances of success. After all, what someone wears doesn't automatically denote suitability.. A friend was telling me on his a bloke turned up in jeans and a t-shirt.
I'd still wear a suit.
Back home from my assessment day. Words can not describe how nervous I was.
Didn't sleep the night before and couldn't eat breakfast.
But it's done and wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been. The English part wasn't too bad, neither was the verbal reasoning.
First role play was horrible, but then knew what I was expecting so the other three weren't too bad.
Interview wasn't the best. Didn't enjoy that at all, but also struggled with the maths part. Which is annoying as I used to be really good at maths!
Get my results within two weeks.
Helped massively that in my group I was with another Special I know and also my exes sister, so felt a little at ease.
Long wait now.
Didn't sleep the night before and couldn't eat breakfast.
But it's done and wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been. The English part wasn't too bad, neither was the verbal reasoning.
First role play was horrible, but then knew what I was expecting so the other three weren't too bad.
Interview wasn't the best. Didn't enjoy that at all, but also struggled with the maths part. Which is annoying as I used to be really good at maths!
Get my results within two weeks.
Helped massively that in my group I was with another Special I know and also my exes sister, so felt a little at ease.
Long wait now.
Sadly I failed. Not sure by how much yet as feedback is being emailed somewhen next week.
Bit crap as I know I can do it, but I didn't get a good feeling about the assessment centre so not too surprised.
Onwards and upwards, six months to find out what went wrong and get right next time.
Bit crap as I know I can do it, but I didn't get a good feeling about the assessment centre so not too surprised.
Onwards and upwards, six months to find out what went wrong and get right next time.
Doh! Must be annoying, being a Special for 5+ years, you can obviously do the job.
I'm not sure these selection processes always select the best people for the post, though maybe others would argue otherwise.
I remember failing a selection centre for the BTP when I was about 19 or 20 years old, sent home on the second day when I failed that role play nonsense. I never did try to join the police again though 20+ years later I'm happy in my profession.
I'm sure you will get there or find something else to pursue.
I'm not sure these selection processes always select the best people for the post, though maybe others would argue otherwise.
I remember failing a selection centre for the BTP when I was about 19 or 20 years old, sent home on the second day when I failed that role play nonsense. I never did try to join the police again though 20+ years later I'm happy in my profession.
I'm sure you will get there or find something else to pursue.
andy118run said:
Doh! Must be annoying, being a Special for 5+ years, you can obviously do the job.
I'm not sure these selection processes always select the best people for the post, though maybe others would argue otherwise.
I remember failing a selection centre for the BTP when I was about 19 or 20 years old, sent home on the second day when I failed that role play nonsense. I never did try to join the police again though 20+ years later I'm happy in my profession.
I'm sure you will get there or find something else to pursue.
That is the most annoying thing. I was on duty when I got the email about it. Kinda ironic, not good enough to get paid, but you can continue to do it for free. I'm not sure these selection processes always select the best people for the post, though maybe others would argue otherwise.
I remember failing a selection centre for the BTP when I was about 19 or 20 years old, sent home on the second day when I failed that role play nonsense. I never did try to join the police again though 20+ years later I'm happy in my profession.
I'm sure you will get there or find something else to pursue.
Step further than before, which I'm pleased with.
JulianHJ said:
Sorry to hear that. Hopefully the feedback will help you identify how to crack it next time. What did you have a bad feeling about on the day? I'd agree that assessment centres are not ideal. I'd guess that ten years on, only half of my intake are still in the job.
Bit of it all, ran out of time during the English part at the start, never noticed just how quickly 20 minutes can go! Roleplays were horrible to start with, by the second one I knew what to expect though, and didn't enjoy the interview at all. Questions were worded slightly differently to what I was expecting and it threw me. My maths part was right at the end, and I used to be good at it when I was at school, but don't know if it was because it was the last thing, but I struggled with it. We shall see though. That is the most annoying thing. I was on duty when I got the email about it. Kinda ironic, not good enough to get paid, but you can continue to do it for free.
Sorry you didn't get in but if you are finally are successful always remember the above, this is how the Police work. If they can get it for free they will use it as much as possible.
Sorry you didn't get in but if you are finally are successful always remember the above, this is how the Police work. If they can get it for free they will use it as much as possible.
Snoozy said:
That is the most annoying thing. I was on duty when I got the email about it. Kinda ironic, not good enough to get paid, but you can continue to do it for free.
Sorry you didn't get in but if you are finally are successful always remember the above, this is how the Police work. If they can get it for free they will use it as much as possible.
I remember at my final interview almost 20 years ago - "If you weren't successful today would you become a special constable?" - No, I already have a full time job thanks was my answer.Sorry you didn't get in but if you are finally are successful always remember the above, this is how the Police work. If they can get it for free they will use it as much as possible.
Ki3r said:
Sadly I failed. Not sure by how much yet as feedback is being emailed somewhen next week.
Bit crap as I know I can do it, but I didn't get a good feeling about the assessment centre so not too surprised.
Onwards and upwards, six months to find out what went wrong and get right next time.
Bullet dodged imo.Bit crap as I know I can do it, but I didn't get a good feeling about the assessment centre so not too surprised.
Onwards and upwards, six months to find out what went wrong and get right next time.
Get out there and find a decent career. I've lost count of the number of bobbies who I know that have left and have never looked back. I've calculated I can take a £18,000 p/a drop and still just about live. That's how bad it has become.
I bumped into an old special colleague a few months back whilst stood at an RTC. We specialed together 10 years ago before I got in, he got rejected a couple of times and sacked it off. Was odd, because he was much more passionate about joining than I was.
He's now a train driver.
He earns more than me. He works less. He's healthier, less stressed, more valued, less overworked, isn't always looking over his shoulder, and has a quality of life I could only dream of.
For all the bulls
t, politics, wet cold nights. Would you really swap it for staring at a track all day long every day? Yes the domestics might get abit groundhog but staring at a track?
No ta.
Not good enough to be paid.. There are a few regs that should be docked pay for being bloody work dodgers and their wages shared out. A reg of 26yrs service who was also a long-term TA'er said to me if Specials were treated like the TA the regs etc would respect them more. I agree.
t, politics, wet cold nights. Would you really swap it for staring at a track all day long every day? Yes the domestics might get abit groundhog but staring at a track?No ta.
Not good enough to be paid.. There are a few regs that should be docked pay for being bloody work dodgers and their wages shared out. A reg of 26yrs service who was also a long-term TA'er said to me if Specials were treated like the TA the regs etc would respect them more. I agree.
hora said:
For all the bullst, politics, wet cold nights. Would you really swap it for staring at a track all day long every day? Yes the domestics might get abit groundhog but staring at a track?
Totally. It's why I've got a pending application t, politics, wet cold nights. Would you really swap it for staring at a track all day long every day? Yes the domestics might get abit groundhog but staring at a track?
There's other issues I've had with the job which have left a very very bitter taste, and these are additional reasons I've gotta go. The bad outweighs the good for me and has done for a couple of years now by about 70/30.
I recently got my feedback, and kicking myself massively.
Overall you needed a score of 50%, plus 50% with working with others.
My overall score was 56%, and working with others was 48%. 2% from passing, one or two things missed out most likely.
Another four and a bit months to go before I can apply again.
Bit of good news, the team that I work with have been nominated for Team of the Year for the South West again.
Overall you needed a score of 50%, plus 50% with working with others.
My overall score was 56%, and working with others was 48%. 2% from passing, one or two things missed out most likely.
Another four and a bit months to go before I can apply again.
Bit of good news, the team that I work with have been nominated for Team of the Year for the South West again.
Ki3r said:
I recently got my feedback, and kicking myself massively.
Overall you needed a score of 50%, plus 50% with working with others.
My overall score was 56%, and working with others was 48%. 2% from passing, one or two things missed out most likely.
Another four and a bit months to go before I can apply again.
Bit of good news, the team that I work with have been nominated for Team of the Year for the South West again.
I'm sorry for you but with the attitude of getting straight back you should do better next time. Overall you needed a score of 50%, plus 50% with working with others.
My overall score was 56%, and working with others was 48%. 2% from passing, one or two things missed out most likely.
Another four and a bit months to go before I can apply again.
Bit of good news, the team that I work with have been nominated for Team of the Year for the South West again.
Best of luck.
Being good at a job and being good at the process to get the job can be quite different things.
I know a couple of PCs who would be superb Sergeants but they aren't good enough at the process to become a Sergeant.
I applied when I was 18 and scraped through. I had never done anything like an assessment centre before.
You're were so close so hopefully the experience going into the next one will get you over the line.
Did you get any feedback on the application? It's logical to just submit the same one, but humans aren't always consistent and if you have an example or two that are close to the line they may be worth improving if possible.
I know a couple of PCs who would be superb Sergeants but they aren't good enough at the process to become a Sergeant.
I applied when I was 18 and scraped through. I had never done anything like an assessment centre before.
You're were so close so hopefully the experience going into the next one will get you over the line.
Did you get any feedback on the application? It's logical to just submit the same one, but humans aren't always consistent and if you have an example or two that are close to the line they may be worth improving if possible.
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