Job for (soon to be?) ex cop

[Trendsetter]

After doing the job for nearly six years ive reached the point where ive had enough. There are no development opportunities and I feel like ive been doing the same thing day in day out with no hope of a reprieve.

I have applied for internal jobs to no avail and feel the overall situation is having an adverse effect on my health. After having it out and laying the situation bare with a supervisor recently, nothing has changed and I dont think it will for the foreseeable.

Ive found myself looking at job ads online but I fall into the typical trap of being unskilled and without a degree.

Which sectors (preferably not door staff/ security related) are particularly suitable for ex cops? Any businesses impressed with this type of experience? Or any ex cops who feel the world is a lot brighter after leaving the job behind?

I dont currently want to leave but im finding very few reasons to actually stay.

[Gromm]

Depends how old you’re and what you fancy in life. You can always do a quick Open or your local Uni business, marketing or computer course or get a degree. If I were you, I wouldn’t venture far from what you've been doing for the past six years, so you could leverage on the existing skills and knowledge of the system, perhaps something to do with forensics or any other services where you’d work for a private contractor who is supplying/support plod like BT/NMC and where SC may be required. If you like coding/computers, there is a real shortage of skill in IT/cybersec and it pays well, or so I hear. In any case, best of luck, whatever you decide to do.

[rog007]

Trendsetter said:

There are no development opportunities...

I have applied for internal jobs to no avail...

I dont currently want to leave...

These three things career wise stood out for me; I’ll come back to your health at the end (as it’s the most important thing).

The Police force overall does have great opportunities to help you develop and grow. It’s not always easy to fully exploit those opportunities when you’re busy, maybe not fully aware how to get the best from them and maybe don’t have the best line manager.

I wonder if a mentor would add value? Does your Force offer this as a support service? Do you have friends or colleagues in higher positions who you could ask for advice and guidance? Do you have an internal learning & development team you could approach for support to help you develop skills to be able to take advantage of opportunities, either within your own Force or another?

If you did choose to leave, you do actually have a heap of valuable transferable skills that many employers in lots of other industries would value. Key is working out what you’d enjoy doing and then highlighting those transferable skills. Happy to look over any developing CV if this was the path you chose.

On to health; this must remain our highest priority. Seeing a GP our a counsellor as soon as possible to help prevent any further deterioration should not be delayed.

Good luck!

[Trendsetter]

Im in my mid 20's so there's plenty scope to retrain. My current thoughts would be to do a course in mechanics and potentially a uni course, money permitting.

I dont think there's any kind of mentor support. I do have people I could ask for advice mind so that is an option. My main issue is I havent enjoyed my job for at least three or four years. I had come close to quitting a few years ago for the same reasons but didnt after several promises were made which led to nothing. So nothing's really changed since then.

I do feel sometimes I wasnt quite ready for it, starting at 18. I wouldnt rule out the possibility of leaving and coming back once id done a few things and squared myself up.

[NDA]

I would have thought you'd get into a sales job - mid 20's is still young.

[Rewe]

Ex coppers tend to have strong interpersonal skills and great life experience to call on.

Plenty of schools have non-teaching heads of year or similar roles where emotional intelligence and strength of character are the most important attributes.

[wjb]

OP, you seem disheartened but not be set on leaving just yet, what role are you in now?

And if you could start a new role in the police tomorrow, what would it be?

[mikeiow]

Had a relative who was in the Met....got on well (moved up to getting fire-arm trained....then found guarding Embassy’s a bit on the dull side: I think that triggered a desire for a change in his late 20s: moved to a role at the FSA for a couple of years.
Was better pay, but with no overtime he found it wasn’t the great fiscal leap he expected.
Now does something (sorry, not sure exactly what - not a close relative - something to do with fraud in companies) with one of the big management consultancy firms.
I would echo what other have said though: the Police should have a few decent opportunities, so I would explore those too: are you happy where you live, or maybe a change of force could offer more?
And do look after your health: it is the key thing you ever have!!

[Trendsetter]

Currently in response so on the frontline, so to speak. I am interested in counter terror jobs but would need to make some lateral moves first which I havent been successful in so far. And im just not sure I would be up to taking on such a role at present anyway.

Making a geographical move is something id considered but had hoped to avoid. I could move but I wonder whether it would simply be a superficial change without addressing the root issue

[anonymous-user]

Getting into financial services in compliance roles could be an idea.

[bristolbaron]

Trendsetter said:

After doing the job for nearly six years ive reached the point where ive had enough. There are no development opportunities and I feel like ive been doing the same thing day in day out with no hope of a reprieve.

I have applied for internal jobs to no avail and feel the overall situation is having an adverse effect on my health. After having it out and laying the situation bare with a supervisor recently, nothing has changed and I dont think it will for the foreseeable.

Ive found myself looking at job ads online but I fall into the typical trap of being unskilled and without a degree.

Which sectors (preferably not door staff/ security related) are particularly suitable for ex cops? Any businesses impressed with this type of experience? Or any ex cops who feel the world is a lot brighter after leaving the job behind?

I dont currently want to leave but im finding very few reasons to actually stay.

Why did you want to get into your current job?
What do you enjoy about it?
What don’t you enjoy about it?
What transferable skills would you like to take into a different job?
Why haven’t you got the internal jobs you applied for?
What jobs have you been interested in that you’re unqualified for?

I think you need to ask yourself all of the above to get an idea of where you need/want to be.
I don’t believe there’s no development opportunities - the issue is working out why you’re currently not first in line for the ones that are available.

[quinny100]

Your comment about leaving and coming back to it suggest it's not really police work that's your issue. Reading between the lines, is it perhaps the case that your started in your current force a bit young and for whatever reason have ended up in a situation where your face doesn't fit and you're being denied opportunities to progress?

Have you considered a change of force? Many are very keen to transfer in trained Constables. Perhaps even a change of area in the same force would be enough if your current line management aren't up to much.

[xjay1337]

NDA said:

I would have thought you'd get into a sales job - mid 20's is still young.

If he finds policing a souless job, how can you suggest sales!

Rarely a stable position, many companies are incredibly clicky when it comes to sales staff.

[anonymous-user]

You could be a traffic warden

[Trevor555]

Not sure of your location but many of my friends moved from Cambs to the Met.

They all tell me it's a different world down there, so much better.

So I'm with some of the previous posters, try another force.

[Pazuzu]

Go and be a Police officer in Australia - at least the sun will be shining (once the fires are out).

Phil

[RammyMP]

I work in the construction industry and over the years I’ve worked with a few safety managers who are ex-forces or police, it seems they have the right qualities to ensure we toe the line safety wise on site. If you can find a company to take you on there are a number of courses you need to do to get a few qualifications.

[MC Bodge]

As others have said, the Police appears to have far more opportunities for people to transfer around than most other types of workplace.

I know somebody in the Met and he has done all kinds.

Most workplaces in the modern day are desk-based, paper(pc... ) work heavy with regulatory compliance by the truckload.

I'd have thought that the Police would be better and potentially more interesting than most places to work.

Some of the suggestions above just appear to reflect what the posters do themselves, and sound soul-destroying!

[LosingGrip]

I know of a few who have left the job to work on the trains. One is a train driver and one is some kind of manager. They seem to enjoy it a lot more than policing.

If you are on Twitter give @ExPCTallBird a follow, she regularly posts jobs on there. And is happy to answer any questions.

You've mentioned CT work. How long ago did you apply? Did you find out why you weren't successful?

I've just finished my classroom training and now in my tutor phase, but we had lots of guest speakers from different departments who said we can get attachments if we want.

Could you see if you could get an attachment to the department you are looking at? Or even any others? Give you a break from response for a bit.

As others have said as well, maybe a change of force?

[hotchy]

Before you quit a hard to get job, because in reality it is, see if a years career break is allowed. Iv seen teachers etc do it.