1. What exactly do you do?
- What field is your job in?
Detention - What is your job title?
Correction Officer - Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for (size and general description of what type of organization it is)
I work for a children's detention center. I am considered a correction officer at this lock down facility.
- How long have you been employed in this position?
1 year - How many hours do you work a week on average?
55 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
55 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
I am in charge of the children. It is my job to make sure they do everything that they need to do, and if they don't do it, it is my job to handle the situation. They are in a lock down facility and are unable to leave.
- What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
48000 - What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
52000 - Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
10 vacation days, 10 sick days, the health insurance is wonderful. It is blue cross, we pay NOTHING Out of pocket, they don't match anything for 401k till you have been there for 5 years. - Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
I am very well compensated for my position.
2. Work environment!
- Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
Yes! I always have at least one partner to work with. But there are many other officers working in the building. It can be stressful if your partner isn't on the same page as you. But if you and your partner can work together, it is usually very peaceful.
- Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes - Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes - Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it
Yes, as I said above. You always have at least one partner that you will work very closely with. Then you will also do some interacting with other co-workers, they will come to relieve you and your partner for breaks, etc
- Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 1 Income
- 4 Work Environment - co-workers
- 5 Work Environment - supervisors
- 2 Benefits
- 3 Hours
- 7 Level of responsibility
- 6 The actual "work" you do at your job
- 8 Job Title
3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours?
- If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
At my facility most people start off as part time employees. You will need a degree most of the time to even become a full time employee. They are usually a bit more lax with the rules for part timers. Once you get in part time put in as much time as you can. Then when a full time spot opens, just keep applying!
- What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social skills, organization skills, technical skills)
You will need to be able to socialize with children who have attitude problems. Of course not all but a bit majority of them. You will need to be able to be confident and stick to your guns. You can't be easily persuaded or intimidated.
- Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Yes! Having a bachelor's degree I think has really helped me, the extra training comes in handy! - What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
It is very easy to get burnt out. If you feel that is coming use some comp time and take a day off. It can become very hard working with these children sometimes. But it also can be very rewarding. You just got to make sure that you can take the time if you need it.
4. How did you get your J-O-B
- How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)
I found this job from the county website. - What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)
Submitted my resume, called in for an interview, must pass a drug test and a background check. - Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail? (e.g., number of interviews, who you interviewed with, group interview, individual interview, etc.)
Yes. I went on one interview. It was just me and the hiring supervisor. We did the interview and went on a tour of the building. - If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?
I am not sure. - Is this the job / field you planned to work in?
Yes - If your job is in a different field from your original plan how did you get here? Explain (Plan can be from high school/college/post college/personal plan)
5. Background: Are you qualified?
- Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Yes. And we need to keep with a certain amount of training hours each year. We were trained in how to take down the a kid if we needed to. We are trained in CPR, how to deal with kids, etc. The yearly trainings vary. - Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes! The cpr, take down training, etc training is used often in the job. So they are very important to the staff and the residents. - Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes. I had a lot of classes that dealt with behavior issues. I have a degree in Criminal Justice. - If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare you for your job?
6. The Future and Beyond (FINAL SECTION)
- If someone were to observe you at work, what would he or she say is "fun" about your job?
A lot of times we have fun with the residents (those who earned a privilege)and sometimes we have a bit of fun and joking with the co-workers. But most times it is very serious. - What is (are) the most fulfilling aspect(s) and least fulfilling aspect(s) of your current employment? (e.g. fiscal, spiritual, type of work, hours, commute, compensation, etc.)
Most fulfilling: The financial compensation is very great! And seeing a resident who wants to go out and make something of them self is wonderful. Least fulfilling: The hours sometimes, it takes many years to get to work a first shift spot. You can easily be worn down by residents who aren't taking it very serious. - Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?
Yes. I wanted to be in some sort of correctional spot. This isn't the exact path, I was thinking more of an adult lock up facility, but this actually works very well. - What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)
I am happy in the position I am in now. I actually plan to stay here for a very long time. - Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
NA
7. A Day in the Life Of...
- 7 am - 8 am
Not at work - 8 am - 9 am
Not at work - 9 am - 10 am
Not at work - 10 am - 11 am
Not at work - 11 am - 12 am
Not at work - 12 am - 1 pm
- 1 pm - 2 pm
Not at work - 2 pm - 3 pm
I get ready and head to work. I only live a few minutes away, so at about 2:40 I leave for work. I arrive about 10 minutes later. I go and clock in and head to my unit. - 3 pm - 4 pm
Not at work - 4 pm - 5 pm
Take the kids to dinner, monitor the dining hall. I also get to eat dinner at work. So while doing my monitoring I will eat dinner if I choose to do so. - 5 pm - 6 pm
The residents who earned it now get to go to gym class. We will take them to the gym, I make sure nobody gets out of line or does anything inappropriate. The residents who are unable to go to gym go right back to their room. We will have gym, usually play basketball for about an hour. Then we return to our area. - 6 pm - 7 pm
Once back at our area we run showers. They only have a few minutes to shower and change. Once they change they then must go back to their room. They are in their room for the rest of the night. - 7 pm - 8 pm
I am just in charge of monitoring the children. I make sure they don't leave their rooms, if they need to get something, I make the choice on if they need it or not. This will be the same for the rest of the night. - 8 pm - 9 pm
I am just in charge of monitoring the children. I make sure they don't leave their rooms, if they need to get something, I make the choice on if they need it or not. This will be the same for the rest of the night. - 9 pm - 10 pm
I am just in charge of monitoring the children. I make sure they don't leave their rooms, if they need to get something, I make the choice on if they need it or not. This will be the same for the rest of the night. - 10 pm - 11 pm
I am just in charge of monitoring the children. I make sure they don't leave their rooms, if they need to get something, I make the choice on if they need it or not. This will be the same for the rest of the night. At a bit before 11, the next shift will come in and relieve me. I will give them a run down of the day, etc and then I clock out and go home. - 11 pm - 12 pm