1. What exactly do you do?
- What field is your job in?
Law Enforcement - What is your job title?
Police Detective - 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)
city police department in Orange County, Ca. We currently have 165 officers and the City's population is approx. 175,000.
- How long have you been employed in this position?
17 years - How many hours do you work a week on average?
45 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
45 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
enforce city, state and federal laws. Investigate crimes.
- What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
103000 - What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
0 - Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
health and life insurance and retirement benefits. - Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
sometimes under, sometimes well.
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
I work with co-workers, as well as members of the community. I do like working with everyone, usually.
- Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
- 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
I have a desk in an office area with 6 other detectives. I also perform duties within the city.
- Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 2 Income
- 1 Work Environment - co-workers
- 6 Work Environment - supervisors
- 3 Benefits
- 7 Hours
- 4 Level of responsibility
- 5 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?
Maintain good standing within the community, your family, and get an education. Know what the job is about before trying to apply so you know what you are getting involved in.
- 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)
Must be credible, honest, dependable. Have good communication skills, both verbal and written, be in good physical condition and have the ability to work with a diverse community.
- Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
yes. Most agencies do not require a degree, but they do require a high school diploma and an academy. - What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Maintain a positive attitude and always be honest...
4. How did you get your J-O-B
- How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)
i was referred. - What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)
city application, physical agility test, written test, medical and psychological evaluations and 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. There were three interviews. The initial consisted of a panel of three people. They were police sergeants and lieutenants. - If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?
They were questions about my life experience, job experience, and hypothetical scenarios. - 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..a 17 week police academy. - Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes. The academy was the beginning then a strenuous 3 month in house training program. - Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes. There is alot of paperwork, court testimony, and speaking/dealing with the public. - 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?
Everything. Probably the criminal investigation duties. - 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.)
Being able to help people, and as a property crimes detective, getting people's stolen property back to them. - Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?
Yes. I plan to promote to the rank of sergeant soon. - What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)
To promote very soon. - Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
It is a very self fulfilling job that many people speak negatively about.
7. A Day in the Life Of...
- 7 am - 8 am
I start at 7 am and begin my day going through reports that need to be sent to the court that day. That usually takes 30-40 minutes. I then get started on my reports. Generally, I have about 50-60 currently open cases that I am actively investigating. - 8 am - 9 am
I went out to assist a patrol officer who had stopped a car and discovered that the driver was in possession of several stolen and fraudulent checks. The person was arrested and transported to our police department. I spent the next two hours interviewing the person. - 9 am - 10 am
interviewing arrestee, - 10 am - 11 am
went back to my desk and wrote my portion of the arrest report. I had to include the suspect's statement and what I did. - 11 am - 12 am
I went to lunch with a couple co-workers. - 12 am - 1 pm
- 1 pm - 2 pm
Went back to my desk and made some follow up type phone calls to victims, trying to get more information on their cases. - 2 pm - 3 pm
I went to court to get a search warrant signed by a judge to have a cellular phone company send me phone records to a suspect's cell phone to show that he had been calling a victim. - 3 pm - 4 pm
went back to my desk and wrote my portion of the arrest report. I had to include the suspect's statement and what I did. - 4 pm - 5 pm
Took my detective car to the carwash to prepare for an inspection tomorrow. Afterwards, went back and cleaned my desk up and went home for the day. - 5 pm - 6 pm
Spent an hour driving home for my 38 mile commute. - 6 pm - 7 pm
- 7 pm - 8 pm
- 8 pm - 9 pm
- 9 pm - 10 pm
- 10 pm - 11 pm
- 11 pm - 12 pm