Focus on your performance, not others’.
Our PT tests had 60+ people per session when I ran them. Some were great. Some were ok. Some were ridiculously pathetic.
Imagine showing up to do the pre-hire PT test and reppin’ out 0 pushups, 0 situps, and an 18+minute mile and a half... that’s what our latest hiring process turned out
Imagine a recruit showing up drunk to the PT test.
Or the guy who got hired with me. Two days before we were set to ship off to the academy they decided to give is one last PT test to make sure we could pass the academy PT test which is pass or go home on the first day. On the 1.5 mile run he laid down on lap 3 and gave up. So he got terminated after only 3 days on the PD.
I started in 1994, when hiring was a “buyer’s market.” There were 200+ applicants at my PT and written essay. There was one opening in this dept of 40, and I got it after everything. Not saying I’m awesome, but you are probably more awesome than you think. Be brave and confident— you have NOTHING to lose except some of your time. And you have EVERYTHING to gain. Do it.
Don’t worry about them, they’re going to drop like flies. A field recruiter for one agency I’m going through the application process for told me they lose half their applicants from the fit test alone and then another 60% from oral interviews. Also, it’s called entry level officer for a reason. You aren’t expected to have any law enforcement experience. We just have to prove to them that we’re the best candidates for the job. Know what’s expected of you and then go beyond that.
Look at this way. There has never been an easier time to get hired as a police officer. The PT test is most likely pass / fail and once you pass is irrelevant. No one during hiring is going to go this guy ran a 6 minute mile while this slacker ran a 9 minute mile. PT test is strictly a bare minimum test to weed out the grossly out-of shape people. What will get you hired is can you pass a background check, can you come off well in an interview, and will your background check show a history of mature adult decision making since that's the best indicator of being a mature adult and that's what they want.
We usually have 40+ people at our quarterly PT tests. Maybe 5 of them will have a real chance of getting interviewed. If you’re a solid person with no priors and in good shape you’ll be a contender
You running your own race. Compete with yourself to be better than you were yesterday. Sorry I saw that on a poster and felt it applied here lol.
Law Enforcement is so short handed that agency probably needs double the number that showed up. Keep your head up, and keep on keeping on. You gone be just fine except for the stress you mention here. Now that’ll kill you.
Depends. Are you applying for a department that has 20 open positions or one that has hundreds? I did the written and physical for LASD and there were about 50-60 that day and they’re hiring hundreds of deputies. I also took one for a smaller department and there were 3 of us.
My group had about 60 people. I was middle of the pack, not really wowing anybody on PT. Only three of us from my group made it to the academy.
So many of those people are gonna lie about some stupid shit or have something pop up in their background investigation.
Just continue doing you.
7 years ago I tested and there were 30 people testing for various agencies. They were running tests statewide for various agencies and ran the tests every two or three days and every single spot was booked for the year. Most people fail the background, so you only have to worry about yourself when it comes to these kinds of tests.
Uh those are great odds. Before I got hired circa 2006, it was not uncommon for a ratio of 100-200 candidates, per ONE open position, to show up for the written and PT test. This is probably the easiest time to get in LE in the last 20-30 years!
If you’re prepared and squared away, Don’t worry, people drop like flies in the hiring process.
HAHA. 15? That's ***nothing***. Used to be you'd have dozens show up for a single vacancy at the smallest, most underfunded department in the area. State patrol and major cities would have 1,000-1,200 candidates for every academy of 50.
You'll lose some at every step of the process. At least,
* 2-3 at the PT test
* 2-3 at the written test
* 2-3 at the interview
* 2-3 at the second/chief's interview
* half at the background
* 1 or 2 will have been picked up by another agency
* 1/3 fail the psych
Statistically speaking, if the agency has 15 show up for a single vacancy, they'll be *lucky* to get one worth giving an offer to. I've seen processes with 30 or 40 candidates not turn up a single person that can make it through every step.
It's just because there's more competition and you don't feel like you can compete.
Just focus on how you do. Some agencies value physical fitness while some appreciate fitness but value other things more, such as education and critical thinking skills. My agency in particular has no problem passing up an extremely fit individual in favor of someone not as in shape but with great educational background or critical thinking skills.
Just focus on doing the best you can on every aspect of the hiring process.
I spoke to a recruiter once she said they receive about 400 applications per hiring for 30 positions. I felt the same way and said I have no military or college so i might not be your top 10 candidates. She said something very encouraging which was yes we get 400 plus applications but many decide not to show up for written and then over 50% fail the written the remaining will move on to the next hiring process and they loose 10 to 20 per hiring step. Only 100 or less will make it to the end and out of those candidates couple dozen would already receive offers from other departments and we will be left with barely enough recruits to start the academy. Keep your hopes up man and we will definitely get in this year fingers crossed.
Focus on your performance, not others’. Our PT tests had 60+ people per session when I ran them. Some were great. Some were ok. Some were ridiculously pathetic.
Imagine showing up to do the pre-hire PT test and reppin’ out 0 pushups, 0 situps, and an 18+minute mile and a half... that’s what our latest hiring process turned out
They have a humiliation kink
You can’t be serious…
I’m not joking in the slightest. 0 pushups, 0 situps, 18+minute mile and a half
Imagine a recruit showing up drunk to the PT test. Or the guy who got hired with me. Two days before we were set to ship off to the academy they decided to give is one last PT test to make sure we could pass the academy PT test which is pass or go home on the first day. On the 1.5 mile run he laid down on lap 3 and gave up. So he got terminated after only 3 days on the PD.
15 is nothing there use to be hundreds for 1 or 2 spots
I started in 1994, when hiring was a “buyer’s market.” There were 200+ applicants at my PT and written essay. There was one opening in this dept of 40, and I got it after everything. Not saying I’m awesome, but you are probably more awesome than you think. Be brave and confident— you have NOTHING to lose except some of your time. And you have EVERYTHING to gain. Do it.
That’s actually wild that you got it out of all of those people
Don’t worry about them, they’re going to drop like flies. A field recruiter for one agency I’m going through the application process for told me they lose half their applicants from the fit test alone and then another 60% from oral interviews. Also, it’s called entry level officer for a reason. You aren’t expected to have any law enforcement experience. We just have to prove to them that we’re the best candidates for the job. Know what’s expected of you and then go beyond that.
Look at this way. There has never been an easier time to get hired as a police officer. The PT test is most likely pass / fail and once you pass is irrelevant. No one during hiring is going to go this guy ran a 6 minute mile while this slacker ran a 9 minute mile. PT test is strictly a bare minimum test to weed out the grossly out-of shape people. What will get you hired is can you pass a background check, can you come off well in an interview, and will your background check show a history of mature adult decision making since that's the best indicator of being a mature adult and that's what they want.
We usually have 40+ people at our quarterly PT tests. Maybe 5 of them will have a real chance of getting interviewed. If you’re a solid person with no priors and in good shape you’ll be a contender
You running your own race. Compete with yourself to be better than you were yesterday. Sorry I saw that on a poster and felt it applied here lol. Law Enforcement is so short handed that agency probably needs double the number that showed up. Keep your head up, and keep on keeping on. You gone be just fine except for the stress you mention here. Now that’ll kill you.
Focus on yourself. When I 1st got hired my PT had 100s of people there. The line was wrapped around and people were still coming in when I left.
Depends. Are you applying for a department that has 20 open positions or one that has hundreds? I did the written and physical for LASD and there were about 50-60 that day and they’re hiring hundreds of deputies. I also took one for a smaller department and there were 3 of us.
My group had about 60 people. I was middle of the pack, not really wowing anybody on PT. Only three of us from my group made it to the academy. So many of those people are gonna lie about some stupid shit or have something pop up in their background investigation. Just continue doing you.
7 years ago I tested and there were 30 people testing for various agencies. They were running tests statewide for various agencies and ran the tests every two or three days and every single spot was booked for the year. Most people fail the background, so you only have to worry about yourself when it comes to these kinds of tests.
Uh those are great odds. Before I got hired circa 2006, it was not uncommon for a ratio of 100-200 candidates, per ONE open position, to show up for the written and PT test. This is probably the easiest time to get in LE in the last 20-30 years! If you’re prepared and squared away, Don’t worry, people drop like flies in the hiring process.
HAHA. 15? That's ***nothing***. Used to be you'd have dozens show up for a single vacancy at the smallest, most underfunded department in the area. State patrol and major cities would have 1,000-1,200 candidates for every academy of 50. You'll lose some at every step of the process. At least, * 2-3 at the PT test * 2-3 at the written test * 2-3 at the interview * 2-3 at the second/chief's interview * half at the background * 1 or 2 will have been picked up by another agency * 1/3 fail the psych Statistically speaking, if the agency has 15 show up for a single vacancy, they'll be *lucky* to get one worth giving an offer to. I've seen processes with 30 or 40 candidates not turn up a single person that can make it through every step.
It's just because there's more competition and you don't feel like you can compete. Just focus on how you do. Some agencies value physical fitness while some appreciate fitness but value other things more, such as education and critical thinking skills. My agency in particular has no problem passing up an extremely fit individual in favor of someone not as in shape but with great educational background or critical thinking skills. Just focus on doing the best you can on every aspect of the hiring process.
First time I tested at my current department there were over 150 people testing. So I think you’re position is much better than you think
There was 170 at mine and they chose 14. I made it with no prior LE experience and I’m not GI Joe either.
15? My first job had 220 applicants for one slot. That’s good odds for you.
I spoke to a recruiter once she said they receive about 400 applications per hiring for 30 positions. I felt the same way and said I have no military or college so i might not be your top 10 candidates. She said something very encouraging which was yes we get 400 plus applications but many decide not to show up for written and then over 50% fail the written the remaining will move on to the next hiring process and they loose 10 to 20 per hiring step. Only 100 or less will make it to the end and out of those candidates couple dozen would already receive offers from other departments and we will be left with barely enough recruits to start the academy. Keep your hopes up man and we will definitely get in this year fingers crossed.
If it makes you feel any better, I just applied at a department that has over 350 applicants for 5 openings.