The Police Application Thread

Thank you for your application for the above post. I regret to inform you that you were not shortlisted on this occasion as you have not successfully evidenced the competencies required for the role.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications received, your application may be marked prior to the closing date.

If you have applied for the role of Communications Operator, Special Constable or Police Community Support Officer you will be unable to apply for the same role until 6 months have elapsed from the date of this e-mail (this does not exclude you from applying for other roles advertised on the website).

Waaaaaaaah :(
 
Sorry to hear that dude. It's not an easy selection process. What did you apply for?

SC.

Though I hadn't done too badly on the questions either. Ahh well never mind. Always next time, hopefully! Least they got back to me pritty sharpish (same week) as opposed to making me wait weeks or months!
 
Out of interest has anybody here managed to join as a special after initially not being 'short listed' with your first application? Were you contacted a couple months down the line? Or did it happen after your second or even third application?
 
Out of interest has anybody here managed to join as a special after initially not being 'short listed' with your first application? Were you contacted a couple months down the line? Or did it happen after your second or even third application?

If you haven't demonstrated the required competencies, then you won't be contacted. You've not been shortlisted because the application wasn't good enough, not because of numbers.
 
If you haven't demonstrated the required competencies, then you won't be contacted. You've not been shortlisted because the application wasn't good enough, not because of numbers.

Thanks for clearing that up. Looks like I'll have to do a better job on the questions/gain some more 'life experience' next time assuming those were the likely weak areas.
 
The race and diversity one always catches people out. Do you have a copy of what you sent?

I don't but I'll try and find the questions and remember what I put for them. The only question I though I might have done poorly on was the 'planning and event at work or at home'.

Tell us about a time when you have used your communication skills to resolve a problem.

I used the example whilst at university that we had a powercut and I was the only one with any form of light so had to round everybody up by calling out to them and leading them to the lounge one by one and waited for power to return.

Tell us about a time when you have worked as part of a team that had a successful outcome.

For this I used the example of planning our final year exhibition at uni which involved everything from fund raising, marketing, regular meetings and the put up/take down.

Tell us about a time when you have followed through with a course of action despite someone else disagreeing with you.

My final project which was a practical piece that my tutors thought was too complicated/required too much skill & time that I didn't have. I completed it and graduated with a 2:1.

Give an example of when you have used your initiative.

I can't remember what I used for this but I struggled with this one.

Edit: I used the example of evacuating my housemates at university when there was a fire behind our house. Calling 999 for the fire service and then knocking for our neighbours to see if people were in/to evacuate them too.

Describe a time when you have planned an event either at work or at home.

For this all I could think of was organising my Dads suprise 50th birthday, so co-ordinated friends and family.

Tell us the reasons why you want to become a Special Constable.

I put stuff like wanting to help my local community, a sense of purpose, something challenging and rewarding. And to also see if a career as a regular would be for me.

Tell us what tasks you expect to be undertaking as a Special Constable.

For this I wrote all the duties that a regular would have with no less responsibility. Basically from information I found on the site and also from reading their SC's blogs/daily diaries.

These are quite brief answers as I'm at work so isn;t exactly what I typed just the general jist of it.

There was no race and diversity section as such just an 'equal oppurtunites'.

The rest of it was basically just information about yourself, employment, tattoo's, convictions, your family etc.
 
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I've been quite fortunate in that,a friend of mine who has also been thinking about becoming an SC already has a friend who is one. Her sergeant is apparently head of recruitment for three rivers and wants to meet us both next Saturday.

Aparrently my rejected application doesn't matter but I want him to have this double checked before making the effort again.

Obviously I'd like to go in prepared and will have some answers prepared should I be asked things like 'why do you want to be an SC?', 'What skills/traits do you have that will help you with the role?', 'What do you expect' etc etc.

Can you think of any questions that they might ask? or can anybody remember any that they were asked at any point of the application/interview process? as it'd be a big help to us both.

Thanks.
 
Out of interest has anybody here managed to join as a special after initially not being 'short listed' with your first application? Were you contacted a couple months down the line? Or did it happen after your second or even third application?

Took me a couple of attempts to get in. I timed it right though, before the rush began so I didn't have to wait 6 months between applications.
 
I'm in the process of applying right now, I have my SET in a few days time.
That doesn't worry me so much, what does worry me is something I read on Strathclyde's webpage - Applicants must have a BMI of between 18-30.

My BMI is sitting about the 29 mark just now, and I am in no way overweight! Why would they even use the BMI system?!

I've still got a few weeks worth of fitness training for the cardio side of things and I fear that I'll build up muscle density in my bottom half possibly pushing me well over the 30 mark.

Anybody know how strict they are regarding this?
 
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