| At a time when the every country is fighting to | | | | account is that during times of recession the |
| break out of the recession, many people look for | | | | police forces are typically forced to find ways of |
| a safe and secure job. These types of jobs are | | | | reducing their spending and cutting costs. The first |
| normally found in the public sector where the job | | | | aspect which is not caught up in this cost saving |
| involves providing a public service such as a police | | | | exercise is the hiring and training of new |
| officer, fire-fighter or paramedic. These are | | | | candidates. It is not cheap to put applicants |
| essential services and are often seen as | | | | through the recruitment process and then train |
| recession-proof jobs which is why they appeal to | | | | them to the point where they are ready to head |
| so many people. | | | | out onto the streets. During 2009 there have |
| Don't get me wrong, these types of careers | | | | been months where none of the police forces |
| appeal to people when countries are not in | | | | within the United Kingdom were recruiting new |
| recession it is just that the job security is | | | | candidates. |
| highlighted more in tough times. In the United | | | | So what does this mean for applicants now? |
| Kingdom alone an estimated 70, 000 applicants | | | | Well, it simply means that when police forces do |
| submit an application form to join the police in the | | | | open their doors they will be flooded with more |
| hope of starting a new career yet only a small | | | | applications than ever before, which means that |
| percentage of these actually go on to obtain the | | | | the competition is going to be even greater and |
| desired career. | | | | you need to ensure you stand out from the |
| So you would think that applying to be a police | | | | other candidates. Before we entered the |
| officer during a recession would be a job move? | | | | recession period police forces would have to |
| Well, on the positive side, should you be | | | | actively advertise that they were recruiting in |
| successful, the police officer once completed their | | | | order to get candidates to apply, however this is |
| training starts on a very good wage, they are | | | | no longer the case. With rising employment the |
| often required to work shifts which means | | | | amount of people looking for a safe well paid job |
| greater flexibility and they are not limited to the | | | | grows each and every day. |
| so called 9 to 5 office routine that most people | | | | A great example of this was when a police force |
| are desperate to escape. In addition to this, there | | | | in the UK opened its doors for just 2 hours. All |
| is usually an annual pay review, the opportunity of | | | | they did was allow applicants to download an |
| promotion and career development, a pension | | | | application form within those two hours from their |
| scheme and housing benefits. All of this would | | | | website. They then had one week to complete |
| seem to suggest a good reason for making an | | | | the application form. There was no advertising of |
| application. | | | | the position what so ever and they were |
| However, what many candidates fail to take into | | | | inundated with hundreds of applicants. |