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HOW TO CHOOSE
Having read through this book, you are now aware of the many different law enforcement positions
available. You are excited about the prospect of a law enforcement career, but you don't know quite where
to begin. Your choice of a law enforcement career is narrowed by your own qualifications, your specific
requirements, personal preferences, and the availability of openings.
Begin the narrowing process by looking carefully at the Comparison Charts on pages 211 through 216.
With a red pencil, draw a line through positions that do not appeal to you at all. Then cross out positions
for which you are disqualified because of age, education, physical condition, or experience. If one of the
exams seems particularly intimidating to you, you might want to discount positions that require it, but do
not rush to rule out a position just because of the exam. Check out working hours, travel and relocation
requirements, starting pay, and opportunities for advancement. Then rank positions according to their
desirability to you. Eliminate those positions that do not meet your personal requirements.
Consider and weigh carefully your personal needs, your personality characteristics, the surroundings
you like best, and your long- and short-range goals.
· Do you have infirm parents who are going to need more and more time from you in the years ahead?
If so, avoid a position that is likely to relocate you far from their home.
· Do you like to be home every night for dinner? Then choose a position with regularly scheduled hours
like that of an Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Inspector.
· Are you physically handicapped? There are a number of opportunities available to you including
Import Specialist and Deportation Officer.
· Do you hate crowds? Do you enjoy solitude in the wide-open spaces? Border Patrol might be right
for you.
· Did you drop out of scouting because you hated wearing a uniform? Avoid the uniformed services.
· Do you like to work closely with a few others? Criminal Investigators and Special Agents tend to work
in teams.
· Do you feel strongly that every citizen should serve some time in the Armed Forces? Consider the
Customs Service. Employees of the Customs Service can take leave from their positions to enter the
Armed Forces, are assured that their jobs will await them when they return, and can earn promotions
and raises during their absence. Employees of the Customs Service can also serve in the military
reserves and collect regular pay while attending summer training.
· Do you have young children and feel that you should be around the house a good deal right now, yet
you yearn for a more exciting life? A Postal Inspector must have postal experience. You might consider
joining the Postal Service in a regularly scheduled position now and then plan to move into the position
of Postal Inspector in the future.
· Do you enjoy rubbing elbows with the great and the famous? Perhaps you would like to be a Secret
Service Special Agent despite the grueling hours and travel schedules.
· Do you thrive on long hours and look forward to lots of overtime pay? All law enforcement positions
except Postal Inspector, which is paid at a higher annual rate, earn overtime pay for overtime work.
The job descriptions tell you which positions demand greater overtime.
· Are you short on cash? Unless you can borrow startup money, you cannot be a Border Patrol Agent.
Most of the uniformed services supply uniforms, but the Border Patrol Agent must buy his or her own
uniforms, both rough duty and official, at a cost of over $1,200 and must pay for travel to the first duty
station (but not to and from FLETC in Glynco, Georgia) as well.
