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Hello, my name is Miguel and I am a current High School student. I'm conducting an interview with any professional in police and detectives field for a foundations in Health science class project about careers. I have created a total of 13 questions. Comment on this post, answering all 13 questions to be apart of my assignment.
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
3.What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
4. How can I decide if i should earn a P.H.D. in this field ?
5. Were you in a college program?
6.Did you have to pivot and go back school at a later date?
7.Did you shadow another professional in the field?
8.Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
9.Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
10.What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
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Kim’s Answer
Hi Miguel!
let's give this a try, although I retired 15 yrs ago, it seems like yesterday!
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
Law Enforcement (Airport Police). I liked helping people, liked the Airport environment, liked not having to buy a professional wardrobe, and didn't want an 8-5 or desk job.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
At the time - none was required, although, I had a Bachelor's degree (4 yrs) in Sociology. Currently, a 2-yr degree is required by many departments.
3.What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
Before getting into that, I was working as a parking lot cashier at the airport. All my jobs prior to that were retail sales. After retiring, I became a job placement counselor at a state workforce office.
4. How can I decide if i should earn a P.H.D. in this field ?
A PhD would be way more education than required, and honestly, could keep you from getting hired because they would possibly consider you to be "over-qualified." You don't want to race through education from Bachelor's to Master's to PhD for 3 reasons. 1. your choice of career may change over time. 2. some jobs offer tuition assistance, and it's always nice to get help paying for schooling, 3. Life experiences enhance what you "take-away" from the education. You learn a lot more if you are able to relate to it. You can always go back to school later. Take your time! Plus, if you have a PhD, and don't get into management for another 12 years, your education will be considered "outdated." It's good to have a recent advanced degree when going for higher positions.
5. Were you in a college program?
no.
6.Did you have to pivot and go back school at a later date?
Ooooh. Good question! So, actually, after I retired, I forgot to mention, I did some freelance work for attorneys for 5 years, and did take some paralegal classes, about 18 hrs, but did not get a degree.
7.Did you shadow another professional in the field?
no
8.Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
Sort of. Currently retired, but involved in small town municipal politics. I was politically active while in school, joining 2 school clubs, one political, one environmental, and one community organization that was political-environmental. It was a good experience.
9.Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
My final semester, I was working 40 hrs. a week. I struggled with Geology and Colonial American History, both taken as Electives! (I worked midnights and went straight to school - these were my first 2 classes. dumb move). My lowest grades were a total of 4 C's, and that was two of them.
10.What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
College taught me to research and write - strong analytical thinking skills. Law enforcement taught me the importance of being part of the team. It gave me exposure to a very diverse group of people, taught me to interact with them, respect for all cultures, the ability to know when to exercise discretion - and when not to, to accept responsibility for my decisions. It also taught me a whole lot about Employee Relations, as I was active in a Police Association and worked on securing pay raises for our department. A lot of political stuff.
Parting thoughts: law enforcement is a "calling," and, if you feel yourself being called to it, I admire and respect your decision. It is not the same as it was 15 years ago. We didn't have bodycams or dashcams. Everything nowadays is being recorded by somebody, so you always have to be sure of what you are doing and why you are doing it. Never stop learning. Never stop training. Be Safe
let's give this a try, although I retired 15 yrs ago, it seems like yesterday!
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
Law Enforcement (Airport Police). I liked helping people, liked the Airport environment, liked not having to buy a professional wardrobe, and didn't want an 8-5 or desk job.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
At the time - none was required, although, I had a Bachelor's degree (4 yrs) in Sociology. Currently, a 2-yr degree is required by many departments.
3.What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
Before getting into that, I was working as a parking lot cashier at the airport. All my jobs prior to that were retail sales. After retiring, I became a job placement counselor at a state workforce office.
4. How can I decide if i should earn a P.H.D. in this field ?
A PhD would be way more education than required, and honestly, could keep you from getting hired because they would possibly consider you to be "over-qualified." You don't want to race through education from Bachelor's to Master's to PhD for 3 reasons. 1. your choice of career may change over time. 2. some jobs offer tuition assistance, and it's always nice to get help paying for schooling, 3. Life experiences enhance what you "take-away" from the education. You learn a lot more if you are able to relate to it. You can always go back to school later. Take your time! Plus, if you have a PhD, and don't get into management for another 12 years, your education will be considered "outdated." It's good to have a recent advanced degree when going for higher positions.
5. Were you in a college program?
no.
6.Did you have to pivot and go back school at a later date?
Ooooh. Good question! So, actually, after I retired, I forgot to mention, I did some freelance work for attorneys for 5 years, and did take some paralegal classes, about 18 hrs, but did not get a degree.
7.Did you shadow another professional in the field?
no
8.Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
Sort of. Currently retired, but involved in small town municipal politics. I was politically active while in school, joining 2 school clubs, one political, one environmental, and one community organization that was political-environmental. It was a good experience.
9.Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
My final semester, I was working 40 hrs. a week. I struggled with Geology and Colonial American History, both taken as Electives! (I worked midnights and went straight to school - these were my first 2 classes. dumb move). My lowest grades were a total of 4 C's, and that was two of them.
10.What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
College taught me to research and write - strong analytical thinking skills. Law enforcement taught me the importance of being part of the team. It gave me exposure to a very diverse group of people, taught me to interact with them, respect for all cultures, the ability to know when to exercise discretion - and when not to, to accept responsibility for my decisions. It also taught me a whole lot about Employee Relations, as I was active in a Police Association and worked on securing pay raises for our department. A lot of political stuff.
Parting thoughts: law enforcement is a "calling," and, if you feel yourself being called to it, I admire and respect your decision. It is not the same as it was 15 years ago. We didn't have bodycams or dashcams. Everything nowadays is being recorded by somebody, so you always have to be sure of what you are doing and why you are doing it. Never stop learning. Never stop training. Be Safe
Thank you!
Miguel