Joining the Guards??

kerryangel

hey there everyone,

just want a little bit of advice i suppose. i am almost 26 years of age so by now you would think i would know what to do with my life. im a qualified accountant so i have spent years studying and now i am getting on my feet financially.

problem is now i am thinking about joining the Gardai. this is something that has always been on my mind but i dont know maybe im a bit too old now and all my years of studying will be wasted!!

just need to know i suppose if anyone has made a drastic careerr change like this andn are they happy now?

thanks a mil gang, any replies would be great

Beruthiel

I'm afraid you could be out of luck trying to join the Gardai

The upper age limit for entry to this profession is twenty-six.

Persons aspiring to join the service must be between eighteen and twenty-six years of age on the specified date of entry. They must be not less than 5' 9" (175.26cms) tall in the case of men and 5' 5" (165.10 cms) in the case of women.

Certain minimum standards of education must be met, that is, candidates must have achieved Grade D in at least five Ordinary Level subjects in the Leaving Certificate, which must include Irish, English and Mathematics, or in another examination which is of a standard not lower than the standard of that examination.

anyway, there's a phone number on the site, why not give them a call and see, perhaps you'll just make it in if you call now!

http://www.careerdirections.ie/CDJSP/DBAllCareerDetails.jsp?id=196

galwaydude

i have a cousin who got into the guards last year and shes only 5"1 at the most, im sure her father been a detective helped in that regard even if canvassing is not allowed.I was under the empression that the height restrictions were abandoned.

seamus

Originally posted by galwaydude
i have a cousin who got into the guards last year and shes only 5"1 at the most, im sure her father been a detective helped in that regard even if canvassing is not allowed.I was under the empression that the height restrictions were abandoned.

Yeah, afaik they had to. Allegedly a girl who's under 5' has been commissioned. A garda friend told me that Gardai were driving up to her station from elsewhere just to see it for themselves

dudara

So there's hope out there for us shorties!!

minority

none i know who joined the guards likes it.
They clean **** off wallts in cells.
They change trousers and jocks of drunks who have crapped on themselves.
They have to go out in the cold and rain etc at night and weekends.
Not one (thought they all thought it would be great at first) likes it now.

chewy

he said "am almost 26 years of age"

chewy

does anyone know of any info/books/radio interviews of what its like to be a guard these days... firsthand reports like....

i think i can guess why someone would want to be a guard and that the job has huge variety of tasks...

as someone whos participated in protests and rts 's and the like and is a regualr indymedia reader....

ive seen a lot of slagging of the gardai... ive seen some of the worst and an amount of their best... infact i had some pleasant experiences with the guards on fri sat morn sunday and monday morning of mayday... (not sat night)

i don't believe the guards are "just doing a job" though nor are they just workers with a family and kids back home just like everyone else...

ive probably shouted insults at gardai in my time, when annoyed... although i try not to... but i do find it distasteful the recent attempt of people to put up photos of suspected plains clothes on indymedia ( they have been rightly removed by .ie's editors) i hesistate on putting up photos ive taken singling out recognisable faces of gardai....

anyway

i like to read some firsthand accounts from gardai about there' jobs... although i doubt there's may about... i doubt that if any regualr on here is guard they admit ot very quickly or any online bb... just today in easons the only two books i saw on guards was one about the foundation of the guards up to 1940 or so and one about about 14 members of the guards who have been killed in duty...

im sure this end up slanging mathc but anywho...

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=39020&search_text=paul%20cummins&search_comments=on

embee

The height restriction entrance to the Gardai was scrapped two years ago.

I got all the way, but decided after much thought that it wasnt for me. When you start as a "rookie", you can literally be sent from one end of the country to the other on a moments notice, and this is the case for your entire career. Looking down the line, unless you are married with a settled family in a particular town, they can uproot you whenever it is necessary to appoint new Gardai in certain towns. That uncertainty was what swung it for me in the end.

The Corinthian

The only advice I would give, knowing quite a few Gardai, it that if you are not related to any existing Gardai, then promotion can be slow - at least to begin with.

kerryangel

Thanks gang
i think ill be under the age limit to join alright cos im not 26 yet and provided it comes up in the next few months ill be okay. my main concern is that would i feel that i wasted all my years in college and is it very late to make a career change.
i have a feelin that some of you think im a guy - im actually a girl.

thanks a mill for all the replies. only just discovered this site - its great

Sleepy

I know a couple of people that joined the Guards after college. Apparently it puts you on the fast-track for promotions so you'd hardly have wasted your time.

Sleipnir

Originally posted by minority
none i know who joined the guards likes it.
They clean **** off wallts in cells.
They change trousers and jocks of drunks who have crapped on themselves.
They have to go out in the cold and rain etc at night and weekends.
Not one (thought they all thought it would be great at first) likes it now.

I know two Gardai and they both get a lot out of it. I wouldn't say they 'enjoy' it but they are making a difference to people's lives whereas pasty-looking computer fiends like us probably won't make a difference to people's lives other than making sure their AV software is up to date.

I think it's a good career to take and I wouldn't say you've "wasted" you're college years. It's not like you dropped out.
I don't know what you did in college but there are so many different area's you can get into with the Gardai that you may find you can apply what you learnt in college.

LegacyUser

Ive been in the Gardai for about 2 years now and i would certainly recommend joining. Especially if you already have a qualification as they recognaise that and you will be entitled to a bonus in your wages, as far as i know its about E4,000 a year if you have a degree.

As for having to clean **** off cell walls - thats rubbish, a contracted cleaning company does that.

I have never changed a drunks trousers or ever seen anybody doing it.I have seen alot of disturbing things especially concerning suicides and traffic accidents also child abuse but after a while you do get used to it and the support from your colleagues is immense.

I would say go for it.

jill_valentine

Whats the eyesight level restriction for the guards? Is Laser surgery a no no?

Victor

Originally posted by jill_valentine
Whats the eyesight level restriction for the guards? Is Laser surgery a no no?

It's certainly a no-no for the army, I don't know about the Garda.

Look at http://www.garda.ie/angarda/recruit.html

http://www.garda.ie/angarda/faq.html

The vision standard requirement of a Garda trainee is Binocular Vision of not less than 6/9 unaided by glasses or contact lenses, with normal color vision.

Corksham

Those requirements surely are a piss take or a reflection of some of the archaic elements of society and surely there is a case for discrimination and predjudice. What if you were 30 with several years unarmed combat an ex-lawyer and were below the height
Maybe they should change the profile to over-weight, bad mannered, never there when ya need them individuals.

ando

My whole family is in the emergency services, my dad was upto recently fire chief, my bro and 2 sis's are now in the garda about 5 to 8 yrs. I'm the only one in the family not to join the garda or fire service, although I think I'm starting to lean in that direction as the last 3 yrs my IT carrier has been crap, really depressing I don’t enjoy it, pretty lonely job so I'm always looking around, garda possibility. I'd love to get my hands on one of those mondeo's and not worry about gatso's

LegacyUser

There is a downside too. If you become a garda a lot of your mates will look upon you differently and may not trust you as much as before. Anyone who says theres no truth to that is lying

Sleipnir

Originally posted by The fellon
There is a downside too. If you become a garda a lot of your mates will look upon you differently and may not trust you as much as before. Anyone who says theres no truth to that is lying

There's no truth to that.
Bit if a sweeping statement to make isn't it?

seamus

Originally posted by The fellon
There is a downside too. If you become a garda a lot of your mates will look upon you differently and may not trust you as much as before. Anyone who says theres no truth to that is lying

I know a few Guards. It makes no difference whatsoever unless you're a criminal.

jill_valentine

I know a few guards too, and while I can't say it happens with every single garda, in my experience, it definitely makes a difference.

DMT

Are the Gardaí even recruiting at the moment?

jank

it mightnt make a difference but if your smoking some weed or playing some poker then you will hardly invite some garda friends along to join in

id take that as fact rather than fiction

seamus

Originally posted by jank
it mightnt make a difference but if your smoking some weed or playing some poker then you will hardly invite some garda friends along to join in

id take that as fact rather than fiction

You obviously don't know many Gardai....

jank

I know some and there all really sensible people that you would/could invite but....i dont know, it might make others feel uneasy and parinoid

I could be wrong here like

DMT

I've been thinking and here's some of the advantages & disadvantage keeryangel might face if joining the Gardaí:

Disadvantages
o Probability of halving your career earnings (accountants get paid a hell of a lot more than guards).
o Potentially life-threatening job - accountants don't usually have to run unarmed after criminals pocessing needles, knives or guns.
o Shift work until/if you get promoted high enough to be 9 - 5.
o You have to see "bad shit" like suicides, road deaths etc

Advantages:
o You get to arrest people.
o When that smarmy bouncer doesn't want to let you in you can wipe the smirk of his face by showing him your Garda ID (but would you want the bouncer to know you're a guard?).
o You have a small chance of getting transfered into a "cool" section like the emergency response unit or the mounted unit.
o You get advanced driving lessons - do that hand-brake turn you always wanted too.

Cabaal

Originally posted by DMT

Advantages:
o You get to arrest people..........

and on that note you get to pull people over for speeding, I'd personally love to do that

The Corinthian

Originally posted by DMT
o Probability of halving your career earnings (accountants get paid a hell of a lot more than guards).

Hahaha! You don't know how much the Gardai make in the CAB, do you? :rolleyes:

Boston

Originally posted by The Corinthian
Hahaha! You don't know how much the Gardai make in the CAB, do you? :rolleyes:

That's because Gardai don't work in the CAB. CAB is department in the Revenue commissioners.

Victor

Originally posted by Boston
That's because Gardai don't work in the CAB. CAB is department in the Revenue commissioners.

CAB is a multi-agency agency.

Boston

Garda Síochána, Revenue Commissioners, Customs and the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs to be more precise. But the main body of The CAB comes from the Revenue Commissioners, (Which customs is a sub department of) and while the top man is a Garda its inspectors and HG's that run it. I think My point is pretty ****ed up, Ok Gardi work with the CAB. But I still think of the Cab as being part of the Revenue because of my mother job.

Victor

Originally posted by Boston
But I still think of the Cab as being part of the Revenue because of my mother job.

If your mother works for CAB, you have just broken the law by identifying her.

Boston

Couple of points.

I didn't say she did.
I didn't identify her, unless you're implying that somehow letting everyone know my mother is my mother is identifing.
I've a uncle who was shot by republicans while working for customs. I really couldn't give a **** about the law, if my mother was a CAB agent I would have the sense not to tell anyone.
she's just a HGI with the Revenue, and the way she talked about the CAB it sounded like it was just another department of Revenue like customs.

LegacyUser

No stick being an accountant girl. Society looks down on the Guards as people who got 210 in their leaving who have nothing else to do but hassle people. Im not being a prick. I do not, althought sometimes they do act that way. But seriously, If i were you, i would keep doing what you are doing.

conZ

Upsides to joining the Gardai :

Job Security,
Pension,
It is a reliatively handy job, compared to others.
Loans are easily got from Banks.
Power over Joe Public.
Drive cop cars.
Advanced driving lessons - You can take the Advanced driving course for free, but I'm sure you cant do it for a good few years.
Contacts - you'll get to know a lot of people (if your in a small town rather than a large city)
After a few year, w/ a few right choices you could well be making more than an Accountant. Also, I'd say you'd nearly have a lower stress level.
You get to say Charlie Alfa in the proper context.
Many more I cant think of...

Downsides :

Abuse from Joe Public,
Danger - just hope you dont get sent to Limerick or the likes .
Insert more here.

IMHO, if you get the job, take it. It is quite hard to get into the force though - lots of tests, interviews etc., and thousands upon thousands of people apply each time the ad appears in the newspaper.

LegacyUser

Oh let me also add, to add to the pro's. My mate lives a in a very decent estate full of Accountants/doctors/manaing directors etc AND (this is a kick in the nuts to all those people), one of the wealthiest guys who live here is a Guard. Owns a load of property. Has slick cars and also runs his own business. He is making a lot of cash on the side.

What reminded me of this was this fact:

Loans are easily got from Banks

Must be true. I always thought the bloke was sneaking cash through the backdoor but it's not. Loans ARE easily got. And you can do a lot if u have the right sort of head on top. he told me all about him. It aint bull**** either.

conZ

I know at least 4 local gardai that are very, very rich - all in one medium sized town's Garda Station.

One has ~5 or 6 houses apart from his family home - he owns about 4, and has mortgage paying on the other two. He also has about 30 horses, at least 4 seperate pieces of land - all easily 10 acres or more. He's just a plain Garda mind, took out loans and mortgages in his early years, and has just done his 30 years or whatever for retirement, though he's staying on a few more.

Another guard went in with the above guard many years ago - buying property and land. I think they share one piece of land now. He's just another normal Garda, not a Seargant or Detective.

Another Guard, he set up his own Bouncing Castle business about two years ago, and is now fairly rich. I'm sure he's all his loans payed off, as he bought a good few more castles a few months back.

Another guard then, is an Architect. He studied in College before joining, and is draughting plans on the side.

There's probably a few more I know of, just cant remember.

jill_valentine

Plus of course, there is that whole kick from the whole social duty thing...

peeps

my friends a guard and from what iv heard like any job its what you make of it.
there are some stations where you dont do much more than rounding up drunks tourest information and guarding political events (with the odd riot thrown in to spice things up), and theres other stations were your on the go non-stop chasing joy riders, stopping speeders/drunk drivers etc.
alot of it depends on where your posted which after a few years you have a bit more of say in the matter.
and like any job theres the less than squeaky clean who have all sorts of stuff on the side and are raking in the money.
it seems to me that if you can handle the different shifts to everyone else (6am-2, 2-10, 10-6am), the abuse from drunks/druggies etc, the odd person taking a dislike to you just because your a gardai, and the odd disturbing incident (car crash,killings etc) than its worth it. its a reliable pensionable job, you really have to f**k up for them to get rid of you, banks are definatly more likely to give you loans, and who knows you might actually do some good helping people.;)

kerryangel

thanks for all the advice. think i will just stick at the day job for a while, apply to the guards when it comes up and then see from there. prob would be mad to leave my own job though cos im not unhappy there or anything. its just that i always thought i would join the guards at some stage. thanks for the pros and cons though.......really got me thinkin

bug

My friend joined and is doing quite well, I'll be honest though her personality did change slightly for a few years until she got older, it was like she'd joined the mormons there for a while. I think she was 19/20 when she joined.. I think at this stage she'd like to get out of it but I dont think she has anything to fall back on.

Anyhow, if you want to give it a go then do..sure you always have your accountancy qualification.

kerryangel

thanks for that Bug. bit curious though. what do you mean his / her personalilty changed. i persume you mean they got all serious or something

bug

she went a bit funny, kind of false and distant. she started hanging round and going out with just guards too. I dont know if she could draw a line between her job and "life". Perhaps it was just a phase anyway, she is back to normal now.

chewy

some interesting dicussion there alot of rubbihs about getting to drive fast.. it not really the owning of lots of houses that bothers me....

would love to hear more about their day to day work...

iwouldn't have thought many guards although would have a prob with there mates smoking spliff while playing poker, sure they not that bothered about individuals smoking on the job either...

in what ways do guards do good service for the people