Joining the Guards??

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