Is it what you thought it'd be?

metman

I thought it might be useful, for the wannabes and those going through the various recruitment phases of the different services, to get a perspective on how your view the job now that you're in and doing it; be you Police, Fire or Ambulance.

Is the job what you thought it'd be? Is it better, worse or about as you expected?

Does it match up to the expectations you had as a wannabe cop/firefighter/paramedic etc?

Would you recommend it?

---

In my own experience the Police offers an, at times, exciting and dangerous career interspersed with extended periods of routine. The job can be very demoralising and at times depressing. It is mostly thankless.

Its a bizarre job as one minute you might be dealing with the death of a child or a terrorist bomb, and the following day you'll be back dealing with shoplifters or domestics. This is difficult to get your head round at first but you adjust to the rollercoaster of mundane versus extraordinary.

The experiences to which you will be exposed in the police you would never experience in any other job had you a hundred lifetimes. You will see life as it really is, in the raw, and will quickly attain a healthy dose of cynicism. You'll spot a thief/lowlife at a thousand yards, on or off-duty. You'll see death, horror and human misery on a regular basis but on the flip side you'll also get to lock up some nasty and dangerous people and will be in a privileged position to reassure, help and on some rare days make a difference to someone's life. Its a cliche, but its the truth.

Policing as a career has pretty much lived up to what I thought it'd be, but you don't factor in the rubbish times as a wannabe. Would I recommend it? Hmmm, if you do your homework, know what you're getting into, and if you still fancy it, go for it. Anyways, who wants to sit in an office 8 hours a day for thirty years!

timmywex

Great idea metman!

FGR

I was prepared for the policing side of things however I did not expect the vast amounts of paper that are pushed around.

There's a lot of work in conducting a proper investigation and trying to work with parties involved within that investigation - especially when some are looking for immediate results and others are being completely unco-operative in any shape or form. Statements, Counter statements, Cautioned Statements; Detentions and Compliance with Video Recording regulations..it can all take it's toll.

Public Order duty can be hilarious at times. It's not a simple matter of charging and release anymore as much as it is about releasing pending investigation. There's more to it in that you're expected to log the incidents via telephone at the street side..just as things are getting chaotic. The poor cars, uniforms and lack of manpower..

-BUT-

Every day is different. I have days where I don't want to come in (like everyone) but I have many more days where I look forward to the day ahead. What's going to happen next and what can I do to improve things? No office job can do that.

I can be on foot patrol one day; the patrol car the next day..and then sitting down and tackling into files the next. It's all about variety and you know what they say about it.

TheNog

When I was a wannabe I wanted to get as much information as possible about the job from the days gone by to present day policing. I spoke with my dad (retired) and family members (presently in the force). I, like a stalker, dropped into Garda Stations whenever I was out and spoke to serving members, some young, some old. They all had different opinions on the job from couldn't care less, to loving it and then to down right hating it. For me it was a calling. A job which offered variety day in, day out. I was prepared for the boring times and for the exciting and horrifying times. For me I was a mature 30 yrs old so I knew what I wanted and to be happy in my job.

Unfortunately I didn't really understand the paperwork end of it. Files I don;t mind but its the bloody reminders and updates and reports that I spend most of my time doing.