Become a Garda? Yes/No

DaDon

I'm now going into sixth year and with all the hype about LC results I'm starting to realise that I will soon have to decide what to do after school.

I'm considering joining the Gardai but am not quite sure about it, all I know is I want an exciting job, not some job stuck in an office doing the same thing over and over. Many people I know expect me to do engineering or something like that and I'm also considering that route but I'm afraid I'd get bored of it, but then people say I'd be bored as a Garda.

I'm good at school, I get good marks and would get enough points to do an engineering course if I focused myself (400+ points) even 500 if I really put the effort in.

I've heard that they don't like recruiting people straight out of secondary school so I'd probably do some college course which would help me get recruited and climb the ranks if I got in.

What college course would benefit?

What's the pay like in relation to engineering?

What are the pros and cons of becoming a garda?

Thanks!

itsallgood

DaDon wrote: »

I'm now going into sixth year and with all the hype about LC results I'm starting to realise that I will soon have to decide what to do after school.

I'm considering joining the Gardai but am not quite sure about it, all I know is I want an exciting job, not some job stuck in an office doing the same thing over and over. Many people I know expect me to do engineering or something like that and I'm also considering that route but I'm afraid I'd get bored of it, but then people say I'd be bored as a Garda.

I'm good at school, I get good marks and would get enough points to do an engineering course if I focused myself (400+ points) even 500 if I really put the effort in.

I've heard that they don't like recruiting people straight out of secondary school so I'd probably do some college course which would help me get recruited and climb the ranks if I got in.

What college course would benefit?

What's the pay like in relation to engineering?

What are the pros and cons of becoming a Garda?

Thanks!

Sounds like your only considering the Gardai for all the wrong reasons. IE: pay and adventure
There is a new thread set up about courses that help, but none will get you into the Gardai..
Pay varies....pay scale available at www.gra.ie, havent a clue what engineers earn these days

I recommend you got to college and do engineering, if your family and friends think thats what your gonna do, you must have given them impression thats what you want.
If you decide you dont like engineering you can apply for the Gardai up till your 35 if your still interested.

thekopend

DaDon wrote: »

I'm now going into sixth year and with all the hype about LC results I'm starting to realise that I will soon have to decide what to do after school.

I'm considering joining the Gardai but am not quite sure about it, all I know is I want an exciting job, not some job stuck in an office doing the same thing over and over. Many people I know expect me to do engineering or something like that and I'm also considering that route but I'm afraid I'd get bored of it, but then people say I'd be bored as a Garda.

I'm good at school, I get good marks and would get enough points to do an engineering course if I focused myself (400+ points) even 500 if I really put the effort in.

I've heard that they don't like recruiting people straight out of secondary school so I'd probably do some college course which would help me get recruited and climb the ranks if I got in.

What college course would benefit?

What's the pay like in relation to engineering?

What are the pros and cons of becoming a garda?

Thanks!

im just out of school and im going for the job! iv always wanted to do it and in my opinion a person who has always wanted to become a garda for other reasons than money is just as good if not better than someone out of college thats only doing it because they cant get another job, so i would not think that not having gone to college would hinder you if your the right person for the job

haveablast

I've a friend who joined the guards straight out of school and he's never looked back. It wouldn't be for me but he loves it. Made great friends, settled down in a new town and lives an enjoyable life.

On the other hand, don't stress too much about what you want to do next year. I didn't start college until I was 21 and still had a ball. And have ended up in a profession miles away from what I studied! Nothing's ever final and you never know what life's going to throw at you. So enjoy being a kid while you still can and don't worry too much about the future

justshane

No its defo not for you....competing against enough people as it is trying to get in! ha
honestly I think you would know yourself if you really wanted it, if your not fully sure I wouldn't go for it if I was you.

Shield

Ah come on - How many of us can say for sure we knew what we wanted when we were of Leaving Cert age. Go easy on him. For all you know, he could be Garda material in-embryo through and through.

justshane wrote: »

No its defo not for you....competing against enough people as it is trying to get in! ha
honestly I think you would know yourself if you really wanted it, if your not fully sure I wouldn't go for it if I was you.

justshane

Very true & didn't mean my comment to come across negative or in a bad way, more meant it as in when your finished school and applying for it.

DaDon

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I know that it's possible to end up doing something you never thought you would do and that pay shouldn't affect what you want to do.

I'm nearly certain I'd like being a Garda. From talking to Gardai I know it's a great job and very fulfilling. I've a strong feeling that if I went and did engineering I'd end up joining the Gardai anyway and the 3/4 years I spent studying engineering would be nearly worthless once in the gardai and would have been better off if I did something like criminal justice in college which would help if I wanted to go for a promotion.

None of my family or friends have had any real reasons for me to avoid joining the Gardai and have said it would suit me.

I know it's a bit early yet for me to be deciding but I'll need to have it narrowed down soon. Being a Garda is the only job that actually appeals to me over engineering.

Does anyone know what college course is the best to join the Gardai with??

Thanks again!

cursai

Do a course in management or public administration, Legal course would be useful too! Don't join until you have either gone to college first, travelled a bit or worked elsewhere for a few years. You'll lose a lot of your life otherwise. The gardai need people with sense, not somebody who is brainwashed or institutionalised at an early age. You have to live your life in order to POSITIVELY affect anothers. LIfe experience is priceless! For yourself and the work it involves!

justshane

cursai wrote: »

Do a course in management or public administration, Legal course would be useful too! Don't join until you have either gone to college first, travelled a bit or worked elsewhere for a few years. You'll lose a lot of your life otherwise. The gardai need people with sense, not somebody who is brainwashed or institutionalised at an early age. You have to live your life in order to POSITIVELY affect anothers. LIfe experience is priceless! For yourself and the work it involves!

Just on that point, when a member graduates from Templemore how long do they wait before their working in a station, not a clue would it be 2 weeks?!

detective

The OP is dead right to question what the money is like... its the main reason why we work. I though otherwise until the mortgage and baby came along so have no shame there. You will earn money that's as good as any engineering job to be honest. I have just 4 years service and I earned E65k+ last year. HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT TELL THE WHOLE STORY. In order to earn that money in the Gardai you literally work at every hour of the day and on weekends. Imagine finishing at 10pm, getting home by 11pm when you finish up(many Gardai commute). Now try and get to sleep by 12mn and wait for the baby to want to be fed at least twice before you're up at 4.45am to try and be in for 6am. No engineer does this for the same money.
Basic Garda pay is very poor, its the allowances and OT that bring you up.

fastbowler

detective wrote: »

I have just 4 years service and I earned E65k+ last year.

Thats some amount of ot to be earning 65k on 4th year money detective...let me know where you're stationed.. i want a transfer there

detective

fastbowler wrote: »

Thats some amount of ot to be earning 65k on 4th year money detective...let me know where you're stationed.. i want a transfer there

I was on a regional unit last year!

Shield

detective wrote: »

I earned E65k+ last year.

Some earn more and end up with broken marriages OR never getting to spend any amount of quality time with their kids because they have to come in on their rest days to catch up on all the paperwork/court dates for all the additional OT from months ago. Finding the work/life balance as a cop is very, very difficult.

I know a few who earned more, but their quality of life (by their own admission) is absolutely shyte.

Ms.Forbes

you definitely wont get 500 points

if you thought you were going to get that many points

why in hell would thinking of joining the garda

Geri Boyle

Ms.Forbes wrote: »

you definitely wont get 500 points

if you thought you were going to get that many points

why in hell would thinking of joining the garda

INFRACTION ISSUED FOR TROLLING.
Insults and trolling will not be tolerated on this forum.

Back on topic please.

angelfire9

OP I would say if you really want to be a Garda then the financial side of it is only one small factor to be taken into consideration
The hours aren't the best and the job does come with a certain amount of abuse and/or risks
Having said that I'd have LOVED to join the Gardai but i failed the medical

Did the next best thing and married one

I would say do a degree in public admin or law (something in the humanities area) get a bit of life experience & work experience before applying and if you still want to do it in 4/5 years time start applying every time recruitment is open if you are 17/18 now you have lots of time

Try talking to some of the yellow packs or newly qualified guys in your area and see what they think
Have a look on www.garda.ie to get a feel for the job

My hubby almost missed our daughter being born cos he was in court and she arrived a little earlier than anticipated
He also missed her first steps

But I knew what I was getting into in marrying him :rolleyes:

I really think joining the Gardai can be (for some) a bit of a vocation and the stress of the job and the hours and the things that they see every day of the week (fatal RTA's, murders/rapes etc.) can take its toll to which is something to keep in the back of your mind
Alot of gardai end up as closet alcholics and alot of marriages break up any of the older guys on here will back that up

BUT it can be a rewarding career and the hubby comes home with hillarious stories sometimes too....

cushtac

If you're going to go to third level I'd forget about picking a course on the basis of what you think will be good for the Gardaí and just pick something you're interested in. You're more likely to be attentive to a subject you're interested in, the increment jump they pay for having a degree is paid regardless of the subject and those public admin/crim justice qualifications will only be of benefit to your promotion when you reach inspector - which is years away.

If you've a genuine interest in law or public admin go ahead & study them, but don't pick them solely because you think the Gardaí are looking for them.

Zambia

Some good advice here. You live in a economic time when sadly you may not get to be a garda despite all your efforts. The force is likley to have its pick of recruits from Irelands best for years as the lure of a steady state income drags all and sundry to apply.

The best thing you can do is find something you really have an interest in and do that. Apply for the force as well by all means as you dont have to take it up if offered.

Steviewonder

Zambia232 wrote: »

Some good advice here. You live in a economic time when sadly you may not get to be a garda despite all your efforts. The force is likley to have its pick of recruits from Irelands best for years as the lure of a steady state income drags all and sundry to apply.

The best thing you can do is find something you really have an interest in and do that. Apply for the force as well by all means as you dont have to take it up if offered.

Good advice..:)