Reasonable Follow-Up Procedures
Securing a position in law enforcement is a time-consuming proposition. If you're out of work and hoping that a police job will bail you out of a pressing situation, think again. There is no definable average time that it takes for an application to be accepted, reviewed, and verified within any law enforcement organization.
Even so, it is fair to say that securing a law enforcement interview routinely takes longer than most jobs. For this reason, it is easy for applicants to become anxious and place a follow-up telephone call to the agency to see where things stand.
There is a process that is varied and specific to each agency. During this process, certain steps are taken to weed out data contained in the stack of applications. Those whose applications have met the hiring criteria, both in form and substance, will move along to the next stage. Those who failed to present a proper resume, cover letter, and acceptable personal history will likely get a quick phone call or a short note thanking them for applying, but politely letting them know they are not being considered.
A candidate's phone call to the agency after what seems a suitable period of time may very well mean a dead end for their application. It's true that checking back with the agency may show initiative to some degree, and it certainly reinforces the applicant's interest and enthusiasm, but it also shows a certain level of desperation on the part of the applicant, which has a tendency to outweigh any positive value of a follow-up contact.
Fact
Regardless of the law enforcement agency involved, those doing the hiring will agree that securing a position among their ranks is all about character. Personal integrity, patience, empathy for others, and a sense of proportion are key among the personal attributes that are sought in candidates.
In more than one law enforcement office in this country hangs a sign that reads, “This is a police station, and nothing here is off the record.” Applicants especially need to keep this in mind when the urge to follow up on their application strikes them. Many agencies make note of each time there is contact with a job candidate—it is often part of the preliminary evaluation process. Avoiding such follow-ups is absolutely vital with agencies that have made it clear that they will contact the applicant either way. Placing a phone call or dropping by just to check up on the status of the application under those circumstances might eliminate you from consideration.
