Millennials Should Love Law Enforcement CareersHeres Why

Millennials Should Love Law Enforcement CareersHeres WhyMillennials Should Love Law Enforcement Careers- Heres WhyPolice departments around theU.S. have long faced challenges in recruiting well-qualified candidates for vacant law enforcement positions. At the same time, agencies struggle to keep up with attrition as more and more members of the baby boomer generation retire. The obvious solution is to look to younger generations to fill those holes. But are millennials suited to a career in law enforcement? Some Statistics According to the Pew Research Center and the U.S. Census, millennials numbered some 71 million in the U.S. in 2016, the fruchtwein recent year for which firm statistics are available. Their numbers are expected to exceed those of baby boomers in 2019. But according to other sources, less than half of this age group trusts the assekuranzbrief. What Millennials Want in a Job Millennials arent quick to settle down into a job or career for life. They change job s an average of four times before age 32. And- no surprise here- they worship technology. About 90% regularly use social media and 59% prefer a job that offers state-of-the-art and cutting-edge technology. Studies indicate that while the vast majority of new graduates research job prospects before choosing a major, and they serve in internships in order to gain relevant experience prior to looking for a job, many feel that theyre underemployed. Theyre earning salaries far below what they expected, and theyre not receiving the formal training they think they need to do their jobs well. Millennials also say that they would prefer to forgo a higher-paying job with a large corporation in favor of a smaller company with a more positive work environment, and with opportunities for continuing education and advancement. What Does This Mean for Police Departments? These findings might look like bad news for police departments at first glance. Technology? Internships? Continuing education ? In fact, law enforcement careers can offer all three. With the right perspective, law enforcement recruiters can use this information to show millennials why they should want to become police officers. Accentuating the Positive Survey respondents essentially said they want what most people want in a job a decent salary, an enjoyable job with supportive bosses and coworkers, and opportunities to learn and to move up the chain. This is exactly what careers in policing can offer. Although theyre often seen as a rigid, structured, and stagnant, law enforcement jobs come with a lot of flexibility with regard to working hours and job duties. Salary Issues The starting salary of a police officer cant be considered high, but most departments do offer some kind of step-up payment plan where officers earn more based on their years of service. The salaries are also often in line with what many other college graduates earn...and sometimes theyre even more. Education Equals Advancem ent While police jobs are one of many paths in criminal justice that dont necessarily require a college degree, college graduates will soon realize how their education can help them find even more success in their careers. Training Options Abound Few professions offer the same level of formal training and continuing education given to police officers. Candidates spend six months or more in a police academy, then they move on to an extensive field training program where they put their classroom learning into practice. Theyre then placed on the job and onto solo patrol. Police officers have the opportunity to attend training throughout their careers that can help them advance and specialize after the real job starts. A Positive Environment There are a couple of poorly kept secrets within law enforcement. The first is that policing can be fun sometimes. Dangerous? Yes. Important? Absolutely. Noble? Of course. But its also rewarding and enjoyable, largely because of the intrins ic rewards that come with helping others. The other secret is thecamaraderiethat comes from being part of the lawenforcementcommunity. There are few professionsthat offer the same sense of belonging that a job in policing delivers. A Clear Path to Success Finally, careers in law enforcement typically offer clearly defined paths toward advancement. There are rules and policies that usually articulate exactly what officers must do receive promotions, allowing workers to advance at their own pace. The Right Choice for the Next Generation The bottom line is that careers in law enforcement actually offer exactly what many new college graduates are looking for. The trick- and the challenge- for police departments is to get the message out there to this new generation of workers.