Job Seeking is More Than the Application

This seems to be like the movie “Groundhog Day” but nearly every time there is a hiring cycle this topic comes up. The practical side of me would believe that sooner or later there would be a group of applicants that would understand this process but alas not, so here goes. Seeking a job today in the competitive market of emergency services is difficult at best. Now I am including all of emergency services (police, fire, EMS and EMA) for there are truisms that apply for all. Good jobs are hard to get. With so many agencies reducing their ranks due to budgets, there are fewer opportunities for employment within the governmental sector. Secondly from the hiring agency perspective, your role in the application process is to ensure that you make the application as user-friendly as possible for the human resources or whatever the hiring authority may be.  I know it sounds strange but making mistakes or having omissions will not get you noticed in a good way. You are to avoid any reason to end up in the incomplete pile or inaccurate pile but go directly to the hiring pool stack.  Most of this process on your behalf is all preparation which calls for an investment of your time.

Most departments now have an on-line application process. OK, that is not too difficult. You can sit in the comfort of your home and fill-in the blanks for the preliminary application. This is the first step and often no more than some basic biographicals. However, sooner or later it is going to get tricky. The questions come up for copies of your school transcripts, DD Form 214 (former military), birth certificate, social security card and other certifications that are so often required. The secondary step may be that you produce an original copy for their inspection and copying. Some may accept a certified copy of these and some will allow it in a PDF format if you are still communicating on-line. The question is do you have it now? I have had applicants who have lost their card or certification and would have to order replacements which can be time consuming. If you have a deadline and the paperwork is not in, well you failed in this process. Similarly, I had an applicant want to know if I could go get his high school transcript for him since he did not have the time. I explained in a curt manner that I cannot prance into his high school and request it without legal authority.  He has the rights to his transcripts and who gets them furthermore, he has to pay for them not the prospective employer.

Bottom line here for prospective applicants is plan and get ready while you have time on your side. You know at some time you will have to produce these documents sooner or later. Get them assembled, make a file of them ready for the application and make a copy on PDF format for electronic transmittal if accepted. Have good copies made ready to go! If your school or college will not allow you to make copies but rather they will mail a copy to each requesting employer or background investigator, no problem. Have the request form ready for each downloaded and if you need a money order know where to get these as well. As soon as the request is made make the declaration to the employer that you will immediately request it and to whom should it be mailed. No foot dragging here.

I know this may have infuriated some readers. However during every hiring cycle the human resources clerk or the background investigator will have one or more applicants who are not ready. This is the unprepared applicant’s problem and they will stay in the ranks of the unemployed if their inactions continue.  Your job is to seek and get that job you have desired and so rightfully have earned. You see, job seeking is a job and it requires some time investment and work on your behalf. The rewards are the real job you want. Good luck!