TALKINGBLUES BLOG

It will be an interesting set of assessments for the Met this time around. Normally, in any set of candidates, there is a good mix of age, education and life experience. Many out of this group will manage to deselct themselves at assessment. Interestingly however, with the Met recruiting exclusively from its Specials, PCSO’s and support staff, many of these difefernces in candidates backgrounds will disappear. So, almost everyone will have police experience in one form or another. All will be telling the same kind of stories, have the same backgrounds, and probably be of similar ability. Having a  police background will not make you stand out, or give you an advantage in the way you deal with something, as everyone else will have the same background. In a world where everyone is special, nobody is. The key thing this time around will be to stand out (in a positive way of course). Being good was never good enough before. this time around, being good will probably mean that you are only average. The key as ever is to prepare. Once Boris has spent his money on this campaign, it will be a long time before the Met recruits again.

CNC are recruiting for new constables, based at Sellafield in Cumbria. The closing date is august, although we are sure that they will get loads of applications from others who would normally have looked at Cumbria Police. If interested, apply now, as we feel as soon as they get enough applications they will close applications.

We have put a course on in Hatfield in order to cater for the Surrey assessments next month(May). The course will be in our normal Hatfield venue at the Oak Hotel, on Roehyde Way, next to the University. We have already started to take bookings for this. Whether you come with us or not, make sure you prepare well. Compettion will be fierce for these places, and this chance will not come around again for a long time!

We have an unconfirmed report that Surrey Police will be recruiting shortly, with assessment centres in May. We would advise that you contact the force for further details, as they are I think one of the daft ones that have additional criteria for applicants. Surrey always used to have problems recruiting, with the Met being on their doorstep and paying higher allowances. You could be in a met area a mile away from a surrey police station and get paid £6K more. However, the Met have stopped recruiting, and as most of the forces are not taking on either, Surrey would be a good way in.

The CNC are currently recruiting for new police constables with a closing date of 28/2/11.

Ordinarily, many prospective candidates would prefer to apply to their local force, (especially since the CNC vacancies are in Cumbria). However, with many forces if not all having suspended recruitment, you can bet there will be a massive number of people after the CNC posts. In the North West for example, Cheshire, Lancs, Merseyside and GMP will not be recruiting for the foreseeable future, measured in years not months. So, a lot of people who would have applied to those forces will try CNC.

At the risk of being self serving, it is going to be really tough to get into this force just now. Maybe we can improve your chances.

Regards