Industry Guides
Leaving the Service
Whether you're leaving the police after 30 years' service or have decided to change careers after several year of service there is a multitude of opportunities in the public and commercial sectors to apply your policing skill sets.
As a police officer, you'll have developed skills and knowledge that are attractive to a wide range of employers outside the police service. So there's no real reason to be concerned about your employability!
We do recommend, though, that you take time to think about what sort of lifestyle you want in your career outside the police. For example, not everyone who's completed 30 years of shift work wants to carry on working shifts!
You will also find that the selection processes outside the police may be somewhat unfamiliar to you. For example, many potential employers prefer to receive a relatively short CV from applicants. From experience, we know that many long service police officers are tempted to submit long CVs, with almost a full life history! To get that interview, and then the job, it's important to have a clear understanding of what your prospective employer really wants - so write a short CV if that's what the prospective employer wants.
There is a specialist recruitment agency whose complete focus is offering advice and guidance to former, retired and about-to-retire police officers. This service is called Police Skills.
Over the last five years, over 5000 officers have secured jobs through Police Skills. To find out more about the opportunities available, please call Alex Martin on 0203 119 3325. As a former officer with Essex Police, Alex will be delighted to discuss your current situation and future prospects.
