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Many 911 call centers are understaffed, and the job has gotten harder (www.npr.org)
submitted 7 months ago by jeffw@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world
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[-] Gerudo@lemm.ee 46 points 7 months ago

My wife recently applied to be one in 3 different towns. They actually pay pretty well, considering. The problem is the bonkers level of background checks and pre work to even be interviewed.

The applications were between 30-40 pages. Then you have pre-tests, one of which is 2 hours long. Then the interview. If you get past all that, then you have the lie detector and drug test, and THEN you can shadow someone and see if it's the right fit for you.

Some of the questions on the lie detector are even about your family and spouses' past. She nailed every pre-test, scoring in the top percentile and crushed the interview, but she was ineligible because I used marijuana a couple years ago. I bet it's easier to become a cop.

[-] otp@sh.itjust.works 12 points 7 months ago

It'd be funny, but not completely surprising, if weed were legal where you live...lol

[-] MichaelTen@lemmy.world 8 points 7 months ago

They should pay the applicants for applying

[-] Gerudo@lemm.ee 9 points 7 months ago

Icing on the cake? 1 city said it was a 4-6 month hiring process.

[-] IphtashuFitz@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

I wonder how many potentially good hires they loose out on due to that. Most folks don’t just apply to one place and wait it out… I’d think just about any employer that make a decent offer in a couple weeks would undermine that months long process…

[-] xnx@slrpnk.net 5 points 7 months ago

Whats pretty well pay? Especially considering the mental toll they need to pay well well

[-] Gerudo@lemm.ee 1 points 7 months ago

50-75k. Even higer Depends on area and tenure.

[-] xnx@slrpnk.net 4 points 7 months ago

i dont think thats really well with these rent/home prices and the toll that takes

[-] Gerudo@lemm.ee 2 points 7 months ago

For a job that you need zero training, zero prerequisite work history, no degree etc. It's pretty decent.

In Texas, so lower cost of living here, so it stretches way better then a lot of areas.

[-] Drusas@kbin.run 2 points 7 months ago

I've done the job. The pay is mediocre. You don't need a degree or specific experience, but you do need some sort of experience showing that you can handle stress. You also have to deal with the stress of the application process, which is intense. If you can't deal with those stressors, you can't deal with the job, because it's all boredom, boredom, boredom, STRESS, boredom, STRESS, boredom, boredom....

There's a reason few people stay in the job long despite how hard it is to get.

[-] Drusas@kbin.run 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I have been a 911/police call taker. The pay is mediocre and the stress immense.

The application process will vary a lot based on the jurisdiction you're applying for. I only had to fill out about five pages of paperwork, but I did have to go through a rigorous background check, testing, etc.

Also, this article is wrong. There's no spike in adrenaline when you put the headset on; there's a spike in adrenaline every time a new 911 call comes in.

I'm very grateful that I was on the job before the opioid crisis had reached crisis levels. It's not something I had to deal with. In fact, my first thought based on my experience back then was that it's gotten harder now because you also have to take text messages, which was just starting to be part of the conversation when I was in the job.

[-] whostosay@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

It is, I've had a second degree felony charge and brother is a cop. This was within four years of the arrest. It was ultimately dismissed, but still.

[-] nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 7 months ago

I know people who do contract manufacturing work for the us military, had to get interviewed by the FBI and past weed use, and even future use (yep they asked if he would) wasn't an outright disqualifier. Still had to piss clean for the job though. Guess it depends a lot on the state and the agency you're gonna work for.

[-] reddig33@lemmy.world 38 points 7 months ago

Sounds like they should offer people more money for the job.

[-] catloaf@lemm.ee 27 points 7 months ago

And more benefits. I can't imagine that it's easy to do, mentally and emotionally.

[-] hoshikarakitaridia@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

Spoiler alert: every operator who went public about it agrees afaik.

[-] Drusas@kbin.run 1 points 7 months ago

The benefits are generally decent, but the pay is not remotely sufficient for how hard the job is.

[-] Tronn4@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

Some dumbass gonna apply AI to this position and it'll tell me how to bake a cake while getting robbed.

this post was submitted on 08 Apr 2024
147 points (100.0% liked)

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