Deferment, Opinions Needed!

[Matt@MSX]

Hey guys, I've had this question on my mind for a while. Hoping all you guys with experience would help. Right now I am in desperate need of another job. I haven't lost my job or anything its just a long story. Anywho, I have been offered a job by a company that I used to work for as basically there office manager. I would be handling payroll, accounts payable, answering phones, running the office, and accounting for and tracking the 6 million that the company brings in every year. I would be the only one in the office and the only person they could rely on. I have no training in this sort of thing but I consider myself to be intelligent enough to be able to handle this type of job.

I have had jobs with lots of responsiblity and have handled them fine. The owner knows I don't have any training and is willing to train me because he is looking for someone inexperienced so he can save a little money but he told me that he will teach me everything I have to know and he is confident that I can do the job well.

Now the catch is, he knows I am applying for the CHP and that is my ultimate goal, I was very open about this with him. I told him that I was looking for a job that would last through my application process ( I told him that I assumed this to be about 8-12 months). The thing is that they are looking for someone for a minimum of two to three years becuase the company is growing fast and within the next year income will at least double (at which time he will hire an additional person to help). He said that if they are going to spend the time to train someone then they want them to stick around for a while. I completely understand and agree with this concept.

I want to take this job but I am worried about having to leave if I get accpeted to the CHP. I wouldn't want to take the job and a year later finally finish the process and just leave him empty handed. I can't do that to someone I know it would just be extremely inconsiderate and as a person I can't allow myself to screw someone over like that. I know there is a deferment for up to two years, but I am not sure if you that if you would still be able to get in without reapplying (for example) if I waited one year and 10 months after getting accepted to fulfill my promise to the business owner. Also, I was thinking even if they do make me reapply, its not like I couldn't get accepted again right?

The job offers exceptionally good pay for someone my age with no degree or experience (I am 20). I would also use the time to further my education, I am working on my degree now but I am willing to stop if I get accepted to the academy. Additionaly, I have talked to a few officers and they have all said the same thing, although they do accept people that are 20 and 21 they are more prone to accept people that are 24 or 25 with more life experience and possibly a degree.

I just don't see how waiting (if I don't get accpeted this go around) is going to hurt me assuming I keep a steady job, go to school, and don't do anything like get arrested or get in an at fault accident. I think this is a rare opportunity for myself and that if I let it get away I am really going to regret it if I don't get accpeted to the academy.

This is what is running through my head right now so everyones opinion would be appreciated. If I don't take this job I would have to start applying for jobs elsewhere and possibly not be working fulltime and for much less pay. So, for those of you that have gone through the process or have experience what do you think? Is it going to take so long that I should just take the job and possibly defer the CHP a year or so if I get accepted? Or if I don't get accepted wait a couple years before applying again?

NOTE: Just so everyone knows where I am in the process so you have some idea of how long my wait is, my PAT is in 5 days, psych is the next day and ORAL is the day after that. I don't know exactly how long it takes to hear the results of the ORAL, and then start your background, and then finish your background, and then the rest of the tests that are left. You know what I mean?

Thanks all,

- Matt


Sorry for the long post....

[makakona]

you'd better pray there aren't any budget cuts, et cetera. my cousin was out of luck when he deferred for three months for the fire department and they suddenly halted everything. it was several years before he was able to pick back up where he left off.

honestly, as someone who has worked in that field, those jobs are a dime a dozen. you can make almost any work experience at all into a decent resume for a job like that. i'd suck it up and wait it out, if this is what you want to do.

[dw]

Matt,

You're list is good for two years from the date of the written test, and you can waive up to the list expiration without reapplying... Now, you still need time to make it through backgrounds, medical, and psych -- basically, you have to be in the Academy within two years of the written test date.

Two or four years is a lifetime in the State of California, but my completely uneducated opinion is that we don't have any freezes in the works. In fact, I'd bet we continue hiring like mad for quite some time. The minimum QAP score to move on to backgrounds does change and right now, with scores of 85 and above moving to backgrounds, is a good time to get on the job. Taking lower scores benefits those such as yourself who may be well qualified with less life experience. With all other things being constant, one would assume your QAP interview to be stronger in a few years once you have more career and life experience, so there's probably no harm in putting things on the back burner. (The thing that would suck was if you got an 85 this round and were moved along to backgrounds... You waive. Three years later, you test again and get a 90, but we're only taking 95's... But who knows what it will be like then.)

I came on when I was 21 and think it was one of the best decisions I ever made -- something I was not conscious of when I did it. I now see the value of being retired at age 51. "If I were you..." I'd say to hell with this other job and focus on the Department. You have a job now and hopefully can wait out a few weeks at least to determine your QAP score. You may even have a better feeling in a week after you leave the QAP interview.

Good Luck.

[Welpe]

At what point do you decide to waive? Is it once you are given an offer to go to an academy class?

[dw]

At what point do you decide to waive? Is it once you are given an offer to go to an academy class?

Waivers are generally during the background phase... Can be before, during, or after the investigation. You can also waive once cleared medical and psych and have an invitation in your hands.

[Welpe]

Thanks, dw! :cool:

[bcjack]

Don't take any chances...If you are in the process, suck it up and stay in the process. retiring at 51, 52 is a lot better than retiring at 55, 56, 57...Who knows, you could get hurt, sick, or whatever while you defer...JUST GO FOR IT NOW!!!!!:biggrin:

[Matt@MSX]

Thanks for all the information guys, I really appreciate it. I have an idea I think I might want to try. I am thinking about taking the job and telling the guy I would like a 60 or 90 day grace period where I can evaluate the job and he can evaluate my performance. If I I don't feel its for me, or he feels I am not the right man for the job that we can end it right then and there, no hard feelings. I have to talk to him tomorrow because he has been waiting to hear from me. If he goes for this hopefully it will be enough time to get the results of my QAP and if I get a 90 or 95 then I can tell him I really don't think its for me, and if I don't then I can continue with the job and further my education before I apply again. Best of both worlds, no? Well, it sounds good in my head at least, I'll let you all know what happens.

- Matt

[Mac]

Sounds like a good idea, Matt. Good thinking.

[makakona]

where does that leave you if, say, after two weeks or four, he cuts you loose?

[SB 405]

Hey Matt ya know what I'd do?....Go ahead and take the position your talking about and say nothing about wanting the CHP in your future to your new employer. The business world is a different animal these days and employers think nothing about cutting a person loose who has been a dedicated employee for years. I've seen this time and time again and at my last job they cut a gal who had been with the company for twenty three years. Point I'm trying to make is it's a dog eat dog world so take care of yourself first and remember someone will always come along and take your place.

[junebughunter]

I see a couple problems with your potential job situation. You should never interview for a job and inform the employer you are interested in something else and You should never work for friends or family, or someone you are comfortable enough with to tell that you are looking for something else while they are interested in hiring you. Also, the fact that he is still interested in hiring you knowing what he does should be of concern.

As much of a compliment as you may take it that he is interested in hiring you to me it is a bad sign that they would rather hire someone into such an important position that has little or no experience with the job just to save some money not hiring someone with a degree or a reputable background. Especially if they plan on growing significantly.

I may be completely wrong but from the few facts about the situation you've mentioned I see a lot of bad signs. Not to mention you would be putting off a career you seem to want more, and IMO is WAY better, more appreciated and honorable than working in an office.

I could make a lot more money doing what I do now but that would ultimately be at the cost of my happiness 40 hours a week

In the end though, do what you have got to do...