Ventura County Question

[VChopefull]

Hi all,


I am in the very beginning of the hiring process with a couple agencys in the Ventura County area. My dream would be to be able to work for the county sheriff's Dept (VCSD) but I am realizing that I would be smarter to apply to a couple different deppartments as to increase my chances of getting on, at all. My question is...........The test for Ventura City PD is Oct. 26th and the test for Ventura County sheriff's is Nov 15th I am worried that if I get far into the process with Ventura City than I might mess myself up with getting hired by the county???

My thinking is that I wont be available (as much) for interviews and tests with my first choice agency because of my desire to just get hired.

Also will it look bad if I get far along in the process with Ventura City and then decline to go be a county sheriff?

Thaks for all the input!

[hbliam]

Apply at all of them and stay in the process until one of them hires you.

[pulicords]

+1 There probably won't be a conflict and it will take months for the process(s) to be completed. Keep all options open and hopefully one of the agencies will give you an offer. Take the first sure thing!

[VChopefull]

Thanks for the replies!

How competetive would you say the LE Job market is in Southern CA right now. I tested with Ventura County last month (Failed by 3%) and was surprised at how many people were there....I always thought it would be a piece of cake to get hired once I turned 21 (Family who is LA Coppers told me) but now I am starting to wonder if I might now have my "Pick" of which agency I go to.

The LA City cops in my Family led me to belive that PD's are practicaly begging for new officers but I am wondering if thats true now that I am in the hunt. (Recently turned 21)

[hbliam]

Thanks for the replies!

How competetive would you say the LE Job market is in Southern CA right now. I tested with Ventura County last month (Failed by 3%) and was surprised at how many people were there....I always thought it would be a piece of cake to get hired once I turned 21 (Family who is LA Coppers told me) but now I am starting to wonder if I might now have my "Pick" of which agency I go to.

The LA City cops in my Family led me to belive that PD's are practicaly begging for new officers but I am wondering if thats true now that I am in the hunt. (Recently turned 21)


If you pass everything you will get hired eventually. There are going to be people with more to offer then a 21 year old so you are competing against them. That's why you apply at every agency you wouldn't mind working for.

[pulicords]

With the economy going the way it is and people realizing how at risk their retirement plans could be, I believe law enforcement is going to become more of a attractive option for young people.

When I first entered this field in the mid 1970's, there was high unemployment and inflation. It wasn't unusual for there to be 200-300 people testing for every police position available on small departments. Do everything you can to get hired by a decent agency ASAP, because it isn't going to get easier in the foreseeable future.

[Showboat]

Apply everywhere, but be sure to have an answer if you are asked about why you have so many applications out.

[siryessir]

Does Ventura Sheriffs have an oral interview, I'm taking the test on Nov 15. If you have recently gone through the process can you fill me in on what to expect that day? Thanks in advance.

[VChopefull]

Does Ventura Sheriffs have an oral interview, I'm taking the test on Nov 15. If you have recently gone through the process can you fill me in on what to expect that day? Thanks in advance.

That day (I will be there too) we will take the written test and then wait for results if you passed (above 70 percent) then you get to attempt the pat directly after(Easy 1 Mile in under 10:30 and hop a couple 6ft walls).

The test is tricky many people have to take it 3 and 4 times before they have favorable results. (I am on my second). I would recomend you study.!

I know this because I was an explorrer with the agency untill I aged out at 21 and have friends both on the department and in backgrounds now.

There is an academy in Jan and one June 1st on the books. The applicants testing on Nov 15th are supposed to be in the June academy.

[siryessir]

Where do you test at? I'm waiting on the e-mail that gives me the directions and time of test.What kind of questions should I expect on the test?

[Showboat]

Where do you test at? I'm waiting on the e-mail that gives me the directions and time of test.What kind of questions should I expect on the test?

For the written, use Norman Hall's Police Exam prep book. The questison are almost identical. Start doing the practice tests now.

Also, I don't believe there is an actual interview. But they do ask interview type questions at the first backgound interview. I'm in the process (took test in September), but on hold because I am hoping for the June academy too.

As for the PAT...pretty standard POST PAT, but there is the one mile run. That is what failed everyone. No one failed any other event, except for the one mile run. Go in proper workout attire and run as hard as you can. Remember, you have to do it in under 10:30 (and trust me, 10:30 is slow), so if you aren't preparing for it because "Hey, it's just a mile" you will fail.

The 6' wall is actually kind of short, and the fence is really easy because of the cross bar. The agility run isn't that hard and just remember to lift the dummy with your knees, not your back.

[VChopefull]

Where do you test at? I'm waiting on the e-mail that gives me the directions and time of test.What kind of questions should I expect on the test?

The test is given at a community center type place in Camarillo. (I dont remember what street it's on as I'm not familiar with that city) Study Grammar!!! Sentence structure, Spelling, Vocab and puncuation. There are some mapping questions and situational "cop type" questions but the test is mostly comprised of grammer Q's. (On average 60 percent fail, it is one of the hardest in the state)

I'm guesing that you chose to "Be notified by E-mail" on your app?? They have a problem with the E-mail's going to peoples Junk folder so watch that closley. (I just got mine last night) If you dont hear from the personnel department by Fri I would call. Pm me for the contact info.

[VChopefull]

Is anybody in the VCSD "Running Clinic" right now?

[scloninger]

I'll be going to the running clinic next Wednesday...

As to your original question you should definitely still test with VPD. They're a top notch police department and you could do WAY worse than to end up working for them. It won't mess up your process with VCSD. I'm applying to Ventura PD and in backgrounds with LASD and if anything it sped up my process with VCSD: I had my initial background interview on the 26th of September and just signed my conditional job offer and set the medical date yesterday.

Just make sure you don't give the impression that you don't care where you work. Obviously they want to hire applicants who want to work there. They asked me what would would happen if it came down to them and LASD and once I told them that I want to be working in my home county(Ventura), but was just applying other places as failsafes they had no issues at all with me having multiple apps out.

[Showboat]

I'll be going to the running clinic next Wednesday...

As to your original question you should definitely still test with VPD. They're a top notch police department and you could do WAY worse than to end up working for them. It won't mess up your process with VCSD. I'm applying to Ventura PD and in backgrounds with LASD and if anything it sped up my process with VCSD: I had my initial background interview on the 26th of September and just signed my conditional job offer and set the medical date yesterday.

Just make sure you don't give the impression that you don't care where you work. Obviously they want to hire applicants who want to work there. They asked me what would would happen if it came down to them and LASD and once I told them that I want to be working in my home county(Ventura), but was just applying other places as failsafes they had no issues at all with me having multiple apps out.

Same here. I had my prebackground on the 25th of Sept...so damnit! why do I have to be motivated and committed to finishing school. :mad:lol