How to be - Information on how to apply for various careers and what the selection process involves.
The selection process for any career can be a very daunting process. The selection process for any job either in the emergency services, or the Armed Forces can be even tougher. Jobs of this nature are fantastic as they give you great job security and an amazing sense of job satisfaction. Therefore, the competition for joining jobs of this nature is usually extremely fierce. This website will provide you with every imaginable tool to help you tackle any selection process. The guides, DVD's and training courses have been carefully selected to help you achieve success. Read on to find out more, and to also read some of the recent testimonials of those people who have found success using our resources.
How to become a Police Officer
Every year literally thousands of people apply to become a Police Officer. Approximately one out of every seven applicants will make it through the selection process, which is quite an alarming figure. Many applicants are ill-prepared and they will approach the selection process having carried out little or no preparation. The selection process for becoming a police officer consists of an initial application form, which assesses a candidates ability to match the core competencies, an assessment centre, a fitness test and a final interview.
The application form is the first stage of selection. When a Police Force advertises posts they will usually use the Police Could You website as a means for attracting potential applicants. The application form is usually a paper based form, although many force's are choosing to now use an online version. It is very important that the applicant reads all of the guidance notes before he/she attempts to complete the form. One small mistake can mean the difference between success and failure. On the police officer application form there is a section that relates to the police officer core competencies. This is probably the most important part of the form as it requires an applicant to provide details of how they match each assessable area.
Once the application form has been completed and successfully passed, the applicant will then be invited to attend a one day assessment centre. During the assessment centre a candidate will undergo a written test consisting of verbal and numerical reasoning tests, a competency based interview and finally four role play exercises, or interactive exercises as they are sometimes called.
Following the successful completion of the national recruitment assessment centre, a candidate will then have to take a fitness test and a medical. Some Police Force's are also now requiring candidates to sit a final interview. To learn more about what it takes to be a police officer click the following link:
How to become a Firefighter
The National Firefighter Selection process consists of a self-questionnaire, an application form, role related physical tests, a series of written tests, and finally an interview. There are many applicants for every firefighter position, and coupled with the fact that Fire Service's rarely advertise posts, the competition is extremely fierce.
The initial stage of the selection process involves a self-questionnaire which assesses a candidates suitability for the job. As you can imagine, many applicants get carried away with the perceived glamour of the job, without first considering the requirements of the role. If a candidate passes the firefighter self-questionnaire then they will be required to submit an application form. Again, many Fire Service's are going over to an online version of the form, although some are still using a paper based version. It is very important that an applicant takes the time to complete the firefighter application form carefully, as one tiny mistake can lead to failure. On the firefighter application form itself, the applicant will have to answer questions that are based around the firefighter personal qualities and attributes, or PQA's as they are sometimes called.
Once the applicant has successfully completed the application form they will then be invited to attend a series of written tests, which include Working with Numbers, Understanding information and a situational awareness and problem solving test. They may also have to complete another questionnaire which is more commonly known as the National Firefighter Questionnaire.
Following in the written tests and the role related tests, an applicant will sit an interview which assesses the Firefighter Personal Qualities and Attributes. To find out more about becoming a firefighter click the following link:
How to become a Paramedic
There are a number of routes for becoming a paramedic. The more common routes of entry include direct entry as a Student Paramedic, or alternatively the Science Degree route. Whichever route you choose, there is a selection process. For entry into the Ambulance Service as a Student Paramedic you will need to first of all make an application. As with the Fire Service and Police Force, the Ambulance Service are gradually moving over to online application forms. They will normally give you the option to make your application either online or via the paper-based approach. Whichever option you choose you will need to submit a very careful application. For example, there have been examples where an candidate simply forgets to add a 'reference' in the relevant section of the form and as a result the form is rejected. In this day and age where the competition for joining such a service as the Ambulance Service you must take the time to complete a thorough application.
Once you have completed the application form you will then be invited to attend an assessment centre. During the assessment centre you will normally have to carry out a series of written tests and an occupational fitness test. Once you have successfully passed these you will then attend an interview. In order to become a paramedic you will also need to possess a C1 Driving Licence and also pass a driving test; both written and practical. The questions for the driving test (written) are usually multiple choice in nature and centred around the highway code. Many candidates fail to prepare for this stage of selection and as a result they end up failing.
Many NHS Trusts are also now recruiting Emergency Care Assistants (ECA's). This role is gradually taking over from the 'Ambulance Technician'. To learn more about how to be a paramedic please click HERE.
How to join the Royal Air Force
A career in the Armed Forces is now a very attractive proposition for many young men and women. This type of career, along with the emergency services, provides a decent salary and job security.
The selection process for joining the RAF begins with an initial chat at the Armed Forces Careers Office. During this initial stage the Armed Forces Careers advisor will talk through the different career options with the candidate. They will also check their suitability for joining and whether or not they have any problems which may prevent their application from going forward such as asthma.
Following the initial chat the candidate will then have to sit the Airman/Airwoman Selection test which consists of a number of timed psychometric tests. These include a numerical reasoning test, a verbal reasoning test, a mechanical comprehension test, an electrical comprehension test and a memory test amongst others. The scores from this test will determine whether or not the candidate is suitable for joining the RAF and the type(s) of career he/she would be most suited to.
Following the AST the candidate will then be required to sit a formal interview and a Pre-Joining Fitness Test. To find out more about how to join the RAF please click the following link:
How To Join the Royal Air Force
How to join the Royal Navy
There are many great careers to choose from in the Royal Navy. The selection process has been designed to assess your ability to perform your chosen career in a competent and professional manner. The Royal Navy selection process includes a number of different elements including interview, psychometric tests and a fitness assessment.
During the Navy interview you will be required to provide evidence of where you meet each of the assessable qualities. Questions such as, "why have you chosen the Navy over the other services?", and "what have you done to found out about your chosen career?" are guaranteed during the interview.
As part of the selection process you will need to sit a Royal Navy Recruiting Test which consists of a number of multiple choice timed tests. These include reasoning tests, numerical tests and mechanical comprehension tests.
To find out more about what it takes to join the Navy please click HERE.
How to join the Army
More and more young men and women are choosing a career in the Army. Not only does it offer job satisfaction and a good salary, but is also offers security, something which is lacking in the private sector.
If you want to join the Army then you will need to pass a tough selection process which includes an Armed Forces Careers Office interview, the requirement to sit the BARB test, and you will also be required to attend the Army Development and Selection centre (ADSC).
Once you have successfully passed every element of the process you will receive a start date for your commencement of training. If you would like to find out more about how to join the Army, please click the following link:
How to pass psychometric tests
The vast majority of selection processes nowadays will involve some form of psychometric test or job test. Psychometric tests can involve a wide range different tests that are designed to assess a candidate's ability to carry out the role competently and professionally. If the candidate is successful at passing the psychometric test then they are far more likely to succeeed in the role.
The different types of psychometric test used today include numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, mechanical comprehension, spctaial reasoning and work rate test, to name just a few.
To learn more about how to pass psychometric tests please click the following link:
How to Pass Psychometric Tests
How to pass the BARB test, RAF Airman Test and the Royal Navy Recruiting test
Every person who applied for the Armed Forces must go through a series of tests that are designed to assess the candidates to perform the role competently. For those people who are applying to join the Army there is the BARB test. This consists of a series of tests including Distant Number tests, Check Letters Test, Selecting the Odd One Out tests and Symbol Rotation Tests. The RAF Airman test is different in the fact that applicants must sit tests including Numerical reasoning tests, Verbal reasoning tests, Mechanical comprehension tests, Electrical comprehension tests, Memory tests, Spatial reasoning tests and Work rate tests. Finally, those people who are applying to either become a Royal Marines Commando or Royal Navy rating, there is the Royal Navy Recruiting test. This consists of Reasoning/English Language test, a Numeracy test and a Mechanical Comprehension tests.
To find out exactly how to pass either the BARB test, the RAF Airman test, or the Royal Navy Recruiting test, please click the following link:
How to become an RAF Officer
The selection process for RAF Officers consists of an initial AFCO interview. If a candidate progresses past this first stage, then he or she will be invited to attend the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre. During the OASC each candidate will undergo a series of complex tests that will assess their ability and potential to become RAF Officers. The tests and assessments consist of initial aptitude tests, an aptitude tests review, a group discussion exercise, planning exercises, command tasks including a leaderless task, final race and interviews.
To learn more about how to become an RAF Officer please click HERE.
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