Dispatch job, not this time

[joeychen]

City of San Jose posted open application period for the Police Dispatch position on Monday. I thought about it, and sent a few emails to clarify an issue with them, but then ultimately decided I don't want to apply again.
Although the process was interesting, it was freaking 6 months long! And it really irks me that they don't keep people on an eligibility list for a year or two, they make you do the whole damn process all over again if you want to reapply. Another background check, lie detector test, psych interviews etc.
I understand that even if you make it to the interview stage it's still only a 50/50 chance, but to make people go thru all that again seems like a horrible waste of money on their part.
If I wasn't just right then, why should I be just right now? Frankly I think there's some "pre-hiring" going on there anyway, cause my interview was just weird. Short and not as in-depth as it should have been, like they already had the people they wanted picked out. I think there's a bit of nepotism and stuff going on with their hiring.
Plus the whole issue with not getting any feedback on why I wasn't hired.
Besides, it would be a freaking hard job, and I don't know if I really want the stress of that, and the shift work hours. It would suck to never be able to socialise at the same time as you guys.

Comments

[emily-hahn.livejournal.com]

I think that's one of the biggest problems with public sector hiring here in CA - the whole process seems to be so drawn out and bureaucratic that if something opens up, the best qualified applicants lost hope. Like with the library branch manager position I applied for, it was 4.5 months before they scheduled the interviews. And with the state library/agency list for librarians (which is frozen so it doesn't matter), you have to get these slips in the mail for every open position. Regardless of being qualified/interested, you have to mail it back (even to say "No") in order to stay on the list.

[joeychen.livejournal.com]

Blerg, that's even worse than the San Jose jobs, they at least just have a website with the jobs, and you can sign up for email notifications of new postings.
I guess it's possibly an explanation for why some public sector jobs have such lame people in them, all the cool really qualified people realised how long and useless the application process is, and buggered off and got another job.

[emily-hahn.livejournal.com]

all the cool really qualified people realised how long and useless the application process is, and buggered off and got another job.

That's exactly it. And it was really disheartening to move back and realize that my "cutting edge" home state has a worse process for hiring than when I worked for the court system in Texas.

[scarletwench.livejournal.com]

It sucks that it's that way. All the damn red tape.

Have you ever thought of teaching crafting classes? You'd be so good. If self-employment sounds too scary, I'd say Home Ec, but I really think you'd be great at doing crafting workshops. Just a thought.