College Experiences That Helped a Police Officer at UCLA Police Department Succeed
To prepare for a career in public service, maintaining a clean record and obtaining a bachelor's degree are crucial, as the latter is a requirement for promotions, and a strong work ethic cultivated through balancing school and employment provides valuable multitasking and time management skills. The interviewee emphasized the importance of careful conduct in today's digitally documented world, stating, "Everything is being recorded now," while also highlighting the transferable skills gained from diverse work experiences such as "working at a grocery store" or "being a teacher."
Responsible Decision-Making, Higher Education, Work Experience, Time Management, Multitasking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Lindsay Schirner
Police Officer
UCLA Police Department Department
UCLA, 2015
n/a
History, Art History
Government & Public Sector
Legal
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Maintaining a clean record and avoiding trouble is crucial, especially given the prevalence of social media.
2. A bachelor's degree is essential for this career path, and further education may be beneficial for promotions.
3. Balancing school and work develops valuable multitasking, time management, and problem-solving skills, all of which are highly relevant to the job.
Transcript
Lindsay, taking you back to your time at UCLA, what did you do in undergrad that set you up for success in your career?
The biggest thing was staying out of trouble. While the college experience is sometimes portrayed as a time for questionable choices, I always tried my best. I had a focus on public service and didn't want to do anything that would prohibit me from pursuing that career.
I realized my future career might put me in the spotlight. I didn't want my past to negatively affect me. This is especially important now, as social media wasn't as prevalent eight years ago when I graduated. Everything is recorded now, so be careful and don't get yourself into trouble.
Going to school and getting a bachelor's degree is also important. Promotions now require at least a bachelor's, and sometimes a master's. It doesn't matter what your degree is in; mine is in history, and I don't use it directly, but we have officers with degrees across the board. Just get a degree.
Having a job is also crucial. Learning to balance school and work at the same time builds a strong background for this profession. You need to learn to multitask and develop good time management skills. It doesn't matter what your degree or job is in; just have some kind of experience.
I worked at a grocery store, was a caregiver, worked in restaurants, retail, did data entry, and was a teacher. It really doesn't matter what it is; you will develop skills that will help you in law enforcement.
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