28M - Ex-police (resigned) and bankrupt - career advice?

youngbuck2

missbiggles1 wrote: »

You do realise that it'll take you longer than 3 years to do your degree, don't you?

No, it won't.

I'm planning on studying to a full time equivalent (30-40 hours a week) - I will only be working part-time (20 hours or less a week). I'm fortunate enough to have a supportive family that are supporting me whilst I do this - I will pay for my own food and bills through part-time wages. I am more than capable of doing 5+ hours a day study, I will only be working 2 or 3 days a week.

I plan on studying 120 credits a year which equates to a normal 3 year degree. I've spoken to OU advisors who confirm it will take 3 years, and additionally think that with only working 20 hours or less a week, it will also be achievable.

youngbuck2

Southend1 wrote: »

It rather amounts to the same thing, I'm afraid. If you thought there was a chance you would not be sacked you would not have resigned. Resigning is an admission that you would have been sacked had you stayed.

Whether or not the above is true, this is how it will be viewed by the vast majority of potential employers.

Even if I knew I would keep my job I would 100% have left within the year. Speak to any police officer and they will tell you the same story - increased red tape, increased scrutiny, ridiculous bureaucracy, pay restrictions, pension changes etc.

I know everyone will say "well, that's the same for any industry regardless" - certainly not true. The police have far more restrictions than most professions. Did you know that it is illegal for police officers to strike? There's a specific act of parliament prohibiting that. This means that we can't take industrial action if we aren't happy. We had a pay freeze for 3 years whereas other emergency services were less affected.

I had been talking about leaving for a couple of years, as were a lot of my ex-colleagues. This provided the perfect opportunity. If I was offered my job back tommorow, I wouldn't take it. I feel like a huge weight is off my shoulders. The police is a 24/7 job. You might finish at 5pm each day and forget about your job til the following day. I was constantly on duty serving the public. If there was a fight with a bloke threatening someone else with a bottle? It was my job to intervene, even if I was on a night out with friends. Phoned at 3am to come in because of the London Riots even though I'd been on a night out or had other plans? My job to drop what I was doing and get into work.

The job has changed. I would go so far as to say more than 80% of officers have considered leaving at some point within the last few years. My gross misconduct just came along at a point where I was looking elsewhere. I can name at least 20 officers I worked with in a team of 120 officers who resigned because of changes. Probably another 80+ who have thought about it.

I loved my job, it was very rewarding and I had some fantastic life experiences and also experienced devastating life changing incidents which I did my best to assist in. I've saved lives (quite literally), dealt with devastated family members who have lost loved ones, attended fatal and serious injury collisions, stabbings, shootings and major incidents (remember the guy with gas cannisters who took hostages in Tottenham Court Road a while ago?). I completed a 27 hour shift during the London riots. I've seen a doctor perform open heart life saving intervention in the car park of a pub on a shooting victim. I've dealt with high profile figures and celebrities. I've found missing people and children that have gone missing. I've arrested burglars and robbers caught in the act and received commendations and other forms of praise. I've policed various major events, the royal wedding, the olympics, the diamond jubilee, Thatcher's funeral. I had a great career.

But unless you've worked in the police service you won't understand the level of changes that have occurred. Shift changes, pay changes, pension changes, restrictions, red tape, paperwork, and a real culture of scrutiny and blame which the public may say is a good thing, but do something slightly over the line and the wolves will come for you.

All I will say is, considering the allegation against me, I can guarantee that in a lot of other professions, it would have been dealt with as a written warning at worst. Unfortunately for me, I worked in a profession where the very highest standards were expected, and rightly so.

Perhaps I deserved the stress and ordeal I went through over a year. But at the same time, it was a blessing in disguise and gave me the final shove I needed to get out.

Anyone considering joining the police - do it, you will have a fantastic job and experience things that not many people will ever get to experience. Just beware that it is not the job it used to be.

Despite the gross misconduct charge, I know my conscience is clear. I know that the differences I made to people's lives more than negates the gross misconduct incident. I've quite literally saved at least one person's life and that's invaluable on a social level and for my personal conscience.

I know a lot of employers, once they are aware of the circumstances will view resignation as potentially an admission of guilt, but if given the opportunity I will explain as frankly and as honestly as I can.

emsywoo123

youngbuck2 wrote: »

No, it won't.

I'm planning on studying to a full time equivalent (30-40 hours a week) - I will only be working part-time (20 hours or less a week). I'm fortunate enough to have a supportive family that are supporting me whilst I do this - I will pay for my own food and bills through part-time wages. I am more than capable of doing 5+ hours a day study, I will only be working 2 or 3 days a week.

I plan on studying 120 credits a year which equates to a normal 3 year degree. I've spoken to OU advisors who confirm it will take 3 years, and additionally think that with only working 20 hours or less a week, it will also be achievable.

Speaking from experience, that will be almost impossible.

By all means have a plan, but don't make it so rigid that is collapses if it needs amendment.

emsywoo123

None of post 93 negates post 88.

youngbuck2

emsywoo123 wrote: »

None of post 93 negates post 88.

If you read the last paragraph of "post 93" you will see I agree with post 88, I will try to be honest and open and have that in mind that an employer will still need a fair amount of persuasion.

youngbuck2

emsywoo123 wrote: »

Speaking from experience, that will be almost impossible.

By all means have a plan, but don't make it so rigid that is collapses if it needs amendment.

We'll see. If I need an extra year or two it won't be the end of the world. I have a good aptitude for study, I was entered for AS-Level a year early due to performing well at GCSE (A* English Language and Literature)/

I know that was a while ago, but I'm capable of juggling a few balls and getting it done. I know it won't be a breeze. The OU advisor seemed to think I was capable of it.

Southend1

youngbuck2 wrote: »

Even if I knew I would keep my job I would 100% have left within the year. Speak to any police officer and they will tell you the same story - increased red tape, increased scrutiny, ridiculous bureaucracy, pay restrictions, pension changes etc.

I know everyone will say "well, that's the same for any industry regardless" - certainly not true. The police have far more restrictions than most professions. Did you know that it is illegal for police officers to strike? There's a specific act of parliament prohibiting that. This means that we can't take industrial action if we aren't happy. We had a pay freeze for 3 years whereas other emergency services were less affected.

I had been talking about leaving for a couple of years, as were a lot of my ex-colleagues. This provided the perfect opportunity. If I was offered my job back tommorow, I wouldn't take it. I feel like a huge weight is off my shoulders. The police is a 24/7 job. You might finish at 5pm each day and forget about your job til the following day. I was constantly on duty serving the public. If there was a fight with a bloke threatening someone else with a bottle? It was my job to intervene, even if I was on a night out with friends. Phoned at 3am to come in because of the London Riots even though I'd been on a night out or had other plans? My job to drop what I was doing and get into work.

The job has changed. I would go so far as to say more than 80% of officers have considered leaving at some point within the last few years. My gross misconduct just came along at a point where I was looking elsewhere. I can name at least 20 officers I worked with in a team of 120 officers who resigned because of changes. Probably another 80+ who have thought about it.

I loved my job, it was very rewarding and I had some fantastic life experiences and also experienced devastating life changing incidents which I did my best to assist in. I've saved lives (quite literally), dealt with devastated family members who have lost loved ones, attended fatal and serious injury collisions, stabbings, shootings and major incidents (remember the guy with gas cannisters who took hostages in Tottenham Court Road a while ago?). I completed a 27 hour shift during the London riots. I've seen a doctor perform open heart life saving intervention in the car park of a pub on a shooting victim. I've dealt with high profile figures and celebrities. I've found missing people and children that have gone missing. I've arrested burglars and robbers caught in the act and received commendations and other forms of praise. I've policed various major events, the royal wedding, the olympics, the diamond jubilee, Thatcher's funeral. I had a great career.

But unless you've worked in the police service you won't understand the level of changes that have occurred. Shift changes, pay changes, pension changes, restrictions, red tape, paperwork, and a real culture of scrutiny and blame which the public may say is a good thing, but do something slightly over the line and the wolves will come for you.

All I will say is, considering the allegation against me, I can guarantee that in a lot of other professions, it would have been dealt with as a written warning at worst. Unfortunately for me, I worked in a profession where the very highest standards were expected, and rightly so.

Perhaps I deserved the stress and ordeal I went through over a year. But at the same time, it was a blessing in disguise and gave me the finally shove I needed to get out.

Anyone considering joining the police - do it, you will have a fantastic job and experience things that not many people will ever get to experience. Just beware that it is not the job it used to be.

I know a lot of employers, once they are aware of the circumstances will view resignation as potentially an admission of guilt, but if given the opportunity I will explain as frankly and as honestly as I can.

I'm not judging you. I take what you have said here at face value. However, you have to understand that most people looking at a job application from someone who resigned while under investigation for GM will assume that it was certain to lead to dismissal. Otherwise the logical thing to do would have been to wait because either you would have been acquitted or given a warning which would drop off your record in due course or you would be sacked and no worse off than if you had resigned.

You can't change the past. All you can do is make the best of present circumstances and look to a brighter future.

youngbuck2

Southend1 wrote: »

I'm not judging you. I take what you have said here at face value. However, you have to understand that most people looking at a job application from someone who resigned while under investigation for GM will assume that it was certain to lead to dismissal. Otherwise the logical thing to do would have been to wait because either you would have been acquitted or given a warning which would drop off your record in due course or you would be sacked and no worse off than if you had resigned.

You can't change the past. All you can do is make the best of present circumstances and look to a brighter future.

I know you're not. You make a very good point and I wouldn't expect to walk into a job with my background, but I will try my damnedest to build a new career for myself. Hopefully gaining experience where possible alongside a bachelor's degree will open a few doors. I'd love to get on a graduate scheme, hopefully using the reference(s) I've built up with job(s) since the police. That's what drives me.

missbiggles1

youngbuck2 wrote: »

No, it won't.

I'm planning on studying to a full time equivalent (30-40 hours a week) - I will only be working part-time (20 hours or less a week). I'm fortunate enough to have a supportive family that are supporting me whilst I do this - I will pay for my own food and bills through part-time wages. I am more than capable of doing 5+ hours a day study, I will only be working 2 or 3 days a week.

I plan on studying 120 credits a year which equates to a normal 3 year degree. I've spoken to OU advisors who confirm it will take 3 years, and additionally think that with only working 20 hours or less a week, it will also be achievable.

Very difficult for someone who hasn't studied for 12 years and then not above GCSE level to jump to degree level study. Are you going to get your parents to pay your course fees as well?

Good luck anyway.

emsywoo123

youngbuck2 wrote: »

We'll see. If I need an extra year or two it won't be the end of the world. I have a good aptitude for study, I was entered for AS-Level a year early due to performing well at GCSE (A* English Language and Literature)/

I know that was a while ago, but I'm capable of juggling a few balls and getting it done. I know it won't be a breeze. The OU advisor seemed to think I was capable of it.

I'm not going any further with this, as you've said it wouldn't be a problem if you need longer. It's great that you are academically capable, but it's not the same thing. Of course it will help.

One final point, a reflection if you will. I appreciate you've been worried and frustrated, but a little humility can go a long way.

Just my thoughts.