Unique skills and abilities ex-police officers posses[^1]

Being a police officer requires substantial physical fitness, the ability to make quick decisions and solve problems, communicate with people, keep calm and make the right decisions under quite unfavorable conditions. The more time you spend on the job, the sharper your instincts have become. The qualities that a police officer develops while on duty, however, are certainly not specific only for this job but can be applied to many other positions both within and outside the scope of law enforcement.

Here are some of the qualities and abilities a police officer acquires while performing their duties:

Excellent communication skills

A police officer deals with a large range of people on a daily basis. They need to know how to approach a hostile suspect and at the same time how to calm down a victim of a crime or treat a confused witness. Quite often police officers are approached by foreigners who ask them for assistance if they are lost or by children and elderly people who need some kind of help. All these encounters, teach them how to improve their multicultural and multinational communication skills. In addition to that, many police officers speak at least one foreign language, which is a huge plus both for a law enforcement career and for one in the civil sector.

Great sales abilities

Sales experience may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when talking about police officers, however, if you think twice, you will realize that “selling” is part of their everyday job. The truth is that the police officer has to sell us a few quite unpleasant things such as speeding tickets or court dates. When the police officers approach someone who deserves a speeding ticket, for example, they need to do it very carefully and be polite with the person. They should be ready to answer a few questions or clarify some traffic rules in a calm manner and being able to answer similar type of questions regularly is a great asset for any salesperson. So, if you are a police officer, who needs to list some of their skills and qualities, think of the numerous times you received a “thank you, officer” after handing that person with a fine, and put great sales abilities in your resume.

Outstanding approach to problem-solving and critical thinking

The job of the police officer includes solving all types of problems on a daily basis. In order to do that as efficiently as possible, law enforcement officers need to be able to think critically. As professionals, they have to analyze the situation very quickly and choose the best method to resolve it. It is true that in some of the cases the police officer needs to exercise power in order to prevent a crime or accident but in many situations, negotiations or more creative solutions are also efficient.

Team players

A police officer needs to be a great team player in order to do the job properly. Officers communicate with dispatchers, colleagues, and superiors all of the time. Generally, this means that law enforcement officers are patient, consistent and dedicated to their duties.

Independent and reliable

While working in a team, each officer is fully capable of making immediate decisions by themselves at the same time. So, listing yourself as an independent and reliable employee is an objective asset, that should be part of the abilities included in your resume.

Leadership and managing abilities

Police officers follow the orders they are given. However, there is a difference in simply making people do what they are told and inspiring them. Police officers with higher ranks know how to motivate their subordinates in order to perform their duties. Leadership and managing skills are very important in any sphere and will be a major plus if you are looking for a new job.

Strong attention to detail

Last but not least, police officers must have a strong attention to detail. They should be able to describe a suspect or a crime scene even if they had only a few minutes to cast a look on it. They should be able to notice things such as suspicious behavior and react immediately to prevent an accident. On top of that, police officers need to write reports on a daily basis and include as many details in them as possible, since they might be needed in court one day.

These are just a few of the numerous qualities and skills a police officer develops while on the job. Even though they are acquired in a specific environment, they are broadly applicable to any sphere of employment. Therefore, consider which of those describe you the best and then look at the three main options for career development for ex-police officers given below.

[^1]: Source: Go Law Enforcement