Working as a police officer can be a hard but rewarding career. Especially for women who are thinking about going down this career path, there can be all kinds of questions about whether or not this could be a good match and how to go about starting this as a career. Luckily, there are plenty of female police officers who’ve served before you and can give you some great advice about becoming a cop.
If this is a career that you’re leaning toward, here are three tips for women preparing to become police officers.
Be Confident In Yourself And Your Decision
Being a police officer means that you’re going to be viewed as an authority figure for everyone that you interact with in the public. You’ll be the person that people turn to when they’re scared or don’t know what to do. So to be able to take this on, you have to be confident in yourself and your abilities to work and serve as a police officer.As you’re starting with your training and education, you might find that people second guess your decision and try to make you feel like this is a career that you shouldn’t play a role in. To stand fast against this type of criticism, and the criticism that you’ll also face when you are a police officer, it’s wise to build up your own self-confidence now so that you have it to fall back on when you need it.
Seek Out A Mentor Or Two
In most precincts, there are far more men who serve as police officers than there are women. So when you’re a woman who wants to be an officer of the law, it can be incredibly helpful to find other female police officers to mentor you.
With a solid mentor, you can have someone that you can come to when you have questions, when you have problems, when you need encouragement, and when you just need someone who understands what you’re going through. You can look at the more senior police officers in your own precinct or you can join a police association where the members seek to support each other however they can.
Prioritize Your Physical And Mental Health
The job of a police officer requires a lot of hard work, both physically and mentally. You’re going to be on your feet a lot, potentially chasing after people, helping those in your community, and being put in very stressful situations. Knowing this, it’s vital that you are strong both mentally and physically.
As you’re preparing for your police training, make sure you prioritize your mental health just as much as you do your physical health, as they will both help to keep you safe on the job.
If you’re a woman who’s considering a career as a police officer, use the tips mentioned above to help you get off on the right foot.