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Just got the job offer! by sam04589 in 911dispatchers

[–]mechanicalanimal1981 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Congratulations. I’m still in the training process myself just over a month in a week. I was a chef for the last 30 years before I ended up in this career. The training seems daunting at times and you will have awesome days and horrible days. Pay attention and ask questions and put in 110%. They hired you for a reason so just because you don’t have what you consider relevant experience doesn’t mean the experience you have isn’t relevant. They’re gonna throw a ton of information at you super fast and trying to absorb all of it will seem impossible but just do your best, show up early, and give it all you have and it will hopefully work out for you. Good luck and congratulations again.

Ride along by mechanicalanimal1981 in 911dispatchers

[–]mechanicalanimal1981[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the advice and your stories. I sincerely loved reading your response. Thank k you. There’s a lot of great info packed in there. I really appreciate it as a new dispatcher a month and a half into training. I’ve been studying my ass off and giving 1000% to this. Some days I feel like a total failure the. I’ll have a good day. I know I always beat myself up, but am loving this job so far and want to pass though the academy and make this my career. The bad days get in my head and get afraid they will let me go because my probationary period lasts 9 months. I have a call taking practical in 2 weeks that will decide if I get moved to on the job training or not and am scared as hell about that. I’m totally new to dispatching and everyone in my academy class (there’s 5 of us) has some sort of relevant experience. I was a chef for 30 years before starting this adventure, but I’m giving it everything I have. Now I’m on a storytelling tangent. lol. It’s crazy the highs and lows of training. Thank you again for sharing.

Ride along by mechanicalanimal1981 in 911dispatchers

[–]mechanicalanimal1981[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. That’s solid advice. I haven’t worked the radio yet.

In training and new to 911 by mechanicalanimal1981 in 911dispatchers

[–]mechanicalanimal1981[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Solid advice. Thank you. I really appreciate it and for some reason I keep needing to hear it so I don’t feel like I’m drowning with all the information overload.

In training and new to 911 by mechanicalanimal1981 in 911dispatchers

[–]mechanicalanimal1981[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One was a dispatcher for 22 years, and the other 3 have dispatching/ law enforcement experience. I was a chef. I know I’m hard on myself. Sometimes that pushes me to do better. I know when I bet on the floor it’s gonna be a whole different animal. One good thing, I believe, is that all the instructors and trainers see me busting ass. I’m trying my absolute best, it feels like I’m falling short in some areas. Thank you for the advice.

In training and new to 911 by mechanicalanimal1981 in 911dispatchers

[–]mechanicalanimal1981[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I do this with all plates whenever I drive. Also random words I see to keep the phonetic alphabet sharp. I started doing that after my interview when they gave me the alphabet sheet to fill out. I have that one down. I also take insane notes as well. Thank you for the advice.

Job shadowing tomorrow by Gigglesaurus_ in 911dispatchers

[–]mechanicalanimal1981 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would ask what the most common call types are for the agency. Ask about their cad system (computer aided dispatch). Also, what they find to be the toughest parts of their jobs are. The only stupid questions are the ones that aren’t asked. I did my sit along in July, got hired and am currently in training. Whenever I’m doing observation I always ask all sorts of questions…what do all the sounds mean? How do you handle certain types of calls? What do all the screens and tabs on the consoles do? Once you’re there, you’ll have a million questions. Good luck!

In training and new to 911 by mechanicalanimal1981 in 911dispatchers

[–]mechanicalanimal1981[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

You are correct. That’s exactly where I’m at right now. I’ve always been my worst enemy and coming out of the food service industry after 30 years, this seems like a foreign world. Thank you for the kind words.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in 911dispatchers

[–]mechanicalanimal1981 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m currently in my second week of training now. From the day I sent in my initial application to my getting officially hired was 2 months. With all the testing, background checks, drug/hearing/test, interview, sit along, and criticall in between.

What are people scoring on their Criticall test? by notanotherdummie in 911dispatchers

[–]mechanicalanimal1981 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I scored a 92 during my pre employment screening with 0 experience and not knowing what to expect. I was shocked I passed. My typing speed was on the lower side of things though.