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Is being a police officer a good fit for you?

Keeps the peace, protects people and property, and enforces the law. Patrols, directs traffic, investigates accidents and arrests suspects.

What the work involves

  • Keeps the public safe by maintaining order, responding to emergencies and enforcing the law.
  • Finds, chases and arrests people suspected of crimes.
  • Checks that the right charges have been laid against offenders.
  • Gives first aid to accident victims and others who are injured.

The interests that suit it

People in this work tend to be hands-on, organising and persuading. Here is how much each of the six kinds of interest comes into it.

Hands-onStrong. Building, fixing, and working with tools, machines, animals or the outdoors.
CuriousLow. Finding things out, solving problems, and working with ideas and data.
CreativeLow. Making things: art, writing, music, design and performance.
HelpingLow. Teaching, caring for and supporting people.
PersuadingSome. Leading, selling, and making the calls.
OrganisingSome. Keeping things in order: records, numbers and systems.

What it tends to reward

Compared with other work, this job stands out for:

  • Mastery. Getting really good at something over time.
  • Independence. Trusted to decide how the work gets done.
  • Belonging. People who look out for each other, and a manager who has your back.

How much training it needs

Apprenticeships and training. Usually vocational training or an apprenticeship. Rules differ from country to country, so check locally before you commit.

Find out if it fits you

Answer quick questions about what you like doing and what keeps you going. We match you with roles from over 900 kinds of work, and you can see if a police officer is one of yours.

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