The New Year is upon us and I would like to take a moment on behalf of the whole TestReadyPro team to thank all of our customers. When we're not working directly with you we put a considerable amount of time into developing new content for the website and working to make TRP the best way to prepare for your policing, firefighting, etc. testing.
This has been my fourth year on the TestReadyPro team and I couldn't be more proud of what this company has become, it is far more than a website simply offering a place for student to prepare for Police, Firefighter, EMS, and other first responder jobs. We have created a community, a place where our students return and engage in important dialogues with us seeking advice and guidance. We have been there with you, crossed fingers, waiting for those offers of employment to come in.
This December has been a monumental one, it marks our 50th police constable candidate being hired who has used our system exclusively from the beginning to finish, PATI and WCT test guides, to advice on the BPAD and Police Interview Coaching. So, congratulations to Matt on his recent hire. He had this to say "TestReadyPro was accurate and gave me everything I needed to prepare.. I've seen what the competitors had to offer and what TRP has is better and more accurate to what you go through. Plus, the staff of TRP have additional experience which is valuable."
I'm excited for the new year and what it will bring for us and our students. As always you can email me, Tim Gordon, directly: testreadyhelp@gmail.com with your questions or requests for coaching and mentoring.
Happy New Year,
Your TestReadyPro Team.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Professionalization Of Emergency Services
Once upon a time if you wanted to be a cop, a firefighter or a paramedic the process was easy. You either did or did not meet the minimum requirements, you wrote a test and did a physical. If you passed all of the above, you moved on and your score mattered - none of this "Meets Standard" and "Does Not Meet Standard" ambiguity. From there you were interviewed and you may receive the offer of employment from there.
Things are different now, that was a much simpler time.
Not only have recruitment practices changed but so has the industry itself. Police, Fire and EMS have become profressionalized. Professionalization is the concept that these first responder careers have been established and given the status of a profession. Much like medicine, there is a set of standards and practices that give medicine a professional status. So, where does this come from? Emergency services are notoriouly decentralized, being spread across various municipalities, regions, provincial and federal jurisdictions in addition to varying levels of independence. This was not considered acceptable and various methods were introduced to varying success in an effort to create a professional status amongst first responders. The concept of professionalizing emergency services began in 1931 with the Wickersham Commision, continued onto 1967 and 1973 in seperate movements. I won't bore you with the scholarly research but the point is that only during the last 30 years (1980 to present) most emergency services were well behind the times with recruitment practices. A desire to recruit "the best" and to establish the status of a profession drives up the standard of what is expected from recruits. This is most evident in Canada from 1998 to present with the introduction of the Constable Selection System in Ontario for Police.
So, yes the minimum requirements have remained the same but that doesn't mean only holding those qualifications is enough. In fact, they're not. Education, volunteering, skills and courses are required to be recognized as "the best" (read: most qualified). This now leads us to the latest problem of most professions and academia alike: credentialism.
Next week I'm going to write about credentialism as a product of the professionalization of emergency service and how credentialism is affecting recruits.
Like always, hop on the forum or email me directly with your questions!
Things are different now, that was a much simpler time.
Not only have recruitment practices changed but so has the industry itself. Police, Fire and EMS have become profressionalized. Professionalization is the concept that these first responder careers have been established and given the status of a profession. Much like medicine, there is a set of standards and practices that give medicine a professional status. So, where does this come from? Emergency services are notoriouly decentralized, being spread across various municipalities, regions, provincial and federal jurisdictions in addition to varying levels of independence. This was not considered acceptable and various methods were introduced to varying success in an effort to create a professional status amongst first responders. The concept of professionalizing emergency services began in 1931 with the Wickersham Commision, continued onto 1967 and 1973 in seperate movements. I won't bore you with the scholarly research but the point is that only during the last 30 years (1980 to present) most emergency services were well behind the times with recruitment practices. A desire to recruit "the best" and to establish the status of a profession drives up the standard of what is expected from recruits. This is most evident in Canada from 1998 to present with the introduction of the Constable Selection System in Ontario for Police.
So, yes the minimum requirements have remained the same but that doesn't mean only holding those qualifications is enough. In fact, they're not. Education, volunteering, skills and courses are required to be recognized as "the best" (read: most qualified). This now leads us to the latest problem of most professions and academia alike: credentialism.
Next week I'm going to write about credentialism as a product of the professionalization of emergency service and how credentialism is affecting recruits.
Like always, hop on the forum or email me directly with your questions!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
TRP's Police interview coach helps students ace ECI panel interviews and land jobs!
Hey folks,
I know I haven't been able to keep up with blogging so allow me to share some of the of the new developments that have been happening. First off, I'm EXTREMELY proud to announce that 30 of our students have made it to Ontario Police College, hired on as Police Constables with various services including Toronto Metropolitan Police, York Regional Police, Peel Regional Police, Hamilton Police Service, Niagara Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Bellevile Police Serivce, Waterloo Regional Police and Guelph Police Service.
All 30 of these students used TestReadyPro's exclusive one-on-one inteview coaching. The interview coaching is a $200, three hour session with myself where we cover the ECI, essential competency interview, DCI, developmental competency interview and the LFI, local focus interview. Email me directy to discuss coaching: testreadyhelp@gmail.com
Some of the comments I've received: "Tim, I passed my ECI today! I felt confident during my interview and was told by my interviewers they could tell I was prepared. Thanks for everything."
"Tim: I just wanted to let you know that I got the job with the Belleville Police Service. I want to say THANK YOU!!!!. If it was not for all your help I am sure I would not have been as successful. Your are my hero!!!!!"
This is what me and everyone else at TestReadyPro want. We're honoured to be the company that people turn to when they need help with their dream of becoming a police constable. Other exciting developments include the site has a brand new look and our practice tests have enhanced functionality thanks to the brilliant minds over at IJ Solutions (ijsolutions.ca) and the forum is back online after a short and somewhat jarring hiatus (forums.testreadypro.com). I really can not encourage any applicants whether they be Police Constable or Firefighter hopefuls to hop on the forum, talk shop and network. Taking part in this application process is just that - a process. Band together and support eachother on the forum, network to take classes together and of course I wil be there always offering advice for free!
Keep posted to the blog as I'll be writing some articles in the new future on credentialism and the professionalization of emergency services. Also, feel free to join me on the forum or email me personally: testreadyhelp@gmail.com to discuss these issues and how they relate to building your application and resume!
Regards,
Tim.
I know I haven't been able to keep up with blogging so allow me to share some of the of the new developments that have been happening. First off, I'm EXTREMELY proud to announce that 30 of our students have made it to Ontario Police College, hired on as Police Constables with various services including Toronto Metropolitan Police, York Regional Police, Peel Regional Police, Hamilton Police Service, Niagara Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Bellevile Police Serivce, Waterloo Regional Police and Guelph Police Service.
All 30 of these students used TestReadyPro's exclusive one-on-one inteview coaching. The interview coaching is a $200, three hour session with myself where we cover the ECI, essential competency interview, DCI, developmental competency interview and the LFI, local focus interview. Email me directy to discuss coaching: testreadyhelp@gmail.com
Some of the comments I've received: "Tim, I passed my ECI today! I felt confident during my interview and was told by my interviewers they could tell I was prepared. Thanks for everything."
"Tim: I just wanted to let you know that I got the job with the Belleville Police Service. I want to say THANK YOU!!!!. If it was not for all your help I am sure I would not have been as successful. Your are my hero!!!!!"
This is what me and everyone else at TestReadyPro want. We're honoured to be the company that people turn to when they need help with their dream of becoming a police constable. Other exciting developments include the site has a brand new look and our practice tests have enhanced functionality thanks to the brilliant minds over at IJ Solutions (ijsolutions.ca) and the forum is back online after a short and somewhat jarring hiatus (forums.testreadypro.com). I really can not encourage any applicants whether they be Police Constable or Firefighter hopefuls to hop on the forum, talk shop and network. Taking part in this application process is just that - a process. Band together and support eachother on the forum, network to take classes together and of course I wil be there always offering advice for free!
Keep posted to the blog as I'll be writing some articles in the new future on credentialism and the professionalization of emergency services. Also, feel free to join me on the forum or email me personally: testreadyhelp@gmail.com to discuss these issues and how they relate to building your application and resume!
Regards,
Tim.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Private Investigator & Private Security Content Review is LIVE!
We now offer complete Security Guard and Private Investigator Content Review as required for Ontario Licensing, start now!
For more information visit the following links!
http://testreadypro.com/courseshop/products/108.html
http://testreadypro.com/courseshop/products/107.html
For more information visit the following links!
http://testreadypro.com/courseshop/products/108.html
http://testreadypro.com/courseshop/products/107.html
Don't Forget: Join us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/pages/TestReadyProcom/108457985867353
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Police Interview Mentoring and Test Tutoring.
My most recent student, who was successful on all interviews with the Hamilton Police Service is moving into backgrounds and instructed by his background investigator that an offer of employment will be given as soon as possible to get him trained for the September intake at the Ontario Police College. He told me last night that, "I wouldn't have passed these interviews if it wasn't for you." This makes me feel on top of the world but what makes me feel even better is seeing results, this will be my 26th student to get hired! I truly am proud of every single one of my students and I love that I've been a part of so many people realizing their dreams.
I hear positive comments from students like that time and time again. I hear it from students who failed their interviews and then sought out help and contacted me, I hear it from students who are nervous and ask me to help them before they even get started preparing. First of all, I welcome everyone and am interested in helping all students at any time of their application, whether you're getting ready to write your PATI, WCT, BPAD or you already have your OACP COR and are preparing for interviews.
What do we do in mentoring? I give you all the information you need to prepare for the interviews; I firmly believe the first step to succeeding at your interviews is knowing what you're up against. I offer insight into each of the competencies, what they mean, how they can be interpreted differently from police service to police service, how the Ontario Provincial Police may ask for a competency differently than the Toronto Metropolitan Police or Halton Regional Police. Part of this is also relating your own experiences to the competencies so that you can prepare.
I coach every student with all of their competency stories. Apart from meeting in person and reviewing my learning material, I work with students for hours after every session sending emails back and forth, with phone calls to discuss their specific stories that they're developing. From my experience I know what types of competency stories will work and which will not, this feedback will strengthen your interview stories. I also conduct mock interviews with notes and critiques to improve your interview skills.
Although approximately 99% of my students have been successful with their interviews after working with me I cannot guarantee that you will pass or that you will be hired. Not all students who pass their interviews receive an offer of employment. Some applicants are more appropiate than others for each service. I also offer advice and suggestions on making applications more competitive.
Services I offer:
PATI, WCT, BPAD tutoring.
Local Focus Interview (LFI), Developmental Competency Interview (DCI), Essential Competency Interview (ECI).
Resume, cover letter workshop and application review, mock interviews, competency journal review.
If you're interested in any of my services contact me directly: Tim Gordon testreadyhelp@gmail.com
I hear positive comments from students like that time and time again. I hear it from students who failed their interviews and then sought out help and contacted me, I hear it from students who are nervous and ask me to help them before they even get started preparing. First of all, I welcome everyone and am interested in helping all students at any time of their application, whether you're getting ready to write your PATI, WCT, BPAD or you already have your OACP COR and are preparing for interviews.
What do we do in mentoring? I give you all the information you need to prepare for the interviews; I firmly believe the first step to succeeding at your interviews is knowing what you're up against. I offer insight into each of the competencies, what they mean, how they can be interpreted differently from police service to police service, how the Ontario Provincial Police may ask for a competency differently than the Toronto Metropolitan Police or Halton Regional Police. Part of this is also relating your own experiences to the competencies so that you can prepare.
I coach every student with all of their competency stories. Apart from meeting in person and reviewing my learning material, I work with students for hours after every session sending emails back and forth, with phone calls to discuss their specific stories that they're developing. From my experience I know what types of competency stories will work and which will not, this feedback will strengthen your interview stories. I also conduct mock interviews with notes and critiques to improve your interview skills.
Although approximately 99% of my students have been successful with their interviews after working with me I cannot guarantee that you will pass or that you will be hired. Not all students who pass their interviews receive an offer of employment. Some applicants are more appropiate than others for each service. I also offer advice and suggestions on making applications more competitive.
Services I offer:
PATI, WCT, BPAD tutoring.
Local Focus Interview (LFI), Developmental Competency Interview (DCI), Essential Competency Interview (ECI).
Resume, cover letter workshop and application review, mock interviews, competency journal review.
If you're interested in any of my services contact me directly: Tim Gordon testreadyhelp@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
TRP Launches Private Investigator Course!
TestReadyPro.com TRP Launches Ontario Private Investigator Content Review Course! https://testreadypro.com/courseshop/products/107.html
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Congrats Stef-T! Another Hire with TPS!
Congrats Stef-T (another TestReadyPro.com is HIRED with TPS!!)
Read what she has to say: http://forums.testreadypro.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=362
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