My present job (RMA coordination for a manufacturer/distributor of networking devices) is interesting in many ways, but after nearly two years in it, I am chafing at the low remuneration that it provides.
I’ve decided to look into becoming a 911 operator. I’ve got: [ul]
[li]serviceable typing skills[/li][li]a professional and business-like telephone persona[/li][li]a retentive mind[/li][li]the habit of verbatim repeat-back of what I’m told[/li][li]the ability to speak quickly, clearly, and calmly[/li][li]the ability to quickly figure out which responders need to be sent to a scene[/li][li]the ability to keep my head when listening to another person’s crisis[/li][li]a willingness to work at a $20.00 per hour job[/li][/ul]Does anyone have any idea what is involved in entering this field? Are temprament screenings, background checks, or other personal probings a part of the process? At what level of government would I be best advised to begin my search for open positions?
IME, most 911 PSAPs are operated at the county level, often by or through the Sheriff’s department. However, in many communities, in addition to 911 centers, police, fire, and EMS employ their own dispatchers as well. So you might consider contacting these individual agencies as well.
Background checks are a part of the application process. Here’s what I found for California.
As far as where to look, Dispatch Magazine has job listings. The California POST website also includes many dispatcher listings.
Good luck!
St. Urho
Paramedic
Oh yeah, many places require Emergency Medical Dispatch training. I don’t know if they’d require it before hire, though. All the agencies I’m familiar with will train a dispatcher after hiring them.
I applied to the Colorado Springs municipal emergency services dispatch agency back in '99, as well as my own home city’s; and made it through the second interview both times before being dropped as a candidate.
One thing I noticed: all the actual operators are female. All of them. In both cities. Not a single male anywhere in sight except for as supervisors.
Interestingly enough, both cities solicited me as a police officer candidate.
A very very good friend of mine does it.
Her advice is to go for it, but also be prepared.
Also, she says you need to make sure you are the type of person who can listen to someone kill themselves or someone else (has happened to her twice) and still go to work the next day.
High stress job. Very high stress.