R
Raptor
Guest
I want to start by saying that this is my first thread here. I signed up at these forums about a week ago and find this is a great place for info and feedback (although I do verify all information I find helpful).
Since reading the posts in the recruiting thread I have come across a common theme. Many individuals talk about long waits for aptitude testing, PT tests, security checks and interviews along with various other things that may make the recruiting process longer or more difficult. As a person who is currently in the process of getting in I have one piece of advice I hope those of you that are having problems will follow...KEEP ON TOP OF THINGS!
Some of us think that because we are dealing with military professionals that things should be smooth. Human nature and various other human and recruiting process characteristics dictate otherwise. Things get misplaces...people forget ect...
Here are some things you should do to make sure your process goes as smooth as possible:
1. Verify information given to you by recruiters. Visit the DND websites, talk to friends or family in the military (if you have any in the forces) or call the recruiter from home. Getting conflicting information happens (happend to me). You can even go back to the recruiter at a later date when a different person is at the desk (most recruiting offices have more than one recruiter. In the end, it is up to you to have all the correct information seeing how its your future your dealing with. You can blame a recruiter if your chances of getting in are ruined, but that wont make any difference...its still your future so take charge of it.
2. Contact the recruiter on a regular basis to find out the status of your application. When I did this, I was informed that my old reserve service record could not be found. If I had not contacted the recruiter, I may have been still sitting around today wondering what is taking SO long.
3. Make sure that the trade(s) you want to persue are open. If they are not, your file may sit in limbo for a long time before they do open up. Seek alternatives.
4. Contact your recruiter on a regular basis. (Yes...I am saying this twice). Ask for the status of your application. I make it a habit of checking back to make sure things are progressing. I have read posts where people are saying that it has been 6 months since they heard from their recruiter........just think of the opportunities that may have been missed. Recruiters deal with a large volume of applicants so if something happens to yours, they may not know about it until YOU come in to check on its process.
5. Be aware that recruiters don't stay in one place forever...they get posted someplace else or they retire. If this happens where your at, make sure the new recruiter has a face for your file...introduce yourself.
Now I do realize that these points do not pertain to everyone. Some people may have been told that they will be contacted in 6 months when their trade opens up...and that is fine. At least they know that nothing can be done during that time. This information is for people who are starting the process or who have not gotten a start date on any courses.
In a perfect world, things would be easy and run smoothly. I am not saying that recruiters are doing a bad job. On the contrary...I think they are doing a great job. There are so many things that can happen in the application process that they cannot control.
I hope this helps. I did not mean to go on this long. If I think of anything else, I will be sure to post it.
Good luck.
Since reading the posts in the recruiting thread I have come across a common theme. Many individuals talk about long waits for aptitude testing, PT tests, security checks and interviews along with various other things that may make the recruiting process longer or more difficult. As a person who is currently in the process of getting in I have one piece of advice I hope those of you that are having problems will follow...KEEP ON TOP OF THINGS!
Some of us think that because we are dealing with military professionals that things should be smooth. Human nature and various other human and recruiting process characteristics dictate otherwise. Things get misplaces...people forget ect...
Here are some things you should do to make sure your process goes as smooth as possible:
1. Verify information given to you by recruiters. Visit the DND websites, talk to friends or family in the military (if you have any in the forces) or call the recruiter from home. Getting conflicting information happens (happend to me). You can even go back to the recruiter at a later date when a different person is at the desk (most recruiting offices have more than one recruiter. In the end, it is up to you to have all the correct information seeing how its your future your dealing with. You can blame a recruiter if your chances of getting in are ruined, but that wont make any difference...its still your future so take charge of it.
2. Contact the recruiter on a regular basis to find out the status of your application. When I did this, I was informed that my old reserve service record could not be found. If I had not contacted the recruiter, I may have been still sitting around today wondering what is taking SO long.
3. Make sure that the trade(s) you want to persue are open. If they are not, your file may sit in limbo for a long time before they do open up. Seek alternatives.
4. Contact your recruiter on a regular basis. (Yes...I am saying this twice). Ask for the status of your application. I make it a habit of checking back to make sure things are progressing. I have read posts where people are saying that it has been 6 months since they heard from their recruiter........just think of the opportunities that may have been missed. Recruiters deal with a large volume of applicants so if something happens to yours, they may not know about it until YOU come in to check on its process.
5. Be aware that recruiters don't stay in one place forever...they get posted someplace else or they retire. If this happens where your at, make sure the new recruiter has a face for your file...introduce yourself.
Now I do realize that these points do not pertain to everyone. Some people may have been told that they will be contacted in 6 months when their trade opens up...and that is fine. At least they know that nothing can be done during that time. This information is for people who are starting the process or who have not gotten a start date on any courses.
In a perfect world, things would be easy and run smoothly. I am not saying that recruiters are doing a bad job. On the contrary...I think they are doing a great job. There are so many things that can happen in the application process that they cannot control.
I hope this helps. I did not mean to go on this long. If I think of anything else, I will be sure to post it.
Good luck.