Ever consider what its like to be a 911 emergency operator?
Well nows the time to think about it.
New hires are paid while they are trained.
Yes, there is certainly stress involved, but agencies have services to help employees deal with that.
Its offering a starting salary of $41,000, which is boosted with overtime.
Theres also a bonus of $2,000 for completing the certification.
Thus the pool of potential employees has gotten smaller.
Youre starting to see more and more municipalities offering signing bonuses to encourage people to apply.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Go ahead and start now, but be sure to bookmark this post so you could easily return later.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
For the right person, a job in emergency communications can become a rewarding career.
As with healthcare, working in public safety is a chance to help people in need.
When you go home at the end of your day you think about all of the people you helped.
You may have saved lives that day.
You are able to do a large amount of good on a daily basis, Heinze said.
Her organization represents tens of thousands of 911 first responders.
Heres alinkto 911-operator openings in each state.
The hiring process involves pre-employment testing and interviews.
Most states have training requirements of four to six weeks in person or online.
After that, employees train on the job for six to 12 months.
Expect a drug screening.
Its a job thats rarely boring.
Aside from a few nonprofit organizations, most of these agencies are operated by municipalities.
In many cases there are many really good benefits.
Some localities still have great retirement benefits.
Theres opportunity for overtime and holiday pay.
You get paid holidays off and may end up getting double time if you work on a holiday.
Job Satisfaction
Theres no going home wondering if you made a difference in the world.
You have a great sense of self worth.
You are able to do some fantastic things in your day, Heinze said.
Heinze pointed to a scenario in which a caller complains that her neighbors dog is barking incessantly.
Major Multitasking
This can be a pro or a con depending on the person.
For some, emergency communications work might seem overwhelming.
Stress
Clearly, this isnt an easy job.
Its very hard to take numerous calls that include trauma and crimes in process.
Heinze estimates it can take up to three months to be hired.
The pre-employment testing process includes several interviews, aptitude tests, a psychological evaluation and lengthy background checks.
What Makes a Good Emergency Dispatcher?
The most important characteristic for an emergency dispatcher is the ability to be calm in stressful situations.
A good emergency dispatcher has good communication skills and is personable.
Typing is a required skill, as is empathy.
After that, employees will train on the job for six to 12 months.
Yes, it can be stressful taking calls from people in life threatening situations.
Agencies provide counseling, peer support groups and mentor support to help emergency dispatchers deal with stress.
Average starting pay is $38,000 for a meaningful career.
There is also potential for overtime pay and the chance to advance to a higher salary.
Katherine Snow Smith is a freelance editor and reporter in North Carolina and Florida.
She is author of Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker: Missteps & Lessons Learned.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
