Joseph Robert

Tasks: Police officer’s tasks include providing for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people

and property and enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws. Other tasks include recording facts and creating reports about specific incidents, patrolling set areas either on foot, by motor vehicle,

bicycle or on horseback, and also responding promptly to calls for assistance. Police Officers often have to testify in court.

Knowledge: Police Officers must have knowledge about public safety and security; they must have knowledge of many laws, be

proficient in English, and have some psychology background. They also should have good fitness ability and must be trained how to

handle specific situations.

Skills: Police Officers must possess certain skills, like active listening, the ability to think critically and on the spot, and have good

communication skills.

Interests: (Holland code = REC) to have interest in being a police officer means that you probably have a Realistic personality. A

realistic person will probably be most interested in hands-on jobs that don’t deal with much paper work in general and don’t have an

office kind of setting. Realistic jobs aren’t always the same everyday, so there isn’t always a routine to stick to.

Employment: Police and detectives held about 883,600 jobs in 2008. Some cities have very large police forces, while thousands of small communities

employ fewer than 25 officers each. Employment of police and detectives is expected to grow 10 percent over the 2008–2018 decade, about as fast as

the average for all occupations. Population growth is the main source of demand for police services.

Job Outlook: Overall opportunities in local police departments will be favorable for individuals who meet the psychological, personal, and physical

qualifications. In addition to openings from employment growth, many openings will be created by the need to replace workers who retire. Jobs in local police departments that offer relatively low salaries, or those in urban communities in which the crime rate is relatively high, may be the easiest to get. Some smaller departments may have fewer opportunities as budgets limit the ability to hire

additional officers. Bilingual applicants with military experience or college training in police science will have the best opportunities in local and State

departments.

Earnings: Police and sheriff's patrol officers had median annual wages of $51,410 in May 2008.

Tasks: Fire Inspectors look for causes of fires, assure that buildings are safe from fire, locate hazardous conditions and fire code

violations such as accumulations of combustible material, search for electrical wiring problems and assessing inadequate or non-

functional fire exits.

Knowledge: Fire inspectors must have knowledge of public safety and security and also know about building construction. Fire

inspectors need to know laws and regulations and have knowledge of mathematics.

Skills: Fire inspectors should have good judgment and be able to make critical decisions. They should also be able to solve complex

mathematics problems.

Interests: (Holland code = CR) to have interest in being a fire inspector means that you probably have a conventional or realistic personality. A conventional person usually follows a set of rules or

guidelines, and usually likes working with numbers and figuring complex mathematic equations and working with data.

Education and training: Most fire inspectors and investigators have experience in fire suppression in addition to a high school

diploma. They get on-the-job training in inspection or investigation or attend training academies.

Job Outlook: Fire inspectors and investigators are expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations. As cities and other

areas grow, there are more buildings to inspect and fires to investigate. Employment of fire inspectors and investigators should

grow along with the population.

Earnings: Median annual wages in May 2008 were $53,030

Tasks: Surveyors verify the accuracy of survey data including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites, and they

search legal records, survey records, and land titles to obtain information about property boundaries in areas to be surveyed.

Knowledge: Surveyors must have a vast knowledge on mathematics including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics and other mathematical applications. They must have

knowledge on laws and boundaries, and must be able to work with technology.

Skills: Surveyors must have various skills in mathematics, and must have coordination and good judgment. They must be able to think

critically and manage their time wisely.

Interests: (Holland code = RCI) to have interest in being a surveyor means that you probably have a Realistic personality, A realistic

person will probably be most interested in hands-on jobs and doesn’t deal with much paper work in general. Realistic jobs are usually changing, so there isn’t always a set routine to stick to.

Employment: Surveyors, cartographers, and surveying technicians held about 147,000 jobs in 2008. Most surveyors in State and local government work for highway departments or urban planning and

redevelopment agencies. Employment of surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying and mapping technicians is

expected to grow 19 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Increasing demand for fast,

accurate, and complete geographic information will be the main source of job growth.

Job Outlook: These occupations should experience faster than average employment growth. Surveyors and cartographers who have a bachelor's degree and strong technical skills should have

favorable job prospects.

Earnings: Median annual wages of surveyors were $52,980 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $38,800 and $70,010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,600 and the highest 10

percent earned more than $85,620. Median annual wages of surveyors employed in architectural, engineering, and related

services were $51,870 in May 2008.

Conclusion

Of these three career choices (Police Officer, Fire Inspector, and

Surveyor), I find Police Officer most appealing. I have interest in criminal justice, and this presentation aided me in deciding that Police Officer is

the most relevant choice for me.