INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Law Enforcement positions are at a 7% growth rate, which is as fast as average. With that said, there are currently 795,000 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 51,700 to 846,700 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Law Enforcement jobs was $67,290 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $39,130, and the highest 10% more than $113,860.
Our conclusion? The Law Enforcement job market is wide open for candidates.
Top law enforcement sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a strong law enforcement experience section
Law enforcement resume experience section: ultimate checklist
- Use no more than 4-6 bullet points per position;
- List relevant positions and situations that add value to your application;
- Describe situations, tasks, actions, and results (the S-T-A-R method);
- Remember to include numbers in whatever form you like (e.g. the number of projects you’ve finished);
- Begin each bullet point with an action verb.
Check out the examples below when building your experience section. They will help you stand out!
- Leadership of individuals, groups, organisations and associations in the development and sustainability of industry relevant training, growth and sustainability
- Past research which has produced outcomes supporting successful and sustainable vocational training,
- Ongoing research with focus on training models suitable for the workplace of the future.
- Broad stakeholder relationships developed and maintained with governance bodies, industry and education providers
- Collaboration with multiple ITP's leading a programme development consortium, driven by a common set of values aimed at providing the highest quality sustainable training to industry.
- Initiated a safety inspection program that significantly reduced the number of vehicle accidents and risk of losing millions of dollars in accidents and damages.
- Supervised the safety program and six subordinate safety officers. Investigated, reviewed, and approved all accident and safety violations and reports. Led quarterly safety meetings and audits.
- Planned, coordinated and executed inter-agency operations to include joint training, risk reduction counsels, and information sharing.
- Built and strengthened strong public relations that saw an overall 15% increase in citizen-police relations
- Created and managed 15 projects aimed at improving relationships among citizens and the police department
- Analyzed collective information used for report writing regarding criminal cases including high profile cases with the County Prosecutor's Office
- Manage confidential information (victim and case info)
- Provide assistance over the phone and direct calls
- Track vehicle impounds, private tows, and repossessions
- Sort incoming and outgoing mail
- Send billing invoices
- Daily data entry using Tiburon and CCIC databases
- Filing (paper and electronically)
- Conducted inspections of properties throughout the City for compliance with the City's Property Standards by-law and lot maintenance by-law.
- Issue Notices of Contravention or Orders to Comply and follow-up to ensure compliance.
- Issue and serve Part I tickets and Part III informations.
- Conduct proactive and reactive physical inspections of mobile licensing vehicles and premises to ensure compliance with all applicable municipal by-laws.
- Conduct surveillance inspections in accordance with the by-laws.
- Overseeing work of City contractor to ensure work is conducted to city standards
- Managed sales and support of government surplus property, E-procurement, white label SaaS contract software for law
- enforcement and first responders across the United States.
- Partnered with government agencies to create & most efficiently use software as a solution (SAAS).
- Managed national sales for the Midwestern Territory, including KS, IA, NB, SD, ND, MN, WI, MO, IL, IN, MI, and CO.
- Developed phone dialer and CRM to penetrate new markets and business opportunities.
- Collaborated with team to meet sales goals and needs.
- Over six years of home office and remote environment experience.
- participation in all stages of the enforcement proceedings;
- drafting of various legal documents, necessary for the handling of enforcement cases;
- acquired abilities to work with little or no supervision;
- Educated the public on crime prevention strategies and public safety resulting in a 60% reduction in crime.
- Confidently handled stressful situations with a calm manner and authority.
- Maintained the chain of custody of evidence including digital evidence from phones, tablets, and computers to ensure data was not erased or manipulated.
- Formulated cybersecurity protocols for officers to follow to preserve evidence.
- Spearheaded County of Henrico Cloud enablement program.
- Identified and managed existing and emerging Cloud risks.
- Ensured Cloud and technical risks were identified, measured, controlled, and monitored.
- Researched and analyzed Cloud information security vulnerabilities, threats, exploits, trends and intel.
- Prepared and delivered written security briefings.
- Utilized findings from research to assist incident handling initiatives for law enforcement.
- Conducted computer forensic investigation functions regarding various forms of electronic fraud with federal agencies pursuant to search warrant.
- Spoke publicly at community forums to educate and inform the public about crime & public safety.
- Bringing operational excellence by handling large volume of requests from law enforcement (APAC &EMEA) and ensuring that all requests are scrutinized and handled in strict accordance with applicable law, terms of service and law enforcement guidelines.
- Articulating operational decisions and ensuring compliance is in line with policies and procedures.
- Supporting escalations related to sensitive subject matters like imminent danger, credible threat, dangerous orgs, child safety, potential harm, mob activity and remain up to date on key workflow changes, policy updates and operational guidelines.
- Responding to process and policy questions from law enforcement, government agencies and internal XFN parties through both writing and over the phone.
- Worked closely with legal, policy, community operations and other cross functional partners to drive policy improvements and scalable solutions.
- Worked on sensitive issues that include child exploitation, graphic violence and offensive and disturbing content.
- Oversaw public safety by maintaining order, following policies and procedures
- Supervised and mentored 10 junior airmen
- Designed a physical fitness program, increased team pass rate by 15%
PRO TIP
Don't make the same mistake everyone else does. What we mean is, don't list your Law Enforcement job responsibilities instead of your achievements. Recruiters know what you do. They want to know what kind of difference you can bring to their company. Focus on what you've accomplished.
Action Verbs for Your Law Enforcement Resume
Recommended reads:
Writing a strong skills section for your law enforcement resume
Checklist for your law enforcement skills section:
- Include all relevant skills from the job description to pass ATS;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise;
- List your technical skills in a clear and concise manner;
- Leave room for transferable skills related to teamwork, communication, negotiation, and conflict management.
Top skills for your law enforcement resume
Computer Proficient
Hazmat Certified
TSA STA Clearance
OSForensics
FTK Imager
Registry Viewer
PowerShell
LogParser
Active listening
Conflict resolution
Empathy
Compassion
Adaptability
Nonverbal communication
Critical thinking and observation
Building trust
PRO TIP
Avoid getting sidetracked by Applicant tracking software by including a tech skills' section matching the job description and your own qualifications.
Law enforcement resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your law enforcement resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Law Enforcement resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
The ideal summary for your law enforcement resume
Mastering the summary section: checklist
- Mention the total years of experience you have in the field;
- Focus on 2 to 3 of your top achievements;
- Highlight the things that make you the best fit for the position;
- Go for short, easy-to-read sentences to keep the recruiter’s attention.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary section should act as a professional taster. Use it wisely. Effectively convey your professional profile and let the hiring manager know that if they hire you, they won’t be disappointed. Make sure to include keywords from the job description too! Elaborate on your abilities further in your experience section. Again, cater to the job description.
Recommended reads:
Things to include in your law enforcement resume education section
Law enforcement resume education section checklist:
- Mention your highest education degree;
- Add the duration of your course and the institution you attended;
- List the awards you’ve received during your studies;
- Feature your certifications if they are relevant to the position;
- Entry-level positions: Share more about projects and classes.
Top certifications for your law enforcement resume
De-escalation for Law Enforcement
Understanding what de-escalation is, how to use it without jeopardizing officer safety in the process.
Communication Skills: for Law Enforcement and Security
De-escalation Techniques for Law Enforcement and Security Officers
Complete Forensic Lie Detection
Learn to detect deception the way law enforcement professionals do
StudiGuide 36: Information Systems for Law Enforcement
Study Guide for the California Police Academy (P.O.S.T.) Written Examination
How to Apply Defensive Tactics Against Youth Assailants
Basic Techniques for Law Enforcement and Security Personnel
recommended reads:
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Law Enforcement. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
Formatting your law enforcement resume
What’s worse than a .docx resume? A resume with a poorly chosen format.
In general, there are three basic resume formats we advise you to stick with:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Choosing between them is easy when you’re aware of your applicant profile – it depends on your years of experience, the position you’re applying for, and whether you’re looking for an industry change or not.
The reverse-chronological resume format is just that – all your relevant jobs in reverse-chronological order. It’s great for applicants with lots of experience, no career gaps, and little desire for creativity.
When working with less experienced applicants, we suggest the functional skills-based resume format. It’s great for recent graduates or people with large career gaps. Functional skills-based resumes focus on your personality, the skills you have, your interests, and your education. Ultimately, the idea is to show you’re the perfect fit without putting too much emphasis on your work experience (or lack thereof).
If you’re in the middle or are generally looking to make your resume feel more modern and personal, go for the combination or hybrid resume format. It offers the best of both worlds by combining sections focused on experience and work-related skills and at the same time keeping space for projects, awards, certifications, or even creative sections like ‘my typical day’ and ‘my words to live by’.
Law Enforcement Resume Formatting Checklist
- Choose the resume format based on your level of experience and the company you’re applying for
- Go for a traditional 10-12p font
- Stick to 1-inch page margins to ensure high readability
- Match the length of your resume to your experience, but don’t go for more than two pages!
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Law Enforcement resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Additional sections for your law enforcement resume
In some cases, especially when it comes to entry-level positions, adding more sections beyond the usual ‘experience’, ‘skills’, and ‘education’ works well in your favor. Such additional sections will help you paint a fuller picture of who you are in the recruiter’s head.
Here’s a list of fun yet informative additional sections for your resume:
Making your law enforcement resume creative
We know too well that recruiters go through tons of resumes every day. The worse part is, they often need to hire people for different positions and teams. So how do you make yourself stand out in such cases?
By adding a dash of creativity to your Law Enforcement resume. It can be in the form of a colorful layout, a section describing your typical day, or even a picture of your favorite book – you decide!
Just make sure that the levels of creativity match the industry, company, and position you’re applying for.
What makes a great law enforcement resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
