One resume challenge you might face as a law enforcement professional is articulating your diverse experiences in a way that resonates with civilian employers. Our guide is here to help, offering tailored strategies to highlight your skills and bridge the gap between public service and private sector expectations.
- Incorporate law enforcement job advert keywords into key sections of your resume, such as the summary, header, and experience sections;
- Quantify your experience using achievements, certificates, and more in various law enforcement resume sections;
- Apply practical insights from real-life law enforcement resume examples to enhance your own profile;
- Choose the most effective law enforcement resume format to succeed in any evaluation process.
Tips and tricks for your law enforcement resume format
Before you start writing your resume, you must first consider its look-and-feel - or resume format . Your professional presentation hence should:
- Follow the reverse-chronological resume format , which incroporates the simple logic of listing your latest experience items first. The reverse-chronological format is the perfect choice for candidates who have plenty of relevant (and recent) experience.
- State your intention from the get-go with a clear and concise headline - making it easy for recruiters to allocate your contact details, check out your portfolio, or discover your latest job title.
- Be precise and simple - your resume should be no more than two pages long, representing your experience and skills that are applicable to the law enforcement job.
- Ensure your layout is intact by submitting it as a PDF. Thus, your resume sections would stay in place, even when assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (ATS).
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Bold the names of educational institutions and certifying bodies for emphasis.
The five (plus) definite sections your resume for a law enforcement job should include are:
- Header with your headline, contact details, and/or a preview of your work
- Summary (or objective) to pinpoint how your success aligns with the role
- Experience with bullets of your most relevant achievements in the field
- Skills to integrate vital job requirements (both technical and personal)
- Your further dedication to the field, showcased via relevant higher education and/or certifications
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Relevant law enforcement experience and skills, including patrol duties, investigations, arrests, and law enforcement procedures.
- Demonstrated ability to uphold the law, protect citizens, and maintain order.
- Certifications and trainings such as Police Academy certification, firearms proficiency, and emergency response training.
- Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency rules.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with the public, colleagues, and other agencies.
Creating your law enforcement resume experience to catch recruiters' attention
Remember that for the law enforcement role, hiring managers are looking to see how your expertise aligns with their requirements. Here's where your resume experience section can help out. Make sure you:
- Include mainly roles that are relevant to the law enforcement job you're applying for;
- Don't go too far back in your experience - recruiters will only care what you did a decade ago if it's really important for the law enforcement role;
- Each bullet you include should say what you did, followed by the skills you used and the actual end result of your efforts;
- Quantify each of your achievements with numbers and possibly the overall effect it had on the organization;
- Highlight transferrable skills - or personal skills you've attained thanks to past jobs - that could be applicable within your potential workplace. This would showcase your unique value as a professional.
Formatting the experience section of your resume doesn't have to be an over-the-top deep dive into your whole career. Follow the law enforcement resume examples below to see how industry-leading professionals are presenting their experience:
- Conducted routine patrols, traffic stops, and responded to 911 calls in a densely populated urban area, effectively decreasing response time by 20% over two years.
- Led a team of six in developing a community policing initiative, strengthening relationships with local businesses and residents and reducing petty crime by 15%.
- Implemented a new report filing system using digital platforms, increasing department efficiency and reducing paperwork processing time by 30%.
- Spearheaded an inter-agency task force targeting regional drug trafficking, resulting in a 25% increase in narcotics seizures within the first year.
- Trained over 100 personnel in advanced investigative techniques, contributing significantly to the department's overall crime solution rate which saw an 18% improvement.
- Developed and executed workshops on cyber-crime prevention for local businesses, enhancing community awareness and reducing instances of online fraud.
- Managed emergency response for critical incidents and coordinated with federal agencies during high-threat events.
- Oversaw a rural patrolling unit that decreased burglaries and theft by 40% through strategic planning and presence.
- Initiated a DUI checkpoint program which lowered alcohol-related accidents by 50% and contributed to safer roadways.
- Led a proactive team focusing on violent crimes, and through enhanced tactical operations, violent offenses were reduced by 22%.
- Designed and implemented a witness protection protocol that guaranteed the safety of key witnesses and increased successful prosecutions by 35%.
- Cultivated intelligence networks within the community which led to the successful disruption of multiple organized crime rings.
- Collaborated with state and federal agencies in a multi-jurisdictional drug task force, leading to over 200 arrests and the dismantling of 3 major drug distribution networks.
- Expertly managed evidence and crime scene processing in over 300 cases, ensuring integrity and continuity of evidence chain-of-custody.
- Deployed body-worn camera technology among patrol units, resulting in increased transparency and a 20% reduction in complaints against officers.
- Initiated and led a project to integrate bodycam footage with cloud storage, drastically improving evidence retrieval and playback for courtroom presentations.
- Facilitated monthly public safety meetings that educated the community on safety practices, effectively reducing residential break-ins by 10%.
- Piloted an advanced driving course for the department, enhancing pursuit safety and vehicular control under high-stress situations.
- Directed a counterterrorism operation in collaboration with the FBI, preventing potential threats by closely monitoring high-risk individuals and areas.
- Played a pivotal role in designing the department's crisis negotiation strategies, effectively defusing 15 hostage situations without casualties.
- Implemented a K9 program that successfully detected explosives in multiple security checkpoints, ensuring public safety and event security.
- Educated school administrators and students on safety protocols, devising a school safety plan that mitigated risks and improved emergency response times by 25%.
- Worked closely with the local homeless population, connecting over 100 individuals with social services and significantly reducing vagrancy-related incidents.
- Received the department's Meritorious Service Medal for bravery and quick thinking during a multi-casualty traffic accident that saved three lives.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include the number of successful investigations you've led or contributed to, demonstrating your effectiveness in solving cases.
- List the percentage reduction in crime for the areas you were responsible for, showing your direct impact on community safety.
- Quantify the number of arrests made or warrants served to exhibit your proactive law enforcement efforts.
- Mention the amount of drugs or contraband intercepted to highlight your role in disrupting illegal activities.
- Detail the number of training hours you've completed to show your commitment to professional development.
- Report the number of community engagement events you've participated in or organized to demonstrate your community relations skills.
- State the volume of cases you've managed simultaneously to showcase your organizational skills and ability to multitask.
- Present the amount of funds or resources you've secured through grants or programs to prove your initiative and financial stewardship.
Action verbs for your law enforcement resume
Experience section for candidates with zero-to-none experience
While you may have less professional experience in the field, that doesn't mean you should leave this section of your resume empty or blank.
Consider these four strategies on how to substitute the lack of experience with:
- Volunteer roles - as part of the community, you've probably gained valuable people (and sometimes even technological capabilities) that could answer the job requirements
- Research projects - while in your university days, you may have been part of some cutting-edge project to benefit the field. Curate this within your experience section as a substitute for real-world experience
- Internships - while you may consider that that summer internship in New York was solely mandatory to your degree, make sure to include it as part of your experience, if it's relevant to the role
- Irrelevant previous jobs - instead of detailing the technologies you've learned, think about the transferable skills you've gained.
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List all your relevant higher education degrees within your resume in reverse chronological order (starting with the latest). There are cases when your PhD in a particular field could help you stand apart from other candidates.
Bringing your law enforcement hard skills and soft skills to the forefront of recruiters' attention
Hard skills are used to define the technological (and software) capacities you have in the industry. Technical skills are easily defined via your certification and expertise.
Soft skills have more to do with your at-work personality and how you prosper within new environments. People skills can be obtained thanks to your whole life experience and are thus a bit more difficult to define.
Why do recruiters care about both types of skills?
Hard skills have more to do with job alignment and the time your new potential employers would have to invest in training you.
Soft skills hint at how well you'd adapt to your new environment, company culture, and task organization.
Fine-tune your resume to reflect on your skills capacities and talents:
- Avoid listing basic requirements (e.g. "Excel"), instead substitute with the specifics of the technology (e.g. "Excel Macros").
- Feature your workplace values and ethics as soft skills to hint at what matters most to you in a new environment.
- Build a separate skills section for your language capabilities, only if it makes sense to the role you're applying for.
- The best way to balance law enforcement hard and soft skills is by building a strengths or achievements section, where you define your outcomes via both types of skills.
There are plenty of skills that could make the cut on your resume.
That's why we've compiled for you some of the most wanted skills by recruiters, so make sure to include the technologies and soft skills that make the most sense to you (and the company you're applying for):
Top skills for your law enforcement resume:
Criminal Law Knowledge
Firearms Handling
Self-Defense Techniques
Crime Scene Management
Emergency Response
Surveillance Techniques
Interviewing and Interrogation
Report Writing
Digital Forensics
Traffic Control
Critical Thinking
Effective Communication
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Empathy
Stress Management
Teamwork
Integrity
Cultural Awareness
Adaptability
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If you happen to have some basic certificates, don't invest too much of your law enforcement resume real estate in them. Instead, list them within the skills section or as part of your relevant experience. This way you'd ensure you meet all job requirements while dedicating your certificates to only the most in-demand certification across the industry.
Discover the perfect certification and education to list on your law enforcement resume
Value the insights your resume education section offers. It can shed light on various proficiencies and experiences tailored for the job.
- Add only college or university degrees, stating the institution and duration.
- If you're nearing the end of your degree, note your graduation date.
- Weigh the pros and cons of including unrelated degrees - it might not be your best choice with so little space on your resume.
- Talk about your educational achievements if they amplify your relevant experience.
There are so many certificates you can list on your resume.
Just which ones should make the cut?
- List your prominent higher education degree in a separate box, alongside the name of the institute you've obtained it from and your graduation dates
- Curate only relevant certificates that support your expertise, hard skills, and soft skills
- Certificates that are more niche (and rare) within the industry could be listed closer to the top. Also, this space could be dedicated to more recent certifications you've attained
- Add a description to your certificates or education, only if you deem this could further enhance your chances of showcasing your unique skill set
When listing your certificates, remember that it isn't a case of "the more, the merrier", but rather "the more applicable they are to the industry, the better".
Recruiters have hinted that these are some of the most in-demand certificates for law enforcement roles across the industry:
The top 5 certifications for your law enforcement resume:
- Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certification - various state POST Boards
- Certified Law Enforcement Analyst (CLEA) - International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA)
- Federal Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) - Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) - Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
- Law Enforcement Executive Development (LEED) Certification - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
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Always remember that your law enforcement certifications can be quantified across different resume sections, like your experience, summary, or objective. For example, you could include concise details within the expertise bullets of how the specific certificate has improved your on-the-job performance.
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Law Enforcement resume summary or objective? The best choice is based on your experience
If you're wondering about the relevancy of the resume summary or the resume objective to your Law Enforcement application - here's the truth.
The summary and objective provide recruiters with your expertise and accomplishments at a glance, within an up-to-five-sentence structure.
The difference is that the:
- Resume objective is also more focused on emphasizing your career goals. The objective is the perfect fit for (potentially more junior) candidates who'd like to balance their relevant experience with their career goals.
- Resume summary can provide you with space to also detail the unique value of what it's like to work with you. Law Enforcement candidates who have many noteworthy accomplishments start from the get-go with their summary.
Ensure that either type of resume introduction presents your Law Enforcement expertise in the best light and aligns it with the job advert.
The more details you can provide with numbers, the more compelling your resume summary or objective will be.
Real-world Law Enforcement candidates follow these frameworks in writing their resume summaries and objectives.
The end results are usually as such:
Resume summaries for a law enforcement job
- Seasoned Police Officer with over 18 years of experience in urban crime prevention, adept in advanced surveillance techniques and providing key testimony in high-profile cases. Pivotal in dismantling a major drug trafficking ring in 2020, leading to a 15% drop in local narcotics-related crimes.
- Detail-oriented Detective with a decade of forensic expertise, known for exceptional interrogation skills that resulted in a 90% confession rate. Spearheaded the innovative "Safe Streets" initiative in Los Angeles, significantly reducing gang activity and improving community-police relations.
- Former military intelligence officer transitioning to law enforcement, offering 12 years of experience in high-stakes global security operations. Excelled in information analysis and strategic planning, receiving multiple commendations for outstanding performance in overseas deployments.
- Computer Systems Analyst seeking to leverage 8 years of cybersecurity expertise into a law enforcement career. Proven ability to design robust security protocols, having thwarted over 100 potential data breaches. Aspires to apply technical acumen to combat cybercrime and secure public safety networks.
- Eager to apply a fresh perspective and strong dedication to law enforcement, aiming to contribute to community safety. Motivated by personal experiences and a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, bringing volunteer work in neighborhood watch programs and a strong moral compass to the profession.
- Aspiring law enforcement professional, freshly graduated with a degree in Forensic Psychology, seeks to utilize academic knowledge and a passionate commitment to justice. Driven to learn from experienced mentors and become an integral part of a team dedicated to upholding public safety and community trust.
What else can you add to your law enforcement resume
What most candidates don't realize is that their law enforcement resumes should be tailored both for the job and their own skillset and personality.
To achieve this balance between professional and personal traits, you can add various other sections across your resume.
Your potential employers may be impressed by your:
- Awards - spotlight any industry-specific achievements and recognitions that have paved your path to success;
- Languages - dedicate some space on your law enforcement resume to list your multilingual capabilities, alongside your proficiency level;
- Publications - with links and descriptions to both professional and academic ones, relevant to the role;
- Your prioritization framework - include a "My Time" pie chart, that shows how you spend your at-work and free time, would serve to further backup your organization skill set.
Key takeaways
We've reached the end of our law enforcement resume guide and hope this information has been useful. As a summary of our key points:
- Always assess the job advert for relevant requirements and integrate those buzzwords across various sections of your law enforcement resume by presenting tangible metrics of success;
- Quantify your hard skills in your certificates and skills section, while your soft skills in your resume achievements section;
- Ensure you've added additional relevant experience items, such as extracurricular activities and projects you've participated in or led;
- Use both your resume experience and summary to focus on what matters the most to the role: including your technical, character, and cultural fit for the company.
