Hiring Process - Weeks or Months?

[CarolinaCorrectionsGirl]

Hello, everyone! I am new to the site but looks like there is a ton of valuable information here and I can't wait to read more!

I sent in my application to the NC Dept. of Corrections last week and was hoping to hear something by this week but from what I've been reading on this site, the process is going to be much, much slower than I imagined. Are we talking months though? Does anyone know how bad the need for correctional officers is in NC - the Western Division specifically? Looks like I can expect to get a testing date next and I have another question about that - Obviously, you have to pass to move on through the process but do higher test scores place you any higher on the "waiting list" that someone mentioned you go on before being called for an interview or is it only based on passing? I'm just curious about the overall process and the timeframe I should realistically expect. I am relocating to Iredell County in NC on August 10th. I applied before the move from my current home in SC hoping that by the time I was in NC, I'd have a "yes" and a start date in the very near future. I should've applied earlier! It doesn't matter - I want to work in corrections so however long it takes, it takes. I'm just trying to look at the until... I don't want to take another job when I know it's not what I want and that I would give it up if/when a corrections position was offered - that just seems dishonest and unfair to the other employer but I can't not work for an extended period of time either. Luckily, we're not a one-income family and even expected it to take a minute for me to begin working in a new state - but months I was not expecting so I'm really curious about any timeframe estimates that any of you North Carolinians can give me!

[Kyle313]

Welcome to the forums....although I did work for NCDOC a number of years back, I do not remember what my time frame was thus I cannot answer your questions, yet there are quite a few Carolina folks here that can help you. Good luck in your new career and pay attention to the guys and gals here...you will learn alot from this bunch....

[Gooseneck]

I've been going at it now for about 3 months.

[Machiavellinc]

Hey and welcome to the forum!

Towards your post, my recent experience in NC, maybe a little over a month from the original application PD-107, did I get a test date. It's gonna feel like they forgot about you, and then seemingly out of the blue, you'll get a letter or phone call. I went out and bought a Corrections Officer Test Booklet, by ARCO and skimmed through that a few times, while waiting. I recieved a phone call one day, asking if I was still interested in the test. About a week later I went in to take the exam.
It was about a 90 minute drive from where I live to get to the testing site. They must have had well over 50 or more applicants there, waiting to take the test as well. The instructor will tell you, that they will contact you, so after taking the test, I went home thinking I passed. About 2-3 weeks later, I recieved a call that I passed and to come into an Oral Board Interview, in a week or so. When I went to the Oral board Interview at one of the facilties, I was asked a series of questions by a group of high ranking Officers. They said they'll contact me in 4-6 weeks to tell me their decision and if it went well, I'll find out sometime next month....

Make sure you bring photo ID and two number2 pencils. I brought filtered dasani water with me, too. You'll be there a while. Hope this helps and good luck!

[jblevins]

Its a very long process, but I am still trying, after my test I was called about 2 weeks later, but that doesnt seem the norm for most people, but when you think they have forgotten you do get a phone call or letter.

[OfficerPedde]

Originally Posted by Machiavellinc

Hey and welcome to the forum!

Towards your post, my recent experience in NC, maybe a little over a month from the original application PD-107, did I get a test date. It's gonna feel like they forgot about you, and then seemingly out of the blue, you'll get a letter or phone call. I went out and bought a Corrections Officer Test Booklet, by ARCO and skimmed through that a few times, while waiting. I recieved a phone call one day, asking if I was still interested in the test. About a week later I went in to take the exam.
It was about a 90 minute drive from where I live to get to the testing site. They must have had well over 50 or more applicants there, waiting to take the test as well. The instructor will tell you, that they will contact you, so after taking the test, I went home thinking I passed. About 2-3 weeks later, I recieved a call that I passed and to come into an Oral Board Interview, in a week or so. When I went to the Oral board Interview at one of the facilties, I was asked a series of questions by a group of high ranking Officers. They said they'll contact me in 4-6 weeks to tell me their decision and if it went well, I'll find out sometime next month....

Make sure you bring photo ID and two number2 pencils. I brought filtered dasani water with me, too. You'll be there a while. Hope this helps and good luck!

Well said sir, you touched on everything.

[CarolinaCorrectionsGirl]

Thanks for all the quick responses - too bad it looks like I won't get one that quick from the DOC! I'm a little disappointed to hear the length of time some of you have been in the application process - keep me posted on how it's coming for you guys. In the meantime, I'll be waiting for that letter or phone call!

Machiavellinc, I was surprised to hear there were 50 applicants there to test on the same day as you! Hard to believe there are so many interested when you always hear there is a shortage of officers - I wonder if a large number are eliminated just from the testing phase itself? So, you said you bought a test booklet and studied for the exam - now that you've taken the exam, would you recommend it? I guess I was assuming it was a basic skills assessment type test and not necessarily anything specific to the duties, etc. of a corrections officer. I was expecting it to assess things like reading and spelling skills, comprehension and retention, etc. which would reflect a person's ability to learn (and retain) the necessary information to perform the job functions. I also thought there may be some questions on judgement, etc. but not the kind of stuff you can really study for - stuff you should just know... Am I wrong?

Again, thanks for all the responses. Good luck to those of you who are still waiting to hear! I think all of us "waiters" and the "newbies" are lucky to have found this site and the support of the experienced officers here who will serve as our mentors. I've never used one of these forum sites before and found it by accident but the more I read, the more impressed I was - what other profession do you find this type of support for each other? Not many! It says a lot and even though I am not one of you yet, I can imagine that when you're on duty, one of the best feelings in the world has got to be knowing that you're coworker has your back - and to see that you guys even demonstrate that off-duty... It's truly amazing!

[Machiavellinc]

It will be easy to believe, that there are many people interested in the position, when you go to take the test. There were 50, most probably more, applicants at the testing site to take the exam. The entire hiring process is sort of like salmon going upstream….

I’ve read somewhere online, about half the applicants are eliminated from the test alone. Of the remaining applicants, many are then quickly eliminated from the Oral Board Interview. Then even more applicants, are terminated from the Psychological Exam. The leftover applicants, that make it to training, are yet again thinned out. Those employed, often leave their DOC career within the first few weeks - or for a statistical perspective, 52% leave in their first 3 years, as cited by the Department Of Corrections. Hope this facilitates a processing, to there being so many interested people in the position, with there still remaining a shortage of employed. The DOC cites also, the number one complaint by CO’s on an exit survey as, low pay.

One thing you will never forget, is how emphatically the DOC verbalizes and stresses the test being confidential, expensive to develop, and that parting information relating to the test can be considered a misdemeanor, with a heavy fine, as well as a disqualification to employment. This is first reviewed before the test begins. It’s good to note that studying for any test is always an affirmative idea, and am gratified to have studied. I would recommend the ARCO Correctional Officer Test Booklet to everyone taking the test. Making it to this forum, certainly is a positive. You’ve discovered this forum, like many of us in the hiring process, from reading and internet researching. After you pass the test, Oral Board Interview, Psyche exam, training.. certification.. you may be thankful. The tests, interviews and waiting periods all in between, will not be so much an obstacle for employment, but rather serve as barriers for those incompetent, to which you’d rather not have as back up, when you begin working anyway!

[CarolinaCorrectionsGirl]

Thank you, Machiavellinc. I will definitely take your advice and get that book to study before testing.

Sounds like you have really done your research - thanks for the explanation and figures. It is definitely a little clearer to me now - not only why the DOC has a shortage despite the huge number of applicants but also why the process does take so long when there are so many to weed through. It makes sense that there are far more "applicants" than there are "qualified applicants" and it takes time to separate the two. I too would want to know I was working next to someone who I could count on. I guess in this case, time is our friend!

[zmurphy]

i tested this past Tuesday at my local admin office (Piedmont Region). i believe there a total of 12 of us. the testing wasn't bad , just long.

between the tests, we were asking a few questions. the lady administering the tests said that currently there was only 2 prisons that were hiring (or "under cap" is the way she put it) in my area. she said that if wrote down our requested prisons were not hiring, we would go on a waiting list for CO jobs at our requested prisons. since the 2 that are currently under cap, are 1 1/2 & 2 hrs away from my house i did not put them on my request list. they will tell you to write down 3 prisons that you would like to work.
however, you can request more on a supplemental sheet. to increase my hiring chances, i put down for all the ones within 45 min to 1 hr of my house. i believe there ended up being 11 on my list. surely i will hear something.

on yeah the lady administering the test said "We don't have alot of turn over" i thought to myself, thats not what i heard!

lets all try to keep this post updated with the stages we go through the process of getting hired.

right now i am waiting on a phone call for my next step after the initial testing.

good luck guys.