NCJ Number
216831
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 54 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2006 Pages: 68-71
Date Published
December 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the components and benefits of the Realistic Job Preview (RJP), designed and used as an employee retention tool for law enforcement agencies.
Abstract
The Realistic Job Preview (RJP) is specifically designed to give job candidates a truly down-to-earth picture of the “cold realities” of a profession or position. It provides as much information as possible about it so that recruits can make a truly educated decision about their fitness for the job. An RJP given to people contemplating joining a local police department should include details not only about employee salary, benefits, and vacation time but about (1) the obligation to work any shift; (2) the likelihood of being on the night shift for several years before being eligible for day work; (3) the inevitability of having to work for long periods of time without breaks in an emergency situation; (4) the necessity to maintain self-control when verbally/physically assaulted; (5) the requirement to work with people who might be verbally abusive, intoxicated, suicidal, or angry; (6) the need to be sensitive, empathetic, and compassionate; and (7) the need to be able to effectively deal with disappointment, frustration, and dejection. The RJP can be taken in the form of a film, booklet, questionnaire, lecture, or one-on-one discussion. RJPs can also be given to current employees facing a change in their job status. The RJP creates “antibodies” which are coping strategies that can assist the candidate in dealing with disagreeable aspects of the job. The RJP creates an atmosphere of honesty. It saves the employer both time and money by giving the candidates a reason to self-select out of the recruitment process. RJPs can be a potentially significant ingredient in a law enforcement agency’s personnel recruitment program. They have proven to reduce turnover rates among new recruits, as well as job satisfaction among veteran officers.