County job gave everyone else the uper hand?

Hello Everyone,

I'm 28 years old from the bay area and recently I applied for 911 dispatcher job for my county. I’ve always worked for large companies and decided that I want to do something for my community and the safest job that can make a difference was being a dispatcher. Over the last 6 months that’s all I’ve been wanting to do and I went all in. I’m the type of person that when i set my mind on something i will get it done. Anyways on to what happen.

After I applied I got several emails about making it to the next process and what not and eventually received an email to take the POST entry dispatcher test for this job. It’s based on a T-Score (curve) and you have to get a score of 55 or higher to move on to the panel interview stage of the hiring process. You’re basically disqualified from the job if you get lower than a 55. With this email I received an attachment about what would be on this test, time, sections, sample test, and everything I would need to know. I studied and was absolutely mentally prepared for this test. Knowing what the test was on and being mentally ready was half the battle and I felt great.

So a few weeks later I go in to take the test and absolutely did horrible as none of it made sense. Each section was timed and it took me awhile to understand the instructions (a lot of multi tasking sections) and I couldn’t finish answering most of the questions. After all 11 sections I felt horrible, I wasn’t expecting any of the things on this test. It became a random pop quiz on nothing I was expecting.

After going home I realized the email I received on the test was the POST entry level “law enforcement” test and what they needed to send was the POST entry level “dispatcher” test instructions. From all the forums I read before I applied for the job they said the application process is the same as law enforcement so I didn’t realize I received the wrong attachment.

I was given the wrong info for this test! It’s like being sent the instructions on the rules of football and the test being on the rules of basketball. I recently ran into someone who also took the test and he said he received the right one and knew what the test would be on. I was upset because a county dispatcher position comes like once every two years and i also couldn’t re take the test due to a 30 day waiting period.

When i called after the test no one can help me and in a nut shell i was told it is what it is and to wait for the test results. I received a 52 so I didn’t make it to the interviewing stage. :( I feel so down and don’t know what to do with myself. I feel like I was done wrong for a test that’s based on a curve and on what my peers got, I feel everyone else was given a upper hand.. What can be done? I know to most of you its just a stupid job and test but this meant the world to me. If I didn’t pass the test id be ok with it, but to know that everyone else might have had an edge hurts! This was the job that was going to change my life around.
This was my first county job ive applied for and like most government jobs the process is intense and there are multiple stages. I did reply to a couple emails just to let them know I received their email or if I had a question. I didn’t realized there are hundreds of people applying and that may have annoyed the HR lady?

0 answers  |  asked May 12, 2015 12:42 AM [EST]  |  applies to California

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