Applying to Seattle PD — honest opinions on my job history?
I’m in the hiring process for Seattle PD and trying to get realistic feedback from people who know the process. I’m 25 and have wanted to work in public safety/military since I was a teenager. When I was 18 I was told I couldn’t pursue those paths due to legal/eligibility circumstances at the time (nothing criminal or drug related). Because of that, I spent several years trying different jobs while figuring out my long-term direction. Over time I realized I still wanted to work in public safety. I now have about 4 years of security experience, I’m pursuing my EMT certification, and I recently passed the NTN and physical test for Seattle PD. My concern is my employment history. Since I was 16 I’ve had roughly 15–18 jobs. Some were short (days/weeks), some lasted a year+, and a lot of the short ones happened during a relocation to California where I accepted multiple offers and later moved back to Washington. My longer roles include about 14 months with one security company and 14 months with another, and I’m currently working security again. I’ve never been arrested, never used drugs, and don’t have a criminal history. I’m mainly worried my early job hopping will make me look unreliable even though I’ve become more focused and stable in the last few years. For those familiar with hiring/background investigations: Is this a major red flag or something that can be explained? Does the recent stability + security/EMT path help offset it? Would you recommend continuing the process or waiting until I’ve been in one role longer? Looking for honest opinions — good or bad.
Posted Feb 25, 2026, 5:45 AM UTC