What an accomplishment it is to not only receive your college degree  but to also land your first job and start your career! If this is where you are in life, congratulations! Securing your first professional work assignment is a great milestone to reach, but as Police Recruit Class 200 learned today, the hard work doesn’t end once you’ve graduated.

Treasure Island Chief of Police Armand Boudreau helped current recruits understand the importance of continued education and maintaining a strong work ethic in a workshop today on professional development.

Chief Boudreau offered specific advice to new law enforcement officers: know what your mission statement is and understand the core values of your department. For the City of Treasure Island, the agency’s core values were created around the acronym for the Treasure Island Police Department – Trust, Integrity, Professionalism and Dedication.

With a 20-plus year career in law enforcement, Chief Boudreau has developed a philosophy for career success that applies to any career. Its focus is on working hard, avoiding corrective action by doing the right thing and going above and beyond to exceed baseline work responsibilities. He has stressed the importance of continued education, from A.A. to bachelor’s and bachelor’s to masters in order to be promoted over co-workers who have the same level of work experience. The importance of being able to write well is also extremely important. For employees who are not naturally strong in written communication, additional training can improve this critical professional skill.

“One thing that I pay a lot of attention to, and you should too, is this cell phone,” said Boudreau. “When it rings, and it’s a supervisor who needs your help in filling a shift, don’t say you didn’t see the call come in. Answer the phone and pick up the shift.”

If an employee goes the extra mile to put in extra hours, volunteers for assignments no one else wants, demonstrates leadership and the ability to work independently, the return on that investment will come back “tenfold” and newer employees coming in will start to fill that role as you move into the position of promotion you’ve worked to reach, the police chief said.

Keeping an updated resume for whenever a new job opportunity arises will reduce the risk of errors and omissions and take the stress out of preparing for a job application in a rush.