The fastest way to fill a critical vacancy isn’t a fresh recruit who needs six months of academy training; it’s a lateral hire—an experienced, certified officer or firefighter from another jurisdiction.
The problem? Every other agency knows this too. We are currently in a “war for talent” where neighboring jurisdictions are aggressively poaching from one another with promises of better pay, take-home cars, and signing bonuses.
If you want to win lateral hires, money matters, but so does the process. Experienced professionals will not tolerate the same slow, bureaucratic jumping through hoops that a 21-year-old rookie will.
Laterals Need a Concierge Experience, Not Red Tape
A five-year veteran officer applying to your agency already has a job. They are busy. If your application process requires them to print out a 40-page PDF, fill it out by hand, and drive it to City Hall between 9 AM and 4 PM, they won’t bother. They will go to the agency next door that lets them apply on their phone on their lunch break.
Your agency needs to treat lateral applicants like VIP customers. Their process needs to be streamlined, digital-first, and respectful of their time.
Using Software to Fast-Track Experienced Hires
Safeguard Recruiting’s software allows agencies to create separate workflows for lateral vs. entry-level candidates.
When a lateral applies, the system recognizes their status and places them into an accelerated track. They receive automated texts scheduling them for the next available screenings immediately. Drip campaigns can be tailored to highlight benefits relevant to experienced staff, such as pension portability or specialized unit opportunities, rather than generic academy information.
Communication Speed is a Competitive Advantage
When an experienced officer signals interest, the clock starts ticking. If you take a week to respond to their initial inquiry, they assume your agency is disorganized or uninterested.
Automation ensures that 100% of lateral leads are followed up with instantly, 24/7. This immediate engagement secures their interest before your competitors even open their emails.
Don’t lose experienced officers to slow processes. Let Safeguard Recruiting help you build a fast-track digital pipeline specifically for lateral hires. Request a demo of our recruiting software today.
