I'm just basically venting my frustrations here.

I have a BA in Criminal Justice, and I'm finishing my Master of Public Administration in Government Administration; writing my thesis on Police Officer Hiring and Management. Strong grades. I also hold some Federal agency certifications in management as well.

I'm 23. I'm fit (I work as a personal trainer as a job while I'm in school). No criminal history at all.

I know I'm a very strong candidate and that I would get hired somewhere...the issue is, there is no damn place to be hired around me. Every place I see hires once every 5 years, and it seems like I'm always finding places in the middle of that 5 year period.

I don't want to move, because I don't even think I could afford to live on a entry patrol salary, so I want to stay near my parents to live with them for the first few years before a promotion becomes available to me....This is just so frustrating.

If you're reading this, and you're in college thinking about a career in this field...let me spread one bit of wisdom. These are some of the hardest jobs to get, not in terms of just qualifications, in terms of the amount of them. I see departments around me that hire once every few years, and then when they do get 200 applicants per spot.

By comparison STEM/Tech jobs can't hire people fast enough for the demand. I have friends that went to school for engineering that had 3-4 jobs offers before they even graduated, and for much more money than any law enforcement job. Whereas I'm literally still sitting around just waiting for an opportunity....I'm not even getting rejected. There just literally aren't opportunities.

It's pretty unbelievable.