You may have heard the phrase public safety being used frequently, but be unsure as to what it really means, who it refers to, and what is entailed. In short, public safety is a wide-reaching field that aims to keep the general public safe from various types of threats. As it is such a vast area, there are many different professions and job roles that are encompassed within the public safety arena. Here are a few basic pieces of information about what public safety is, what the jobs involve and how you can gain employment in one of those roles.
What is Public Safety?
Public safety refers to the large field of people, businesses, and organizations that aim to keep the public safe from threats. These threats can be natural, such as earthquakes, or man-made, such as crime. To ensure clear communication and cooperation across the various agencies and organizations responsible for public safety in a specific area, organizations such as Public Safety Canada are created. One of the most important parts of public safety is the ability of several agencies to react to a threat in a coherent and organized way, in order to minimize danger to the public and reduce damage, and this is what PSC aims to do.
What are the different job roles?
There are many different types of people who work in public safety roles, and their jobs are incredibly varied. Some examples include:
- Emergency management director
- Firefighter
- Intelligence Analyst
- Parole Officer
- Border Service Officer
- Law Enforcement
Within these different job titles, there are even more subsections of specialists, all working to keep the public as safe as possible from different threats.
How Can You Pursue a Career in Public Safety?
Due to the wide range of public safety roles, each one will have its own pathway to working in that specific career. However, there are some general skills that employers look for in public safety employees, including:
- Integrity
- Creativity
- Leadership
- Communication
Furthermore, there are specific courses and degrees that can help prepare you to work in public safety, such as an mps online, which is taught 100% online and gives you a master’s qualification in public safety. This is a great way to develop upon your existing skills and work towards a public safety career in your chosen field. There are many benefits to studying for an online degree, as they can provide flexible learning options for those who wish to work alongside their studies or who cannot commit to a full-time, in-person degree for any reason.
Location
Online courses that are taught completely remotely allow you to study from a location that suits you. With more control over your learning environment, you can create a comfortable learning atmosphere and promote productivity and efficiency. Working in a way that suits your various requirements can boost your enjoyment of the course, help you absorb information better, take breaks when you need to, and learn at your own pace. Additionally, your local university or college might not offer the courses, levels, or subjects you need to study to achieve your career goals. This may cause a delay in your career advancement, as well as being a waste of time and money if you then have to study something that you don’t want or need. When studying online, you have access to a greater range of courses and are not limited to your physical location as much.
Costs
Many people do not pursue education, or further education, as the costs can be very high. Students have to deal with costs such as travel, rent, tuition fees, living costs, and educational resources. This can make studying financially unviable for many people. However, online courses may be able to reduce or remove some of these costs. If you are learning at home, for example, you will not have to rent campus accommodation or commute to classes every day. The flexibility offered by online learning also means that you could be able to still work and earn money while you complete your course.
Flexibility
Online courses give the student a lot more control over different elements of the learning experience. They are designed to be studied around your other commitments in a place and time that works for you. This can reduce the pressure and help you enjoy learning, and give you the opportunity to develop some useful learning habits that you can take with you in the future. Becoming a strong independent learner is very useful, as it shows employers that you can use your initiative and actively look for educational opportunities. You will also get the chance to experiment with different learning styles and discover the methods that work best for you when it comes to absorbing, retaining, and relaying information.
Skills
Taking an online course is beneficial both personally and professionally. You will, of course, gain the technical knowledge that is subject-specific, as well as valuable personal skills. Soft skills are transferable; non-technical skills that employers look for on a resume can help you thrive in the workplace and stand out. They include communication, organization, time management, critical thinking, and creativity. Many soft skills are particularly useful for those working in public safety, such as communication and creativity, as these are some of the traits that employers in the field generally lookout for.
Working in public safety is an incredibly rewarding career that will challenge you personally and professionally. There are a lot of different job roles with various focuses, but they are all concerned with the safety of the public. You may already have an idea of the area in which you want to work, still not be sure, or already work in a public safety field but want to boost your skills, knowledge, and resume. Planning ahead and making sure you understand what is required of you to apply for the jobs you want is very important so that you are prepared for the academic journey you need to take.
