Empathy is an integral part of our human nature. It is a skill ingrained in us, but it can also be learned and improved upon. Explore ways to develop your empathy and be more successful in life.

Watch a TED Talk about empathy.

Being prepared and well trained to respond to a variety of emergency situations is a huge part of a security professionals job. Learn more about how you can protect yourself and others! 

Learn more about emergency preparedness and response.

Contact the agency you're interested in and ask about ride-along programs. You'll be riding with someone working as a police officer, firefighter or paramedic to see what they do and ask questions.

Ride with a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic.

Ask your school counselor about how to find JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) programs that you can join. 

Learn about teamwork and leadership in JROTC.

In some jurisdictions, parking enforcement officers are sworn law enforcement officers. In others, they work for private security services. Determine which route suits you best or is required in your city and investigate its application requirements.

Investigate requirements for differing enforcement agencies.

Parking Enforcement Workers

Patrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

First Interest High-Point

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Protective Service Occupations

Law Enforcement Workers

Enter and retrieve information pertaining to vehicle registration, identification, and status, using hand-held computers.

Patrol an assigned area by vehicle or on foot to ensure public compliance with existing parking ordinance.

Write warnings and citations for illegally parked vehicles.

Appear in court at hearings regarding contested traffic citations.

Maintain assigned equipment and supplies, such as hand-held citation computers, citation books, rain gear, tire-marking chalk, and street cones.

Respond to and make radio dispatch calls regarding parking violations and complaints.

Maintain close communications with dispatching personnel, using two-way radios or cell phones.

Perform simple vehicle maintenance procedures, such as checking oil and gas, and report mechanical problems to supervisors.

Observe and report hazardous conditions, such as missing traffic signals or signs, and street markings that need to be repainted.

Identify vehicles in violation of parking codes, checking with dispatchers when necessary to confirm identities or to determine whether vehicles need to be booted or towed.

Make arrangements for illegally parked or abandoned vehicles to be towed, and direct tow-truck drivers to the correct vehicles.

Investigate and answer complaints regarding contested parking citations, determining their validity and routing them appropriately.

Provide information to the public regarding parking regulations and facilities, and the location of streets, buildings and points of interest.

Prepare and maintain required records, including logs of parking enforcement activities, and records of contested citations.

Perform traffic control duties such as setting up barricades and temporary signs, placing bags on parking meters to limit their use, or directing traffic.

Mark tires of parked vehicles with chalk and record time of marking, and return at regular intervals to ensure that parking time limits are not exceeded.

Locate lost, stolen, and counterfeit parking permits, and take necessary enforcement action.

Provide assistance to motorists needing help with problems, such as flat tires, keys locked in cars, or dead batteries.

Parking Enforcement Workers

Overview

Career

What Parking Enforcement Workers Do

Other Job Titles Parking Enforcement Workers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Parking Enforcement Workers

Overview

Career

What Parking Enforcement Workers Do

Other Job Titles Parking Enforcement Workers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Parking Enforcement Workers

Related Careers

Related Leaders