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.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to see details at a distance.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

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.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

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.

Complus Data Innovations FastTrack

Integrated Parking Solutions MApp

Microsoft Access

Vehicle information databases

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Word

Web browser software

Handheld data collectors

Handheld ticket writers

Parking meter readers

Analog parking meters

Parking timers

Mobile radios

License plate recognition LPR cameras

Barcode scanners

Payment receipt printers

Parking enforcement vehicles

Laptop computers

Digital still cameras

Electronic cash registers

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions

Every day

How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Continually or almost continually

How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment

Once a week or more but not every day

How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?

Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People

How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General

Extremely important

Very important

Important

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Once a month or more but not every week

How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

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