Who we're looking for

Communication Officers have to deal with a wide range of callers, some of whom may be frightened, angry and distressed. So, while you will receive all the training you need, we are looking for people with certain natural abilities.

What you need to do the role

You need to be reliable, assertive, enthusiastic and above all a good listener. You need to remain calm and fair under pressure, maintaining good, clear communication skills, as you may be required to stay on the line with a caller until the police arrive on the scene.

Put simply, it is essential that you have the following qualities:

• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to provide high quality customer service
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to learn and retain information
• Aptitude for quick decision making
• Ability to show resilience under pressure
• Ability to solve problems effectively
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of community focus
• Ability to type 20 words per minute
• Good Microsoft Office skills.

Ideally you will also have experience of working within a call-handling environment, but this is not strictly necessary.

Basic eligibility

To qualify for employment with the Met, you must be:

• A British citizen; or
• A Commonwealth citizen; or
• A citizen of the Irish Republic.

However, if you are a national of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or certain non-EEA family members, you may be considered for admission to non-reserved posts.

Regardless of your citizenship, you must not have any restrictions on employment or a time limit on your permitted stay in the UK and should have lived in the UK or EEA for the past three years.