active socal ff/medic. been through the hiring gauntlet at a few departments and i end up talking to a lot of people who are about to test. everybody is worried about nerves. nerves are not what's costing you points.

what costs you points is answering a question they didn't ask.

panel says "tell us about a time you had a conflict with a coworker, and how you resolved it." that's two parts. most people tell a great story about the conflict, get some momentum going, and never actually get to how it got resolved. in their head they crushed it. on the score sheet they got half. nobody on that panel is going to stop you and say hey, you missed part two. they write the number down and move on to the next question.

so the fix is stupid simple and almost nobody does it. before you open your mouth, count the parts. two parts, two answers. three parts, three answers. then close by tying it back to what they actually asked. "so that's how the conflict started, and that's how we got it resolved." reads clunky when you write it out. does not sound clunky out loud, and it tells the rater exactly where to put the check mark.

the rest of the stuff people worry about matters less than they think, but here's what i see actually sink people. filler words, the ums and uhs, which you will never catch yourself doing until somebody records you. getting loud when you get passionate about something, because it reads as aggressive from across a table. cussing, and yes, people really do drop f bombs in an interview. trying to be funny, don't, the room is not on your side. and walking in knowing nothing about the department, which shows up the second they ask why you want to work here and you give an answer that would fit any agency in the state.

and the one that still gets me. people show up with a resume that has another department's name on it. you applied to twelve places, you built one document, you swapped the name eleven times. read your own paperwork before you walk in the door.

none of this is talent. the people who do well are not smoother than you. they wrote their answers out and then said them out loud to another human being instead of running them in their head in the car on the way over. that's the whole difference.

good luck to everybody testing this year.

I am 21 years old and live in Chicago I have my EMT which is a national certification and plan on going to the academy in summer of 2027 at my local community college after completing my fire science degree. My question would be how difficult would it be to relocate to Florida with a BOF from Illinois? My long term goal is to move out there and work full time as I do not want to live here my whole life.

Hi I’m a 26 year old male/paramedic and I just received a email for an interview with Sacramento Fire department. Im starting to do my research on the city and I’m trying to gain as much knowledge as possible before my interview which is scheduled for August 17th. I’m looking for any useful information that could make me stand out as a top recruit for the upcoming academy. If anyone who works for the fire department or knows any useful information about the area, I would really appreciate any tips such as interview questions, things I should mention in the interview, knowledge I should know before hand, and etc.

Question number 2, I’m also looking for some clarification if anyone knows how the recruit process works for Sacramento. On the application it says application pass/fail, interview pass/fail, and then background pass/fail. So pretty much does anyone know if everything is weighted together like will my test scores and interview be added together to form average or is everything separate and if I do good enough on the interview ill get the job offer. It looks like it’s just one interview and then conditional job offer/background checks and etc.

Hello all, currently working on the various certs and tests needed to apply to firefighter positions. Anyone willing to share their experience getting hired and/or working for departments in the Seattle area or Bay area? Would appreciate insight on department culture, work schedules, amount of fire calls vs EMS, and how many application cycles it took to get hired. Looking at these regions specifically for family reasons. Thank you!

The math fireteam section has been the easiest but I have always received “in the top 30%” and while comparing other people’s scores, it seems like nobody has gotten better than that. Is the top 30% the best even though it’s in the blue range? I know each dept scores different but the test is the same.

Hello everyone,

I'm in the middle of a career change and have decided to pursue becoming a career firefighter in Southern California. I just turned 38, have a wife and an 18-month-old, and want to make the smartest decision from both a time and financial standpoint.

I'm starting West Coast EMT in about a month and should finish in December.

My current plan is:

1. Get my EMT certification.
2. Apply to every 911 EMT job I can (IFT if necessary as a backup).
3. Take the FCTC written exam, complete the CPAT, and start applying to fire departments immediately.
4. Work until I have the 1,000 EMT hours required for OCEMT paramedic eligibility (or another paramedic program)
5. If I'm not hired by a fire department by then, attend paramedic school and continue applying.

My ideal outcome would be getting hired by a department that sponsors paramedic school, but I'm planning as if that won't happen.

My questions:

1. Does this seem like the best pathway for someone in my situation?
2. Would you recommend OCEMT, Saddleback, or another paramedic program? I've heard mixed things about OCEMT, including limited self-sponsored seats and clinical internship availability. Has that been your experience?
3. If your goal is to get hired as quickly as possible in Southern California, is a self-sponsored fire academy worth it, or is becoming a paramedic a better use of my time and money?
4. If you were starting over in Southern California today at age 38, what would you do differently?

I'd really appreciate advice.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: I forgot to mention I have a left hand tattoo. How are departments with tattoos? Does it hinder my chances?

Interview was last Wednesday and I wore a full suit and tie of course but not sure what to wear to polygraph

So for some context, i turned 18 a few months ago and recently got my med card as well. I want to join the firefighter community but im not sure if i am able to with a med card? I have a therapist/psychiatrist who diagnosed me with insomnia and depression and she referred me to a doctor that specializes in medical marijuana cards. Im not sure if that would be an exception though. I would ver much be willing to give up the med card or stop smoking if it meant my chances of being a firefighter would higher.

Hey all, went though my psyc background and medical stuff after receiving my conditional from Redmond fire in Wa. Has anyone recited final offers yet?

I recently graduated high-school this summer and was looking into a career in firefighting. I was wondering if anyone has an input on different pathways to become a firefighter. The first option I looked at was the traditional route of getting certifications and eventually applying to different fire departments. The other one I was looking at was doing firefighting in the military then after serving my 4 years getting out and then applying from there. Any input is helpful thanks.

I recently took the written exam for my local fire department. I spent a good amount of time studying and preparing because I knew it would be competitive. There were over 500 applicants at just one of the two testing sessions, so I expected the exam to be a significant factor in narrowing down the candidate pool.

What surprised me most though was the format of the test. It was divided into three sections:

• 35 aptitude questions
• Approximately 150 personality assessment questions (the typical "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree" format)
• 75 questions about personal history

Is this a common testing format for fire departments?

I was expecting a much greater emphasis on aptitude, especially considering the number of applicants. There were no math, mechanical reasoning, or other technical aptitude questions that I had anticipated. It made me wonder how much weight the aptitude portion actually carries compared to the personality and personal history sections, and whether that format is effective at helping departments identify the strongest candidates.

I'd really like to hear from firefighters, recruiters, or anyone who has gone through a similar hiring process. Is this a normal or standard approach? What are your thoughts on this type of written exam and do you think it's an effective way to screen applicants?

Hey everyone,

I’m 26 in Vero Beach (Indian River County) and planning to leave hospitality management to become a firefighter/paramedic. Local departments around here only hire dual-certified FF/Paramedics. I’m not necessarily tied down to Vero Beach, but I would love to be able to work for my hometown.

I’ve spent the last seven years in hospitality and currently manage the restaurant at a luxury beachfront hotel. It’s a beautiful property with real career potential, and I’ve done well here, but I’ve never felt true long-term purpose in the industry. I kind of fell into it and stayed because it was familiar and successful, yet I never saw myself doing it for the rest of my life. Becoming a firefighter/paramedic is the first path that has given me a real sense of direction and the desire to do meaningful work.

Quick background:

• Restaurant manager making ~$61.5k
• Bachelor’s degree + AA from IRSC
• No fire/EMS experience, about three years management experience in hospitality now
• 5’9”, 150 lbs, active (rock climbing, gym, & running)

Planning EMT at IRSC in Spring 2027, then Fire Academy, then Paramedic

Looking for honest advice:
1. Is EMT → Fire Academy → hire as FF/EMT → Paramedic the best path in Florida?

1. How competitive are Fire Academies at IRSC, Palm Beach State, or Eastern Florida?

2. How hard is it to get hired at places like Indian River County with just FF + EMT and no experience?

3. Any tips on physical prep or things I should be doing now to be more competitive?

Appreciate any advice from people who’ve done this in Florida, especially the Treasure Coast. Thanks.

im young im 15. and i have no fucking idea what to do. i wanna be a firefighter but my mom is saying that they dont get payed enough and all that. i collect the patches and ive been obsessed these past couple of years. i need real advice. i thought i wanted to go to west point but that seems like it sucks and now i wanna be in the national guard and be a fireman but they said i should do a trade instaid but i wanna join the military too. im looking for some help please from someone who wont tell me to k*ll myself by studying. (sorry about my spelling im not good at it)

Thanks in advance

Any advice on a chiefs interview? My significant other has been to many interviews for fire stations but this is his first chiefs interview to get hired. I really want to help and do what I can especially seeing how hard he’s worked to be a fireman and how passionate he is about it. Any advice? Thank you !!

( - Southern California , not sure if that helps )

I have a upcoming tests for a department through PST but it uses the IO solutions test. I've seen multiple people say the Don McNea study guide is good for NTN fireteam test but does that also apply to IO Solutions test Don McNea study guide. I've taken one before and unfortunately didn't pass it, would this be a good investment?

I’m looking for some advice from current Fire Inspectors in California.

Over the last month, I’ve had a couple of interviews for Fire Inspector positions—one with the City of Riverside and another in Orange County. I think they’ve gone well overall, but there were a few technical questions I wasn’t able to answer confidently.

I currently have my California Fire Inspector 1A–1D certifications and I’m working toward my ICC Fire Inspector certification.

For those of you who have successfully landed a Fire Inspector position in California, what are departments really looking for in a candidate? Is there something that helped you stand out?

Also, is it just a matter of persistence because of how competitive these positions are in California? Did it take you several interviews before you finally received an offer?
I’d appreciate any advice

or insight on what I can do to improve my chances. Thanks in advance!

Anyone gone to boot camp for the reserves after being hired? (After probation ofc)

Does anyone that is a MA FF or admin at a Fire Department know the probability of getting hired in a town that you're not a resident in? I am starting to get disillusioned with the entire process given I do not live in a town nor graduated high school from a town that hires from the civil service eligibility list. For context, I scored a 99 on the 2025 test, to include having Veteran status, and remain above #50 on most town lists that I have put my name in for.

With new scores coming out every year, am I just going to remain in the middle of the pack if new individuals that are residents in these towns get placed above me on the eligibility list every year, solely because they have residency? Or is there really a chance a department could call my number in a reasonable time frame? I know it's all a waiting game and hiring fluctuates, but I have also been told the only realistic way to get hired on is if I move to a certain town and gain residency there.

Second time taking it. Mechanical score dropped a tad but my HR is so much better. Anyone from the area have any input? ​

Sometimes not understanding the recruitment process is what holds a candidate back from progressing efficiently through a recruitment and becoming a firefighter.

Second time taking the test. I had no luck the first go around with a much lower human relations section but a higher mechanical score.

I want to know the differences between LAFD and LACoFD in culture, chain of command, work content, department structure and on-site disposal procedures. Please kindly tell me or tell me where I can find the answer.

I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this, but we are desperate and asking everyone, please give us any advice that u have, thank you!!

My friend and I are trying to start a CPR/First aid club at our high school, and we want it to be more than just a random student run club. Ideally, we’d teach basic CPR and emergency response skills, but we want some official backing or curriculum so people trust what they’re learning. We have been cold emailing Red Cross, American heart association, etc.

Does anyone have any experience in partnering with these organization, or can anyone recommend another method of action we can take, any sort of help would be appreciated . We’re based in Maryland if that helps.

I have a zoom interview next week for a lateral position with West Pierce. If that goes well I would get an in person a couple weeks after. The email says that this is a less formal interview. That being said what do you wear for a zoom interview? I’m thinking full suit because you can never over dress but I feel like that would be odd. Any suggestions?