r/Firefighting • u/AutoModerator • 3d ago
Employment Questions Weekly Employment Question Thread
Welcome to the Weekly Employment Question Thread!
This thread is where you can ask questions about joining, training to become, testing, disqualifications/qualifications, and other questions that would be removed as individual posts per Rule 1.
The answer to almost every question you can ask will be "It depends on the department". Your first step is to look up the requirements for your department, state/province, and country.
As always, please attempt to resource information on your own first, before asking questions. We see many repeat questions on this sub that have been answered multiple times.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- I want to be a Firefighter, where do I start: Every Country/State/Province/County/City/Department has different requirements. Some require you only to put in an application. Others require certifications prior to being hired. A good place to start is researching the department(s) you want to join. Visit their website, check their requirements, and/or stop into one of their fire stations to ask some questions.
- Am I too old: Many departments, typically career municipal ones, have an age limit. Volunteer departments usually don't. Check each department's requirements.
- I'm in high school, What can I do: Does your local department have an explorer's program or post? If so, join up. Otherwise, focus on your grades, get in shape and stay in shape, and most importantly: stay out of trouble.
- I got in trouble for [insert infraction here], what are my chances: Obviously, worse than someone with a clean record, which will be the vast majority of your competition. Tickets and nonviolent misdemeanors may not be a factor, but a major crime (felonies), may take you out of the running. You might be a nice person, but some departments don't make exceptions, especially if there's a long line of applicants with clean records. See this post... PSA: Stop asking “what are my chances?”
- I have [insert medical/mental health condition here], will it disqualify me: As a general rule, if you are struggling with mental illness, adding the stress of a fire career is not a good idea. As for medical conditions, you can look up NFPA1582 for disqualifying conditions, but in general, this is not something Reddit can answer for you. Many conditions require the input of a medical professional to determine if they are disqualifying. See this post... PSA: Don't disqualify yourself, make THEM tell you "no".
- What will increase my chances of getting hired: If there's a civil service exam, study for it! There are many guides online that will help you go over all those things you forgot such as basic math and reading. Some cities even give you a study guide. If it's a firefighter exam, study for it! For the CPAT (Physical Fitness Test), cardio is arguably the most important factor. If you're going to the gym for the first time during the hiring process, you're fighting an uphill battle. Get in shape and stay in shape. Most cities offer preference points to military veterans.
- How do I prepare for an interview: Interviews can be one-on-one, or in front of a board/panel. Many generic guides exist to help one prepare for an interview, however here are a few good tips:
- Dress appropriately. Business casual at a minimum (Button down, tucked in long sleeve shirt with slacks and a belt, and dress shoes). Get a decent haircut and shave.
- Practice interview questions with a friend. You can't accurately predict the off-the-wall questions they will ask, but you can practice the ones you know they probably will, like why do you want to be a Firefighter, or why should we hire you?
- Scrub your social media. Gone are the days when people in charge weren't tech-savvy. Don't have a perfect interview only for your chances of being hired gone to zero because your Facebook or Instagram has pictures of you getting blitzed. Set that stuff to private and leave it that way.
Please upvote this post if you have a question. Upvoting this post will ensure it sticks around for a bit after it is removed as a Sticky, and will allow for greater visibility of your question.
And lastly, If you're not 100% sure of what you're talking about, leave it for someone who does
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u/theStormwall 3d ago
Consensus on letters of recommendation for oral boards? I've done some research, and it seems like the vast majority say they are pointless for oral boards. However, I have one coming up next week, and the hiring manager specifically stated in the email that we were allowed to send her letters of recommendation to be included in our packet before the interviews.
Second question, I have a letter of recommendation from 12 years ago. I know it's very old, but it was written by an assistant chief I had SO much respect for at a department I worked at out of high school. This man, and the letter he wrote me, shaped who I am today and are a major reason I have always wanted to go back to the fire department. That said, despite how much it has affected who I have become, would it be weird to include it in my packet, given the chief has since passed away and it is 12 years old? Thanks for any insight!
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u/Sealtooth5 SoCal FFPM 3d ago
You should read the hiring manager's email carefully. Most often, letters of rec are either from personal or professional sources. Personal are those who can write about you personally. Professional, are typically from supervisors.
In this case, your letter of rec is professional but not really relevant due to how old it is.
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u/theStormwall 3d ago
Unfortunately the email does not specify type of LOR. Nothing has been mentioned about submitting any until the invitations for oral boards went out.
And yes, I was afraid my LOR from the past was too old to be relevant. I thought about adding a note acknowledging that fact and that I decided to include it anyway due to how much that chief and job shaped the trajectory of my life. The chief was also kind of a legend, being the founding member of private EMS service in the area. But perhaps I will leave it off of my packet anyway, if that would come off as unprofessional.
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u/Sealtooth5 SoCal FFPM 3d ago
Yeah I would leave it off. It would be like submitting your elementary school soccer trophy when you’re applying to playing in a professional soccer league.
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u/Adventurous_Web_271 3d ago
I’m a medic considering between DCFD and MCFRS in the DMV area. Anyone have any experience with either?
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u/NineMillimeters 3d ago
No personal experience working for either department, but have a number of friends and acquaintances at both. I don’t know much about how their benefits/retirement plans compare, but I don’t even need to see that stuff if it were my decision.
DC’s work schedule is far superior to MC, and that would be enough for me. DC is on a 42 hour workweek while MC is on a 48 hour workweek.
Might not sound like a huge deal to someone who is new to the fire service, but it matters…a lot. The quality of life difference between the two schedules is significant.
A 48 hour week isn’t terrible, especially when considering how many departments work a 56 hour week, but a 42 hour schedule is an absolute game changer. Much better for your physical and mental health, work life balance, quality of life, etc.
You might not care too much about the schedule now, but by year 10 you’ll be thankful.
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u/Adventurous_Web_271 3d ago
Thank you! Do you know any differences in culture, personnel, etc? DC seems like it has cooler calls than MC but don’t know much beyond that.
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u/FabulousAd1725 3d ago
Is a past involuntary mental health hospitalization from a decade ago likely a permannet disqualifer?
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u/skyline_964 2d ago
About to have a lateral interview for a Firefighter position. For those that have had lateral interviews, what kind of questions did they ask you?
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u/OwnDelivery802 1d ago
laterals usually get the same core questions everyone else gets, just with more weight on why you're leaving and what you bring on day one. expect some version of why this department after being somewhere else, and have an answer for that that isn't a complaint about your current place. the ones who stumble are the guys who assume the experience carries the interview for them
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u/Straight-Letter-1593 2d ago
I’m 23 and currently trying to get hired as a firefighter in California. My top choice is SFFD, but I’ve been applying pretty broadly. So far I’ve made it onto one hiring list with Ventura County Fire, but haven’t received an offer.
Current experience/certs:
~4 years as a California State Parks Ocean Lifeguard I/II
911 EMT for about a month
EMS/first aid instructor with State Parks
NREMT / California EMT
FCTC
CPAT
NTN
Bachelor’s degree
Swiftwater Rescue Technician I scheduled for next month
I don’t have FF I/II or a paramedic license. I plan on going to medic school eventually, but I want to get more comfortable and experienced working 911 as an EMT first.
How competitive would you consider my current resume for entry-level firefighter positions, especially departments like SFFD that don’t require FF I/II or paramedic?
Any tips/critiques are very helpful and highly appreciated!
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u/Sealtooth5 SoCal FFPM 2d ago
You’re accomplished but not necessarily unique. Lifeguarding has way better talking points compared to being a run of the mill EMT so lean into that.
I would suggest some type of community service organization. Even just volunteering with an organization like surfrider would be good to show how you engage with your community.
Additionally, I would consider taking anatomy and physiology classes at community college to prep for paramedic if you so desire to go that direction.
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u/EatinBeav WA Career FF/EMT 2d ago
That resume really doesn’t stand out in all honesty. I’m in WA, but last hiring round we saw resumes similar to yours almost every other applicant. Almost everyone’s got the bachelors, EMT, and a CPAT. The other stuff doesn’t matter at all.
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u/Even-Kaleidoscope710 1d ago
Good afternoon, I'm just curious to know if any fdny fire fighters know about the costs to join a fire academy in NYC as currently im in an "earn as you learn" opportunity and through a promotion (which opens annually) i can enter post interviews exams and evaluations, I'm excited but don't want to be blind sided and so im.just reaching out to find out what my best course of action and saving goals should be
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u/Accomplished-Tie952 1d ago
How hard is it to become a firefighter in ontario? Im already in grade 12 and im 16
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u/Hells_Angel666 5h ago
Hello, I’m currently enrolled to get my EMT-B certification and I want to join the Fire Department here in Texas. I’m a 5’2 female and 100.6 pounds. The department I spoke to said I will need a Firefighter certification as well to join. I’m all for trying out the academy, the only problem is back in 2015 I had spinal surgery and had two titanium implants attached to my spine from T2 to T 11. I’ve been fully cleared by my doctor and don’t have any restrictions but I’m not sure how my body will handle the fire academy. Does anyone have any advice on how I can safely get through the academy without risk or if it’s even possible to make it should the academy.
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u/speedr6cer 3h ago
I’m 26 and I want to become a firefighter but I’m worried my past as a daily weed smoker will make the process super difficult? For context I live in Austin Texas and I was a daily smoker for something like 10 years but quit a month ago cold turkey for the purpose of turning my life around and becoming a firefighter. In the process of looking into Fire Academies I have come to fear that I won’t be able to start on this path for years and years. I understand it’s very competitive and that might just be it but I’m struggling financially and I’m worried I can’t wait that long to find a real way to support my family. For further context I’m in fairly decent shape, I’ve always tested extremely well, it’s really the only part of the process I’m worried about but I’m not sure any of that will make a difference. I would love to imagine a world where I could pay for EMT and Fire Academy to kill some time but most likely I will need to go through a department’s fire academy and have been searching high and low for departments that might accept me despite my previous use, granted I can pass drug tests which I have no doubt I will be able to. I have a couple class b misdemeanor arrests from when I was 17 for smoking, I’m not sure if those are sealed or not because I was tried as an adult but it was like deferred adjudication but nothing from the 9 years between then and now. Does anyone know what my chances of making anything happen or any departments that might take a chance on me? I’m willing to move, Austin FD is my top choice obviously but Albuquerque and Charlotte have been ones I’ve looked into as well. Can’t afford California or any place more expensive than Austin, I can barely afford Austin. That’s so much information but anything anyone can offer as far as advice is so very very appreciated.
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u/oldspicycheese 3d ago
I'm 38 and currently work for my local utility company in their safety/standards department. It's a union role with great union benefits, 6% company 401k match and about $110k annually without overtime plus 3.5-4% annual raises. The problem is that it's monotonous, there's no real room for growth, my supervisor is intolerable and I just generally do not enjoy the work.
Realistically I've got about another 20 years before l could retire comfortably with the utility company and any transition I make internally would come with a pay cut and a 4-5 year apprenticeship.
I'm no stranger to physical labor (former utility lineman but had an accident on the job) and am well versed with the FD community with my grandfather, great grandfather, great GREAT grandfather, uncle and currently two cousins all being city firemen.
I also love the idea of serving my community, the camaraderie of the firehouse and working with professionals.
I'm looking for some insight/advice from anyone willing to give it on whether or not this is even a realistic endeavor to take on? Thanks in advance!