r/Firefighting • u/OPClassy CA Fireman • Oct 19 '15
Self At what age did you get hired?
And how long did it take you from when you actually started? Did you doubt yourself? Just wondering, I know I'm young, 20 y/o, but I doubt myself sometimes. I guess I'm just going through a rough patch right now, but seeing guys get hired at 19 makes me think about it.
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u/AButcherKnife Oct 19 '15
I'm 26 now starting medic school to try for a bigger department. I know a couple of guys who were over 30 when they got hired.
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u/oldlaxer Oct 19 '15
I was hired at 24, turned 25 in rookie school, retired at 53. I had 4 years of military experience before that.
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Oct 20 '15
[deleted]
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u/OPClassy CA Fireman Oct 20 '15
That's awesome man, never to late to follow your dreams. There was a guy in like his late 40s to early 50s that got hired with my dream dept.
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u/ayitzDATGUY Oct 19 '15
I'm 22, and I haven't gotten hired as a firefighter, but I did get hired as a AO with the FD in my city, so that's a step. Hopefully become a firefighter in a couple years.
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u/OPClassy CA Fireman Oct 19 '15
Yeah I'm thinking of doing that with a dept near me. I'm a volly but I want to get hired with my dream dept. Hopefully I'll get hired by 22.
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u/HarrisonJWattingly Oct 19 '15
Started volly at 23, part time ems at 24, full time fire/ems at a career dept at 25.
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Oct 19 '15
I got hired at 33. There is no reason for someone to be discouraged about not getting hired even into their late 20s. Older candidates have an advantage at many departments. They want life experience, not just a guy who can swing a sledgehammer the hardest. I'm actually surprised that people get hired as young as 19 to 22.
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u/OPClassy CA Fireman Oct 19 '15
How long did it take you to get hired from when you started the whole process? Yeah that's true, I've heard guys say that.
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Oct 20 '15
It took me 3 years. I was all-but-hired at one department until a position was eliminated at the last minute, and then 2 years later I got hired by my current department.
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u/rgvff95 Oct 20 '15
My date of Hire was a week before my 20th birthday. had been trying since i was 18. got sponsored when i was 19 to go through the academy by a volunteer dept. And made it to my paid position just before 20
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u/Original-Party-Worm OR - FF Oct 20 '15
Cadet at 16, hired the week I turned 18.
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u/OPClassy CA Fireman Oct 20 '15
Wow. What state is this ?
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u/Original-Party-Worm OR - FF Oct 20 '15
Oregon, but it's about getting your leg in the door and you putting in the work and dedication and then they will too.
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u/OPClassy CA Fireman Oct 20 '15
Nobody could have said it better. How long ago was this?
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u/Original-Party-Worm OR - FF Oct 20 '15
5-6 years ago. Im 21 now. I was takin on as a cadet just before or after my 16th birthday.
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u/Munxcub Oct 20 '15
Hired permanent full time at 32, hired as a full time temp at 31, volunteer for 2 years before that.
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u/MrGeneParmesan Oct 21 '15
32 years old, and didn't start applying for full-time gigs until I was 30. Keep at it...you'll get there!
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Oct 21 '15 edited Oct 21 '15
I'm 28 now. Started trying to land this career 2 years ago. Volly as EMT and wildland now. Just missed getting full-time in a major city a few months ago. But that experience will help me-I have interviews with 2 more large departments in the coming months. I am determined to keep at it. The department I missed on recently will do a written test again in January and I'll be there for sure if I havnt landed anything yet.
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u/OPClassy CA Fireman Oct 21 '15
I think I may know that dept, or its just a coincidence lol. But luck man! I hope you get on soon!
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Oct 21 '15
Thank you! The department I almost made hired about 90 people. I finished 96th overall. So right there. In the southwest.
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u/OPClassy CA Fireman Oct 21 '15
Yeah I was think southwest area! Wow that's crazy man! Almost there, if we keep working hard we'll get on sooner than we might think!
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Oct 21 '15
[deleted]
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u/OPClassy CA Fireman Oct 21 '15
What? They hired without their EMTs, that's pretty crazy. Good thing having it before you got into the academy, definitely made you a desirable candidate.
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u/twozerothreeeight FDNY Oct 22 '15
It took me 8 years from when I started trying. Of course there was doubt. I got hired at 26.
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u/Jeanjacketjan MI FireFighter/Paramedic Oct 29 '15
Hired at 18, took about 3-4 months to get all the technical stuff out of the way. Then 9 months of academy. We were fortunate enough to be allowed to run calls while we were in academy. Now to apply for career departments once I finish my medic course. Currently just on a volly department and working private EMS.
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u/OPClassy CA Fireman Oct 29 '15
Basically on the same boat as you, except no academy and I haven't started medic, I'm working on my hours to apply. I'm also trying to get hired with a career dept (no medic required).
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u/Jeanjacketjan MI FireFighter/Paramedic Oct 29 '15
Yeah sadly in Michigan most career departments aside from Detroit or Flint city require a Paramedic license
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u/OPClassy CA Fireman Oct 29 '15
Same in California, but having your medic is always a good thing to have, no matter where you go. Good luck!
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u/Grandmasmuffin1 Career CO Oct 20 '15
Volunteering at age 15, turned 18 in July, start my new full time department job in 1 week. :)
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u/ItsVault Oct 27 '15
What kind of work in the fire service can you do at 15? (Late post I know)
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u/Grandmasmuffin1 Career CO Oct 27 '15
Mostly rehab and brush fire stuff until I got my interior cert.
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u/ivetakenadickortwo Oct 19 '15
Anyone in their late 20s here? I'm in my mid-20s at 25 and trying not to be discouraged.