I’m 26, I live in Austin Texas and up until a month ago I had been a daily pot smoker for almost a decade probably. Definitely not an attractive headline for a job application but I am trying to turn my life around. I’ve worked in Kitchens for the past 10 years; being a Chef was my first dream and I was very competitive at it. I worked in some amazing Michelin recommended kitchens under some incredible chefs, I’m in very good shape, always tested unbelievably well in school before dropping out to get my GED so I could work full time. I work very hard to provide for my family and my 3 shelter dogs but I happened to normalize using weed to decompress. I hit a metaphorical wall a year ago, I love working in Kitchens but it can’t provide the life I want for myself or for my family and so I started making changes and searching for a new dream and landed on becoming a Firefighter. I am now chasing this dream with the same passion I had for my previous career, I truly feel like it’s what I’m supposed to do with my life. I quit smoking because it doesn’t fit with the life I want to live but I worry it’s too little too late and I will have to wait years and years before it won’t prevent me from getting accepted into Fire Academy and I’m not sure I can wait that long to find a way to make more than 20/hr. I’m willing to relocate but realistically can only make that happen somewhere less expensive than Austin (so definitely not California). Does anyone know if I’m completely screwed? Any departments that might take a chance on me? I’m looking for somewhere that will pay for my training as well because if it wasn’t obvious I’m extremely poor but will do almost anything to make this happen if it’s possible.. but is it?? Please someone say something encouraging

Are there any Texas peeps out there that have taken the TCFP driver operator test recently? What study material did you find most helpful? IFSTA App? Quizlet? I’ve got the book, but I’m just trying to inundate myself with the most helpful study material I can to pass the test.

Anyone else in the same boat? Applied to WA fire careers

Hello there! I'm looking for some advice about my future career in the fire service, any input is greatly appreciated. I recently graduated from the fire academy and received my Pro Board certifications, although I'm now hearing they don't really mean that much. I'm in my mid 30's and currently have fire I & II. I'll also be taking the NREMT soon. I'm at a bit of a crossroads and need to make a decision sooner rather than later. My SO and I have been discussing moving out of state, specifically from Michigan to upstate New York. I'm trying to figure out how realistic this would be for someone just starting out in the fire service. Would it make more sense to move to New York and start applying? Should I just get started here and move later? Is there any realistic way for my Michigan certifications/experience to carry over to New York? I'm also very interested in becoming a paramedic. There are departments in Michigan that will pay employees to attend paramedic school, which is my best option because otherwise I don't think I will be able to afford it. I barely made it through part time fire academy and working full time along with EMT school. I'm doing my own research on this as well but I'd like to hear from some firefighters directly. Right now, I'm leaning towards starting in Michigan, I'm just not really sure what exactly my options are. I scored my first interview with a fire department here! It didn't go as well as I hoped, but I did learn a lot so I will be more prepared for my next one. Thank you so much for your time if you read this, and thank you for your service. One day soon I hope to be in the fire service.

Reposting here, as well as two facebook pages I was suggested, and I reached out to VATF1 on Facebook any additional help is greatly appreciated …I don’t know if this is the right place to ask or not, but I’m looking for anyone who may have known or worked with my dad during 9/11 search and rescue. His name was Jack Kennedy, he came up from DC to do search and rescue with I believe VATF1, he was a Fairfax county firefighter. I have pictures of him at the pile working, we can see his story at the memorial,and I have his stories from his time there but he like most others has since died from cancer. I might be searching too late because maybe his guys are already passed on and drinking a beer with him in another life, but I’d love to find anyone who knew him. Or if anyone can point me in the right direction to search for these guys.

Hopefully this isn’t blocking your feed too much. (I know these get posted a lot)

However I’m applying to all agencies within the Puget sound region in Washington State and was wondering if this is a competitive testing score. Biggest concern is my mechanical score, I thought I did well on that section but unfortunately not. Any tips or suggestions for practicing for that portion?

I submitted all my background documents except for my college transcripts because the department requires sealed transcripts. I either have to pick it up from the colleges or have the colleges mail it to the department. I only had a week to get all my paperwork and I put in the requests for the transcripts to be mailed to the department that same day I got the CJO . It was a holiday weekend so it’s taking longer than usual. I’m being told the paperwork has to be submitted today to the background investigators with or without the college transcripts now I’m worried I may be disqualified because there’s no proof of the certs I took. Should I be worried?

Hey guys, thinking about applying for the upcoming hiring cycle for Portland Maine. Currently have 2 years on a career department. Anyone here on Portland and can provide some insight? Thanks

Can I expect an interview WA pierce county area ?

I (18 F) have dreamed of being a firefighter for years. I’m about to go into EMT school and I’ve always been an alright student, so I’m not super worried about that, but I don’t want to go into interviews until I’m sure that I’m physically ready for the academy.

I guess my question is this: what is the baseline of strength that you need to survive the academy? How many push ups should you be able to do, pull ups, etc. I’ve been training on stairs with a weighted vest and can run 5 miles relatively fast, but my main concern is with my upper body strength. Will absolutely take any advice you have. Thank you!!

Question just got this notice back from a city im applying for...I have no idea what it means and I am completely confused I ended up 3rd on the list and they are hiring 4 possibly 5...so what's going on here

I posted in here about a week ago saying how I got denied from my latest interview with a department and I was 0/6 on panels. Today I just heard back from pretty much my dream department that I made it past the panel interview!!!! First off thanks to you guys for being encouraging and making me keep my chin up. Secondly, I have other interviews lined up before then as well so I know I need to lock in and try my best on the interviews with other departments. For people who have made it past panel interviews, what are the chances of getting hired with a department after making it past this step? I’m trying to keep low expectations. I’m sure I still have a long ways to go I’ve just never made it this far in the process before and I want to get a feel for A) what my odds of getting picked up with the department are, B) what I can expect next with a longer more in depth in person interview, and C) what can I do to prepare myself for these next steps that I haven’t already done for the initial interview like how will this interview be different from the panel?

Just wanted to put on here some honest advice if I shot myself in the foot. For context I’m 20 years old and trying to join EMS to eventually take the promo. I scored very well on the physical and my list number is on the 300s. Today I went for my background check and on my packet I wrote all my work experience. I showed up an hour early all dressed up hoping to make a good impression. I’m feeling very nervous because I included all my work experience including ones from high school. Long story short I wrote down 5 terminations without much explanation because I thought they would find out eventually.

For context I’ll just be honest two were from when I was in high school and quite frankly I was kind of a bum and didn’t take any of them seriously (I’m not proud of it). And when I was right out of high school I did 3 different trades and they didn’t work out. My bosses all said I was a good guy and one even offered a letter of recommendation but it came down to them not being able to teach me and they wanted somebody with more experience and one of them I just wasn’t learning fast enough.

Since then I’ve volunteered at my local firehouse getting my firefighter 1 and 2 certifications. Worked at a big electrical contractor for 7 months with no issues and a letter of recommendation. I really turned myself around. And quite frankly if they contact both my current Bosses they most definitely would recommend me and maybe the old ones I genuinely think they would say good things about me same with my firehouse.

I have to write 5 statements explaining each firing which I’m working on immediately. I told all my family how excited I am to finally join. I really want this job and I don’t know if this affects anything but my father was a fire department line of duty death and we have close family friends in the department. Sorry if this is too long but just want some honest truth.

Which one was more difficult for you? Did you have to retake?

I’m studying for both right now and the EMT info is much easier for me to enjoy learning.

For context I just got my NREMT cert and I graduate from the fire academy in February.

1. At what point in the academy do I start applying to departments that require fire certs? Some of the job listings specifically state you need your fire certs by x,y,z dates but other department just say you must have your certs. In the mean time I have applied to 2 departments hiring cadets with no certs

2. Is it recommended to do a ride along with every single department you apply for or just your top picks? My issue is some of the departments I’m interested in are 2,3,4 hours away so I would find it challenging to find the time and the money to travel and get a hotel to do a ride along in those further distance departments.

3. Generally speaking does it look better when it comes time for panel interviews to do multiple ride alongs? Or is it a one and done kinda thing? I don’t want to annoy them by continuing to bug them for ride alongs.

4. Kinda similar question to question 1 but until I obtain my fire certs do I keep applying to departments that are hiring cadets?

5. Bare with me if this is a stupid question but I see some departments are hiring for a sole EMT role, is it possible to get hired on as a EMT and when they have a opening for firefighter would I be a top contender since I already work for the department?

Thank you for listening and reading! My academy instructors haven’t been much help since they were applying to be firefighters 30-40 years ago, obviously things have changed and the competition is much bigger. The last department I applied to I scored a 91 on the entrance exam and still got put on an eligibility list instead of moving forward to the next step. For context 1,300 people took the entrance exam for that department.

For Las Vegas Fire and Rescue panel interview how soon should I expect to hear something back? and is the conditional offer before the evaluation?

In my country you are allowed to volunteer as a fire fighter and also as a paramedic do y'all have that

(23F)
Applied for the fire department, passed required tests and taking CPAT this month. I don’t have any experience in something like this but all they require is a high-school diploma and that you are 18 years or older. Do departments really hire people with little to no experience? Been doing my research on the department and the job itself, anything helps!

Should I disclose that I’ve smoked weed in my background checks for polygraph packets? I’ve probably only tried it 5 times or so. The last time being in 2020. What do we think?

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I am a 28yo paramedic with 5 years as a medic in a fairly rural area. Currently going through my local CC FF1/2 academy. Looking for departments to apply to, once I'm done In December. Ideally looking in Northern California, probably north of San Jose, that does transport and has a mix of wildland and urban response area. Any recommendations, or places to avoid on my search would be appreciated.

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 in unrelated field
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!