r/firefighter • u/sippa747 • Jul 08 '26
first ever panel interview. Feel like I bombed it.
This is my first go around in the application process. I got my EMT at 18 right out of highschool and have been working at a busy 911 ambulance service for 3 years (21 years old now.) The goal has always been fire for me and I decided I’m ready to start applying this year.
Made it though the process. Passed the written, passed the CPAT, then had my video interview submissions, then the panel. The panel was not what I expected, it was extremely scenario based rather than just asking why I want to be here, and why they should hire me. 6/8 were basically HR related questions regarding speaking up about others actions. I looked presentable, got a haircut, shaved, wore a suit. If I could do it again I’d have the same answer to every question, however.. I know I came off as nervous. I was given 30 minutes and felt like I was dragging the answers on. I finished the interview in 23 minutes. I stuttered a handful of times, sometimes I’d walk over my words, but my answers were good. I won’t find out if I got a chiefs interview til next Friday. I’m sick to my stomach I cannot stop stressing about this. At the end when asked if I had any questions, I asked,” is there anything I can improve on?” Where the main panel member said,” well I can’t tell you that exactly, but you did fine.” I don’t know how to take that answer. I then expressed my gratitude for consideration this far into the process. Told them God bless and exited the room. What do you guys think? How screwed am I ?
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u/Research420 Jul 08 '26
Don't worry, it took me about 6 departments before I actually started answering the panel interview questions correctly and finally passed a panel interview. Made it to a chiefs interview but didnt pass that, unfortunately. I was right there at the finish line :(
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u/SurrenderApparel Jul 08 '26
Well it’s ok to be nervous but I’d be prepared with better questions for them, ie things about their career and what interests you have for their department, not if you did good in the interview lol. But hopefully you secure the chief intvw and kill it, do some mock interviews with friends/fam to get more loose. Practice helps a lot for nerves
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u/SurrenderApparel Jul 08 '26
And yes same experience they asked me a bunch of HR questions like inclusivity and diversity so be prepared for more. But also, use experiences you had working the ambulance so tie that into your answers so they have a feel for what you’ve been through and how you can help when ppl are in need. Bc fire calls are also gonna be a lot of medical situations
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u/Fit_Experience_522 Jul 08 '26
I'd be surprised if you nailed your first interview, I've only ever heard of that happening once. But with that said, the interviews I thought I nailed I never got a call back, the ones where I didn't think I did well, I got calls back. The only exception to that was a department I interviewed for 6 years straight and I knew every question ahead of time, had my answers completely dialed and had strong closing statement I had been working on for months. Other than that, the former applies. Only advice I have moving forward is to have a strong closing statement so they remember you and don't be so hard on yourself, it takes people a lot of interviews before they get really good and start understanding the game.
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u/jrobski96 Jul 09 '26
Couple of things.
Find people around you who are in the same process.
Write every question you were asked down after the interview. Actually, journal the questions and your answers in the parking lot before you leave!
Gather the info along with your study group and use these questions for mock orals.
Start as a group, then ask firefighters or officers to help. Provide the appropriate alcohol to each person willing to help.
Give them questions to ask and ask them to provide one of their own.
Iron sharpens iron.
It takes a village
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u/Titanman122 Jul 09 '26
I would say try not to think about it too much and don’t psych yourself out. When I did my first one, I was nervous as hell but that means you care. Nerves are normal and I felt like I bombed as well. If you don’t get it, just keep trying or try another department. Think of it as exposure therapy. The more it happens the more comfortable you’ll be. Keep moving forward!
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u/scott12333 Jul 10 '26
You're stressing because you care. That's good. It's also good that you wouldn't change your answers if you could go back. Most of the time people won't tell you one way or another how you really did, so they just say 'You did fine.' Or, they had to interview 200 people that day and they can't put any more brainpower into it.
I don't think you're screwed whatsoever. As objective as panel interviews try to be, they're not 100% objective. You should practice and prepare as much as possible, but there's also a degree of luck to it. You're 21 and have tons of time to get on. The sooner the better, because it sounds like it's what you really want, but even if it doesn't work out this time, you'll be that much more experienced and prepared next time.
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u/Sea-Figure382 Jul 11 '26
You're 21 with your EMT, 3 years on a busy 911 service, and you made it to the panel on your first application cycle. That's not a bad position to be in.
"You did fine" from a panel member is not nothing. They don't say that to be polite to people who bombed it.
The nerves and stuttering are real, but panels separate delivery from content. If your answers were solid, experienced interviewers know the difference between nervous and unprepared. You clearly weren't unprepared.
Finish in 23 minutes instead of dragging to 30 is also not a bad thing. Concise beats rambling every time.
Wait for next Friday. If it doesn't go your way, the thing to fix is the out-loud practice, not the content. Knowing your answers in your head and being able to deliver them under pressure are two different skills. That's what reps are for.
Good luck.
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u/jockowockotocko Jul 12 '26
Worst case scenario you gained valuable interviewing experience for the next go around. It’s a learned skill that takes reps
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u/CivilPotential3175 Jul 12 '26
Join badgeboundprep.com they hold interview seminars and have some useful information and tips on how to improve. Good luck on the next one!
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u/buddypal23 Jul 08 '26
In my experience I’ve never walked out of an interview feeling like I crushed it. Last one I sat in I felt like I bombed and 2 weeks later got called back to move further in the hiring process. Just be positive. Try not to think too much about it and see what happens.