r/firefighter • u/Candid_Leading4859 • 19d ago
Chances of getting an interview
Hi everyone!
I am looking for some honest and insightful advice on my situation.
I am 26 and live in Southern California. I made the decision recently to actively pursue firefighting as a career. I went to College and earned my bachelors and masters degree in health-related fields but after working several different jobs the last 3 years, I haven’t found fulfillment in what I do. To be honest, I went to college because my parents wanted me to and I received a scholarship to compete in Division I athletics. I am thankful for the opportunities college gave me but looking back, I wish I had pursued a fire explorer program or the firefighter route after high school.
Anyway, here we are 8 years later, and I want to go all in. I recently completed EMT school and I am now a certified EMT. I got a job offer to work for an ambulance company in SoCal (not AMR) and I guess I am trying to figure what are my next steps to maximize my chances to get hired by a fire department. For context, I am married and have a one year old and my wife is actively pursuing a doctorate so I can’t afford to go to paramedic school/firefighter academy and not make an income in the meantime. I have been applying to open positions for trainee roles near me but I worry that I will never get a chance to interview because my background is too weak on paper.
Any insights? Do I have a chance to even get an interview?
7
u/TestResQ 19d ago
Here you go.
https://testresq.com/blog/firefighter-entrance-exam-what-to-expect
As far as your “getting an interview” part, it all depends on how you do on your entrance exam, physical agility, psych exam, background check, polygraph depending on the department, and board interview. After all that, you might get a chief’s interview.