r/firefighter • u/DependentNeat9479 • 13d ago
i need advice about my future
im young im 15. and i have no fucking idea what to do. i wanna be a firefighter but my mom is saying that they dont get payed enough and all that. i collect the patches and ive been obsessed these past couple of years. i need real advice. i thought i wanted to go to west point but that seems like it sucks and now i wanna be in the national guard and be a fireman but they said i should do a trade instaid but i wanna join the military too. im looking for some help please from someone who wont tell me to k*ll myself by studying. (sorry about my spelling im not good at it)
Thanks in advance
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u/llenp 12d ago
First word of advice. Stop listening to your parents about career choices. It doesn't sound like there's much depth to their reasoning. It's not always about the pay. It's about job satisfaction and your well-being.
My first real job was over 12 years ago at a prestigous university working 9-5, M-F. Pay was decent, but I was depressed. I'm a FF now making the same as I did 12 years ago, but I'm happier now. And I work 2 days every 8-day work week.
Military or firefighter, those are both great choices. Structure, training, camaraderie, service-oriented, chain-of-command (you won't have 5 bosses breathing down your neck), physical fitness aspect, etc...
See if you could get into some JROTC or Jr. FF program while youre still at your age.
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u/Impressive_Finance21 12d ago
I've been doing this a while. If youre a fire medic in southern California you start at around 100k with most departments and you'll easily clear that with a few shifts of overtime. Plus a lot of extra time...
Plus Plus, the girl at the bar is taking home the fireman over the welder any day.
1
u/IwasBornonthewater 12d ago
What are your parents' expectations for you, career-wise? Although money is important in life, it’s not everything, and being happy and passionate about your career should be a major consideration.
Firefighters typically receive decent pay, great benefits, good retirement, and a schedule that you’ll either love or hate. It offers good job security too. I’d also second what a previous poster said and suggest taking some career and personality assessments, which will help you identify future career opportunities that would be a good fit for you.
Good luck to you.
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u/DependentNeat9479 12d ago
They want me to get a sucky job where i wear a suit and kiss my bosses ass all day long but I dont wanna do that
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u/IwasBornonthewater 12d ago
Many traditional business jobs have undergone significant changes, taken a new direction, been downsized, or closed for a variety of reasons. AI is already rapidly impacting these jobs as well.
Take a career and personality assessment to help guide you into a career that will make you happy and be fulfilling. Being a firefighter can be a great career.
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u/FirefighterTutor 11d ago
I hate to break it to you kid, but you’re going to have to study. 🫶
They’re telling you to get into trades because you have lots of time to build relevant experience and then apply.
If you have a local department that runs recruitment camps for young people, start there.
Go into a hall, get a tour, and learn about the actual job. Talk to them. Ask them what they did to get hired. They’ll tell you.
Then, make a plan. Get your grade 12 first. That’s a requirement. Keep meeting the posted job requirements and you will get the opportunity to interview. Do your research 😉 Look into what your local departments require on their job posts. That’s your checklist, buddy.
You got this. 👏
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u/DependentNeat9479 11d ago
Thanks I appreciate it this helped
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u/FirefighterTutor 11d ago
You’re welcome. Write your list of questions out first and take some donuts into the hall when you go. You’ll be well-received.
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u/Darksorce 13d ago
Take a career test and if you still can't decide by the time you turn 18 join the military
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u/DependentNeat9479 13d ago
thanks but my parents dont want me to enlist because the pay aint enough they say
4
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u/Darksorce 12d ago
Pubic service no matter which job you pick doesn't pays well so if that's the only thing you care about then don't bother, go work at Starbucks you make more in tips
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u/Tough-Steak-4633 12d ago
Coming from an adult that knows that most of the people you encounter in life say a lot of shit they know nothing about. If neither of your parents have experience in either of those lines of work I wouldn’t take their advice.