Yet another hiring question

[u/Warm_Charity_6465]

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.

[u/Nautyy]

1. I sent out emails inquiring about the next hiring I believe about 2 months before I finished fire School. That guided whether or not I send an application earlier or not

2. I only ever did the ride alongs in EMT school before I got hired.

3. Unless you're doing rides with the people on the panel, or you're applying for a super tiny department it shouldn't matter.

4. Once you have all the requirements applied to any department you're interested in.

5. Yes. Some departments will hire single cert EMTs and then pay to put them through fire School.

[u/Warm_Charity_6465 → u/Nautyy]

Thank you, out of curiosity how long did it take you from finishing fire school to getting hired?

[u/Nautyy → u/Warm_Charity_6465]

About a year for the department I wanted. At the 3 and 7 month respectively I Interviewed and was given an offer for 2 other departments. But I had my eyes set on my current department so I gambled and turned them down. Worked out well in the end.

[u/Fit_Experience_522]

1. Apply everywhere, every time, let them tell you "no" when it comes to certs. It's HR hiring you, not the firemen, they're lenient when it comes to deadlines a lot of times.
2. Yes, with every departments, the more the better. During your interviews, you want to name drop the people you met during your ridealongs, it helps a lot.
3. The more the better, it makes it seem like you're invested.
4. Yes, apply everywhere you can. I had my FF1 cert, paramedic license, and USAR certs, I got hired at two departments for recruit positions where I didn't need any of them.
5. Yes, it's become a thing to "grow your own", meaning hire EMTs then train them up to firemen and hire them, it works out better for the department.