| If you have already decided to become a career | | | | applicants than any other part of the test. |
| firefighter, congratulations. Making the decision is | | | | The second part of the process is the physical |
| the first of many steps towards realizing your | | | | ability test. You don't have to be a muscle head, |
| goal. The advise I am going to provide is the | | | | but you do have to have stamina, upper body |
| exact strategy I used to become a career | | | | strength, and endurance. |
| firefighter. By using this strategy, I only had to | | | | The third, which can also be interchanged or |
| take two tests before being offered a Job as an | | | | consolidated with the physical ability test ,is the |
| entry level firefighter. | | | | written test. It will test you on many different |
| The strategy is simple. Become the best | | | | areas such as math, reading, spatial orientation, |
| firefighter candidate. Or at least among the best. | | | | and direction following. Only the top few percent |
| Make that your new goal. From now on, you are | | | | of scores will be accepted. Typically, anything |
| going to act, walk, and behave as a professional | | | | below 90% will not be considered. |
| firefighter candidate. Trust me, having the right | | | | Once you have completed the first three steps in |
| mind set is the most important part of this | | | | the application process, your file will be individually |
| process. | | | | reviewed by the selection team. This is the point |
| Next, begin by preparing yourself. Remember, | | | | when they have to choose which applicants to |
| there may be several thousand applicants for just | | | | grant an interview to. They will look over your |
| a few firefighter positions. You need to stand out. | | | | application and resume with a fine tooth comb. If |
| If you are close to getting a college degree, finish | | | | they like what they see, then they will request |
| it. If you drive too fast, slow down. A poor driving | | | | you for an interview. If you have made it this far |
| record will disqualify even the best applicants. The | | | | you should congratulate yourself on a job well |
| screening process for firefighters is excruciating. | | | | done. Most applicants never make it to the |
| Make the screeners job hard. Don't give them | | | | interview. |
| any reason to file your application into the trash | | | | If you interview well and knock their socks off |
| heap. | | | | with your highly motivated and overly prepared |
| There are also some other things you can do to | | | | answers, you may be offered a position the |
| make yourself more valuable to a prospective | | | | position of firefighter recruit. Of course that will be |
| department. Such as becoming an EMT, working | | | | contingent on you passing the last phase of the |
| or volunteering in the EMS or healthcare field, or | | | | hiring process. The background check. |
| having a college degree. But no matter how well | | | | The background check can be deep or superficial |
| you have prepared yourself, you still have to pass | | | | depending on the department. Most will at least |
| through the first three sections of the firefighter | | | | look at your driving record, your criminal history |
| selection process before anyone will even | | | | report, and urine drug testing. Others may use a |
| consider looking at your resume. | | | | polygraph, friends and family interview. and credit |
| Most fire departments have a five tier system | | | | reports. You do not have to have a spotless |
| for hiring firefighters. It is best viewed as a | | | | record, but you are better to be honest ahead of |
| screening system to weed out unqualified or | | | | time. The selection team may not mind that you |
| underprepared applicants. One thing that all of the | | | | had a speeding ticket when you were 19, but if |
| steps in the hiring process have in common, is the | | | | you lied about it, you will be disqualified for sure. |
| ability to follow directions. The first three sections | | | | Overall, the process of getting hired for the |
| are usually very rigid. You either pass or you | | | | position of firefighter can be challenging. But it is |
| don't. | | | | worth it. If you found this article helpful, please |
| The first part of the process is the application | | | | check out my other articles where I will go into |
| process. It is the simplest and most basic part of | | | | depth a bit more on each of the phases of the |
| the process. But it also weeds out more | | | | hiring process. |