Don’t Be a Statistic
To become a firefighter, you need to be strong. Not just physically, but also emotionally and mentally. Competition for jobs is fierce. The physical exam is strenuous and the written exam challenging. Many fail in the process – up to 70%. Those who stick with it go on to have a rewarding career. Before you make the decision to embark on the journey, it is important to know these five steps to becoming a firefighter.… Read the rest
What Are Your Goals?
As you complete the necessary requirements to fulfill your goal of becoming a firefighter it’s time to find the best job for your specific skills. It is important in the job search process to establish realistic and meaningful goals for your future. If you dream of being chief one day, setting goals helps you take the first step in this journey.
Make sure to list on your resume specific talents that you bring to the table, … Read the rest
It takes intense training and strong commitment, but the rewards of learning how to be a firefighter far outweigh the hard work required. Many of those who start out in firefighting quit/fail out before completing training, the ones who persevere will tell you that despite the hard work, the rewards are endless.
Steps to Learning How to Be a Firefighter
There are simple steps that will help you in your path to learning to be a firefighter. Most fire departments … Read the rest
It’s Test Time
School’s out and fire departments are testing – the only thing standing between you and a job as a Firefighter is applying and participating in the recruitment. A multi test process, usually a written test, physical agility or CPAT, Oral Interview, polygraph, background, medical, Chiefs oral and other steps to which the fire department will establish an eligibility list and hire firefighters usually by ranking..
What to Expect on the Written Portion of the Exam
The test … Read the rest
Last year the FireCareersBus traveled across the United States visiting Firefighter 1 Academies and discussing important information about the hiring of firefighters in today economy.
We are now scheduling a local Spring Tour that will visit Firefighter 1 Academy programs here in California. We would like to schedule an hour of classroom time to present new information about the Work Styles Inventory written tests that are starting to be used across the Country for entry level testing.
Just recently I … Read the rest
I am up in Northern California at the Las Positas college workshop on how to become a firefighter. What a great event put on by BC’s Helmick and Atlas. The cost was $12 to the students and included lunch. I even got to hang out with my old pal Craig Freema. What a fun day. It reminds me of why I got into the fie biz to begin with……… Read the rest
My visit to Colonia New Jersey FD
So as a kid I never got the writing assignment, “What did you do over summer vacation?” So I thought I would write about my experiences while visiting friends, made while teaching at an academy for fire cadets. Mike Sherron and I teach at the Ohio Youth Fire and EMS Academy (OYFETA) which is where we met explorers and instructors from the Colonia FD. We hit it off immediately and converse regularly even … Read the rest
We all eat, all day every day, and we all know the saying, “we are what we eat.” But for some reason no one knows what to eat. Should we eat more grapes or drink more red wine? Are eggs a good source of protein or a source of bad cholesterol? Do dairy foods help us gain weight or lose weight?
Nutrition is a funny science. It’s the only field where people can scientifically prove opposing theories and still be … Read the rest
Have you ever wondered how to be successful in the entry level Firefighter hiring process?
Looking back 16 years ago we had no idea how to approach the task of becoming a career firefighter. However, it is now very clear that, if we had the information and experience that the Becoming a Firefighter Workshop provides we would have been significantly more prepared and definitely got hired sooner. The combination of the instructors, the material they present and the partnership with … Read the rest
In today’s daily Firehouse Magazine email (a great, free resource to keep you informed of fire service news stories), there was a great article that ALL current and future firefighters can learn from that is based on the actions of a small number of firefighters that are causing a black eye for the majority of firefighters who are trying to do the right thing.
It is a piece on the “Firefighter Code of Ethics,” and here are the opening comments:… Read the rest
True life is lived when tiny changes occur.
-Leo Tolstoy
Cholesterol, Need to lower it? Try Green Tea for starters…
Looking for a simple resolution to improve your overall health? Start drinking green tea. My beverage of choice, green tea is a potent source of catechins – healthy antioxidants that can inhibit cancer cell activity and help boost immunity. Here are a few more reasons to drink Green tea.
It can also:
I recently
spent four days with several other chief officers pouring through over 1,000 entry
level firefighter applications with a team of chief officers. Overall the
applications were very disappointing. The standout ones were awesome, but in
general the quality was pretty lackluster. Here are some of the things that we
as a group would like to pass along to aspiring firefighters.
Let’s start
with the basics. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Often times a department will provide specific
instructions. This may … Read the rest
This is somefollow up info taken from a pdf flier. All California Forest Service areas are in this text and how to make application, Good Luck
U.S. FOREST SERVICE – Region 5 (California)
Forestry Aid and Forestry
Technicians
Temporary Wildland Firefighter
2012 Fire Season
Apply Now – Contact Captains ASAP – Job Offers may be made in
January and February
Updated12/05/11
The Forest Service requires talented people working safely together to be successful. Wildland firefighters work in
a variety of … Read the rest
recently, we went over four appetizers to steer clear of this holiday season – today we serve up healthy options for your cocktail plates!
4 Worst Holiday Appetizers
Holiday parties are notorious for finger foods filled with high-glycemic carbohydrates and unhealthy fats. See a few of the worst below and stay tuned for some of the better choices. Knowledge is power, so being aware of what you are eating makes all the difference –
Now that the holiday season is officialy in full swing I wanted to take a moment to
wish you and your family a Happy and Safe Holiday Season. We all have much to be
thankful for at this time of year, the least of which is our family and friends. It
is with this thought that I say thank you to each of you for your friendship over
the years. For me it has been both an honor and a … Read the rest
Oils and Fats
Not all oils and fats are created equal. Heavily processed, hydrogenated, “trans” fats and oils that are used in prepared, packaged foods can be extremely damaging to the body. However, fats and oils from whole foods and other high-quality sources can steady our metabolism, keep hormone levels even, nourish our skin, hair and nails and provide lubrication to keep the body functioning fluidly. Our bodies also need fat for insulation and to protect and hold our organs … Read the rest
In today’s Sunday paper, I noticed a timely article titled “6 ways to stall your job search,” by Larry Buhl, and I wanted to share it since I think it really provides a lot of guidance for future firefighters. Now before we go any further, I’ve heard more and more people say they don’t read the daily newspaper because they don’t have time or they don’t think it’s relevant. I believe it’s critical for fire service professionals to be in-tune … Read the rest
A candidate, questioning the oral board process, wondered what happened to the days when you would step up to help a brother who had gotten themselves into a less than desirable position? Also wondering why it seems to easy to “throw your buddy under the bus”.
We’re not in Kansas anymore, and your “buddy” doesn’t sign your paycheck!
A typical Firefighter oral interview question: “Given a task by your company officer at a fire ground, you encounter another Captain who gives you a different task. What is this situation and how will you handle it?”
Unity of Command answers that question!
Make an excellent, long standing first impression; show that you are serious and set the bar higher for others to reach!
As someone taking either an entry level or promotional level oral interview, there should be no “trick” or “surprise” questions if you have done your research/homework.
Meaning, there are many websites and books that have sample oral board questions that pretty much cover the majority of the types of questions you’ll be asked
I can hardly express how much you need this job. I worked for two years, taking every test I could until the day finally came when I earned my badge. After that, I became a card-carrying member of the American Fire Service. I was honored to be a part of a fraternal organization of unparalleled quality. I learned over the years that no matter where you worked or what your rank, any firefighter would bend over backwards to do whatever … Read the rest
One of the most important things I believe a firefighter should both embrace and embody is the concept of “kaizen”, or “continuous improvement”. Above all traits – physical, mental, emotional – the desire to improve yourself each day has the potential to make you a top notch firefighter candidate and a welcome addition to any fire department. Once on the job, the concept of continuous improvement is what separates average firefighters from exceptional ones; mediocre commanding officers from those that … Read the rest
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to 165 future firefighters at the California Fire Explorer Academy in Oxnard, CA. I chose to speak about a future in the fire service and advice on taking oral exams. One subject in the conversation was customer service and what it means to you as a firefighter.
Customer service is an added value, how you can add value to a trip to the store, a code 2 run to assist a person back … Read the rest
Please Help me Welcome our new FCBlog team member Josh Sanders. This is a re-print of Josh’s bio page for your review.
Josh Sanders is a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Chula Vista Fire Department, where he was hired in 2004. He is currently assigned to an OES Type I Heavy Rescue and has been involved with the CVFD rescue program since it’s inception in the spring of 2006.
Josh is a California state registered rescue instructor in several disciplines and is … Read the rest
No one talks about the fact that to begin to compete for today’s firefighter jobs “you’ve got to pay to play”, meaning that to realize your goal of becoming a professional firefighter requires that you shell out some cash.
Today I reviewed the Firefighter opportunities that are available across the country. The FireCareers boards provide a plethora of opportunities. At this very moment, Fire departments across the country are looking to add firefighters. As a matter of fact, 1,300 departments are accepting entry- level firefighter applications right now; and more than 1,300 agencies are looking to fill upgraded positions within their ranks.
Certainly, many fire departments are suffering budget cut backs, closing fire stations, reducing staffing with work furloughs … Read the rest
When I speak to a person who wants to be a firefighter, I explain that it is important first to have the passion for the game, that to want to be a firefighter is consuming.
The quest for giving the perfect interview seems to be the desire of every aspiring firefighter. Making sure appearances are clean and professional, having the perfect resume printed on paper that probably costs more than its worth, and investing heavily in deodorant to handle the stress during the agonizing moments before your name is called in to interview are all things that everyone in the fire service seems to have experienced. The fact of the matter is that in many … Read the rest
This past couple of weeks we did a few station visits and had a blast doing it!
First, I got to visit the Berryhill Fire Dept. in Oklahoma. I was happy to hear that the department was taking firefighter applications in anticipation that a couple of paid positions may open. The engine room was full equipment the probationary firefighter who showed me around was a few weeks away from getting off probation
Next, we went by Fresno, CA City Station … Read the rest
Become the Unshakeable Optimist, This can be one of the most difficult things to do. It requires that you do not “jump on the bandwagon” every time someone starts talking negative. You must limit that exposure. It is imperative that you remain positive and protective of your time. You can choose your thoughts and how you process them. Remember, someone else is out there working on getting hired just like you. It is a dogfight and your objective is to be the last one standing. To do that you must have conviction all the time.
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