Fire Careers

Firefighters and Crossfit

Self Help Workshops Coming…

The 2013 Firefighter recruitment season has begun. Already some of the big hitters have taken applications. Most notability Los Angeles City Fire just closed their application period. They are looking to hire some 350-400 firefighters a.s.a.p. More openings are expected during the list and this could be one of the largest recruitments in LAFD history.

We are seeing more firefighters graduating academies all across the Country. Today Madison Fire, graduated 20 new firefighters into their ranks of the fire department.… Read the rest

FireCareers Firefighter Workshops

FireCareers Firefighter Workshop: Come join me in a seating limited daylong event as we discover the tools you have to be successful in your pursuit of a BADGE. Receive a FREE annual membership when you attend a FireCareers workshop, and lunch is provided as well. Class size is limited to 10 people.

You will learn: What it takes to become a firefighter. We will share a lot of information and discuss in great detail Oral boards and the types of … Read the rest

Fire Careers takes the stress out of finding fire fighter employment

If you’re looking for a resource that gives you comprehensive, up-to-date information about fire fighter employment opportunities, visit Fire Careers. The 30-year-old brainchild of husband and wife Craig and Pam Freeman, Fire Careers is well-placed to help individuals in the fire service find the right opportunities, at the right time.

Fire fighter employment options

Whether you’re looking for fire fighter employment in a state, municipal or federal capacity, we can help you find out what positions are available. Not sure … Read the rest

Know the Steps to Finding the Perfect Fire Department Job

No Two Alike

When it comes to finding the perfect fire department job, it is important to remember that all departments are different, so being prepared is essential. First, research the exact requirements for the agency you are applying. Once you have determined these requirements, submit your application and start to pre-pair for the testing process.

A typical fire department test may include some of the following components: an application, orientation, written exam, physical test, oral interview, background check, … Read the rest

Firefighter Jobs: Finding the Best Location for Your Talents

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

Fire Department Careers at Your Fingertips

Start Your Career as a Firefighter

Establishing Meaningful Goals , is the hardest step to becoming a firefighter. Now it’s time to take that dedication and apply it to your career as a firefighter. Do you want to work in a small town or does the excitement of a big city draw you? Either way, we offer services that can help you find your perfect job. Do you have experience and are looking for a change of pace or … Read the rest

Learning How to Be a Firefighter

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

The Firefighter Exam

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

Planning the 2012 Spring Firefighter 1 Academy Tour

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

What I did on my Winter Vacation

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

How to Become A Firefighter Workshop

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

Happy New Year, Happy You !

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:

• Lower cholesterol levels and rates of heart

… Read the rest

U.S. FOREST SERVICE – Region 5 (California)

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

2012 Becoming A Firefighter Workshop

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

Food Focus: Oils and Fats

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

6 ways to stall your firefighter job search

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

Got The Love?

Its was 230 am…Again.  I couldn’t sleep, and my heart was racing.  I remember and staring out the window of my bedroom with the strangest mix of emotions.   My mind wouldn’t shut down.  I alternated between unbridled motivation and excitement to sheer panic.  This does not bode well for rest.

I’d figured out exactly what I wanted to do with my life.  Only a handful of people ever truly have the realization that there is a single thing that they … Read the rest

How to Become a Firefighter…

How to Become a Firefighter . Many theories exist on the right path to follow to be successful at becoming a career firefighter. Career firefighter jobs require an individual approach; the journey that works for one person may not be the same for another.
Generally speaking fire jobs require a unique set of pre-requisites and skills to be successful.
1) The candidate (you) must have a clean record free of chronic drug use, traffic issues, or felonies.
2) Usually an … Read the rest

The Building of a Vision Statement

The Building of a Vision Statement
By
Bob Atlas, Battalion Chief
Your personal vision statement will guide your life. It will assist you in following your goals and give you the direction needed to follow the course of your days and the choices you make about your career. Your personal vision statement is the lighthouse that shines in the darkness which guides you and directs you in which way to turn on the way to success. Your personal vision statement … Read the rest

The Building of a Personal Mission Statement

The Building of a Personal Mission Statement
By
Bob Atlas, Battalion Chief

You have a purpose in life. You know in your heart what’s most important to you. In fact, your mission and values are expressed every day, by how you live–you just may not realize it ! In this segment we are going to work on how to build a Personal Mission Statement. A Personal Mission Statement is critical to your success. With one you can continue to be … Read the rest

I didn’t get hired? But I thought I had the best resume!

This is a problem many candidates “don’t get” today, and was something I didn’t get when I was testing to become a firefighter. When I was testing to become a firefighter in the early 1990’s – (come on, that wasn’t too long ago – and things really haven’t changed that much, at least in my area) – I tried too hard to have the “best resume.”

It didn’t dawn on me until I was actually hired, that “best resume” is … Read the rest

It’s Cold and Flu Season… Some alternatives…

EMS personnel are constantly exposed to all sorts of germs and ill folks. With Cold and Flu season starting, people are apt to get the flu 2 and 3 times this season. There are several natural alternatives that are not widely known. Let’s take some time to discuss some of the ways patients in my practice strengthen their immune system to ward off all the bugs flying around this time of year. Try one or all of these suggestions, and … Read the rest

Some rookie basics

Anyone that has survived their rookie year working at a firehouse will tell you that there are some important social & cultural expectations they had to meet every day on the job – and that many of them weren’t spelled out in a textbook or manual.  In fact, I’d venture to say that a large part of what makes someone fun to work with/around is when you feel like they not only take their job seriously, but also understand these … Read the rest

Unity of Command Answers the Conflicting Order Dilemma

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!

Begin To Dress To Your Success!

Make an excellent, long standing first impression; show that you are serious and set the bar higher for others to reach!

You NEED this job!

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

The concept of “kaizen”

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

Small Thought about Customer Service

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

Welcome Josh.

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

Invest in your Success…”you gotta’ pay the cost to be the Nozzleman!”

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.

How To Answer Firefighter Oral Board Questions. (Or…You’re Not Dan Allred.)

Playing the Game

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.

3 Basic Tips for Surviving an Interview in the Fire Service

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

Fire Station Visits

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

Secrets of Success for Entry Level Firefighters

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.