Another great site... Dang...
Yup. Found another one. This one doesnt have as much unless you subscribe but it does break things down for you as a new firefighter trying to break into the service. Here is an example of what I mean:
* Don't wear earrings, die your hair strange colors or wear pants hanging off . It's Not MTV
* Look like a professional. Take pride in your uniform
* Make friends
* Maintain professional competence
* Don't spout off in public. Let your performance speak for itself
* Go with your natural instinct
* Drive safely & conscientiously
* Don't judge other's actions until you know all the facts
* Go to the bathroom while you have the chance
* Be extremely careful when backing up a vehicle. Use a back up person when possible
* Learn to type & use a computer
* Be empathetic, it could be you
* Leave stress at work
* Longevity doesn't guarantee perfection, even veterans make mistakes.
* Learn new ways to communicate, languages, sign language, etc.
* Don't bring your problems to work
* Become educated
* Respect & learn from seniors
* Be your worst own critic
* Even though most calls are uneventful, don't get to relaxed because the next one might be worse.
* Avoid gossip
Its all simple stuff but they really break it down in layman's terms for people who don't get it. I love it! This is great stuff to know before you jump in. There is so much more here as well. Enjoy.
Fire Career Assistance
Free firefighter exams and more...
Have you eve wanted to get ahead of the game. In the fire service, to get a job you have to be, and if your not you better get started! I have been in the fire service for 3 years now (WOW... not really) and am constantly learning. From peers, superiors, written tests, drills, mock interviews, actual interviews... the learning in endless. But I always keep searching for more ways to get ahead.
Just the other day, I was searching the vast rims of the web, when I found one of the best websites I have seen as of yet. Rescue Exams. Sounds pretty non interesting huh?! Well, to get ahead of the game this is one place to do it.
This website is a firefighters dream! Not to mention a training coordinator or EMT. This website has tons of practice tests, training videos, drill diagrams and training tools, and SO much more. I can't even begin to talk about all the stuff on this website... and best of all... ITS TOTALL, 100%, FREE! Yup is said the F word! You gotta check it out.
RescueExams.com
FlashoverTV...
This is an awesome website I just found the other day. It has a ton of awesome fire department videos posted by firefighter all over the country... I think of it as a Firefighter's You Tube or something along those lines.
The have awesome training videos, action videos, rescue stuff, and so much more. Its free to sign up and I will tell you one thing, it cures that rainy day boredom for sure! Check it out!
FlashoverTV
My departments pictures go online...
I just recently finished my departments website. Its nothing too special, but it serves its purpose well and we seem to be getting a lot of people stopping by.
Please check it out and give me some feedback, but you should definitely check out the video and picture sections, we have some cool new additions to cure some office/computer boredom!
Website link:
www.bennettvalleyfire.org
Where have I been... again?
Wow. It's been a long time. But where exactly have I been? Let me give you a few reasons for my absence"
- Got married on June 7th
- Move into our new apartment after that
- Got a new corporate job last December
- Been working full time at that job as well as part time at my current department
Needless to say it has been a crazy year for me, but I hope to start posting a lot more again.
Hopefully I still have some readers.
Helpful fire job listing websites...
I have been looking around a lot for job listings. The best resource is the
Internet.
There are so many place to look, so where do you start? Here are the websites I am currently using to find jobs both locally and nationally. I hope these help you out some... they have helped me a TON!
911 Hot Jobs - Very cool website that has many job listings... they also sell resources for interviews, tests and all sorts of other great resources. They also have, from time to time, free products when you sign up, like test question books, how to
guides and much more.
Fire Recruit - This is an awesome website. There are so many job listings in here... they also have some awesome resources on oral interviews including common questions, and more.
CPAT Test - CA firefighters only
Fire Hire - Website dedicated to the Fire Hire test and the jobs associated with it.
Firehouse.com - Many many job listings, as well as forums, news,
pictures... basically anything you could want is there.
Yes, you may have noticed that some of these sites require a monthly charge, its minimal but its so worth is... just do it!
Where have I been?!...
That's a great question. Well I have been very busy indeed. Where do I start...?
Well I had an interview with a department about an hour and a half of where I live. I received a 96% on my oral interview (which was awesome by the way), but I only score an 79% on the written exam... which when added together didn't give me high enough standing to get one of the initial positions available but it did put me number 22 on the hiring list for the next 2 years.
What did I get out of this? Well I got the experience of yet another interview process, which showed me that I am getting better at them (98%!!). Plus I got on a hiring list. In my opinion it was a success.
But that was a few months ago, where have you been lately? Well, I also got on as an intern for a department near me as well. I haven't started yet but I will be working my first shift on the 9th or next month. I already have all my gear and am waiting for the patches to get sown on my dress shirt and I will be ready to get started. I am so excited.
Its been 6 months since the academy, that I have done any fire related training, so it will be good to get back into it again finally.
I will hopefully keep posting again, and will keep you all updated on the new happenings.
Interview Questions...
Well the first interview is over and I think it went really well. They asked me simple questions and I gave them some pretty good answers... Here are a few of the questions they asked me (
at least all the ones I can remember):
- Tell us a little about yourself
- What have you done to prepare yourself for this position?
- How do you deal with customer service with you current job and what does that have to do with the FD?
- Define loyalty, and pride, and relate the to the fire service.
- Do you have anything to add or any questions for us?
And that was about it... it
wasn't too difficult nor was it that long. I stayed calm throughout the interview. I
don't feel that I
stuttered at all, so overall IMO its been the best interview I've done to date.
I hope this helps some of you... please let me know if it does or if you have any questions or want to hear my point of view on things.
Until next time...
New Department Interview...
As some of you have read from my last post, I am going to be interviewing with two different departments in the coming weeks.
My old department, and a new department that I have never really worked with... well, tomorrow is the day for the new departments interview.
Wish me luck! I will let you know how things go, and I will write down some of the questions I was asked for those of you who want to start compiling a list.
Yup. Found another one. This one doesnt have as much unless you subscribe but it does break things down for you as a new firefighter trying to break into the service. Here is an example of what I mean:
