r/Firefighting • u/AutoModerator • 4d ago
Employment Questions Weekly Employment Question Thread
Welcome to the Weekly Employment Question Thread!
This thread is where you can ask questions about joining, training to become, testing, disqualifications/qualifications, and other questions that would be removed as individual posts per Rule 1.
The answer to almost every question you can ask will be "It depends on the department". Your first step is to look up the requirements for your department, state/province, and country.
As always, please attempt to resource information on your own first, before asking questions. We see many repeat questions on this sub that have been answered multiple times.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- I want to be a Firefighter, where do I start: Every Country/State/Province/County/City/Department has different requirements. Some require you only to put in an application. Others require certifications prior to being hired. A good place to start is researching the department(s) you want to join. Visit their website, check their requirements, and/or stop into one of their fire stations to ask some questions.
- Am I too old: Many departments, typically career municipal ones, have an age limit. Volunteer departments usually don't. Check each department's requirements.
- I'm in high school, What can I do: Does your local department have an explorer's program or post? If so, join up. Otherwise, focus on your grades, get in shape and stay in shape, and most importantly: stay out of trouble.
- I got in trouble for [insert infraction here], what are my chances: Obviously, worse than someone with a clean record, which will be the vast majority of your competition. Tickets and nonviolent misdemeanors may not be a factor, but a major crime (felonies), may take you out of the running. You might be a nice person, but some departments don't make exceptions, especially if there's a long line of applicants with clean records. See this post... PSA: Stop asking “what are my chances?”
- I have [insert medical/mental health condition here], will it disqualify me: As a general rule, if you are struggling with mental illness, adding the stress of a fire career is not a good idea. As for medical conditions, you can look up NFPA1582 for disqualifying conditions, but in general, this is not something Reddit can answer for you. Many conditions require the input of a medical professional to determine if they are disqualifying. See this post... PSA: Don't disqualify yourself, make THEM tell you "no".
- What will increase my chances of getting hired: If there's a civil service exam, study for it! There are many guides online that will help you go over all those things you forgot such as basic math and reading. Some cities even give you a study guide. If it's a firefighter exam, study for it! For the CPAT (Physical Fitness Test), cardio is arguably the most important factor. If you're going to the gym for the first time during the hiring process, you're fighting an uphill battle. Get in shape and stay in shape. Most cities offer preference points to military veterans.
- How do I prepare for an interview: Interviews can be one-on-one, or in front of a board/panel. Many generic guides exist to help one prepare for an interview, however here are a few good tips:
- Dress appropriately. Business casual at a minimum (Button down, tucked in long sleeve shirt with slacks and a belt, and dress shoes). Get a decent haircut and shave.
- Practice interview questions with a friend. You can't accurately predict the off-the-wall questions they will ask, but you can practice the ones you know they probably will, like why do you want to be a Firefighter, or why should we hire you?
- Scrub your social media. Gone are the days when people in charge weren't tech-savvy. Don't have a perfect interview only for your chances of being hired gone to zero because your Facebook or Instagram has pictures of you getting blitzed. Set that stuff to private and leave it that way.
Please upvote this post if you have a question. Upvoting this post will ensure it sticks around for a bit after it is removed as a Sticky, and will allow for greater visibility of your question.
And lastly, If you're not 100% sure of what you're talking about, leave it for someone who does
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u/PrestigiousMoose535 4d ago
Anyone know the tattoo policy near Tacoma or related departments. Looking at departments out there and I have a hand tattoo
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u/EatinBeav WA Career FF/EMT 3d ago
Each department around here will be different, but majority it’s not really a policy anymore.
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u/PrestigiousMoose535 3d ago
Okay, I figured each one was different. I was looking online and websites aren’t always updated so I just wanted to make sure. Thank you
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u/SanJOahu84 2d ago
Tattoo policy was unheard of around here but after having multiple recruits getting neck tattoos during academy it's starting to become a thing.
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u/itssdarkinhere 4d ago
F21 here and I live about a stones throw away from my local station. I pass the station on my walk to and from classes and recently I’ve gotten the urge to go up to the FF that I see hanging around outside and ask them if they have any volunteer positions open. Ive been feeling called to really do something that would build my character while also helping others—and also just doing something that I never imagined I would.
While I don’t doubt my physical ability to do it, i do doubt my ability to deal with the gore of it all. I would not mind fighting fire, but I know that’s not what makes up the majority of the calls. Are there such thing as volunteer positions where I could do on-the-scene work but perhaps more “technical” work. Say, providing support, handling equipment, maintenance, etc, rather than direct trauma response? I’d still love to get all of the medical training and hell maybe after that I’ll feel more confidence facing gore & trauma. But I’d also really wish there was a way I could volunteer around the firehouse/on the scene without necessarily having to be hands on with the medical trauma often.
You can be brutally honest. I figured id post this here before I risk getting laughed at my local department 😅
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u/6TangoMedic Canadian Firefighter 4d ago
If it's a volunteer hall, I don't think it would hurt to ask. My guess is they would want all members to be capable of full response, but that may not always be the case.
asking never hurts.
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u/chillstabs 4d ago
Unless you have a history of squeamishness or feeling "faint" at the sight if blood (this is called vasovagal syncope and degrees of severity vary) it's hard to know how you handle the gore factor until you're faced with it. It's instinct to be averse to trauma but you might be surprised how drastically preparedness and adrenaline alter your emotional response compared to processing a traumatic event as a bystander.
Volunteer roles are a great way to feel it out, and they won't throw you into patient care of any kind until they're confident you've been trained to handle it. The best first step: If you don't have a CPR certification, find out if this department offers training and sign up — if not, get one on your own and make that your prerequisite for inquiring about volunteering. Even non-field roles should be CPR certified at a minimum and whoever you speak with will take your interest more seriously.
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u/sucksatgolf Overpaid janitor 🧹 23h ago
At really bad calls when you are the responder, your adrenaline takes over and you do what you are trained to, without having much time to be sqeemish. I'm not big on blood and gore either but I've never once had to turn away during a real emergency. You should give it a shot.
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u/Usual-Wealth-3943 3d ago
reposting it here.. just wondering and making it short and sweet im 19 and juggling between wanting to work on planes
For a firefighter, my main reason is that I like to tinker and want to help people. I currently do baggage, so I’m justifying it. I’ve fulfilled a lot of the airline/global side helping people in my station, and now I want to help my community in a way and saw that I could move up more as a FF too in the long run. I’m curious as to if going into the military as a firefighter would be a good pathway to come out and join afterwards? Thank you. Sorry for not making sense.
Also, to add, I have a route to A&P that’s free, but it’s backlogged probably for a few years. I want to get into the military sometime next year to do something i can transfer into the outside world i can move up in and realized I can do mechanical things on the side as a main hobby.
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u/sucksatgolf Overpaid janitor 🧹 23h ago
Yes, fire departments like hiring prior military. Many departments award extra points on exams for being a veteran. I'm not a military guy but I do know the air force and marines have fire training, where you can get certs through the military that transfer to the outside.
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u/Usual-Wealth-3943 23h ago
oh okay nice i might go military first or later the department i want to get into is hiring age of 21 but only needs a cpat and written score thats good which i can study for while getting my certs until then even tho they will pay for it in the academy thank you :) might need to go military
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u/sucksatgolf Overpaid janitor 🧹 23h ago
Good luck. As far as ive seen military then FD is a good career path. A lot of our guys stay in the reserves and have two retirements.
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u/Usual-Wealth-3943 23h ago
thank you and yeah i still plan military if its reserve or just 4 years either way i need to hit the books again :)
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u/Agreeable-Fudge7790 3d ago
I am looking at a career in firefighting as a 22M and have some questions about how realistic the goal is. I see that the qualifications for a decent chunk of fire departments is to just have BLS and an EMT certification, is it a realistic goal or possible to get hired with just an EMT certification, or is it very difficult without paramedic or firefighter1. I would aim to be in Colorado or California but would be willing to move most places. Thanks
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u/Direct-Training9217 2d ago
If you're willing to move around go to a department that has no prerequisites and has an in house academy where they pay you to get your EMT, FF1 and 2. Then lateral over. Hell places like Memphis will even pay for your medic school
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u/Repulsive_Hawk5944 3d ago
Would you take a 80-100k pay cut to become a FF/PM knowing what you know now about the job?
Contemplating leaving a 180k/year corporate job for full time FF/PM. Starting pay in my area is 80-85k with top step being 120k. Will need to quit my job to attend medic school for a year however (yikes)
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u/Ding-Chavez MD Career 3d ago
That salary is more than most battalion/deputy chiefs in my area. I would take the money everyday.
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u/EatinBeav WA Career FF/EMT 1d ago
I wouldn’t give that up at all. Like Ding said that’s above top ranks top pay scale and you don’t get woken up at night.
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u/Automatic-Acadia-972 2d ago
At the end of October, fire recruitment opens up in my city and I’m wondering what all I can do to prepare to make myself stand out. Some things I’ve currently done are:
- Scheduled a CPAT
- Scheduled certification trainings for a neighborhood emergency team volunteer organization (the local FD sponsors this organization and I think it would look good on my resume to be involved)
- Attended a Ride-Along day at a local station this summer
Some background on me is that I am coming from a non-EMS background, in my mid twenties and looking for a career change. I have a college degree and work in a technical field where I am a lead. There are no firefighters in my family although there are military veterans. I am generally fit and am on marathon prep, and have a solid muscle base, although I am a smaller person at 5’3.
What can I do to stand out and look good on my resume ?
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u/SanJOahu84 2d ago
Paramedic, trades, military, college/pro sports are the things interviewers remember as "stand out."
Basically something impressive that separates you from the hundred other people talking about volunteering and ride alongs.
If you're from the community you're applying for maybe play up your connections as a local.
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u/Automatic-Acadia-972 2d ago
Thanks for the response. My day job is in utilities but is a desk job - I have a college degree but didn’t start playing sports seriously until adulthood. Is there a way to convey athleticism or otherwise that I’d be suitable for the above careers you mentioned without technically having any prior experience ?
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u/Weary-Yak7597 2d ago
I’m a 27 yr old us army veteran I just applied to Austin fire department. If that doesn’t work out is it worth getting myself certified using my GI bill then applying to a bunch of different departments?
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u/firefighter40322 1d ago
Fellow Veteran here, absolutely use your GI Bill, I would use it to get your paramedic. Being a paramedic will be your golden ticket anywhere.
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u/Weary-Yak7597 1d ago
Thanks for the info. Where I’m at in Texas there isn’t a lot of departments with their own academies.
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u/Live-Let-9260 2d ago
Is it generally frowned upon to bring up volunteer experience in a career interview? I've heard some people say so. What do yall think?
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u/SanJOahu84 2d ago
Interview? It's probably alright.
Pretending your experience matters during the career academy is a big nono though.
If we want to know how you did things at your old department we'll ask.
Best to pretend to be a clean slate just like all the other recruits.
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u/captain-McNuggs 2d ago
I am a first-year Wildland firefighter (FFT2) with my taskbooks for FFT1 & IC5 open. I'll be getting my EMTB certificate by December (NREMT will come after that as soon as I complete the program). I plan to volunteer at a department where they will put me through academy. Ideally I would like to work at least 2 more seasons of Wildfire before committing to structure, which would hopefully cover the costs throughout the offseason. I'll currently be needing supplemental income to get through this year, and am wondering if there's anyone else that manages fire academy + volunteer program and at least a part-time (ideally full-time) job.
I'm in Washington, Pierce County if that helps.
I'm hoping to avoid living with the folks any longer than I need to lol
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u/EatinBeav WA Career FF/EMT 1d ago
I’d say go work private ambulance in king county and depending where in pierce county there’s a few volunteer departments that send you though a volunteer academy for certifications. Work private ambulance, volunteer and apply everywhere.
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u/geterdone317 2d ago
I am possibly relocating from NY to CT due to familial commitments. What is the training like for vollies in CT? I’m currently a career firefighter in NY fully certified firefighter 1/2, all the tech rescue, hazmat, etc so want to know if that will transfer to CT or if I will have to start over. If I go back to CT I will be taking over a family business so I will not be looking for a career dept in CT
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u/Pretend_Leading_5167 2d ago
Have Tattoos (I know I will probably get “It’s Dept Dependent” but I am just looking for opinions.
So I have a good amount of tattoos.. most in places I can cover with an Under Armor Sleeve or in Turnouf gear a couple I can’t without Makeup..
Anyways.. I will preface this that None of the tattoos I have are Derogatory or Offensive in any way shape or form.
However I have one on the right side of my Neck that is Fairly large Approximately the size of the palm of my hand.. of a Pair of DJ Headphones in full color.. Tasteful Artwork but a bit large I suppose.. I am a DJ in my free time and I got it when I was 21 years old.. I’m 35 years old now..
The other one is a Small Peace sign ☮️ the size of a Dime in the Corner of my hand between my thumb and my index finger in Black Outline.. also got that when I was young probably around 21 also..
The peace sign isn’t my biggest concern.. but the one on my neck I am concerned about..
Am I being a bit over the top about it causing me issues with getting hired? I am not opposed to paying for some sessions to have it removed off my neck but if it isn’t going to cause me a whole lot issues I’d rather leave it there and maybe just get it touched up and brightened up since it’s so old to make it look a bit nicer.. Since removal is much more expensive.
Anyways I am just looking for some sound advice.
I wish I had waited in my younger years to get a lot of my tattoos but.. alas we all do things when we’re younger we don’t really think about how it might affect things later.
But I am willing to get it taken off it I have to.. because this is the Career I have been longing for since I was 7 years old. And I am pretty determined be part of the Greatest Job In the World.
Thanks 🙏 in Advance guys.
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u/tall82 2d ago edited 2d ago
It really is department dependant, I know that sounds cliche but in reality it varies from department to department, my department for a long time had a cover up all ink rule, but that has been relaxed and now see plenty of colleagues with visible ink.
Just look in to which department you wish to work for and see what their policy is around tattoos, nowhere near a big of an issue as it once was, plenty in the career with ink.
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u/EatinBeav WA Career FF/EMT 1d ago
I’d get those removed just so I didn’t destroyed at a coffee table forget a policy…
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u/Pretend_Leading_5167 1d ago
Lmao 🤣 what do you mean by “destroyed at a coffee table”? Like roasted by the guys on shift at the coffee table?
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u/EatinBeav WA Career FF/EMT 1d ago
A pair of DJ headphones would be endless roasting.
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u/Pretend_Leading_5167 1d ago
lol 😂 tbf I probably wouldn’t care if all I had to deal with was roasting.. it’s a Hobby of mine.. being a DJ.. music is dear to my heart.. the roasting of that would bother me none really. I’m more concerned with it affecting landing my dream job.. if I already landed it at that point the boys can roast away lol I am not opposed to roasting back.
I am mostly just here to find out opinions on how much it may affect my hiring.
But alas I literally just finished scheduling a tattoo removal consult as I’m typing this..
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u/EatinBeav WA Career FF/EMT 1d ago
While the policy probably allows you to have it, I’d say in an interview setting some biases still hold up and that could be a factor. Removal if it’s what you want to do can’t hurt, but it’s pretty department dependent.
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u/Civil_Ad_8030 1d ago
I just graduated from high school and I am 17 years old, I want to purse a career in firefighting but I am told the most important thing to have is certificates and experience. I’ve talked to a few people and they say age is definitely a crucial factor. Originally I was going to apply to a firefighting program in college than after that rack of experience and other certificates and apply to a position in that line of work. However now I’m wondering if it would be beneficial if I get a degree or some other kind of education somewhat related before going to firefighting school? I would have more experience with this degree and be older once I’m done the degree. Honestly not really sure what to do and what exactly matters to get hired.
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u/Ding-Chavez MD Career 1d ago
Any degree is helpful. You don't need anything fire related. You just need something. Preferably something useful if you don't get hired or injured on the job.
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u/Kingkooter177 1d ago
10 year navy veteran looking to go into structure FF, do the legends in the forum suggest utilizing my NREMT EMT/B and getting some time in the box, or doing a season with the forest service and getting a wild fire experience under my belt? I want to take FY26 to get some more bullet points on my resume to try and solidify a job in structure! Any thoughts would help!
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u/Ding-Chavez MD Career 1d ago
Apply regardless. You'll get extra points for the vet status. EMT is more valuable than wildland.
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u/West-Start3218 1d ago
Started academy few weeks ago… I keep messing up with the same instructor on things he’s taught us before. don’t know why I can’t get things perfect, going to keep pushing and trying to better myself each day. I guess I just want to know if anyone else has felt this way going through academy ?
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u/onlyhere4theRP 1d ago
How long is the academy if you’re already EMT certified? What will they have you do while your class takes the EMT portion of the academy?
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u/Ding-Chavez MD Career 4h ago
That's all dependent on the department. For example at my job if you already had EMT before the academy...you took it again.
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u/Chance_Anywhere9624 23h ago
The applications for PGFD closed out the first week of August and we were suppose to get the next steps within a couple of weeks of the close out date. How long does it take to hear anything back? I guess there was an issue within the department that might of affected the process a little but I haven’t heard anything about the application. I just want an email acknowledging the application at the very least. Other fire departments don’t close out till the end of this month and they have already notified me of the next steps and sent out an orientation video.
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u/CaterpillarMundane27 15h ago
I am a 23 year old firefighter/paramedic and I’m interested in finding a new department in the tampa bay area (I no longer want to live where I am currently). I like my fire department but it’ll be a far drive. I was hoping if anyone here can provide some information that I can’t find online. I’m mainly looking at st pete fire rescue and tampa fire but any other hidden gem department recommendations would be awesome. here are some questions:
- Does st pete fire transports a lot or does sunstar does most of it?
- Is st pete looking towards a 24/72?
- How is the culture at both departments?
Any information would be appreciated!
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u/Shrimpmilk01 14h ago
Hello! I am trying to figure out if going to an Online Academy with a ten day skills portion will leave me lagging behind skill wise or make me struggle to get hired.
It would be great for them to be online for me so I could work full time, but I’d love to know if I’m shooting myself in the butt with an Online Academy!
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u/Ding-Chavez MD Career 4h ago
What's your goal? You'll need to vet any instructors course and make sure it's going be accepted to any place that requires it. Also I don't think you'll get the same value from a in person classroom sessions.
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u/Late_Profit2045 11m ago
Has anyone else applied to PGFD in Maryland this cycle ? I applied to PGFD on 8/1 and still haven’t heard anything other than that they received my application. Has anyone else heard anything that have applied this cycle? Thanks
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u/GroundbreakingBig737 2d ago
m trying to apply for a federal position but I heard from my friend who went to the same academy as me who made it say it was wayyy harder then the cpat, ane he use to play D1 football, has anyone else done a federal cpat maybe its like this only for NAS bases? Would love some feedback
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u/Sealtooth5 SoCal FFPM 2d ago
The CPAT is essentially a warmup for any respectable department's academy workout
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u/HanginWithTheBest 3d ago
How much would a Paramedic cert help my chances get hired on in the Denver metro or suburbs?
36 y/old current EMT, looking to get on with a FD.