r/firefighter • u/PacersFan2025 • 4d ago
Testing while working full time
Man, this has been very discouraging, applying for one department after another only to later find that testing dates are days I cannot get out of work. Anyone else running into this? I am applying everywhere I can, but it makes me think I'll never land an offer
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u/Elegant-Row1758 4d ago
I have a full time job where I work every weekend. Not a normal 9 to 5, more like 11a to 9pm. This has been hard for me also. Ive had to work 10 day stretches, move days around in as much advance as possible, and even make up reasons why I needed a day off with short notice to go test. Its been a struggle but it can be done. Luckily some of the tests ive taken have been scheduled later in the afternoon, where most 9 to 5ers can get there or early in the morning where I can still get to work on time.
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u/Legal-Reserve-2317 4d ago
Sounds like you need a new job bad. When I was testing I called out sick and flew across the country for a 20 minute interview and then turned right around. If you aren’t willing to prioritize an interview how will you ever get the job? You said you have a corporate job, is the $$ good? Can you afford a sabbatical while you try to get hired? Can you leave your current job to find something more flexible so you can continue to interview? Everyone has busy schedules, if you can’t make the interview they won’t bend over backwards to accommodate you, they’ll just pick up the next person
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u/corworkm 4d ago
Just gotta figure out a way to get out of work. I had to call off 5-6 times this year to test and it was worth it.
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u/PacersFan2025 4d ago
Sounds like you got an offer. Congrats! Can I ask how many interviews you did?
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u/corworkm 3d ago
Yessir! I start academy in October. I interviewed with 5 different departments this year before finally making the cut. 1 or 2 interviews per department depending on if I made it to the chief’s interview.
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u/PacersFan2025 3d ago
That's awesome. Congrats! It's always encouraging when I see other people making it
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u/David_Miller2020 4d ago
I ran into the same situation. I ended using sick days, vacation time, etc. It panned off and I achieved the ultimate goal.
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u/PacersFan2025 4d ago
How many interviews did it take you, if you don't mind me asking?
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u/David_Miller2020 4d ago
I did about five interview or so.
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u/PacersFan2025 4d ago
Just had my first one today. Let's just say I expect to need to do another. It was nerve wracking for sure
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u/DeepBackShots 3d ago
I’ve made some crazy sacrifices to make the interview or test. I literally flew across the county for a 20 min interview. Lol if you want it bad enough you’ll do something about it. good luck
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u/Strict-Canary-4175 4d ago
I mean outside of a trade of a vacation day yeah you’re kind of stuck. But most people just get a trade or take a day. You can never get a trade or a vacation day?
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u/PacersFan2025 4d ago
I can't trade days, no. But I have a handful of PTO days which must be scheduled in advance. It's usually difficult to schedule those in time with limited notice of the day/time for the interview. Calling in sick uses a PTO day which doesn't help either
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u/Strict-Canary-4175 4d ago
You’re not allowed to trade?
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u/PacersFan2025 4d ago
I am not currently on the fire service. I have a corporate job
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u/Strict-Canary-4175 4d ago
Oh. Then call off. what are we even doing?
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u/PacersFan2025 4d ago
What I'm trying to say is I only have a limited amount of opportunities to even call off or take PTO per year without being reprimanded. It is also very difficult to get PTO approved without a lot of notice, and calling in sick frequently is going to be an issue. Just need to make each interview count
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u/Pretend_Leading_5167 1d ago
Decide what matters more to you.. landing a firefighter career or your Current job. If my Current job didn’t allow me to go test for an Exam and got in the way of that I would be giving them an ultimatum allow me to pursue my childhood dream and allow me a few days every now and then to go test for that.. and continue to let me work in between do I find another job and they lose me all together.. cause just as I am disposable to them they are just as disposable to me.
I work as a semi truck driver rn.. while I’m in this process so I can realistically have another job in a week or 2 if I quit on the spot today.. and they know that there is 8 million trucking jobs locally near me in my big sitting just itching to hire drivers..
Luckily my Boss is very understanding and aware of my endeavors so much so he allowed me to come to work and agreed to have me off work everyday by 4PM to go to school for my EMT certification. So I don’t have very much to worry about and he’s aware I want to move on eventually and become a firefighter and knows this is a childhood dream of mine and that I don’t want to drive semis for the rest of my life and he understands fully. I promised to work hard and give him all the time I can before giving him more than enough notice that I will be departing at some point.
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u/Aware_Donkey_6074 4d ago
There is going to be no workaround for this unless you just call in sick to work to go take the test. I don’t know any department that would think let you take it at a different time to cater to your needs. On my department we call it having an A Job and a B Job. The A Job is always the firehouse and that takes priority over everything else. If your B Job is interfering with that they wouldn’t even bother with you.