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Battalion Chief Paul Lepore’s The Aspiring Firefighter’s Two-Year Plan
Station Visits Continued
It is important to have researched the department before going to the fire station. You can do this by visiting the fire department administrative office or by looking up the department’s website. However you choose to do your homework, do not has the firefighters how many stations the department has and how many calls they go on each year. This is a waste of THEIR time. You will quickly lose their interest and be politely escorted from the station at the first opportunity.
The best way to reinforce a positive first impression is to show that you have done your research. You can confirm your information by asking them if you can review it with them: “I understand that you have 23 fire stations and that your department runs 50,000 calls per year.” The difference is that the firefighters see that you have taken the time to do your research, and you don’t expect them to do it for you. Again, it’s a sign of respect. Their time is too valuable.
Some of the questions you should ask include, but are not limited to, the following:
- How long is the probationary period?
- What can I expect from the academy?
- How is the relationship between the fire department and the community?
- How many firefighters are going to be hired and how long is the eligibility list?
- What desirable qualifications is the department looking for? (You will have already read the job description flyer, but you are looking for the “inside information.”)
- What are the strengths of the department?
- What are the opportunities for advancement down the road?
- What can I do to make a good impression on the oral board?
- Is the fire department active in the community? (e.g., teaching first aid and CPR courses, public service day, CERT training, etc.)
- What do you like about the department?
- What additional projects or assignments are firefighters able to get involved in? (e.g., fire prevention bureau, hazardous materials team, confined space or technical rescue, and paramedic program)
- What are the different areas of the community that the fire department services? (e.g., airport, marine, wildland interface, freeway, commercial, high-rise industrial, residential and beaches)
- What special community projects is the fire chief planning to implement? (e.g., CERT program, train a certain percentage of the community in first aid, CPR and AED, immunizations for the community)
- What is important to the fire chief? (e.g., experience, education, mechanical aptitude, living in the community)
- Is the city or county planning to add or delete fire stations?
- For the new firefighters who have done well on probation, what qualities do they possess that have made them successful?
- Where is the department headed in the future? (e.g., hazardous materials teams, weapons of mass destruction task force, immunizations for the community, add a BLS ambulance transport system)
- What are some of the biggest morale boosters for the firefighters that have occurred in the last couple years?
- What projects has the department completed in the last few years? What projects are still in the works?
- If you were in my position and you wanted to work for this department, what would be your next step?
- Is there anyone else that you would recommend I speak to?
Most firefighters are very proud to be a member of their department. They want to be sure that the ones who follow feel the same way. A wise fire chief once told me, “The fire department ran well for 100 years before you became a member. You can bet it will run for another 100 years after you’re gone. It’s up to us to make sure we leave it in the hands of competent people.”
As you can see, when you show up to the stations the firefighters are unofficially deciding if you are worthy of being a member of the department. It is imperative that you leave them with a positive first impression.
Purchase Chief Paul Lepore’s Aspiring Firefighter’s Two-Year Plan
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