Does this help? And, what do I need to know?

[wolfbayou]

Hello all,
I am a 23yr old who is looking to start testing in NW arkansas for 3 different fire departments. I have around 2years experience in Vol depts. From wildland to driving pump trucks. I have my PPE, Wildland, Stormspotter(I know, I know) certifications. I will have completed EMT-B in Feb and will start one test in March/April. Will these certs and prior Vol experience help?
I also have a Diesel Technician cert from high school that would show my
willingness and determination to work. I have completed horseshoeing school, and have started and run 2 sucessfull businesses. I ultimately stopped them so that I could have more time with my family. I will have excellent references for the application.
What do I need to know for the written test? I do not know what I am up against. I am training right now using a Navy Seal type regimen and am starting to build up my stamina. I am a big guy, 6' 225, but I should be down to 200 come March. I currently work construction and am very strong. I am not trying to brag at all, just to give all the information I can. I remember talking to a man on the Memphis FD who said that the physical test is so much technique and not brawn. He recalled seeing these "tough guys" come and completely tire themselves out when chopping with the axe.
I am just a bit nervous about the written and oral interviews.
I would like to know if my past experience will help at all.
I will definately dress up for any meetings with FD personel and of course
my oral interview(if I get one). I have always been taught that you dress for who you want to be not exactly who you are now.
I apologize for spurting out my brain tonight.
And thanks ahead for any help I can get.
Any resources would be greatly appreciated also.

J. T.

[trent808]

I am also a 23 yr old vol trying to get on a paid dept. I have been a vol for 5 years and 4 of those I lived at the fire station while in college and now I'm working EMS, and all this time I was thinking that this experience would help me a lot but now I'm not so sure. I've heard a lot of mixed things as to whether vol exp helps. A few people from diff dept's have said that they don't like vol's because a lot of time they are hard to deal with (know it all, unwilling to conform, cocky, etc.) but others say the exp look good. I'm curious as to what Capt Bob and Chief Lepore think. I would call the dept's your interested in and find out about their testing process - is it a civil service test, what type of agility test do they use (CPAT or their own). The more research you can do about the dept and their process the better off you will be. I have called dept's and just gone by stations and asked the guys about getting on their dept and I have been very impressed at how nice and helpful everyone has been. I just tested in Fort Worth and it was a civil service test. I was very surprised at the types of questions - lots of grammar (punctuation, verb usage, capitilization), spelling, read a short passage and answer questions regarding what you read, lots of math (converting fractions to decimals, multiplication, division, tables and charts). From what I've heard this is pretty common civil service test - some say they've had pulleys, gears, and maps on their test. There are a lot of good books available for testing, interviews, etc. I just read Chief Lepore's "Smoke your Firefighter Interview" and it was a great deal of help on my oral board. I highly recommend it, but I recommend taking one step at a time. Other dept's use fire and EMS based questions. I would continue working out as hard as possible - that's what I'm doing. I hope this helps. Good luck!

[truckierep]

Which fire departments are you looking at in NW Arkansas? I did not know of any testing at the first of the year. The main thing is to get your EMT-B and FF 1 & 2.

[wolfbayou]

It says they test twice a year.
March/April and September/October.
What do you know about these departments in NW arkansas?
I've known people that have been hired on at different FD's, conway, etc..
They didn't have FF1 and 2 just EMT. They hired on and then were sent to
3months at the academy. Isn't this the norm?? I am trying to not get discouraged here on the board. You read so much about the failures and all.
I will keep in mind that I can do it and eventually I will.
God's timing.
What kind of testing do the NW arkansas depts use?
Any good suggestions on study material?

Joel