Anybody hear from Portland?

[GoCougs]

This waiting is driving me crazy. I was just wondering if anyone knows when they are thinking about informing the trainee's about their results from the Chief's interview.

Thanks


Mitch

[kweb75]

I'm on the EMT/Paramedic list and had my Chiefs about ten days ago. I haven't heard anything yet but I think they just finished the interviews for our list on Friday. Hoping to hear any day now... but I feel your pain!

[Jwarne2001]

Haven't had a chief's interview or the PAT yet. Feel lucky that you have them both under your belt. Sounds like it may be awhile before I get a call. #56 on the FF/EMT list......

[GoCougs]

So the trainee's and Paramedics have gone through everything but the EMT's have not? That sounds kind of strange

[kweb75]

Sorry, I guess that was confusing. the FF EMT and Paramedic list are the same list. They took the top group of people on that list whether they were Medics or Basics and ran them through the Chiefs and PAT.

[GoCougs]

Oh ok. Did they give you an estimate of when they would get back to you?

[Nozzleman25]

Heard they are hiring a group off the FF/EMT list sometime in May. Rumor is they are going to be hiring groups of 16 insted of 12 since we are short people. They took aprox the top 30 to Chiefs interviews and PAT.

[GoCougs]

Nozzleman, thanks for that info. Any word on the trainee group?

[Nozzleman25]

What I heard was that aprox 80 passed the chiefs interview from the trainee group. Of those about 25 already had their EMT and the rest would be sent through EMT class.

A group of trainees will then be hired in a few months from what I have been told by my BC, they have been mixing the classes once the trainees get sworn in. So a normal group would be 6 and 6, with them possibly going to groups of 16 then I would guess it would be 8 and 8. Both lists should be good lists since we just got the new district and also 2 new rescues so we picked up 15 new positions and with all the retirements we are actually short people this summer.

[GoCougs]

So do you think it will be a couple more weeks until we are notified of whether we passed or not?

[pro300]

i had a friend who is on the firefighter list who had his chiefs interview and physical on 4-13(yes, friday the 13th). he just heard back the other day. so i would imagine that the others that had their interviews around the same time should of heard back by now...

[GoCougs]

i had a friend who is on the firefighter list who had his chiefs interview and physical on 4-13(yes, friday the 13th). he just heard back the other day. so i would imagine that the others that had their interviews around the same time should of heard back by now...


Are they hearing back by phone, letter or emails?

[pro300]

he received a conditional job offer letter in the mail the other day. keep in mind this is from the FF/EMT list, not the trainee list. I got hired off the trainee list last time around and looking back through my paperwork it was about 3 weeks from the time that i had my chiefs interview until the time i recieved the letter stating that i made it onto the trainee list. and just because you make it onto the trainee list, doesn't guarantee you a job.

[GoCougs]

Well its been about 3 weeks since I have had my chiefs interview.

[GoCougs]

I just got a call from my mom, and found out that I got a letter today from portland. So I should find out in a couple of days after she mails it to me.

[Jwarne2001]

DUDE! Should've just had her read it. You're going to go crazy waiting for that letter.

[Cochise70]

I was kind of thinking the same thing. It's like you're a glutton for punishment. Just kidding I'm sure it's good news. :)

[FFJunkie]

Anyone know the drop-out/failure rate for the academy? Also, has anyone gone through the trainee EMT-B class? Just curious for those who are on the traine list, but didn't get selected.

[GoCougs]

I thought about her opening it. But if it contains not good news I would rather tell her then have her tell me

[FFJunkie]

Anyone know what the dropout/failure rate for the trainee academy is? What is the minimum passing score for tests? Also, how intense is the 6 week EMT-Basic couse through the academy? Curious out of the 80 recruits going through will make it all the way and if anyone is ever picked up n the elegibility list?

[Jwarne2001]

Fair enough. Hope it's good news for you.

[GoCougs]

Well I just opened my letter. It says "Following the Chief's Interview Process, you will remain on the Firefighter Trainee Eligibility list although we do not anticipate selecting you to participate in any of the upcoming Trainee classes over the next two years."

So that sucks. I was wondering if there is any way to either talk to somebody about my interview or see the score sheets to see where I went wrong and what I need to work on

[ogomez]

When I first tested (>7 years ago) I got a similar letter, someone on the chief's panel didn't like me. I called the previous recruiter and he agreed to meet me and go over my scores. I was later called up to reinterview and got hired. You can try and see if this can happen now. I don't know if it will or not.

[GoCougs]

who would I call, Lt. AJ Jackson?

[GoCougs]

The more I read over this letter I get more confused. They say that they do not anticipate selecting me for the classes within the next 2 years, so did I pass my chief's interview and am just ranked low or did I not pass the interview?

[FFJunkie]

I doubt this reply will be posted because I'm 0 for 2 so far...

I tried to review my scores, but AJ said it was against their policy to relinquish them to candidates. I would be curious if there was another backdoor way to increase our chances as alternatives.

[GoCougs]

So I've been thinking about my letter all day long. I've called Lt. Jackson and left her a message. But I was wondering since I had Chief Sprando on my panel would it be appropiate to email him directly with my questions?

[pdxfire]

I would be patient and wait for AJ Jackson's email.

[Nozzleman25]

If you have a message in to A.J. wait to hear back from her. Chief Sprando is a busy man and probably doesn't want to be dealing with every candidate that won't be hired, it is A.j's job to do that.

My impression from reading your posts on here is that you weren't prepared and it came out in your interview. This is an extremely competitive process and you need to be on your A game when you go to an interview. When you posted you were wanting info on the Bureau you were pretty close to your interview and you didn't attempt to find info that is readily available. Sorry if I am coming off harsh but trying to be honest from my impression here on this site. I know all of the bureau people that did interviews and trust them to make the decision that is going to be best for the bureau. Talk to A.J. and start taking more test and be ready for the next one in two years.

If you have any questions feel free to send me a PM, I am glad to help and have helped others from this site with the testing process.

[GoCougs]

Nozzleman thanks for your input. Brutal honesty is what I need. I probably wasn't as prepared as I needed to be and until next time that will bother me. What I really want to find out from Lt. Jackson is whether or not I passed the chiefs interview. If I didn't pass then what my score was and what the passsing score was. If I did pass where I ended up on the list. Because my letter states that I will remain on the list for 2 years so does that mean I passed but am ranked fairly low?

[jobhunter]

Does anybody know if they hired the first class yet, and if so how many for sure?

Also anybody know how often they hire? I imagine it depends on how long the recruit academy is, any ideas????

Thanks

[Nozzleman25]

First class off the FF/EMT list starts at the end of this month it is supposed to be a group of 15. Academy is about two months for FF/EMT list and three months for Trainee list if I remember correctly.

[jobhunter]

THANKS Nozzleman

Do you know if they always have a class in an academy? or is it only certain times of the year?

You said earlier that they took up into the 80's last list, do you think this list will be much different?

[Nozzleman25]

Jobhunter, There is almost always a class in the academy. They are trying to keep up with retirements and are actually a little behind right now. They got up into the 80-100 range last time and should do the same this time. The trainee list will go about the same. THat doesn't mean everyone of those people get hired but that is how many they go through to get all the groups. Hope that helps.

[jobhunter]

You have no idea how happy your information makes me!!!!

It is not over yet! there is still a chance

[GoCougs]

Jobhunter, where did you end up on the list? Are you on the trainee or EMT list?

[Jwarne2001]

Mitch - sorry to hear about the situation.

If Portland doesn't work out this go round, shift your focus to TVFR. You've got some time until they call. Study their website, call their HR dept, Google them, etc. There is a wealth of information out there about them. They are also a very customer service oriented organization and have been extremely receptive to my requests. You may be able to get a ride-along as well.

Practice those interview skills. Are any of your local stations helpful when it comes to interview prep/suggestions? Both Portland and TVFR stations helped me prep....but I live around here.

If you didn't feel you were as prepared for Portland as you wanted to be, now's your chance to nail your TVFR interview if they come calling.

Just my .02 cents worth. Take it for what it's worth....I haven't been hired anywhere yet.

[GoCougs]

Thanks man. Im thinking that I am going to go in on Monday and try and talk to Lt. Jackson to see what my final score was. TVFR told me that I have to wait until december to hear back from them to be in the spring class so I have some time to practce. Didn't you make TVFR list? I thought that you were in the top 100

[Jwarne2001]

Yes, I'm on the TVFR list (#30.) They're in CPAT mode right now. We did an orientation for it a couple weeks ago. In two weeks, they're doing a timed CPAT practice test. Finally, June 22nd is the actual test. To be honest, I'd rather just go now...the anticipation for the CPAT is killing me.

I heard that ALL of the paramedics (49 of them) that made the TVFR hiring list are going to this first CPAT. Not sure how that affects the hiring ratio of medics vs. basics for this first go round. First round of Chief's interviews are supposed to be in July...with academy starting in September.

I'm in waiting mode with Portland for PAT and chief's interview. From what a few people have told me, it may not be until next year before I hear anything there.

Hope it goes well.

[GoCougs]

Thats crazy that you are still waiting for your CPAT for Portland. Best of luck man with the CPAT for TVFR

[Jwarne2001]

Eh....what are you gonna do? If I had placed higher, I wouldn't be waiting. No one to blame but myself.

I'm guessing that they wouldn't want recruits passing a physical test now....and then getting hired 6 - 9 months later. Too much opportunity for us to go soft.

[pro300]

the trainee academy is 2 months long. then members from the FF/EMT list join the trainee class(if there was a trainee group) and the recruit academy is 4 months long. it's a long 6 months if you come through off the trainee list, but it's well worth it. oh yeah, then after the academy is over, you spend about 6 months at station 2, with your time split engine for 3 months and truck for 3 months with tests every other shift and plenty of time out on the drill ground. once again, well worth it.