Frustrated/Heartbroken

[FireCowboy1]

So just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I just got another rejection letter this morning. This was a non-traditional process meaning no written, physical, etc. There were just strictly interviews. There were just 12 applicants including mine for four jobs. This just three weeks after I applied and got denied from a dept who was giving you two years to obtain FF I/II and Medical First Responder, both of which I already have. I'm not asking for sympathy, but I honestly don't know what I'm doing wrong. I will be the first to improve myself and own up to my mistakes, but I feel I'm not being given a fair shot. I've been testing in the Middle Tennessee area (principally Nashville and suburban Nashville) and have been told by around two dozen fire service people its a 'good 'ol boys' system. Can anyone confirm or deny that through prior experience? I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Fire Protection from Oklahoma State Univ and have experience as a paid part-time firefighter/emt for one department and a paid part-time inspector/investigator/public educator for another. Aside from my first job (private sector) out of school, all my reference checks will turn up positive. I feel I have a lot to give to a department, but like so many on this board are asking, 'what am i doing wrong?' I would like to add, I'm not going to go to Medic school, its just not for me and I am willing to look outside of N'ville, but not too far.

Z

[fire49]

well with no emt, you do limit your choices of where you can get hired

maybe take your degree and do something else in the fire service field???

[johnsonizzle]

Did you tell your prospective departments that you're not interested in EMS? That may be killing you right there if they're a combo system. EMS is a large portion of the call volume around here and its still trending upwards. If they're a combo system and you told them EMS isn't for you, then they're likely gonna pass you up on that fact alone.

[ffmedicintheCLE]

Well not having your Paramedic hurts but if a dept didn't hire you and not require it...it sounds like its in your interview. I'd be willing to guess sometime soon one of the "interview gurus" will comment. But I'm with you man. Have experience, certs, and everything but nothing to show. I took Nashville's test and I heard it is a good ol boys system. Especially since people got hired with no experience except filling out the application. Hell I'd bet a few of them couldn't tell you what is on a fire truck. Keep plugging away man cause like others have said to me, so therefore I'll pass it on, if you quit the process, that means someone else got your spot.

[Hewartson47]

Did you tell your prospective departments that you're not interested in EMS? That may be killing you right there if they're a combo system. EMS is a large portion of the call volume around here and its still trending upwards. If they're a combo system and you told them EMS isn't for you, then they're likely gonna pass you up on that fact alone.

He just said he wasn't going to get Paramedic training, not that he wasn't interested in EMS.

[Hewartson47]

well with no emt, you do limit your choices of where you can get hired

maybe take your degree and do something else in the fire service field???

Could be wrong, but it sounds like he is an EMT...it's the job he applied for that only required MFR.

[FireCowboy1]

I am an EMT. I enjoy EMS, but not going to be a Medic. Most departments in TN require a TN Medical First Responder and some EMT-IV

[fire49]

Corrected

Then only two solutions keep on applying

Try to assess where in the process you can improve

Are you stuck just testing in a certain area or are you willing to move for a job????

[johnsonizzle]

I am an EMT. I enjoy EMS, but not going to be a Medic. Most departments in TN require a TN Medical First Responder and some EMT-IV

Gotcha. Just curious, what about being a medic "isn't for you"? I'm just wrapping up Paramedic school (5 days left. Woo woo!) and I love it so much more than performing BLS. I find the types of calls are more interesting. Is it the invasive stuff, the extra responsibility, or the schooling? Again, just curious about other's perspectives. Good luck to you!

[FireCowboy1]

Corrected

Then only two solutions keep on applying

Try to assess where in the process you can improve

Are you stuck just testing in a certain area or are you willing to move for a job????

Well I'm pretty set on the Nashville or Chattanooga area even if it means being a volunteer at a decent volunteer department with solid training.

[FireCowboy1]

Gotcha. Just curious, what about being a medic "isn't for you"? I'm just wrapping up Paramedic school (5 days left. Woo woo!) and I love it so much more than performing BLS. I find the types of calls are more interesting. Is it the invasive stuff, the extra responsibility, or the schooling? Again, just curious about other's perspectives. Good luck to you!

The invasive stuff and the extra responsibility bother me.

[FFighterRob]

No matter how many classes and cert.s you have, the only way to get hired with most departments is by passing the oral interview. Most have it as a component, but it is usually pass/fail. It sounds like one you tested for is 100% oral. You have to make a job out of getting the job.

Seeing the things you have listed makes me think you are either leaving some stuff out or giving way too much in you interviews. It sounds like you have enough stuff to get a couple of guys hired.

Do mock interviews, get some feedback from people that know and adjust you presentation accordingly. I have worked with people that have been testing for over 5 years that have their medic, years of experience and it doesn’t make any difference. If you can’t do well in the interview, you don’t get the chance to show them what you could do for them.

I will bet you money that in those tests you failed; someone got a job and is working there right now that wasn’t as qualified as you are. They just took the test better. That is a tough pill to swallow, but it can be fixed. There are very few people working as firefighters that didn’t go through what you are going through right now. You can fix this.

[dfwfirefighter]

I would like to add, I'm not going to go to Medic school, its just not for me and I am willing to look outside of N'ville, but not too far.

"That" may be part of your struggle. If you limit yourself to a small geographical area, you are stacking the deck against yourself. The bottom line is "how bad do you want a firefighter job?".

One of the biggest, if not THE biggest, factors when applying for a firefighter job is the volume of folks applying for those jobs. Couple the economy with the fact that ALOT of educated and trained folks are hungry and looking for work and the end result is a very competitive selection process.

Additionally, if you'd told the interview panel that being a paramedic is "not for you", then you've added to that deck already stacked against you.

[Wolverine3982]

I think Capt. Rob hit the nail on the head with the interview stuff. I even like the way he said it. Youre either leaving some stuff out or giving them too much.

Try to do some mock interviews with friends and family that somewhat understand the oral board process. Visit stations (bring snacks) and ask for advice from the firefighters themselves. If a potential canidate had the huevos to show up to the station and ask for help, id offer all the help that i could.

On the flipside, remember what position you are applying for. Firefighter-Recruit. The department will train you to be a firefighter. In most cases, they are looking to hire a roommate. What im trying to say is that while degrees and certs look and sound nice, it is you as a person, friend and coworker that they are trying to get to know.

[FireCowboy1]

Thank you

Thank you guys and gals for the words of advice. I was able to talk with some fire personnel down in Middle Tennessee this weekend. The advice I was given was nothing new but things clicked with me. I was told become a medic or shake hands and kiss butt. I have gathered a plan of attack. 1) Proceed with my ACL surgery. 2) I am close to being offered a job in private industry with a fire protection firm located in Nashville. This will enable me a bit more financial security, benefits, and I will be occasionally consulting with fire departments which may open some doors for me. 3) Contacted some reputable volunteer departments in the area about membership b/c I want to be involved in the fire service and improve as a firefighter with less than one year of paid experience. And yes, I will be doing mock interviews before any interview in the future b/c this is a weak spot.