I just received this e-mail from a training officer friend:
I spent a good part of last week interviewing Medics in the North Bay. I can tell you that there were some very polished candidates that are going to be trying on that shinny badge for the very first time.
As a Medic myself, it is very easy for me to spot a Medic who obtained a Paramedic license as a means to a Firefighter's Badge and on the flip side I can recognize a "box" Medic who is looking for the "Pay days and four days". If your eyes don't sparkle when you are asked why you want to be a Firefighter, you need to question your career path. Yes 70% of what we do is medical, but the other 30% will weed you out. You really should know how many stations and how many engines, population, blah blah blah... Ask any Firefighter how many fires the Department ran last year. We all know. Show your interest in being a Firefighter. Now you're dropping a nugget. Put a note in your script "my face and eyes should light up when I talk about fire".
A good Medic is a dime a dozen, show the panel you will be a great Firefighter/ Paramedic you'll get a badge.
Captain Anderson
I spent a good part of last week interviewing Medics in the North Bay. I can tell you that there were some very polished candidates that are going to be trying on that shinny badge for the very first time.
As a Medic myself, it is very easy for me to spot a Medic who obtained a Paramedic license as a means to a Firefighter's Badge and on the flip side I can recognize a "box" Medic who is looking for the "Pay days and four days". If your eyes don't sparkle when you are asked why you want to be a Firefighter, you need to question your career path. Yes 70% of what we do is medical, but the other 30% will weed you out. You really should know how many stations and how many engines, population, blah blah blah... Ask any Firefighter how many fires the Department ran last year. We all know. Show your interest in being a Firefighter. Now you're dropping a nugget. Put a note in your script "my face and eyes should light up when I talk about fire".
A good Medic is a dime a dozen, show the panel you will be a great Firefighter/ Paramedic you'll get a badge.
Captain Anderson
Comment