Setting a plan of how to reach your promotional goals can be a very intimidating process. There is a multitude of information and it can be overwhelming. I encourage promotional candidates to look at their future exam through a different set of glasses, those of the person creating the exam. Become the Test Maker One of my favorite sayings is, Become ...

The term “Assessment Center” often sends promotional candidates into frenzy. It is unfamiliar to many people and as a result their already increased anxiety over the promotional process is heightened. The purpose of this article is to shed some light on the process. No department wants to have quality candidates get lost in the testing process, rather it’s an opportunity for ...

The tactical scene scenario can be one major event, a series of smaller events, or a combination of all of the above. It can be interactive or non-interactive. In an interactive scenario a candidate is given a radio and is expected to give on scene report (size up), assume command, name the location of the command post, request resources, and make ...

The oral presentations are probably the most overlooked part of the promotional exam. This is ironic because studies show that our greatest fear is to speak in front of a group. From the department’s perspective it is important to promote people who can speak in front of a group. The higher the rank, the more public speaking you will be expected ...

Background investigations are an important component of the hiring process. They are completed by most fire departments across the country. Historically, fire departments have not placed as much emphasis on a thorough background check as their counterparts on the police department. A criminal check with the local police agency and a DMV check was the extent of what we used to ...

In this industry you have to have the will and the desire to get the job done, whatever that job may be. You may have to spend hours training with your department in new firefighting techniques and styles. You may have to fight for one more ounce of strength as you battle endless, angry flames during a call. You may have ...

So you want to start a new career in the Fire and Rescue industry, but you don’t know where to begin? How do you choose between becoming a firefighter, E.M.T., paramedic, first responder or a HazMat technician? The roles of a firefighter have changed a lot over the years, and a firefighter’s job is not just to respond to a call ...

At this point you have researched the industry, spoken with a few departments, and narrowed down your career path interests. Now you have to mentally prepare yourself for the job ahead. We all know that life is not mimicked by what you see on television and in the movies. There are very real dangers and horrors that one in fire and ...

My brother is a firefighter. I used to say that a lot. Somebody would ask about my family at a social gathering, and I'd go down the list: my dad's in the travel industry, my youngest siblings are still in high school, and my brother is a firefighter. No big deal, everybody does SOMETHING with their lives, but to me my ...

In a very basic sense, emergency response is a profession of total selflessness. Being a first responder means giving of yourself, without asking anything in return, and this is what EMS professionals all over the world do every day. You never know what you’re going to get at the beginning of a shift. You might respond to a cat-in-a-tree call, ...

Candidates who have served our country in the Armed Forces have a huge advantage over those who have not. It is generally believed that while military veterans may not have as many certificates and fire science units as the other candidates (they were busy serving our country), they offer so much more. [widget:flywheel_links] There is no substitute for life experience. The ...

*Interviews* The fire department interview is a unique challenge that is a component of the hiring process for most fire departments. As a general rule, the interview is usually weighed more than any other portion of the exam. It is not uncommon to have each of the other phases of the exam weighted "pass or fail," while the interview is weighted ...

Every new recruit looks forward to their first day of training with eager anticipation. I know that for me, there were hundreds of images flying through my head. Big trucks, flashing lights, sharp axes - this was going to be way too cool for words. All the other recruits in my class were equally pumped-up, and when we sat down in ...

The history of organized firefighting dates back at least to Ancient Egypt, where hand-operated pumps may have been employed to extinguish fires. The first Roman fire brigade was a group of slaves who were hired by an aedile Marcus Egnatius Rufus. Augustus took this idea from Rufus and then built on it to form the (Vigiles) in AD 6 to combat ...

Fire departments have the luxury of choosing any candidate they feel would best represent their organization. To an outsider, if your friends are of questionable character, then so are you. You have heard the old saying, “Birds of a feather flock together.” If your friends are getting into trouble, then, potentially, so are you. Even if you are not a party ...

One of the important aspects of being a firefighter is community involvement. This comes in many forms. To some it may be as a little league or soccer coach, while others are involved in the boys and girls club. Some may be active at church. Whatever you choose to do, it is important to be active in the community. Many candidates ...

Rappelling 50 to 200 feet from a helicopter into remote, rugged country near a roaring wildfire might sound like part of the plot for a Sylvester Stallone action flick. But it’s all in a day’s work now for the Santa Fe National Forest helitack crew. Helitack stands for "helicopter-delivered fire resources,"and is the system of managing and utilizing choppers and their ...

People of all ages are choosing to further their education by obtaining bachelors and even masters' and doctoral degrees. Many people choose to go back to school to open new doors and get ahead in their job, as well as the rest of their lives! Firefighter Scholarships Want to go back to school to earn a degree? Find millions in scholarships. ...

We here at FireLink are constantly being asked questions such as: "how do I become a firefighter?", "what is expected of me physically?", and "do I need a college degree?" There is no one better equipped to answer these questions than firefighters themselves, so we have compiled a list of responses found in our Forums. So, here's a quick guide to ...

_Q: I am a student in high school and I want to be a fireman. What do I have to do?_ A: First decide if you want to be volunteer or paid. If you live in an area with a volunteer department start there. See if they have a juniors dept. or explorers post. As far as education, you will ...