How To Become A Firefighter
Few jobs are more rewarding than being a firefighter. No other jobs allows you to save lives on a regular basis in the same way that a firefighter does. However, competition for these jobs is quite stiff. Becoming a firefighter is no easy task. Only those who are motivated are able to succeed. In this article, we’ll outline basic steps necessary to become a firefighter.
First of all though, what is a firefighter? In the past, most firefighters simply fought fires. However, firefighters today do a variety of different tasks. Firefighters provide medical support, emergency response, and public education. As a result, firefighters have to be skilled in a variety of areas. Gone are the days where you could simply walk into a fire department and get a job. Today, firefighters need to bring a variety of skills to the table in order to get a job.
Today, there are many different types of firefighters. They’re the normal urban firefighters, but there are also firefighters who specialize in fighting wildfires, industrial fires, and other specialized areas. If you think you have some to offer in one of these areas, consider looking beyond your community fire department when looking for a job. There are many exciting options out there.
Before attempting to become a firefighter, be sure that this something that you really want to do. Many people think they want to be firefighters, but aren’t up to the job. You will be going up against a group of very very passionate individuals. If you do not share this passion, you will stand little chance of getting a job in the field of firefighting. So before you start looking for a job, be sure that firefighting is what you really want to do. A good way to see if this what you want to do is to go interview a working firefighter. They can explain to you what the job is like and give some tips on how you get into it yourself.
Job Requirements and Training
So, what are the basic requirements to be a firefighter? On paper, they are quite simple. However, in the real world you have to have a variety of qualifications to get a firefighting job. For one, you need to have a high school degree or equivalent. You need to be very physically fit, since you will be required to pass a physical examination. Firefighters need to be strong and able to function in a lot of different situations. Being physically fit is extremely important for this and will be considered as part of your test. To give you some idea, this test will have you performing similar physical feats as real firefighters do in the line of duty. You’ll be wearing full gear, and be expected to perform tasks requiring great physical strength under pressure. As you can imagine, excelling at these tasks is extremely important to actually being a firefighter. The stronger and better you can be the better chance you have of getting the job.
Additionally, you will need to have some emergency response training. The more the more of this training the better. Many successful firefighters have EMT certifications. The EMT certification takes a lot of work, but is worth it if you are serious about becoming a firefighter. In addition to getting the certification, try to get as much real-world experience working as an EMT. This, along with volunteer firefighting experience, can help you find a paying job at a fire department. Also, having experience speaking a second language can be very helpful in finding a job. This is especially true in communities where several languages are spoken. Essentially, you want to be a very broad-based candidate.
If you want to take things even further, consider getting a degree in Fire Science. If you want to advance beyond the position of basic firefighter, this qualification can be very helpful. If you want to stand out from the crowd, this can be a good qualification to get.
Every single fire department has different requirements for applicants. Be sure to check with your specific fire department and see what they require. There will likely be a written test, an oral interview, psychological examination of some sort, and of course, the physical exam. Being prepared for each of these will maximize your chances of success in landing a firefighting job. It is worth practicing each of these is much you can ahead of time in order to ensure success during the interview process.
Getting The Job
So, you have some idea of how you can become qualified for a firefighting job. However, how in the world do you go about actually finding these jobs? Of course you could just go down to your local fire department and see if they have any openings, but in order to broaden your nets, it is worthwhile to apply to jobs in other cities. Some of these may be listed in newspaper classifieds, but this is not always common. Be sure to check things like trade magazine classified sections, old friends you know from firefighting classes, and websites with job listings. All of these can have firefighting jobs available for you.
In short, becoming a firefighter is about making yourself stand out, and being very persistent at the job hunt. Many firefighters have to try many times before getting a job. If at first you do not succeed, keep trying. In the meantime, consider building up your qualifications by continuing to work out, getting volunteer and medical experience, and any other of the qualifications we’ve talked about here. The broader you are, and the more experience you have in various fields, the better your chances of getting a job are. More than anything though, need to let your passion and work ethic shine through. If you can do this, you too can be a firefighter, one of the last great American heroes.