The How To's of Becoming a Firefighter
Fire Departments like every other part of the country have been challenged with budget cuts and financial restraints. This is the time to prepare yourself become a firefighter and reach your goals. Like any profession, you should be educated and ready. Many fire departments have not been hiring for the past few years. This is a clue to the future. At some point the current members will retire and the departments will be left with staffing issues.
Take a brief look through the local Sunday news paper to see if any current hiring ads are in the government job section. Looking in a news paper however, will not get you a coveted job in the fire service. Understand that with each year, the firefighter job becomes more prized and sought after. If you are starting now, recognize that you are in am uphill battle.
Start by educating yourself about the job. There are countless resources on the internet and book stores. Many claim to have the secret and some special offer to get you ahead of the competition. Start with where you live. A simple trip down to the local fire station will do wonders for understanding the basics. Ask plenty of questions and take notes. I t will lead to more questions and that's good. Ask about the schedule, working conditions, requirements and so on.
There are different types of fire departments across the country. Some are large metropolitan departments. Others are small cities with local political influence. Some are rural areas and focus on Wildland fires. These are just a few examples. The more you know about the vocation, the easier the hiring process will be.
Take a course. You need to start moving in the direction of the fire service. Some courses can be found at the local community college. Other courses are found at vocational schools. This is a critical step. By surrounding your self with people who have the same goals, you will be inspired and learn exponentially. If you listen to people tell their story, you will find a lot of different route to the same goal. Some choose to get all the required classes completed. Some choose to get experience by volunteering or becoming an apprentice. Neither direction is better. It will come down to you. Who you are and how you present yourself.
Be patient. Many people have been "testing" for years. This is a vocation that is similar to professional sports. The more you practice, the better you do. Now is the time to start you path to a new career. If you wait until the economy turns around and departments are hiring in droves, it will be too late. You the time you have now to educate, practice, improve and build experience.
