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When is it good to get on a Paid Department
Hey everyone i was wondering when i should try to join a paid department? i was wondering after i get my EMT degree or before? I am lvl 1 certified was going to get lvl 2 but had to move and had to leave the VFD. though i am still in need to take the nimes courses but they are not to hard. though i am, just not sure when i should try to join? if anyone could help it would be grateful.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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First of all, you get hired for a paid dept, you don't join. This means there will be competition for the job and you need to stand out. Such job processes for a paid dept are long and drawn out and can take months to a year, just to make a hiring list and can be longer before getting hired. There are written testing, physical agility testing, interviews, just to make the list, and from there can go further with backgrounds, physical, psych testing, etc.
So, if serious about getting hired, look to stand out, get hot with certs, but also look at how any job can help you with the FF. For instance someone working in sales can garner good communication skills. Since such job processes are lentgthy, there are still depts out there which don't require any certs and ask for one to be 18, HS, drivers license. Look around to who is testing and apply where you can and get experience. Keep working on certs, but if wanting a better chance, look at getting paramedic certified as well, look into getting a degree if you can, but you don't have to wait to get a cert first. If a dept asks for certs, then you would need them, otherwise look at how you can stand out.
I would also look into subscribing to a FF job site like www.firerecruit.com which shows who is hiring and what they require.
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Permalink Reply by Jeffery Simanton on
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Thanks. i had an idea on how long it would take and, i just wasn't sure which way would be better. Though does a cert. give me a better chance if they are requiring one?
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If they are requiring a cert, then that is a minimum qualification, not having it means you don't test. Other certs not being asked for do help in the decision making, such as paramedic, driver/operator, fire officer, etc. Aside from fire stuff, volunteer works can stand out, and I'm not talking volly FD.
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