Why choose firefighting

There are a variety of issues that a candidate might name when answering this question, and there is no single right answer. Any well-thought-out response shows an interest in the field and an understanding of the challenges that firefighters face. That means we have to do more with less, which could impact the service that we provide. I think it is important to be active in the political process so lawmakers have the information they need to make decisions about how to fund fire services. Every industry is being impacted by the political landscape, the economy and advances in technology.

Those who plan a long-term career as a firefighter must be prepared to adapt. This might be an opportunity to find new and safer ways to fight fires. In the field, following orders can mean the difference between life and death. However, situations can crop up from time to time where following orders is not necessarily appropriate. Specifically, this question looks at whether candidates will speak up against illegal or unethical practices.

Understanding the reasoning behind firefighting protocols is a critical part of making wise decisions in an emergency. Firefighters who know the purpose behind their procedures may be less likely to skip or forget steps. This question gives interviewers insight into a firefighter's knowledge of situational risks.

It also helps interviewers identify candidates who are invested in all parts of fighting a fire, not just the initial response and rescue. Identifying areas where the fire could reignite is one of the top priorities of a secondary search, as falling embers could easily cause a spark after the primary search. During a secondary search, you can also apply information from witness interviews to account for all possible victims, while a primary search requires you to respond to the emergency without having a complete perspective.

Please note that we are not your career or legal advisor, and none of the information provided herein guarantees a job offer. Post a job. Find resumes. Help Center. Find Jobs. Post a Job. No-hassle virtual interviewing free on Indeed There's no software to download or meeting links for you to manage. Here's how it works. Step 1. Step 2. Step 3. Find jobs. Although firefighters do work long, hard and demanding shifts, the good thing about being a firefighter is that you can decide when you want to work.

This is great for people that don't like to work conventional routines. If working in a nine-to-five job isn't for you and doesn't inspire you, then you have the option of choosing a career which offers you a different work shift pattern. There are different work shift patterns that you can choose from when you are a firefighter. You can even mix it up if you want to.

In other words, if you want to, you can work sometimes during the day and sometimes during the night. This situation is not for everyone, so perhaps you will want to work one or the other. Either working through the day or working at night. The great thing about being a firefighter is, is that it gives you the opportunity to work during the night if you want to. Not many careers give you the option of working through the night, or in the evening, but the fire service does give you that opportunity.

One of the positive benefits of being in the fire service is the choice of when you can work. Working hours are one great incentive to joining the fire service, another great incentive is in the salary and benefits that you will receive being part of the fire service. You will have a great salary and many benefits.

This is an excellent salary, which pays a lot more than most jobs. The other incentive to joining the fire service is the benefits that you will receive while being in the fire service. Many firefighters receive health insurance. When you are putting your life on the line with the job you do, health insurance is important. You will be fully covered health wise, which will give you peace of mind.

Being in the fire service gives you job security and retirement security. The fire service is always in demand. And therefore, there is always a need for firefighters. Which means that layoffs in the fire service are minimal. If you are looking for job security and don't want to worry about being laid off, then a career in the fire service could be the job for you. Not only does it give you security throughout your working years, the fire service also provides security for when you reach retirement age.

The fire service gives you a competitive pension plan, which will help you for when you choose to retire. And, you get to retire younger while in the fire service. In order for the team to function optimally each member must also trust everyone on their crew as well. Firefighter's rely on each other in every. Integrity and trust within the crew is essential. You must be able to trust your fellow firefighter; trust them to know their job, trust them to have your back, trust them to keep your secrets, trust them with your safety and even your life.

A person who lacks integrity can never be truly trusted in all of these ways within the firehouse or on the fire ground and can be detrimental to the safety and cohesiveness of his crew. The fire department's primary recruitment concern is that we are hiring people with the utmost integrity.

People who will always represent themselves, their department and their profession well. As a firefighter and candidate, you need to understand that you represent your department and your profession both on duty and off and are held to the highest standard of conduct and public opinion at all times. Many of the most crucial aspects of the job require firefighters to have above-average strength and agility. Many job functions simply cannot be performed without maintaining a high fitness level.

Health and fitness is an essential part of our job and it must become an essential part of your lifestyle if you are to become a firefighter. I had a fire academy Instructor drill it in to our academy class that, "Physical fitness is the most essential trait of a firefighter.

One could fill several books discussing the importance of communication in the fire service. Communication is essential in any successful relationship. As a firefighter you will have many different types of relationships with different types of people.

Clear, intelligent, courteous and open communication is essential within the firehouse, on the fire ground and when interacting with the public.

You will need to know how to be an active listener, just like they teach in couple's therapy and live with, work with and get along with a multitude of personality types. You will need to know how to handle irate citizens, use radios to relay essential information to your crew, incident command or others, calm frightened patients and victims, console distraught family members and even co-workers, relay essential patient information to paramedics, nurses and doctors, instruct children in the area of fire safety, educate adults in fire prevention and CPR, explain and enforce fire codes to business owners, enlighten residents as to what their tax dollars are paying for, and do all of this with the utmost tact, patience, intelligence, professionalism and courtesy.

Some people are better communicators then others, but it is a skill that can be improved and must be improved if you want to not only land a job excel in an interview , but be a successful, well functioning firefighter as well. In today's world and today's fire service, communication and the way we communicate is rapidly changing. Communication is not just verbal. Writing communication is also equally important.

We are communicating via e-mail more and more and using computers to communicate in new and different ways every day. Whether it is report writing, or communicating via e-mail, or other high-tech avenues having professional written communication skills will also be very important and essential to the job. These are actually two separate traits. Like many of the other traits, these also apply to both the fireground and the firehouse. One who is flexible can sleep anywhere, eat anything, do any job under any circumstance, function as a part of any team or group and thrive in any group dynamic, has few, if any, pet peeve's and does not burden those around them with his or her wants or specific needs.

Those who are not flexible are instead rigid or high-maintenance. They have specific needs, many pet peeves and are particular about certain things. As firefighters these individuals not only have a hard time themselves, but they can make it difficult for everyone else around them. Firefighters need to make many sacrifices and compromises and have the willingness and ability to live and work very dynamically.

Adaptability is defined as finding a way to change with their environment and overcome various situations, whether they are living situations or stressful fireground situations. Things are constantly changing for firefighters, from the environment we work in, to those we work side by side with, to the job itself.

You must be able to easily adapt to new people, new settings, changing job descriptions and the changing conditions under which you perform those jobs. When one road is blocked you must be able to quickly find the detours and navigate yourself and your crew creatively through any obstacle to accomplish the tasks and goal at hand.

This includes the ability to work under stress and perform your job duties under a variety of time urgent, life-threatening and otherwise high-stress situations. The ability to maintain a clear presence of mind under stress is of utmost importance and an essential part of being considered adaptable". Dedication to the job is a vague and generic term that encompasses many traits and often goes by other names. Regardless of what you call it, it is essential that firefighters are hard-working, hard-training people who take pride in their work and want to be the best at what they do.

Firefighters should never settle for mediocrity within themselves. They must strive for excellence at all times no matter how menial the task may be. They must be dedicated to the job and all that it entails, the glamorous and not so glamorous, the fun and exciting and the boring and monotonous.

There will naturally be aspects of the job that some are more drawn to than others, but a general passion for the work, a solid work ethic and the drive to always be learning and bettering yourself are essential. It is too easy to get comfortable and complacent, fall behind the curve and not learn new things or grow as a firefighter.

In a field that requires such a vast knowledge and skills base and is constantly changing it is crucial to be pro-active in your education and training and always be looking to learn and improve yourself in job-related ways. Firefighters that aren't dedicated to the job, or who lack passion or work ethic quickly fall behind and can become a hazard to themselves and their crew, and stop contributing to the organization. Firefighters are a part of team. Being a team player and understanding the team concept is of utmost importance.

This means that others are always relying on you to do your job and do it efficiently. When one person does not, the whole team suffers and the team's safety can become jeopardized. The goal will also not be accomplished in the most effective way unless the entire team is working together. Just like on a sports team, when one person fails to perform their job the whole team begins to break down.