By Dave Murphy
Where observation is concerned, chance favors only the prepared mind. – Louis Pasteur, 1822-1895
A clean-cut, well-dressed young man enters the room and sits down at the conference table as directed. As he scans the room, he notices several solemn looking individuals, most of whom are wearing gold badges. He desperately wants to become a career firefighter. It has been a long road; he has done all that was asked of him by the fire department. Finally, he is at the table where the final decision will be made. Will he be one of the applicants chosen among the many who are seeking the limited number of positions? The interview begins with the standard questions. At one point in the interview, a seasoned fire officer looked across the table and inquired: “Where do you see yourself in twenty years”. In a clear and confident voice, the potential firefighter looked straight into the officer’s eyes and answered: “From day one, my goal will be to become chief of this department”. “That is a certainly a lofty goal” replied the interviewer. “How do you propose to do this?” The applicant followed up with a brief, well thought out plan of how this would be achieved. Obviously impressed by his forethought and subsequent answers and actions, this disserving young man became a career firefighter that day.
Now it’s your turn. Your resume is complete and up-to-date; months of preparation and persistence have paid off. You have passed the written portion of the test, survived the physical agility test, and cleared all background checks. Finally, you have been granted an interview. Your foot is in the door, where you will be judged along with many others qualified to do the job. This is your chance to distinguish yourself (or not) from many others that are vying for the same position. How should you prepare for the interview? Begin your preparation by thinking like those who will be judging you. A common misconception is that the interview is all about you. In reality, the emphasis should be on your potential employer. Hiring fire service personnel is an arduous process, and represents a substantial investment of time and money. The fire service is continually seeking long-term employees who will contribute to the mission of the fire department and the community they serve. They want to know what you can do for them. Are you a part of the solution, or will you be a part of the problem? The next few tips hopefully will provide some insight to help you in your quest.
Learn facts about the department of which you aspire to become part. The formation and history of the department often provides interesting information and an instant source of conversation among those already employed there. Items that have a direct bearing on intelligent interview answers include the number of members, run volume, and present equipment regarding daily departmental operations. Other related items might include city-wide water consumption as well as population demographics which indicate the diversity of the protection boundaries. Interview answers should always reflect in a positive manner with an eye to the future. Informed interviewees will be able to answer departmental related questions intelligently if adequately prepared.
Anticipate general and information seeking questions that you may be asked. Be prepared for the “tell us a little about yourself” question. Develop a lifelong outline that details your life and then practice a three to five minute oral biographical overview of yourself. Try to demonstrate a forward momentum of personal improvement and loyalty whenever you can. When asked why you want to be a firefighter, tell the truth. Interviewers have heard it all; they are looking for sincerity in the individual and they can usually spot the “canned” answers.
Know where you are going for the interview. If necessary, drive to the location the night before, find out where to park, what traffic can be anticipated, etc. Arrive early and well rested. Announce your arrival at least 10 minutes (or as soon as possible) upon arrival. A preceding interview may run longer that the allotted time. Do not get upset if this happens. It is acceptable for them to run over; however, it is not acceptable for you to be late.
If possible, talk to others that have gone before you. Ask about tips to overcome expected nervousness. What other advice can they offer you? What types of questions are asked? How long will the interview last? What would they do different if given the chance to re-interview? Remember, if you are talking to a member of the fire department, they have been through the process. Most of them are more than willing to help you along.
Dress for success. Gentlemen, get a haircut and sport a fresh shave, remove the ear rings and any other items that may distract the interviewer. Ladies, do not be too flashy in your attire. Neither should use cologne, as it can be distracting. Hiring personnel is a serious business affair for the fire department; your dress should reflect a serious business attitude.
Mind your manners. Do not sit until directed where and when to do so. Address all whom you meet as Sir or Madam; you never know who you are addressing. Especially important is your initial interaction with the department receptionist or secretary, they have unofficially nixed many potential candidates due to the disrespectful actions directed toward them by applicants.
Remember – you only get one chance to make a first impression. You have prepared for the other elements of the hiring process. Your focus should now be upon the interview. Do your homework; be ready for the questions that will be asked of you. Know where you are going. Talk to others that have been through the process. Look sharp, go dressed ready to conduct business. Mind your manners; they are always noticed. Advance preparation will boost your confidence. When your confidence goes up, your competence level rises as well. And finally, when your preparation and hard work results in landing your dream job, don’t forget those that come behind you.
Dave Murphy retired as Assistant Chief of the Richmond (KY) fire department. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Fire and Safety Engineering Technology program at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist and a principal member on NFPA committee 610 – Safety at Motorsports Venues. He also serves as the Health & Safety Officer with the Harrisburg (NC) Fire Department.
