Boot Camp 08

[bigjohn]

Does anyone know when bootcamp is starting this year? I was just wondering when I'd have to have my OFA 3 finished by.

[cdnbacon]

It just says on the website that the invites to Boot Camp will be around the March and job offers will through May. So I'm assuming the Boot Camps will be head throughout April and maybe into the begining of May depending on how many job openings there are.

[Birdo]

They might want all that finished up by the time the applications are due the end of January. Not every applicant goes to boot camp. They will shortlist for boot camp based on the applications. If there is a contact number on the website I would give them a call and see what they say. I haven't looked at to site to see what they give you but if you need a number I can give you the number for the guy responsible for hiring in the Prince George Fire Centre if that helps.

[bigjohn]

It says on the website that any first aid course such as OFA 3 has to be finished before the first day of bootcamp. The course Im looking at runs from March 17-26. It seems like bootcamp usually starts in April so this should be okay, I just want to make sure before I pay for the course that this wont be a problem.

[firemonkey]

Get your OFA 3 done. Even if you don't get an invite to boot camp and a job offer, OFA 3 will help get you in the door next year. Maybe it will help with other things.

[firemonkey]

Also, There is usully more than one boot camp. At the end of your interveiw they may ask you which boot camps you are avalible for.

[Birdo]

Boot camps are usually end of April into the middle of May. There are usually three of them. If they give you a choice of which you would like to go to always ask for the earliest one you can. You might get more choice in destination and you will start making money earlier.

[JMEDEIROS]

I went through the process last year and there were 3 bootcamps. I went to the third one and it started the first week of May.

Couple words of wisdom for you guys:

Go to the first bootcamp if you can, some bases will start to make phone calls after the first class has gone through.

At bootcamp the key is to fit in and get along with everyone, attitude is everything. The better shape you're in the more enjoyable bootcamp will be for you. Don't bring boots that haven't been broken in, myself along with quite a few others made that dumb mistake. We all made it through though and I'd do it again in a second. Very very fun week.

If any of you have any questions feel free to ask, the whole recruitment process is still fresh in my mind and I'd love to help anyone get through it. The job itself is worth every effort you make getting it.

[jedi]

hey JMEDEIROS,

can you remember some of the questions they ask you at boot camp?

what qualifications did you have when you applied?

was there anything in particular you think they wanted to hear during the interview?

thanks in advance

[Birdo]

Qualifications really don't mean much to us except to tell us that you aren't a retard and maybe have a little bit for life skills. Like I said before chainsaw experience and Level 3 first aid are what we look for first. Most of the interview questions are common sense and/or the type of stuff you can't really study for. I don't know if the rookie interview is the same, but a lot of the job interviews in the ministry these days are going more to behavioral based questions. Things like: Give me an example of... a time that you had an argument with a coworker and how did you deal with it; or, had to work in a stressful situation; or, had to work in a team.. etc. etc. They are they type of questions where you have to point out your personal strengths and sell yourself.

I happen to work with one of the hiring guys so I will ask him what the questions are like this year.

Oh and the most important thing that you need to know is... SAFETY! That word should appear at least once in pretty much any answer.

[cdnbacon]

I got some inside info yesterday at a luncheon, for those who know him Bob Pfannenschmidt finally retired.

Our training guy told us to tell people to study the Protection Branches websie www.bcwildfire.ca (http://www.bcwildfire.ca) because there will be some questions where you can find the answers there, the other half will be bevahioral based questions.

Also find out that interviews will be starting pretty quick, as early as Feb. 14th and there's a good chance there won't be 3 boot camps, they're not expecting that much of a turn over this year.

And make sure you're in shape for the fitness test at boot camp, last year they had a surprising number of people fail.

[Birdo]

I believe that this year everyone has to pass the fit test before they get an interview.

[cdnbacon]

I believe that this year everyone has to pass the fit test before they get an interview.

They're going to use the Beep Test to get an idea of the applicants fitness, there's no pass or fail until the boot camp.

If you get to level 10 on the beep test than you'll have no problems, but if you get level 2 than obviously you need to work on your fitness.