Mississauga CPS

[Jurassic]

Who wrote the CPS and what did you think? I have only written 2 previous. One was super easy and I finished in 80 mins and received 90%, and the other didn't have a "communities" section (just more math) and was pretty tough and received 73% which took me the full 2 hours.

This CPS 2129M, I thought was -very- hard. The oral passage had my head spinning! When was the guy gonna stop. I guess my memory sucks cuz I probably blew like 10 questions on that section. The reading comp I even found to be pretty tough. Math was straight forward, mechanical not too bad, but the communites section was harder than I thought. I just thought that there sometimes were 2 right answers. Like what are you supposed to do when you see a FF drinking beer in their car?? First I thought tell someone asap cuz it IS alcohol and could jeopardize safety. But then I thought pull him aside....i just dont know.

Anyways, with 1600 apps and only 10-12 hires this spring and 20 in the fall, i realize getting the badge will only be a dream. I guess i'll be booking those tickets for a flight to vancouver now or start looking for a more attainable career. I've been at this for a few years now.

Hope you all did better than I think I did. Maybe everyone is in the same boat.

peace.

[DoubleHelix]

I'm glad that this test was one of the harder ones because I didn't find it very hard at all. I was finished way too quick and had to sort of screw around at my seat because I didn't want to finish too early. The oral was hard and I dont know how well I did on it but I know I atleast passed it and probaly some more. Everything else I felt was easy except the community one was a bit tough. Thatdrinking one I up put talk right away because if you talk to him privately it said on shift. You'd never let a guy intoxicated get on a shift. Hopefully I got good enough to be considered for an interview but I don't want to get my hopes up. Good luck to whoever wrote it and I guess we'll be talking a little more about it in 3 weeks.

[Smitdy6]

Oral was a bit hard, just too much information to remember all the needed facts. I found the rest of the test not too bad, communities was more of "what are your values" answers. I wrote for Cornwall a couple of months ago and found that test quite a bit harder.

Nonetheless, 1600 applicants for about 50 jobs in two years, Good luck to all!

[Jurassic]

Hey Redrider, yeah i've had an interview with vancouver. I'm almost there. It's just that i've -never- had a problem with a test (especially CPS). My hump is getting by the interview. But this one threw me for a loop. But I know everyone is in the same boat, and i had 90% on the cps used in the joint recruitment so i'm still hoping for 70%+. I can almost guarentee that at least 1000 of the 1600 are out of the contest with this one.

The good news is for 2005 London will be hiring. And i've heard rumours of burlington, hamilton, and maybe oakville as well. Also Cambridge in the spring and kitchener with a new station. Oh yeah and Guelph around 25. It's looking like a good year.

In the meantime, gotta study my ass off for that vancouver NFPA test.

peace

[TomC]

Hey guys (and girls?)..i also wrote for mississauga last saturday, like the rest of us chumps. I just keep reminding myself that they have to hire someone out of that croud. I thought the test was pretty hard compared to the last mississauga test. I had written that test about 5 times by the time mississauga came around and did well. I made it to the second interview stage and, well, didnt get hired...i feel confident with my credentials and o.k with the test (results pending of course) and hope i did well enough to get infront of the interview commitee...one question to the guy who's in the Vancouver process...what is your schooling? Ontario or b.c? did you apply while living here? interested in applying but I think its really hard to get in in Van..anyway..Best of luck to all, keep trying, ive been at it for about three years now....sigh !!!!!! keep posting....Tom

[Jurassic]

TomC, bummer on the 2nd interview with Sauga. But it will make you stronger for the next. Anyway, I did my NFPA in B.C. at JIBC. And yes, i'm applying from out here in ontario this time around. Vancouver is just as hard as any other department out there. In fact, it's a pretty big recruiter (like mississauga) so i actually feel it's more attainable. Their process is strict and standards are high, but this is what I like about it. It is a very military dept. and not as "laid back" as mississauga FD. Also Vancouver's training is 3 weeks as opposed to sauga's 14 weeks! You need to know your stuff! But can you imagine what it is like working in such an awesome city and looking up and seeing mountains while you are in the CITY!?

[OntFire]

Vancouver would be a great department to be hired on but I think it will be very hard to get onto. Even if I get to the interview stage it will be very very difficult to get onto. I applied but am not sure about going out there. Has anybody had an interview there before? How was it? How far did you get? I've also herd it is a pretty hard test even compared to Mississauga.
It would be nice to be working out there in the winter though not this cold cold air. Just alot of wetness.

[Jurassic]

I wrote and interviewed for Vancouver. I ranked 4th on the tests with a 94 and 93 on the nfpa and aptitude respectively. I scored 70 on sauga if that gives you any idea. Although I blew alot on the memory and reading comp since i was used to the "easy" cps and just searched for answers instead of actually reading through. regardless, I don't think Van is any easier or harder than any other departments. They are the only city i've interviewed with and yeah it was behavioural based and pretty tough questions were asked. It's all about preparation. I know it can get costly flying around but depending on how "bad" you want to get hired fast and how bad you want a particular city, you will be willing to do anything.

I think Vancouver has the BEST process of any city. They are extremely professional and timelines etc. everything is very well planned out. You are GUARENTEED an interview if you get over 80% on the tests and your resume is respectable (work experience, education, etc), so I don't know any other city that really works like this. Plus, if you don't pass the interview they allow post-interview critiques which is great for the next time around since that's where i'm at now.

Best of luck! And never give up on your dreams! Don't ever take your eyes of your goal.

[Jurassic]

oh yeah, personally...from the last 2 days here in ontario....RAIN over -30 ANYDAY!!!

[bestcoast]

Actually it was +10 and sunny today..:D As far as the Rain goes...wait 15 minutes and it probably will...;) .....BC..