Credentials?

[nifter53]

Hello all,

I’ve been applying for just one year now to fire dept’s in Southern Ontario and so far have had little, actually no success. I’ve applied to Barrie, Georgina, Peterborough, Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo, Guelph and Mississauga, and still no offers for an interview.

My question is…

What qualifications/credentials do those of you that have gotten interviews possess?

I would like to continue to improve my resume and need a bit of guidance to get to the point where I can at least get an interview.


Thanks for all your input,

nifter
:)

[DoubleHelix]

I havent received an interview yet but talk to me in 3 weeks or so and hopefully that will be different. If you don't have Pre-Service, NFPA or have done the Fire marshalls cirriculum through a volunteer department then really your chance is slim nowadays. Just get the big one and then add all the little ones from there. Like medical stuff, DZ, Rope rescue, confined space, water/ice, auto extrication, volunteer work. How have you done on the tests youve written?

[JohnS]

I have had some interviews without the pre-service course.

[DoubleHelix]

I know man, but said nowadays. A couple years ago is alot different than nowadays especially since its becoming a requirement.

[firecadet911]

Hey guys,

It might be worth-while to check out the forum titled "waiting list..." in this folder (sorry, don't know how to post the link to the forum). There's a couple points made by some people concerning the importance of credentials and the importance of activities not related directly to the field of firefighting.

[nifter53]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I find it hard to find good info with so much competition going on, so it's nice to get the help. :)

I currently possess an OFM Pre-Service certificate along with several other fire service related courses. Up until a few months ago, I was very confident with my resume. However, now my fear is, "If I'm not getting interviews with my current resume, will I ever?" I know that sounds grim, but I'm really wondering what kinds of people/backgrounds/experience have been successful at scoring interviews.

I suppose it would help if I listed my current credentials…

-Education
Pre-Service Firefighter
University Degree (B.A)
B.s.c Nursing (did not finish)

-Work Experience
Medical Attendant (current)
Wildland Firefighter (6 Yrs)
Beaver Lumber (Sales Rep)
Camp Counselor

-Certificates
Standard First Aid/Basic “C” CPR
Class DZ Drivers License
Ministry of Natural Resources Chainsaw Certified
Canadian National Lifeguard
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Restricted Radio Operators License
S100 Wildland Firefighter Crewmember
S200 Wildland Firefighter Crew boss
S300 Wildland Firefighter Incident Commander
Confined Space Rescue, Awareness (NFPA)
Ice Rescue, Awareness (NFPA)
Emergency Patient Care, (OFM Certified)
Hazardous Materials, Awareness (OFM Certified)
Terrorism, Awareness (OFM Certified)
Auto-Extrication (OFM Certified)
Pumper Operations (OFM Based)
FlashOver Training (Markham Fire Dept)


My test scores have been in the high 70’s (Peterborough) to mid 80’s and I have a fair amount of volunteer work.

It’s beginning to feel like I need to become a doctor or have a PhD before they will give me an interview. ½ a year ago I thought I would be so close by now, but still nothing…

thanks again for the advice,
nifter:)

[DoubleHelix]

start getting all your awareness stuff upgraded to like technician or operations. I've heard some departments don't give you any points for an awareness courses.

[Jurassic]

Nifter, I share your pain. Simply put, there are tonnes of good qualified people competing for very VERY few positions. The thing is, like you and I and alot of others, we are determined to get that badge. So as time goes on, we do whatever it takes. Depending on your circumstances and age, only you can decide if you will realistically achieve this goal. Like you, I thought i had it nailed a year ago...not so. But I haven't entered many competitions so I can't say forsure whether I would make it to an interview or not. All I know is that it is now harder than ever to achieve this goal. It makes my stomach almost sick knowing just how lucky some people were and did practically nothing and are wearing the uniform today. Those times have indeed changed. Regardless, here are my credentials summed:
29 years old
NFPA 1001 (ifsac)
HazMat Awareness & Ops (ifsac)
whmis
pumps&pumping
shipboard FFing
THARR awareness
auto-ex level 1
EDO
ICS100
1st responder w/ aed,spinal
standard first aid
cpr C
basic military training QL2
CZ license w/experience and clean record
2nd language
strong computer skills

BA degree
ambulance attendant
9 months firefighter work experience (over 100 calls)
3 years experience for large transportation company
St John Ambulance and lots of other volunteer

Maybe i could use a few more courses but rarely do i think that's what it's about. How about your volunteer work which you haven't stated? If you have it, then you are like me and a thousand others that are competitive.

Don't forget, Mississauga called 80-90 people for only 10 positions and those candidates have 82% or higher on the cps. Therefore, i'm sure LOTS have great qualifications. This means that 10 will go home happy, and 70-80 not so happy - THIS is what frustrates me the most.

I'm gonna give it another 6 months to a year. If nothing gives then it's time to move forward with something a little more realistic in attaining...anything in the health care sector will be gold.

Best of luck. Let's keep this thread going.

[colin911]

Even with all of those credentials, and you ace the interview, make absolutely sure you can pass the York physical.
Don't laugh, in Brampton's last hiring of 25 guys, they sent 30 to do the physical and only 23 passed! They had to send another 5 guys to York for the other 2 positions.
Can you imagine getting all the way through, only to fail one of the easiest parts of getting hired.

Good luck.

[nifter53]

Well I'm fortunate enough to have the time to keep in shape, so the physical is not a worry of mine. The interview however can be the make or break performance of your life, which of course worries me. I have done mock interviews and other similar "situational" interviews in the past, which went well.

But back to the main topic, where are all of the people that have gotten interviews? This Thread has had 184 views and yet only 1 person has had an interview...btw
JohnS, I'm still waiting to hear what credentials got you your interview. Well I hope that some more people come forward to help be examples of "How to get an Interview"

nifter

[ThFyrWthn]

Not everyone on this site is a fulltime FF wannabe. There are alot of voluteer FF too, hence the views.

here's my 0.02 if you are interested.

If your not getting 85% and upwards on the written, your not going to get an interview. That's what I was told anyway. I'd spend your time studying.

I'd also upgrade your awareness courses as well as DH said.

I don't know... my attitude when I was in the game was go all out, think about which courses first but just get it done.

Why go half way? The competetion is insane nowadays so either committ yourself or spend your time and money getting ahead in something else.

There are these crazy stories of guys trying for 5 years and then getting on... yikes. They're resumes were also a mile long by then.

One way to go is to have your "plan B" in progress at the same time. All the courses I took are useful In the job I do now, except the "BZ" snicker.

[JohnS]

Hang in there. I have a college education and every little course like the rest of you. I believe I received my interviews due to my work experience in maintenance and being very detailed in the way I presented my qualifications on the applications. Who knows for sure. I have on the other hand scored well on previous cps tests and never gotten an interview. If....I mean WHEN you get an interview, the best advice I can give is to prepare as much as possible, because this will get you the job.

Be confident!!!

[Jurassic]

Sorry Nifter, I neglected to mention that I have had an interview.

It's not about cps marks...although mississauga used 82% as a cutoff, that will drop into the 70's for the next class. Tonnes of people have in the 90's on the joint recruitment and other hirings with no calls.

I guess it depends on your competition. You do have to realize that there are paramedics, cops, and other full time FF's that are all after the same thing as you. It's simply just tough, and on the borderline of impossible.

I agree with what the other poster said about going ALL the way. There is really no sense of going half way. You need to show and PROVE that you want this BAD.