A Few Questions

[tr23]

Hey everyone, I'm currently enrolled in college, and I'm looking at the Fire & Rescue Services as a place I'de like to be in a few years. I've read over many threads on this great site, and I've picked up a lot of tips. I'm thinking of going through this May's recruitment for Ottawa, however I have a few questions:
-If I apply this May, and do not get on "the list", can I apply for the next recruitment, or is their a mandatory wait time?
-Would it be beneficial to go throught the recruitment to learn what it's like, or should I wait until I feel fully prepared?
-Are there any events/demonstrations in Eastern Ontario that would be a good thing to go watch, to really get a feel for whats involved?

Thanks for any info,
TR23

[Kearley]

Hey everyone, I'm currently enrolled in college, and I'm looking at the Fire & Rescue Services as a place I'de like to be in a few years. I've read over many threads on this great site, and I've picked up a lot of tips. I'm thinking of going through this May's recruitment for Ottawa, however I have a few questions:
-If I apply this May, and do not get on "the list", can I apply for the next recruitment, or is their a mandatory wait time?
-Would it be beneficial to go throught the recruitment to learn what it's like, or should I wait until I feel fully prepared?
-Are there any events/demonstrations in Eastern Ontario that would be a good thing to go watch, to really get a feel for whats involved?

Thanks for any info,
TR23

Hey TR23... currently enrolled? Ottawa? Are you in the Pre-Service Firefighter at Algonquin starting this August? There is no mandatory wait, you can try each time, last recruitment they had here was 2003. The best way you'll learn if you're fully prepared is to give it a try, you have nothing to lose. And it will not hurt your future attemps if this one fails. In fact, I'm not even going in expecting to get hired right off... it'll be something to earn, and it should be. Lastly, we don't bite here, you can use your name. See you at Algonquin maybe.

Peter

[Kearley]

Sorry, I just read some of your posts and answered some of my questions... like you're not going to Algonquin but another college... Oh well, still hope to see ya at the recruitment.

[tr23]

Hey Peter!
LOL, my name is Trevor, sorry for not introducing myself, I'm unused to using my name on a public forum, but I'll make this an exception, :). I'm currently enrolled at Algonquin, but in the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Program, which I'll finish in December.
I looked hard at Pre-Service both at Brockville and Algonquin, and was actually accepted into Paramedic in Cornwall. I agonized over which course to follow through on, and went with the HRAC one because I knew I could find a well-paying job after, whereas with the Paramedic and Pre-Service i wasn't sure.
I'm somewhat regretting that decision now, but its been pointed out that many of the things I'm learning are relevant to Fire Fighting, so I'm trying to pick up some extra qualifications that would help me in that field too.
I found this site, and it's been a goldmine of info, and I recently saw the Ottawa recruitment notice, so that really motivated me to get in gear. I thought I saw some departments have a clause that once you apply you can't apply for 3 years, so thats why I posted some of my questions.
Thanks for the welcome, and maybe I'll see you in May!

[TB77]

Kearly are you currently enrolled in the Pre Service at Algonquin ? or you starting in August ?

[firebabs222]

Don't just limit yourself to Ottawa, try out all over if you can afford to. The more tests and physicals you try to do, the better prepared your going to feel. Of course you can always hope that you get on the first time, but if you don't , there is no shame in that ever. Just be persistent!

[tr23]

Thanks for all the tips guys, I really appreciate it. Just to clarify, if I do go the May recruitment in Ottawa, I don't have any notions of actually being accepted. Although I have some courses, credentials and attitudes that I think they might look for, I know I'll need to develop more to really get noticed. This time round would be more of an introduction to the demands of the recruitment system. I'm considering other recruitments, but at the moment, spare cash to travel is a little tight due to school, so that might have to wait until I graduate. Keep any tidbits coming though, I'm really learning alot from all the great people on this site!!