Calgary hiring

[RESQTEK]

The Calgary fire department is accepting applications on a full time basis. In the past a competition would be held once every couple years. Candidates, by the thousands, would apply and only a select few would be hired. They are now taking applications year round due to the large number of retirees. There was also concern that with the old hiring practice, great potential candidates were being passed by due to the small number accepted out of 3000-4500 applicants. There have been about 300 firefighters hired in the last 4 years and there will be hundreds more hired in the next 4-5 years. Check it out at:
http://www.calgaryfire.ca

[Mongoose]

Just a personal obsevation here about Calgary Fire's hiring practices. The whole outline of the process as laid out on the city website just leaves me cold. Its just rules,rules,rules with a few dashes of intimidation thrown in for good measure. Completely uncalled for if you ask me. The whole polygraph thing? Just cheap parlor games [I've done a little reasearch on polygraphs] Go to the site and read all of what they have there and tell me I'm wrong.

[colin911]

I just got done looking at the website and to tell you the truth, I don't think it's too bad. It's more like the police recruiting here in Ontario.

Most fire departments here only recruit every 1-3 years. When it does happen, there are thousands of people applying and the chances of you getting through are pretty low.

With Calgary, at least you can apply and if you don't make it at a certain point of the recruitment, someone is there to show you how to go about doing it right and then giving you time to work on that. That doesn't happen here, once you're out of the running, you're out ... until the next recruitment.

It sounds like a lot of rules and you might get the "cold" feeling, but it doesn't differ too much between departments. I think Calgary has done a really good job specifically detailing what they expect from candidates.

I've never heard of taking a polygraph test before I read Halifax doing it and now Calgary. I mean a 3-4 hour test asking you all kinds of personal questions dating back as far as you remember .... I think that's a little extreme.

One thing that you won't see in Ontario yet, is a department allowing you to wear contacts or eyeglasses during the vision portion of the physical. Good for them.

Colin

[FireEMTGuy]

I believe the polygraph covers the past 3 years of your life.

[colin911]

FireEMTGuy,

Thanks for the info ...

I'm curious to know if you've had any first-hand experiences with polygraph tests ... what sorts of questions do they ask and how in depth do they go?

I don't think that they have it at any dept. in Ontario, so I'm just wondering.

Colin

[FireEMTGuy]

Colin,

The questions asked by Calgary Fire can be found on their website calgaryfire.ca or at this link (http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/fire/Personal_History_Statement.pdf)

Like stated, they are pretty good about helping you and not hiding things or suprises along the way.

And no, I have had no first hand experience with the tests themselves. Lots of information on employment related polygraphs can be found on the internet.

It has also been implmented that you only have two chances to apply with calgary fire, if you don't get accepted in those tries they stop accepting applications.

[bodean]

I am a Paramedic with all my Firefighting requirments for any fire department in Canada. My goal has always been to work in Calgary, now with this polygraph test in I can say that I'm a little discusted with Calgary. Its a bit discouraging ,for me anyway, that the Calgary fire dept. is basically saying right off the bat that they dont trust you to tell the truth. I also agree that there are a certain amount of intimidating and fear based questioning and statements through-out their site. Well i can safely say that as for me, ill stick to the departments that require firefighting training, that in my opinion is the real way to weed out the serious applicants from the criminals Calgary is frightened of.

[hotfire]

I agree with bodean. Calgary has taken the best job in the world and made it a farce. Much of the line of questioning is inappropriate. Because 1 guy is an idiot everyone else has to suffer. Its all about image for Calgary now not finding the best Firefighters they can. I agree with keeping the community safe but what do dogs and other barn yard animals have to do with anything. If they really want to clean up how about questioning the staff they have now!!!! see how far that would go. I sincerely hope they come to some kind of decision as to what is really important.
I think they are losing out on alot of great people because they think last week they had a beer...now there a criminal.

[firecadet911]

Ok, here's the way it is gang:

The polygraph test is not in place to get rid of good candidates.
The Calgary Fire Department (although I am not a spokesman) recognizes that everybody matures at different times and at different rates. They are mostly concerned with how you have matured. Sure, so maybe a candidate smoked some weed when he/she was a teen - that's not a huge deal, if they're still smoking weed on a consistant basis, then there's problems. As long as you have distanced yourself from any undesirable behaviour (at least three years) then you're in the clear for being hired as far as the polygraph goes.

Personally, I don't believe that the polygraph test makes the department, or the profession for that matter, less respectable or reputable. This is simply proactive thinking to prevent future instances of firefighters pimping out teens or firefighters consuming/dealing recreational drugs (both have happened in the past couple years in Canada).

I know that if I was a firefighter I would like the added security of knowing that the guy/gal sitting next to me on the truck isn't a drug dealer or sexual predator.

Just my 2 cents.

[itchyduval]

You know Fire departments boast about things like "Honor", "Integrity", and "Community". These are things that are built up, over time, to make a stronger foundation for new relationships. What kind of foundation do you have if the employer doesn't trust your willingness to give the "appropriate" response without being all rigged up. As firefighters we have to take perfect strangers words for it every scene, every incident, everday. We use our own judgement-done. We don't hook fishy looking characters up to a polygraph, wait for the results, then find out infact he was telling the truth....his daughter is trapped in the burning house. As far as community goes, I wouldn't feel welcomed right off the start. Why? Because I prefer the open arms approach not the introduction to what it must feel like to be the person they don't want. You can't help but feel odd if you've never been through it. After all this is what they do to losers is the movies....thanks....now I'm one of them.

[firemedicman]

i just finished a recruitment with a dept on the east coast got through 4 out of 6 stages, interview-cpat-lie dector-board interview.the lie dector was the biggest farse i passed but one of my buddies lied through half of the questions and he still passed.its all in your head.if you think you never really stole that pen from the store you "borrowed it" and intended to bring it back later then you will pass.its all a mind game , if you go in thinking that it detects lies then thats what you will believe.its just a deturrent for honest people!!!!

[MacRA]

Apparently, Calgary believes a man is the sum of the wrong things he's done. On their Personal History Questionnaire, I see no questions relating to good, honorable things one may have done in his life. So, how is that a personal history?

[bluemerle]

I found the Calgary process more than fair!!
if you don't like the polygraph ...then don't apply!
parlour tricks? intimidation?..perhaps, but if it helps weed out people that are trying to hide something, then so be it!
someone else was correct when they said that you are considered more as an individual , than just a number getting in the top percentile of 4000 applicants!
I had everything ready to apply on Jan. 2 of this year, I am in the September class, and damn proud of it!
and yes, they will be hiring quite a few over the next 5 yrs!

one last note, some of the questions of the polygraph that were reported to the media , were blown way out of proportion, and if it must be known, the candidate makes his own bed and drives the poly. operator off on that tangent by the way he answers previous questions, so that candidtae brought it on himself, and obviously had something to hide, and when he didn't like the results he went running to the media.

[FireEMTGuy]

Be free of illegal activity for 3 years, don't hide your past, tell the truth, own up to it, and we will see.

Somewheres on the CFD site it even says it is uncomfortable and stressful for applicants to "relive" their past. So really short of a murder or other violent crime give it a shot.

All you can really do is lay your cards on the table....

I however have heard more reciently that the CFD is slated to abolish the polygraph (again) due to complaints and challenges. Time will tell but don't hold your breath.

[professional]

you afraid of the polygraph? why? you want to self-eliminate from the calgary process? you just saved recruitment doing the job for you............nothing to hide ..your honest...want the career...get the honest facts from the recruitment office and you might be pleasently surprised ...their very approachable.... i know i did...if your not competitive in the process or dont know how to be accountable for something in your past.. go bother some other dept. who wishes they could weed you out too.........

[Zokambaa]

I also took the polygraph recently and was somewhat apprihensive... I had heard all the horror stories about people taking polygraphs... how liars can pass the poly and sometimes truthful people will fail due to false positives... I was also wondering why it had to be done, what with the fact that it is not allowed to be entered as evidence in court...

When I took the test, the questions were no more kinky or intense than what I had to fill out on the Personal History statement for the initial application

If you can truthfully fill out the "Personal History Statement" (PHS) on the application, you aren't trying to omit anything and the recruiters pass you on through the other parts of the recruitment process, then I believe you should have nothing to worry about when it comes time to do the polygraph... it is not the interrogation that one would see in the movies.. or the terrible stories I heard about in the paper.

Basicaly you answer a bunch of questions (similar to the PHS) that the FD wants and the tester asks a bunch of get to know you questions along with a few other things and that is about it, then you are hooked up, they do a few little tests and then the polygraph starts... more or less it is just asking if you were truthful in the PHS and the questions they went over before.. there is no big secret questons that they suddenly throw at you to trick you into anything...

The most uncomfortable part of the whole process was having to sit still for a couple minutes at a time with a blood pressure cuff on your arm...

Now that I've done it, I can see where they are going and I think they should keep it in the process

[Mansfield]

Anyone looking to start the application process in the near future? I am thinking about it, just want to know if I am alone or if more people are starting to look that way more then at home.

[mac1001]

I was also thinking about throwing my hat into the pile in Calgary. I am a little hesitant for a couple reasons. I don't really care for the poly test, not that I have anything to hide. I find it to be another "hoop" to jump through. I have spent 3 years and tens of thousands of dollars on training, and I'm sick of people telling me that the key is to show them you want it and are dedicated. I'm pretty sure the money and time I've spent to get to this point is a pretty good indication that I'm dedicated. I have many friends who are fire fighters and they are regular guys who drink and drive and smoke some pot occasionally. But they are great people and most importantly great fire fighters. I worry about this poly test because I am one of those people who second guess the answers I give alot. To my knowledge, I have not touched any drugs since high school which was 6 years ago. But then in the back of my head, I wonder if I was drunk and did have a joint sometime along the road in the last couple years and don't remember. I know the test picks up on these thoughts. I'm not afraid to tell them that yes I have drove while intoxicated on many occasions. I just think that this test is wrong because it cannot adapt to different personalities, and if your personality is bad for the poly you're going to look like a fool. Now, after my little rant about the poly, comes the other big deterent from Calgary. If anyone who is on the CFD can tell me how they survived on that starting wage I'd like to know.

[maxamillion_85]

roomates...
bottom line

i live pretty good, i just live with 3 other goofs from the dept haha. by the way its in a brand new house (never been lived in) and we only pay 425 each plus a month (the plus only works out to not even 40 each utilities)

its more then possible, just have to have an open mind for the first few years, whatever, pretty minor if you really want the job.

[cjesso]

screw you max! goofball! you are out partying on a sat nite and i am working! hahah...but lovin it!

[HelitackEMT]

I have met all four of you and you're all goofballs!!

[jokerjokester55]

hey guys

just wondering if you guys could help me out, I am scheduled for an interview with Calgary on the 20th, i have been reading up on the type of interview that the recruiters conduct, and also reading up on some more sample questions on the internet (the 4 they give me on my candidate info sheet just dont cut it lol) i've also taken time to meet with my chief instructor of my preservice program to go over a few ideas

are their any pointers that you guys can give me, those that have been through the process, its just i dont know what to expect and i want to be well prepared, i have a rough idea such as know the department a bit, such as its community involvement and number of stations, name of the chief etc. and a lil bit about the city, how big it is, the mayor, population. also dos and donts for the interview, i know that they expect me to answer Yes sir and No sir, stuff like that

is there anything else i should be looking over for the next couple of days, any help is greatly appreciated

thanks

[Someguy]

Some of the ones i had were

Talk about a time when you had to make a difficult decision about you're moral, or ethical values.
Talk about a time when you were'nt getting along, or were involved in an argument with a coworker.
Talk about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer,client, or patient.
Talk about a time when you had to make a boring task seem interesting.

[jokerjokester55]

Some of the ones i had were

Talk about a time when you had to make a difficult decision about you're moral, or ethical values.
Talk about a time when you were'nt getting along, or were involved in an argument with a coworker.
Talk about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer,client, or patient.
Talk about a time when you had to make a boring task seem interesting.

and you had to answer all those in the STAR format?

[BigAxe]

Yes! All the questions REQUIRE the STAR format. They will fail you if you miss even one part of any question!

[LCFD198]

A former CFD member told me that Calgary has suspended hiring due to budget issues. Other reasons also include the fact that some of the fire halls that were supposed to be opening are delayed.

I dont know if it's been made public, but It should be news pretty quickly.

[teddy_lumbuck]

A former CFD member told me that Calgary has suspended hiring due to budget issues. Other reasons also include the fact that some of the fire halls that were supposed to be opening are delayed.

I dont know if it's been made public, but It should be news pretty quickly.

Go figure. Right after I pay my $150.

[jokerjokester55]

Go figure. Right after I pay my $150.


ha ha ha dude your lucky!!!

right after I spent my 150, and then another 792 bucks on top of that to fly out there for 2 days (hotel, car rental and flight back) on the 19th

lol

hey, those that took the interview, were the people on the panel really uptight or laid back a bit? i've got my interview on the 20th

[RUPERT]

ha ha ha dude your lucky!!!

right after I spent my 150, and then another 792 bucks on top of that to fly out there for 2 days (hotel, car rental and flight back) on the 19th

lol

hey, those that took the interview, were the people on the panel really uptight or laid back a bit? i've got my interview on the 20th
Jokester...

Do you ever look at you PM's?????

[jokerjokester55]

Jokester...

Do you ever look at you PM's?????


i do now LOL

thanks man

[Ronbo]

A former CFD member told me that Calgary has suspended hiring due to budget issues. Other reasons also include the fact that some of the fire halls that were supposed to be opening are delayed.

I dont know if it's been made public, but It should be news pretty quickly.

I talked to recruitment yesterday and this was never brought up. As far as I know, the next class is scheduled to start in February.

[Crank]

A former CFD member told me that Calgary has suspended hiring due to budget issues. Other reasons also include the fact that some of the fire halls that were supposed to be opening are delayed.

I dont know if it's been made public, but It should be news pretty quickly.

Current CFD members haven't heard anything like that. As it stands, the city is looking at recruiting approx 100 new F.F.'s for 2008.

It would be news if it was true but I am fairly sure that is a false rumour.

You can always call recruitment yourself and ask. Contact info can be found on the CFD website.

[Someguy]

Yeah, i've heard similiar things at my hall too.
We hear they re still hiring next year but are'nt approved for as many new recruites as they had hoped for. (They wanted over 200, but are only getting around 100).
Still the most out of any other city in Canada!!!

[calfire]

The hiring has been slowed a bit because of several factors. Construction delays, budgets, and some other issues. With that said originally it was 200 and has been dropped to 100 to 150. (not exact figures)

I still think your odds are pretty good.

[aggs]

yes they are! I'm applying does any one know how many people apply to calgary? for an intake