mississauga..

[thebuds]

Hey boys, are you guys aware that you need a 98 or better on mississauga's cps test to get an interview, family in the dept. or not.

[firedad]

where did you get that info.?...just wondering.

in my opinion, just looking at the marks of an apptitude test seems a little silly. it was my understanding that candidates are chosen based on a point system. they take into consideration your education, life experience and other qualifications.

i could be wrong, but that seems to make a little more sence.

good luck on the test, no doubt that it does count.

[thebuds]

they do use the point system on your resume after the aptitude test (cps). The first application before you write the cps is a basic screening to see if you have the minimums. So before your resume can score you enough points to warrant an interview, you still need 98+ on the CPS before they even look at your crudentials............Believe me, I dont like it either... -good luck-

[SHFD09]

I dont think that is true...I scored 79 on the CPS and I was interviewed in 2001...I still have the results and paper work to prove it...I can see maybe scoring a minum of 98 with everything combined but not just a test score...however alot can change in 4 years.

[TomC]

not true buds...sorry...i know guys who were hired with less than 88....i'll bet that there wont be 5 people that score 98....better check your sources....

[DoubleHelix]

I've always heard that 85 and up are the only ones that get looked at. I'm sorry but I bet atleast half of the applicants won't even pass. I only found the oral hard but I was prepared and I can guarantee you most people dont prepare for them or not nearly enough. I just hope I didn't bomb questions I thought I aced. I'm not expecting anything especially since im only 20 but it would be cool to do well on it when its supposed to be the hardest CPS test.

[Jurassic]

I think it will be around 70% that fail. And YES, it is typical that 85% and up IF you have all the qualifications that they are looking for get interviewed. I can almost guarentee that % will be lower this time due to the test being alot harder than 2 years ago. Hopefully we'll have those letters next week!

[onsitemt]

just got my reply back from mississauga %85, 14/20 memory, 18/20 reading, 18 mechanicle, 17 math, 18 team community.

says interviews start week of jan 10th, can't wait to here if i got the interview, my fingers and toes are crossed.
I'm starting humber in march, and would love to get on before going back to school again, of the 50 or so being hired over the next two years i wonder how many will have pre-service?.:)

[Jurassic]

Wow, excellent score! if you haven't completed your pre-service then I think the chances are slim you will get an interview, but you never know. As for the ones hired, I predict ALL will have either pre-service or NFPA. In the class that was hired (26) all had some sort of fire education or extensive volunteer.

Best of luck!

[JohnS]

Hello. The fire courses will only help get an interview. I feel success in the interview is the most important step.

Good luck!!

[scoop422]

Way to go onsitem! You're on the way. Don't listen to some of the negative crap. This is a TEAM job. The first step is supporting each other. Guys who aren't team players will weed themselves out. I think JohnS is correct the interview is the most important so shift your focus to the interview and Good Luck!

[FFWannabe]

Originally posted by DoubleHelix
I've always heard that 85 and up are the only ones that get looked at. I'm sorry but I bet atleast half of the applicants won't even pass. I only found the oral hard but I was prepared and I can guarantee you most people dont prepare for them or not nearly enough. I just hope I didn't bomb questions I thought I aced. I'm not expecting anything especially since im only 20 but it would be cool to do well on it when its supposed to be the hardest CPS test.

The failure rate in Ottawa was huge... I believe (and I could be wrong), that close to 3000 people wrote the test (it went on for days, filling a hall at Lansdowne Park each day) and 325 went on to do the CPAT.. that's just under an 11% pass rate. After the CPAT there were about 250 left... that's a huge chunk left to write another day. That was me the first time. I think I pretty much bombed.. haha.. but brushed up on my phsyics (I'm a quick study) before the next write and I felt pretty confident about it.. passed thankfully!

Sue :)

PS - Even if the number was as low as 2000 that wrote, that's still just over a 16% pass rate. Eeeks!

[Pumper99]

98 or better ? C'mon.........that's impossible. I haven't heard of anyone scoring in the 90's at all.
The aptitude test doesn't measure the true ability of a candidate........all it says is that you can think a certain way to perform well in this line of work.
I think they would be foolish to weigh the test scores so highly. It's all in the resume credentials and the interview.

The Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge used 70% as the cut off.......and that was used just to weed people out. A candidate that scored a 70% and a candidate that scored a 99% were viewed equally and were entered into the applicant pool. The 'Point Matrix' is what was used to measure ability of a candidate based on certain criterias that they feel are important. That skills questionnare we filled out for Mississauga was their 'Point Matrix' and we basically filled it out for them. They'll use that as their primary tool when it comes to interviews.

So anyone out there that is a paramedic lifeguard with excellent climbing ability and has completed University and a pre-service program is a shoe in.

Good luck all.

Yours in Fire Safety,

Pumper99

[Jurassic]

Hey Pumper, I really hate to break it to you, but those qualifications are not a shoe in with mississauga. It's not over 98% (don't know who started that rumour), and YES some people score in the 90's (ESPECIALLY in the easy KW/joint recruitment test). BUT if you DO have those qualifications AND get over 85% in mississauga then you should get an interview. This is from Eric Krowles HR in mississauga. As they need to fill more spaces and interview more they will go down the list of marks over the next 2 years. So if you've received in the 70's (like most of the candidates who passed), then you might get an interview for the last class (fall 2006).

I totally agree with you that they should take a look at our "scoring matrixes" for anyone with over 70%. HOWEVER, look at how many people they will hire for this spring (said to be around 10) and look at how many people will score over 70% ( 500-600?) and look at when interviews start (jan. 10). and look at when they head back to work (jan. 6?), so that doesn't leave them much time to weed through 500-600 matrixes. That's why they will rank score with marks first and THEN check your qualifications. Sad, and personally I think stupid, but true.

I just hope that in the joint recruitment when they change the scoring matrix that it will be retroactive to people who were already scored. Because those with NFPA and without preservice were shafted big time. I can't wait for the final decision to challenge the pre-service with those with NFPA cuz i'll be doing that asap.

Good luck and let's keep posting to keep our motivation going.

peace.

[Pumper99]

Well, we'll see. Only time will tell.
I can see your point for the first round of interviews........due to time constraints they have to move quickly. In September 2005 they have to hire 20-25 for the new truck they're getting....things may change by then. At that point they may have been able to create a list from 1-500 or so..........and call people in order.
Guelph will be hiring 20-25 for the new hall they're building in Sep/Oct....... and other departments will be hiring as well..............2005 will be a good year for hiring I'm sure of it.
I hope to get this pre-service diploma done by mid-summer.......
then I'm good to go for the guelph/kitchener/cambridge/waterloo pool. They put a lot of weight on the pre-service.

Good luck with everything.

Yours in fire safety,

Pumper99

[mikeeps]

Well not to blow my own horn but I got a 90 on the mississauga test . So hopefully my experiences and score will land me an interview. Let me know when people start to hear about the interviews. Currently out of the country till the 12th of Jan and would apprieciate a heads up when to expevt the call so I can check answering machine. Good luck to all of those who wrote the test.

Michael

[BrianRMT]

Mississauga called today when i was out, I guess the interviews are begining, i was worried becuse i heard you had to have 86% and over, i guess i just maid it with85%.
Has any one else heard yet about interviews ?, length of interview?, and if you got an interview what was your score and what do's your resume look like in terms of qual's.

[DoubleHelix]

Congradulations man. Good luck!!