Preparation Tips for a Firefighter Interview
It takes a special person to feel called to serve their community as a firefighter. However, sometimes the passion isn’t quite enough. You’ll have to crush the interview and be ready for whatever the interviewer throws your way. Check out these preparation tips for a firefighter interview so you can go in with unshakable confidence.
Show up early with a professional appearance
There’s an old saying that goes, “If you’re early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late; and if you’re late, don’t even bother showing up.” This couldn’t be truer for those in the public safety sector since it’s an industry that requires timeliness. Just a couple of minutes can make a huge difference when responding to an emergency, and your interview is the first test to see if you can be on time. Additionally, you should plan on showing up in a suit, clean-shaven with your hair styled neatly.
Show your personality but also your dedication
As with any interview, you should always be yourself. There’s no reason to go into an interview and try to pretend you’re someone you’re not. Not only will the interviewer be able to tell when you’re being genuine, but they’ll certainly appreciate your authenticity. Of course, professionalism should be your default, but if the interviewer is cracking jokes and you tend to be a jokester, let that show! It just might help you get to the next phase of interviews. Additionally, every interviewer wants to hear that you’re dedicated to the career, but that’s especially true in firefighting. Being a firefighter shouldn’t be taken lightly as you have a duty to serve the community. In other words, the career isn’t for everyone, and the interviewer will want to hear that you can handle it.
Prepare to demonstrate your knowledge
If the person interviewing you feels confident in your potential, they may want to gauge what you know about firefighting. They may ask you about the different types of fires and how to extinguish them, or they might even ask you to demonstrate how to put on personal protective equipment (PPE). Don’t let that scare you if you’ve never worn turnout gear—they’ll understand that this is likely your first experience with it. If you really want, you could plan ahead and purchase your own PPE to practice.
The mere fact that you want to be a firefighter is something you should be proud of. As we mentioned before, this career is certainly not for everyone, but somebody has to do it, right? If you take the time to prepare for a firefighter interview and use the available resources online, you should be able to put your best foot forward during the interview.
