In the last half century, the role of firefighters has changed a lot. There was a time when the business of fighting fires was not as complicated as it is today. The job consisted mainly of cleaning fire trucks, tending the station and answering phones, and then rushing to an emergency when duty called for it. While there was no fire board interview to worry about or a physical agility test to worry about, the job was much more dangerous back then and protective safety gear was virtually non-existent.
While you may be training as a firefighter right now, wishing you could go back to the days when getting into the industry you love was so much easier, you’re much better off living in the present, at least as far as the firefighter is concerned. business cares.
Competition is tougher than ever
These days, becoming a firefighter is about more than the necessary training. There are three main parts to the preparation and application process. Not including initial education and training, are:
the written test
physical agility test
the board oral exam
The oral exam is the deciding factor for many firefighter candidates. This is the equivalent of a job interview for a traditional job, and it’s even more important. Yes it’s correct; The written test and the physical agility test are extremely important facets of the overall application process, but anyone can pass them.
The Purpose of the Oral Board Exam
The oral exam can match you to the particular job you are applying for and gives the staff at the station in question a pretty good idea of whether or not you will be able to handle the pressures of the job. Many people can pass a written test. Even more than that can probably pass a physical agility test, but the oral dash is what sets the stars apart from the pack in this situation.
What to expect from the oral board interview
Contrary to popular belief and what your training partners are telling you to try to scare you, the firefighter interview is not about catching you or tripping you up. It’s all about examining your potential to be a strong and dignified firefighter. This is a job where individuals have a responsibility to save homes and lives, and it is not right for everyone, no matter how appropriate for the job a person thinks it is.
The fire board may ask any of a variety of basic interview questions, including, but not limited to, questions such as:
How has previous work experience or volunteer work prepared you for a job as a firefighter?
What part of your training as a firefighter do you think has best prepared you for this job?
Why do you want to be a firefighter?
What are your most positive strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
As with all job interviews, oral board interviewers will likely throw a few curveballs at the firefighter interview and ask you some questions you didn’t expect. These may be follow-up questions to the answers he has given, so it’s best to be as prepared as possible for them.
Make use of personal experiences
One way to really impress your oral interviewers is to use personal experiences to answer their questions. Give examples, if you can. If you have experience in the firefighting business, even if it was just in the office filling out documents, take advantage of it! Do this without being arrogant or confident, but by showing them that you have learned from past experiences, even if they were negative. Personal growth scores points with interviewers in all job fields, not just for the board oral exam.
As you look to be a part of the firefighting program in your community, keep in mind that you are one more than you might imagine. It is more important than ever to be as prepared as possible for the various facets of the application process, including the oral board interview. You can pass the physical agility test and the written exam with flying colors, but without scoring well on your oral interview, you can easily pass on to the next person.
If you want the chance to put your hand in putting out the world’s fires, act like it. Get ready, get ready, get ready. Gather all the information you can on becoming a firefighter and get all the help you can get. Practice your interview with those who support your efforts, and present yourself to your interview as a calm, cool and collected firefighter.