Firefighting is strenuous, difficult, tiring work that requires you to work long hours for low pay and at times, very little satisfaction. However, at other times, it can be the most exhilarating and satisfying experience. The satisfaction of doing a good deed by helping another person in need is a great reason to become a Firefighter.
The following tips might be helpful for those interested in becoming a Firefighter, but they might also be beneficial to those who wish to become a doctor, lawyer, engineer or electrician.
1. Stay in high school and get your education. Today’s Firefighter need to be physically, emotionally and academically fit. Education is a continuous process in any occupation, but very much so in today's changing and challenging world of Firefighting.
2. Go on to get a college degree. It may or may not be in a field of study relevant to Firefighting, but all the basics are still included in the college education. We need folks that are academically teachable. (Not a correct word but you get the drift!) Our local community colleges, including Massasoit Community College and
Cape Cod Community College offer 2 year programs to earn an Associates Degree in Fire Science.
3. Stay out of trouble. Good advice for anyone but it is extremely important in any public safety endeavor. We do extensive background checks on candidates for all public safety positions. That one infraction that might have seemed like a simple prank at the time could keep you from qualifying for a terrific job opportunity later in life. Even good driving records are very important for fire or police positions.
4. Don't smoke, and if you do, STOP NOW before you become addicted. State law prohibits us from hiring people that use tobacco products of any kind while they are on or off duty. If you want to work for us, you can't smoke. It’s also terrible for your health. See Massachusetts’s General Law, Chapter 41, section 101A for a copy of this law.
5. Stay physically fit. Firefighting is extremely strenuous work. Current state law requires that you pass a job orientated physical agility test every two years for the remainder of your career. You need to be physically and mentally fit.
6. Visit a fire station and talk to real Firefighter. Its not the same job as it appears to be on television and in the movies. You need to have the right attitude and temperament to make a service occupation your life's work.
7. Consider becoming a call Firefighter. This will give you first hand knowledge of what the job is really like.
8. Take an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician ) course. Being an EMT is a very important first step to becoming a Firefighter. Today, most fire departments require you to be an EMT as a minimum at the time of hiring. Several places locally offer EMT programs. A local program is being offered at Marshfield High School by
9. Get a good book. A training manual called "Essentials Of Firefighting" published by the International Fire Service Training Association is worth reading so you will have an idea about some of the technical aspects of Firefighting. It is quite often the required reading for entry level Firefighting positions in non-civil service fire departments. The cost is about $ 40.00.
The latest edition of “Essentials of Firefighting” is available at the following locations:
577 Main Street 180 Franklin Street
Hudson, MA 01749 Framingham, MA 01702-6699
1-800-522-8528 1-800-878-3473
42 South Street Books & Videos
Post Office Box 11 Post Office Box 21288
Milford, NH 03055-0011 Tulsa, OK 74121-9971
1-800-825-0911 1-800-752-9768
Remember, it can be a simple thing that gets you the job or keeps you from getting it. Your college degree may be in a field completely unrelated to Firefighting. However, when we hire people, a college degree can be the factor that gets you the job over another candidate if they do not have a degree.
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