Did you have your EMT or any other experience before you applied or did you just go take the test and go through the interview process? I have heard from some having the EMT beforehand helps and others have said it doesn't really matter

Most career departments won’t even look at your application unless you have your EMT (Paramedic makes you competitive). It’s become a minimum requirement a lot of places in addition to having a current CPAT (physical test)


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okay, thanks for the info. I think Washington state might be different, because they include EMT training in their new hire training footprint, but I'd guess it depends on where in the country you are looking

Yes out here, because it is so incredibly competitive, all the fire departments minus the big ones like LA city or San Francisco, require a paramedic certificate, fire fighter I academy and usually volunteer experience on top of it. I took a leave of absence from the airline during the great recession when they were offering them in leu of furloughs in order to knock out as much of my training as I could and then start applying for different departments. It’s a very rough and competitive process but I can say from experience being an airline pilot is a huge selling point during interviews and applications.

On a sidenote I always thought chicks really dug pilots until I came a fireman and saw The amount of attention the opposite sex gives us. Not to include how many elderly thank us and kids want to be us. I’m not trying to come across as cocky just relaying my observations when I switched from airline pilot to a fire fighter

Sorry for the confusion. We do have VERY similar names on here. I’m an east coast vollie, he is a west coast career/paid guy.

It’s very different for the paid guys in the northeast, NYC specifically. NY has a weird way of hiring for fire/ems/LE jobs. They’re considered civil service jobs, and prospective employees take a written exam (that often has nothing to do with the job). The applicants are racked and stacked based on score, and the hiring process works from the top down. No experience required.

The idea is to prevent corruption (rampant in NY) from influencing hiring. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always lead to the best candidate being hired. A 10 year FF/Paramedic with a master’s degree and extensive qualifications and experience has no edge over the 19 year old fat kid who thinks it might be cool to be a firefighter. Pros and cons.

It seems like west coast guys get paid more, especially initially—but if you make boss (more written tests), you can make SERIOUS coin here. And most NYC firefighters work eight 24 hour shifts a month. EIGHT DAYS. Very good pension, too.

FDNY holds tests regularly, as do many cities. Many people get in FDNY EMS first, then take a ‘promotional’ exam to get into FDNY. A little google-fu should yield plenty of info.

Cool. That’s what I get for being too lazy to double check before posting!!!

Hey no problem I get it. I will say to those that are looking at furloughs or tired of the cyclical business. If you are in great shape and under 35 Firefighting is an amazing career very many parallels to airline pilots.

It’s a dynamic job, full of type A personalities with a lot of camaraderie. You have to think on your feet and perform well under tremendous physical and mental stress. Like flying you never bring your work home with you and although there are many different schedules we all work around 10-11 days a month without OT. Although it is one of the most competitive jobs in the country with jump seat privileges you can fly all over the country to take the tests for the big departments. Or you can attended EMT school and become a paramedic, then a firefighter I academy and you will be pretty much qualified to apply to any Fire Dept in the country.

Pay has the same large range as aviation, 95% of full time position include great pensions and benefits. Just like CFI and wide body Captain make vastly different salaries so do to firemen depending on where they work and what qualifications they have.

I remember during the lost decade how stressful and uncertain times like these are for pilots and my heart goes out to all y’all. I had spent the first 30 years of my life knowing nothing but flying and airlines (growing up in a family of military and airline pilots), but I knew I had to change something to give stability to my family. I took the leap of faith into this field after learning about it from an acquaintance on an overnight. It sounded exciting and I loved the physical component of it so I took a LOA to try it. For me it worked out amazingly and after probation with my Fire Dept I resigned my regional seniority number to continue in it. Admittedly during the past few years I felt like I was missing out but times like now make me so grateful I stuck with it. Anyway if anyone has questions shoot me a message and I will help anyway I can.

Sad story, unfortunately I think this will become more common.

https://www.aerospcworld.com/2020/08...osing-job.html

If a job title is who you are, to the point of taking your own life, it was off balance to begin with. There are as many personal reasons as lifeless bodies for suicide. People get too sick, old, scared, hungry, hopeless and alone for wanting to go on every hour of every day somewhere. Humans get the blues. Healthy ones will separate external from internal factors, wait it out and live to see a better day. If that's not you, tell someone, anyone.