fundamentals of fire and emergency services chapter 3 the selection process jason b. loyd james d....
TRANSCRIPT
Fundamentals of Fire and
Emergency Services
Chapter 3
The Selection Process
Jason B. Loyd
James D. (J.D.) Richardson
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Objectives
• List the standard phases of the hiring process.
• Describe the importance of preparation in the selection process.
• Give examples of body gestures that can be interpreted in an interview.
• Explain the purpose and importance of the probationary period.
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Preparation for a Firefighter Position
• Job postings– Websites– Local newspapers– Job fairs
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Preparation for a Firefighter Position
• Job postings (cont.)– College/community events– Subscription to job opportunity mailing lists
and firefighter examination notification services
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Preparation for a Firefighter Position
• Job research– Talk to professionals– Research departments– Be familiar with their requirements
• Prerequisites– Job application process and deadlines– Paperwork/accuracy
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Preparation for a Firefighter Position
• Written test– Will test both (1) general knowledge and (2)
firefighting specifics– Usually multiple choice– Check of reading comprehension,
mechanical reasoning, and math– Key is preparation
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
The Job Search
• Physical Ability / Agility– Prior to hiring fire departments usually
administer a physical agility test• Example: CPAT
– Prior to testing, candidates need to be in or get into good physical condition
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Interviewing Skills
• Homework and practice before interviewing
• First Interview / Fire Chief’s Interview– Do your homework on the department– Be prepared to answer questions about your
background– Ask questions– Practice by participating in mock interviews
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Interviewing Skills
• Sample Interview Questions:– Describe your work history and experience.– Describe credentials you hold that would
qualify you for this job (education, certifications, etc.).
– What do you consider your major strengths?
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Interviewing Skills
• Sample Interview Questions (cont.):– What do you consider development areas?– What characteristics do you feel mark a good
supervisor?– Describe a conflict you experienced with a
previous supervisor and how it was resolved– What do you feel is a satisfactory attendance
record?
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Interviewing Skills
• Sample Interview Questions (cont.):– How do you define “pressure”? How well do
you perform in that type of situation?– In what type of work environment do you
excel?– Tell me about a time when you had to go
above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Interviewing Skills
• Body Language — Posture— Arms— Eyes—Nodding
— Smile— Leaning closer—Gestures—Don’t interrupt
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Pre-Employment Requirements
• Medical exam– Medical/surgical history– Medical tests and evaluations– Purpose to determine baselines and check
for any pre-existing medical conditions that may affect employment with the fire department
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Pre-Employment Requirements
• Background History– Fire departments conduct a background
check to identify and review a candidate’s work history
• Prior work references checked• Driver’s records and credit reports• Some departments may require a polygraph test
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Pre-Employment Hiring Conditions
• Eligibility List– Departments create a list of potential
candidates to be contacted should an opening occur in the next 6 to 12 months
– If list expires, department will conduct new testing and interviewing procedures
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Pre-Employment Hiring Conditions
• Probationary Period– Newly hired candidates have a probationary
period of 3 to 12 months– Allows for further evaluation of candidate
and how he/she fits into the department– During this period a candidate can be
terminated for any reason
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Marketing Yourself for the Firefighting Job
• EMT Status
• Firefighter I and other certifications
• Volunteer experience
• Bilingual ability
• Clean driving record
• Excellent physical fitness
• Diversity
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Summary
• Departments have the responsibility to find the most qualified applicants during the hiring process.
• Candidates should prepare themselves to become members of the fire department team by being prepared.
• The job market is expected to grow for fire departments in the future.
Copyright ©2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.Fundamentals of Fire and Emergency ServicesJason B. Loyd and James D. Richardson
Questions ?