Preparation
- Keep yourself in good physical condition through proper diet and exercise.
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Avoid the B.A.D. traits. They are Bad behavior, Alcohol and Drugs: These 3 things will prevent you from any type of public safety employment. If you are involved in any of these activities, STOP now.
- If you are not in college, consider taking Fire Science classes at Oakton Community College. In particular, Oakton offer a class on “Preparation for a fire service career” FIR100. This class will properly prepare you for all aspects of the hiring process up to and including the Civil Service interview. Another class to consider is Emergency Medical Technician training or EMT. This class is the first step towards becoming a paramedic and teaches you basic first-aid and other emergency techniques. It will expose you to the paramedic side of the job and shows your motivation in a career as a firefighter/paramedic.
- Learn about the Department and the City. Stop by a Fire Station and talk to the firefighter/paramedics.
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Start a “personal Information Folder” to store all your pertinent documents
such as your diplomas, birth certificates, certifications, armed forces documents, references, etc. This will assist you in completing applications and in the interview process. - Learn about the fire service. Subscribe to magazines such as Firehouse or Fire Engineering. This will keep you informed on the latest trends in the fire service.
