Why did they ask if I was on other lists?

[Fatkid4]

After an interview I was asked, in front of the panel, if I was on any other lists. They said it was an unscored question, but I am curious about what they are looking for.

I was also asked by a female how my wife would feel about me working with females on 24 hour shifts. I guess single people don't get that question. Should I leave my wedding ring off, so my martial status doesn't come into play?

[jhigens]

You must have been in the same oral I was just in. Same questions. I was actually going to post a question about the “Hiring List” question myself. This is my third Oral in two weeks that I have had that same question each time and I now wonder if my response is having a negative impact. I would love to know how the departments look at that response. At all three Oral Boards I simple state the truth but keep it short. “Yes, I am currently on 5 lists” and leave it at that.

How does a department view a candidate that’s on other hiring lists? I would think it would be a positive.

As for the Female question I have no idea. It kind of threw me off track but I have no problems with it at all.

Was it a department in WA State?

[FFFRED]

What do any of those issues have to do with hiring you as a fireman?

How can you answer to your wife's likes and dislikes? If she is anything like mine...they change by the day if not hour.

Reasons why all unions should be fighting for civil service objective hiring standards and not supporting amature interviews asking inapropriate and unimportant questions.

Hopefully the Supreme Court of the USA rules approrpiately at the end of this month and supports objective hiring standards.

FTM-PTB

[Fatkid4]

Was it a department in WA State?

Yes, just outside of Seattle. They said they would call by Wednesday, and I haven't heard from them.

[JayDudley]

The panel's ask these questions for several reasons.
1. If you are on other cities lists....will you jump ship to that city??
2. The divorce rate for firefighters is high and it is a sticky question at best to ask about how your wife feels about you working with a female firefighter for 24 hours.
3. If you were hiring would YOU hire someone who is planning to jump ship to "Their dream Department"??
4. You need to have a very good answers for these questions.

[jhigens]

Yes, just outside of Seattle. They said they would call by Wednesday, and I haven't heard from them.

Yep, same with me.

[ffbam24]

It's interesting that we're starting to see posts with questions like this being posed in an interview lately though.

Sounds like these departments are starting to tread on thin ice for some unknown reason.....

[GoCougs]

That list question would throw me off too, but I would just answer it ghonratly, and say that the first department to offer me a job would be my dream come true and the job search would be over. If you don't mind me asking, which department outside of Seattle were you interviewing with?

[TechGuy]

Hopefully the Supreme Court of the USA rules approrpiately at the end of this month and supports objective hiring standards.

FTM-PTB

What is happening at the end of the month? Is there a specific case that you are referring to?

[CaptBob]

A department can invest up to 50,000 training a new rookie before they put them on the floor. They ask the question to find out if you will stay or make the jump.

Asking a candidate about a spouse is an antiquated question and why departments use more structured orals where everyone is asked the same questions.

A large department with a divorce rate of 76% told it's academy candidates, "If you want to get married find someone you hate and buy them a house."

Love is grand, divorce starts at a hundred grand.

"Captain Bob" www.eatstress.com

[popofosho]

Im sure that only a small city could get away with asking a question as such. That question is just asking for appeals.

[gilday]

A department can invest up to 50,000 training a new rookie before they put them on the floor. They ask the question to find out if you will stay or make the jump.

Asking a candidate about a spouse is an antiquated question and why departments use more structured orals where everyone is asked the same questions.

A large department with a divorce rate of 76% told it's academy candidates, "If you want to get married find someone you hate and buy them a house."

Love is grand, divorce starts at a hundred grand.

"Captain Bob" www.eatstress.com


I am not a firefighter yet but I am already married, happily. Any reason the divorce rate is so high?

[CaptBob]

I am not a firefighter yet but I am already married, happily. Any reason the divorce rate is so high?

Firefighters spend a lot of time working and a lot of time off. Some have part time work on their days off. This can wear thin on family life.

As firefighters we never know in the next minute where we are going we could be part of someone’s worst day. We have a lot of our needs met. Challenge, certainty, uncertainty, fulfillment, working as a team, camaraderie, satisfaction, etc. When we get home with our tanks full of our needs met we often don’t take the time to listen to our spouses.

"Marriage is the only war where you sleep with the enemy."

"What's the toughest year of marriage? Always the one you're in!"

[txgp17]

I was also asked by a female how my wife would feel about me working with females on 24 hour shifts. I guess single people don't get that question. Should I leave my wedding ring off, so my martial status doesn't come into play?Those questions definately sound out of line. Depending on what state you're in, you could have told them that your "husband" was more concerned about all the other men.

[CaptBob]

I had a female firefighter at my station one day when my wife called. Cathy answered the phone. When I came on the line my wife asked me if that was a female firefighter? Yes. Well you better tell her I’m big mean and ugly. I answered, so is she.

[GaiusPaul]

On the flip side, I hear a department can ask you that beacaue if you are 'worth hiring' you will be on other department's lists. This may put you over the edge if they are the fence about you.

How did you answer it on the fly like that?

[Fatkid4]

On the flip side, I hear a department can ask you that beacaue if you are 'worth hiring' you will be on other department's lists. This may put you over the edge if they are the fence about you.

How did you answer it on the fly like that?


I told them the truth, and explained that I was on other lists and also moving to the interview stage with another dept.

[GaiusPaul]

Well good luck, man. You deserve it and will make a great firefighter. I hope I get to share the dinner table with you soon.

[Fatkid4]

Well good luck, man. You deserve it and will make a great firefighter. I hope I get to share the dinner table with you soon.

Thanks brother! The same to you. Our time will come. Have you heard from Vancouver?

[GaiusPaul]

Nope. I was hoping we would hear this week. But a couple guys I know got a follow up email asking for some extra cert info. Both had scores in the 80s, and only one was military.

[Fatkid4]

That's a good sign!

[CaptBob]

On the flip side, I hear a department can ask you that beacaue if you are 'worth hiring' you will be on other department's lists. This may put you over the edge if they are the fence about you.


In reality panel members know candidates are testing where ever they can so it's not a big of a deal as it once was. My sons department drug their feet in getting through the hiring process for medics and lost 7 to other agencies.

"Captain Bob" www.eatstress.com

[FFFRED]

What is happening at the end of the month? Is there a specific case that you are referring to?

http://www.newhaven20.com/