Fire tests

[dougdombek]

I am a career FF from a suburb near Chicago. I have been on the job for six years now, and have decided that I would like to move to a larger department. I have submitted applications for Indy and Las Vegas. Anyone with any info about these departments ie "how busy with fire duty", "morale", "financial situation, not laying guys off like Cleveland" or anything that would be of interest to an enthusiastic FF please reply. P.S. Is it worth taking the Boston test as a non resident?

[CaptBob]

Las Vegas is still growing like mad. In past tests they required you to attend an orientation before you got the application. Then you had to come back for the written and physical agility. For those from out of town if you passed the physical, your oral was the next day.

Boston's test is a crap shoot. We had a candidate take the last test. His third attempt at Boston. His dad had been a captain there. Even though he scored 100% on the written (no oral board in Boston) he placed 156 on the list after disabled veteran, then veterans and then the regular folks. They did enough hiring off that list that with the failures with candidates in the background, he made the last group.

You can check the job listings on this web site under jobs on the tool bar above this posting. It's worth the subscription.

You can find more on testing secrets in the Career Article section from the Jobs drop down menu just above this posting.

"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"


Fire "Captain Bob"

www.eatstress.com

[IFDFFENG20]

dougdombek

Check my post in this forum under IFD. If you have any further questions, email me.

[KingHippo]

Don't forget to look into Lateral positions!

San Fransisco, Sacramento City, Long Beach, Oakland, and quite a few other "big city" departments have had lateral tests in the past. The requirements are usually just 2-3 years experience on a full time dept and a nat'l registry emtp license. You'll find that there aren't many applicants, which increases your chances. You'll also find that you'll start at a higher pay rate.

[patdunn79]

I would not recommned testing for Boston, The MASS Civil Service system is a major disadvantage for non residents trying to get a position. I scored a 98 on the exam, It took 8 months to get my score and a couple more for a ranking. I was not allowed Vet Prefernece because my 3 trips to Southern Turkey in Operation Northern Watch didn't qualify me as a vet. The mass System is called Absolute Preference and it works like this, preferences are not given a point value like many other places. If you are a disabled vet and score a 70% you go above a regular vet with a 100%, if you are a resident of Boston and score a 70% you go above Non-Residents that score a 100%. Simply put boston does not hire enough individuals to ever get to your number since 3-4 thousand will take the exam.

Pat Dunn
Oklahoma State University