Madison Fire Department 2011

[runningamuk]

Always dress for success. Consider each step as important as your final interview. You never know when someone important is watching or may notice you.

[DallasBound]

Always dress for success. Consider each step as important as your final interview. You never know when someone important is watching or may notice you.

Agreed. Here's a good thread about the topic if anyone hasn't seen it yet.

http://www.firehouse.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97082 (what to wear to oral interview)

Good luck everyone.

[Chenzo]

MATC offers, I believe it's a single semester, Fire Academy. It covers WI State Entry Level Firefighter, Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2, and HazMat Operations Certificate.

They also offer a 2 year associates degree in Fire Science, called the Fire Protection Technician Program.

[jccrabby3084]

Captain, they do not require any past FF experience. Just general aptitude.

No experience is needed, nor is it necessary. MFD will take anyone that they believe fits their department, they are a very diverse dept and pride themselves on that. The written test consists of a picture to study and questions asked about it, general questions, basic math, reading, etc, then there is also a personality test.

The physical agility test in Madison is NOT the CPAT. They do their own version, there are aspects of the CPAT in it, but each individual event is timed. One also does not have to pass each event to pass the test overall, it is based on a points system.

I do not work for Madison, but have tested and was offered a job, but was already working in my current job. I know several folks on MFD and it is a great department, a progressive dept, and one of the few that keep growing in this state.

[jccrabby3084]

I was happy to see that there is a thread about this!

WDFF18: I was thinking about dressing nice, but then I thought that jeans might suffice. Maybe not, though?

FIRE117- Yes- there is a course in Madison for Fire Service. I know a woman who didn't make through the physical test her first time applying, she took the courses & made it through the second time.

Jeans will suffice, yes, you hear about every step in the job process is an interview and so on and so forth. Basically, though, as long as you don't look like a tool, you will be fine. You also don't need to wear a suit and a polo may be appropriate, but overdressed. I have seen a guy wear his turnouts to the test and you don't want to be that guy. Wearing a T-shirt is fine as well as long as it isn't offensive nor outlandish....leave the "Big Johnson" shirt at home.

Really, think about this a little bit, you are taking a written test which is split between a morning and afternoon time. You will have literally thousands taking the test. Nobody at the test site is really going to remember you, nor really your name (unless you already know someone). So really you don't have to go overboard when it comes to dressing up.


If one makes it through the written and goes on to the physical test, the test site is at the tech school. This is the same building where one can pursue a fire science associates degree, do the one semester fire academy, and is also the training academy for Madison Fire and where the recruit training is done.

[fightsnofires54]

Jeans and t shirt are fine. At this point, you are not trying to make a proffesional impression. Dress appropriate. no holes in jeans etc.

[721nle]

Really, think about this a little bit, you are taking a written test which is split between a morning and afternoon time. You will have literally thousands taking the test. Nobody at the test site is really going to remember you, nor really your name (unless you already know someone). So really you don't have to go overboard when it comes to dressing up.

Yeah, that's kind of how I feel about it, too. Thousands of people. It's not an interview.

The physical agility test in Madison is NOT the CPAT. They do their own version, there are aspects of the CPAT in it, but each individual event is timed. One also does not have to pass each event to pass the test overall, it is based on a points system.

Hmm...I'm not too sure about this one only because I know 2 people who each failed different tests and it sounds as if they were disqualified because of it.

Although it would be really awesome if you are right on this, so I'm crossing my fingers!

[jccrabby3084]

Hmm...I'm not too sure about this one only because I know 2 people who each failed different tests and it sounds as if they were disqualified because of it.

Although it would be really awesome if you are right on this, so I'm crossing my fingers!

Regarding the written test, yep, there will be a lot of people and really those taking part in it as either a name taker or test taker really has no say in the interview process, so really there is no reason to "dress for success" as some may say.

As for their PAT, like I mentioned, it is NOT the CPAT. You put on a coat, helmet, gloves (no pants) and an SCBA for the test....different already from the CPAT. The test consisted of a stair climb on a step mill, followed by a ladder "take down" (a roof ladder at apparatus height) place it in a marked area, then do a ladder extension, don't let the ladder drop, go back and replace the roof ladder. Then you do a hose advance, followed by a roof simulator, search maze, victim carry, and then a ceiling push pull, which can be quite tough especially at the end.

[WDFF18]

How'd everyones written exams go?

I felt good about the reading comprehension. Everything else I just answered honestly and hopefully they like what they see.

[WTF227]

any updated news ????

[grn bay]

Took the written test, didnt seem to bad.

Does anyone have any more details about the PAT. I watched the video on the Madison website, are the times for the physical test ranked or is it pass fail?

Has anyone taken this test before that can offer any tips?

[jccrabby3084]

Took the written test, didnt seem to bad.

Does anyone have any more details about the PAT. I watched the video on the Madison website, are the times for the physical test ranked or is it pass fail?

Has anyone taken this test before that can offer any tips?

The individual events are based on a points system, there are some critical fail points for some events, but the events are individually timed, not an overall time. The tip I would give is to take advantage of the practice sessions when offered and when it comes to the search maze, to do a proper search. Also, the last station, the pike pole station, can be brutal, in order to get max points for the station you have to do so many sets of push/pulls and so many reps. By the end your gloves can slip and it is difficult to keep a grip.

[WDFF18]

any updated news ????

At this point its a whole lot of hurry up and wait. I believe we don't get the word if we move on until the end of the month.

[WDFF18]

Anybody get their letter this week? I had a buddy who got his saying he's not moving on but I didn't even get a letter.

[guardo83]

I have heard nothing

[WDFF18]

Got my letter, I will be participating in the physical exam.

[EgressOne]

I just received my invite to participate in the physical agility test. I was hoping for a written exam test score, but no luck.

[RRFD11]

Received my letter to participate in the physical ability exam. If this process is like the last hiring process rankings will not be handed out until after an Oral Board Interview (next step after physical ability exam). You will then be assigned a group to participate in an interview with Chief Amesqua at a later date.

[thisists]

Mine came today. It was mailed on the 25th. Test set for May 25th. Anyone know how many took the written exam and how many moved to the PAT?

[WTFD227]

Got my letter, moving on good luck to all .