Do you know of someone who is preparing for a career in the fire service, including becoming a full-time firefighter? If so, please share this information with them!
This January marks the third year of the Future Firefighter Experience being offered at the annual Firehouse World Conference in San Diego, California. I have been very fortunate to have served as the lead instructor for the Future Firefighter Experience for the last two years, an idea that was created and supported by the leadership at Firehouse Magazine. The Future Firefighter Experience was developed in an attempt to inspire future firefighters to come to the conference and be exposed to what Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse World has to offer the fire service, while also providing them with valuable career development information.
Hundreds of future firefighters from within California and even outside of California have taken advantage of this great opportunity since the first time it was offered in February 2012. Past attendees have been Volunteer, Explorer, Cadet, or Reserve Firefighters aspiring to become full-time, career Firefighters; as well as students attending colleges working on their fire technology degree. Attendees have also included individuals without any current fire service affiliation, but who have had an interest in becoming a firefighter and were made aware of this valuable opportunity through someone they knew working in the fire service. This program has assisted some future Firefighters become current Firefighters, and has received very positive feedback from past attendees.
Becoming a full-time, career Firefighter is not an easy process; anyone currently working in the fire service can attest to that. Many candidates start the process, and very few candidates actually get hired. The competition to become a Firefighter has never been more challenging, given the numbers of individuals who aspire to have a career in the fire service. A career in the fire service is highly sought out by candidates of all ages and from all walks of life. There is no one-size-fits-all method to get hired in the fire service. However, there are a number of ways a candidate can make him/herself stand out above the competition and be successful in their pursuit of the badge. The Future Firefighter Experience Program will share some key nuggets that all candidates can benefit from if they choose to take advantage of what is shared with them.
Why should someone attend the Future Firefighter Experience? For a number of reasons; some of the key take-aways for attendees include:
- Access to the exhibit hall floor to expose them to the vendors and products available.
- The ability to network with other future firefighters as well as current fire service personnel of all ranks and from around the country.
- Seminars catering to the future firefighter in an effort to provide valuable career development information. Some of the subjects that have been covered in the past and will be covered in January include how to become a firefighter, how to best stand out from the competition, what to expect during the firefighter hiring process, and what a fire department is looking for in future firefighters, just to name a few topics.
Some of the past sessions I have presented at the Future Firefighter Experience include: “How To Master The Fire Department Testing Process,” “Getting Hired As A Firefighter In 2013 – Being The Best Candidate You Can Be,” and “The 3 Most Important Phases Of The Firefighter Hiring Process.”
In the 20 plus years I have been fortunate to serve in the fire service, I have had the opportunity to instruct, coach and mentor hundreds if not thousands of future firefighters, as well as current firefighters who were preparing for promotion. I have a sincere passion for helping individuals get hired and stay hired, as well as get promoted and stay promoted.
On January 28 and 29, 2015, I will be partnering with my good friend, Battalion Chief Bob Atlas of the Contra Costa County, Calif., Fire Protection District and co-owner and director of Fire Alumni, an organization dedicated to assisting future and current fire service personnel. Chief Atlas and I will be presenting “Getting Hired As A Firefighter In 2015,” and “The 3 Most Important Phases Of The Firefighter Hiring Process.” So, what’s keeping you from taking the next step to becoming the best prospective firefighter candidate you can be?
Register now for Firehouse World 2015 and take the next step! Use promo code: CP12 when registering.
We look forward to seeing you there!
STEVE PRZIBOROWSKI, a Firehouse.com Contributing Editor, has over 20 years of fire service experience, currently serving as a deputy chief for the Santa Clara County Fire Department. He is also an instructor for the Fire Technology Program at Chabot College in Hayward, CA,and is a former president of the Northern California Training Officers Association. Steve was named the 2008 California Fire Instructor of the Year. He has earned a master's degree in Emergency Services Administration, a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, and an associate's degree in Fire Technology. Steve has completed the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy, and received Chief Fire Officer Designation through the Commission on Professional Credentialing. He is a regular speaker and presenter at fire service events and conferences across the country and recently published three books: How to Excel at Fire Department Promotional Exams, Reach for the Firefighter Badge, and The Future Firefighter's Preparation Guide, all of which are available on his websites: www.chabotfire.com and www.code3firetraining.com.
