The following is a list of jobs with transferable skills. These are the skills that can help you attain a firefighter interview and sell your self at the interview table. A common question that is asked
“Tell us what you have done to prepare for the position of firefighter? When discussing your preparation in relation to your work history, below are some examples of points you want to mention to sell your self.
Medical – (paramedic, st. john’s, first aid Cpr instructor, ems transfer service)
- Patient assessments – example
- Symptom relief – types – Narcan/ epi /
- IV skills
- Driving in emergency situations
- Truck checks
- Checking vitals BP/SAT/ Breathing rate/ PR/ Pupils/ Skin
- Radio communications
- Understanding heart rhythm
- Defib/ resuscitator/ other equipment
- Specializations?
- Teaching?
Building Construction (labourer- red seal trade)
- Knowledge
- old vs new
- Experience in framing
- Installing truss roofs – explain knowledge
- I floor trusses – made of glue board – fail in under 5-10 min
- Heavy Equipment
- Excavators
- Skid steers
- Boom/ genie lift trucks
- Dump trucks
- Small Engines
- Chain Saws
- Generators
- Portable pumps
- Concrete circular saw
- Electrical Tools
- Sawz all
- Drills
- Other Equipment
- Ladders
- Ropes and Knotts
Specialized Rescue (confined space rescuer, haz mat responder (fuel trucks) )
Confined Space:
- Hauling systems
- Sked
- Multi gas detector
- SCBA
- Vortex
- Pre planning
- Ropes and knots
- Training
Haz Mat:
- SCBA
- Pumps
- Damming/diking
- Suits (PPE)
- Using canutec / guides or other manuals
- Driving class DZ
- Decon Operations
- Foam
Auto Ex
Driving Class D Z or higher
- Experience
- Pre – inspection
- Post- inspection
- History/Awards
Mechanic/ Small Engine Repair
- Experience
- Types of small engine knowledge
- Maintain
- Trouble shoot
- Tools/equipment
- Licences
Volunteer Firefighter/ Career Firefighter
- Driving – Vehicles – Pump, Tanker Ladder
- % of training attendance
- Extrication
- Pump ops/ tanker ops/ drafting
- Small engine/ equipment maintenance/ repair
- Training – list a few
- Awards
- Promotions
- Specialization
- Rescue
- Training
- Public education
- Fire prevention
- Medical – Defib/ resuscitator
- Examples of some experiences
Military
- IC/Chain of command
- Radio coms
- Specialization
- Driving – Types of Vehicles
- Awards
- Working in a stressful environment
Professional Sports
Wildland firefighter
- Ropes/Knots- rappelling
- Chainsaw
- Portable pump – Hydraulics – pumps in tandem
- Hand tools – work ethic
- Public education
- Fire prevention
- IC – Chain of command knowledge
- Radio communications
- Extending lines
- Strategic fire attack
Farmer
- Heavy Equipment
- Equipment repair
- Equipment maintenance
- Small engines
- Electric and hand tools
- Work Ethic
- Rigging
