Comments on: Fire Service Education – Q&A http://journeytofirefighter.com/fire-service-education-qa/ Chronicling the journey to become a firefighter in California Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:08:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Josh http://journeytofirefighter.com/fire-service-education-qa/comment-page-1/#comment-3953 Josh Thu, 30 Sep 2010 01:09:46 +0000 http://journeytofirefighter.com/?p=323#comment-3953 I work at the Cordelia FPD which is a small department as well, but we see a good share of wildfires among the occasional MVA and Medical call. It's rare that a hiring fire department will ask for either a resume or a cover letter, but on occasion they do. If they don't ask for it, don't worry about it. I don't think it hurts to include them, but fire departments get so many applications these days that they don't want to spend the time going through every resume and cover letter. That may matter to them as you get further along in the process, but even then, they've got what they need. My feeling is give exactly what they ask for and don't complicate it. Ride-alongs are always a great thing! The more departments and stations you can become familiar with, the better. You'll end up with a lot of great experience, knowledge and connections that you didn't have before. I'm not sure you have to mail a thank you to the chief after each one, but it wouldn't be anything less than positive if you did. More importantly, make sure when you show up you've got something like ice cream, cookies, or a healthier treat. It shows appreciation, respect and thanks, and by doing it at the start, you look good from the first foot in the door. If you do write a post-ride-along thank you card, make it out to the whole crew that you ran with that day. The Chief is probably the guy you'd see the least during a ride along. Most likely, you'll be spending the day with a probie or the newest firefighter on the crew. I work at the Cordelia FPD which is a small department as well, but we see a good share of wildfires among the occasional MVA and Medical call. It’s rare that a hiring fire department will ask for either a resume or a cover letter, but on occasion they do. If they don’t ask for it, don’t worry about it. I don’t think it hurts to include them, but fire departments get so many applications these days that they don’t want to spend the time going through every resume and cover letter. That may matter to them as you get further along in the process, but even then, they’ve got what they need. My feeling is give exactly what they ask for and don’t complicate it.

Ride-alongs are always a great thing! The more departments and stations you can become familiar with, the better. You’ll end up with a lot of great experience, knowledge and connections that you didn’t have before. I’m not sure you have to mail a thank you to the chief after each one, but it wouldn’t be anything less than positive if you did. More importantly, make sure when you show up you’ve got something like ice cream, cookies, or a healthier treat. It shows appreciation, respect and thanks, and by doing it at the start, you look good from the first foot in the door.

If you do write a post-ride-along thank you card, make it out to the whole crew that you ran with that day. The Chief is probably the guy you’d see the least during a ride along. Most likely, you’ll be spending the day with a probie or the newest firefighter on the crew.

]]> By: Whats up man http://journeytofirefighter.com/fire-service-education-qa/comment-page-1/#comment-3951 Whats up man Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:52:43 +0000 http://journeytofirefighter.com/?p=323#comment-3951 Cool California, you work out their? I have some family out that way. Right now I work at Riverside Missouri Fire department, its cool but small. Its so hard to get on anywhere, I have alot of friends on departments in Missouri and Kansas, I am from Kansas. Ya so the cover letter thing alot of places out this way dont ask for them but you can turn one in? Another thing I have learned is doing ride along with departments, tell me what you think about this? After I do a ride along type up a letter to the Cheif and mail it to him? Cool California, you work out their? I have some family out that way. Right now I work at Riverside Missouri Fire department, its cool but small. Its so hard to get on anywhere, I have alot of friends on departments in Missouri and Kansas, I am from Kansas. Ya so the cover letter thing alot of places out this way dont ask for them but you can turn one in?
Another thing I have learned is doing ride along with departments, tell me what you think about this? After I do a ride along type up a letter to the Cheif and mail it to him?

]]> By: Josh http://journeytofirefighter.com/fire-service-education-qa/comment-page-1/#comment-3935 Josh Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:07:37 +0000 http://journeytofirefighter.com/?p=323#comment-3935 Hi Jeremey, Great question! I'd love to know what state the department you're applying to is in. The reason I wonder is because only once have I had to write a cover letter of sorts for a fire department application. Normally I apply to fire departments in California, but I did apply to two FD's in Connecticut and one of them asked for a 'letter of introduction' to which I wrote what I'm not convinced would be considered a true <a href="http://journeytofirefighter.com/wp-content/uploads/Firefighter_cover_letter.png" rel="nofollow">firefighter cover letter</a>. It really is more of an introduction, but I hope it helps. Don't copy it word for word. You really need to write your own, but maybe it will give you an idea of how to begin. So where do you live, and where are you applying? Hi Jeremey,

Great question! I’d love to know what state the department you’re applying to is in. The reason I wonder is because only once have I had to write a cover letter of sorts for a fire department application.

Normally I apply to fire departments in California, but I did apply to two FD’s in Connecticut and one of them asked for a ‘letter of introduction’ to which I wrote what I’m not convinced would be considered a true firefighter cover letter.

It really is more of an introduction, but I hope it helps. Don’t copy it word for word. You really need to write your own, but maybe it will give you an idea of how to begin.

So where do you live, and where are you applying?

]]> By: Jeremy Brady http://journeytofirefighter.com/fire-service-education-qa/comment-page-1/#comment-3869 Jeremy Brady Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:25:54 +0000 http://journeytofirefighter.com/?p=323#comment-3869 Hey Josh, I was wondering if you had any pointers in writing a cover letter, in regard to applying for employment with a fire department thanks! Jeremy Hey Josh,
I was wondering if you had any pointers in writing a cover letter, in regard to applying for employment with a fire department thanks!
Jeremy

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