I’ve compiled a list of 51 interview questions and responses for firefighter candidates. You’ve therefore come to the right place if you’re in the middle of getting ready for your interview!
With this guide, I hope to provide you with every type of firefighter interview question you may face as well as the response the hiring committee is looking for.
Every question you will receive has been divided into one of four categories by me. They are who, what, why andhow questions.
- What inspired you to become a firefighter?
- How have you prepared for the job of a firefighter?
- What do you believe the daily responsibilities are of a firefighter?
- How would you and your family manage the schedule of a firefighter?
Volunteer Firefighter Interviews
1. Tell me about yourself and why “blank” fire department would be a good fit for you.
Helping first responders acquire new skills and knowledge or brush up on them is not only a commitment, but also a passion for Pulse Point Canada. Pulse Point Canada offers a variety of courses that are simple, affordable, and enjoyable. The Professional Responder Coaching program also enables you to practice and improve your skills even further.
This was posted by the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services. It’s critically important and applies to all recruitments. Understand your life story and the challenges you’ve faced. Don’t rely on questions found on the internet. They should be used as a tool to aid in the development of your solutions, not as the “end all, be all.”
20. Give us an instance where you demonstrated leadership and led a group to success.
13. Everyone who occupies that chair utters many of the same things. What about you can you say to convince us that you deserve the position?
Firefighter Interview Questions
Who Interview Questions for Firefighters
A question like “So, ______, tell us about yourself” will almost certainly be asked at some point during your interview (typically at the beginning). ”.
They are asking a pretty obvious question, but what they really want to know is your background.
They have checked your criminal history to see if you have ever been arrested, and they have probably spoken to your references.
But what they really want to know is, in your own words, who you are, what drives you, how you spend your time, what you’ve accomplished, what you’re most proud of, how you deal with stress, etc.
Thisis obviously important information for them to know. In the end, they might be inviting you to join their family. Before they hire you, they want to gather as much information as they can.
This is an excellent chance to share your background, accomplishments, beliefs, etc. with them. It’s crucial to maintain humility, regardless of how impressive your background, experience, or resume may be.
Although it’s admirable to be proud of one’s achievements and experience, an arrogant person is the most unappealing.
You should be on the right track as long as your response contains information that is pertinent to the question being posed.
Keep this brief, as you should with the majority of the interview questions you will face. Try to keep your answers under a couple ofminutes max.
Usually,this is asked at the very beginning of an interview. If that is the case, it is crucial to take a moment to express gratitude to the panel for giving you the chance to interview with them.
This is very helpful and demonstrates consideration for them, their time, and the department.
Asfor the question, try to keep it brief. Two minutes should be sufficient to discuss the highlights, as with all the other questions.
The panel is interested in learning more about you rather than your life story. If your response is pertinent to you, everything should be fine.
Focus on your education, relevant work experience, and a brief account of how you got from where you were to where you are now in front of the panel.
If you’re a candidate who is still relatively young (under 23), discuss your high school experiences.
Any academic achievements or involvement in extracurricular groups or organizations are acceptable topics for discussion.
Additionally, it would be beneficial to discuss any relevant professional experience.
These obviously include things like EMS/fire experience, but what other skills or experiences do you have that might be helpful in fighting fires?
A professional firefighter serves as a government representative or emissary in addition to serving as a first responder.
Wereyou on a speech or debate team and are well-spoken?
Haveyou learned or enjoy auto mechanics?
While not essential to the job, the interviewers will give these and other abilities high marks.
Many candidates get stuck on these questions, especially the ones that ask about weaknesses.
The biggest issue I encounter is that people are reluctant to discuss a weakness lest they appear incompetent or arrogant when discussing their strengths.
We’ll start with the flaw since it’s typically more challenging to explain.
Thefirst thing you need to understand is that everyone hasweaknesses. This includes each candidate you will ever interview with on a hiring panel.
Being willing to acknowledge a particular area of weakness is a huge sign of maturity.
Having said that, you shouldn’t feel as though admitting a weakness will harm your chances of landing a job.
However, I would strongly advise and caution every applicant to exercise caution when deciding which personal flaws or struggles to disclose to an interview panel.
It might not be a good idea to discuss a serious problem or major character flaw during the interview.
I don’t want to recruit dishonest or bad people for the fire service, but I would be wary of disclosing a very personal struggle.
On the other hand, I advise every candidate I speak to to pick a flaw or weakness that is relatively generic. One that many people struggle with in general, but nobody can really belittle you for it
For instance, I mentioned how difficult it is for me to maintain organization in all of my interviews.
Organization has always been a weakness for me for a variety of reasons, but recently, I have made great strides in this area.
Many people struggle with being organized, but it isn’t a serious character flaw due to how little people struggle with it.
After all, I doubt that anyone would ever admit to always being perfectly organized in every aspect of their life.
Finally, it’s crucial to always state two things when describing your weakness.
You must first demonstrate that you have been working on whatever it is and have made improvements, and then you must detail how or what you have done to improve.
Remember, words mean nothing; action is king. (This is a topic we’ll cover a lot on this site, especially when it comes to owning up to past transgressions like a DUI or others.)
Farfewer people have difficulty discussing their strength. This is usuallybecause everyone’s favorite subject is themselves.
Thisisn’t a bad thing, it’s just human nature.
It’s crucial when discussing a strength to show examples of how you have used that strength, not just state it.
Bothtangible and intangible strengths work well.
For instance, you can use your extensive higher education or experience as a strength. Most people would see advanced degrees or knowledgeas an asset.
Also,don’t be afraid to talk about intangible strengths as well. Things like perseverance, patience, and the capacity for teamwork can all be enormous assets.
Remember that your main objective in this interview is to present yourself in the best possible light, no matter what you decide to say.
Firefightingcan be a very stressful career. Every day of your career will be filled with uncertainty, illness, lack of sleep, danger, PTSD, and a whole host of other problems.
The management of stress is becoming an increasingly important issue in today’s fire service due to the advancements in research regarding mental health, PTSD, depression, and other issues.
The panel wants to know that you practice healthy habits or have healthy outlets to relieve all of the stress if you are asked this question or one similar to it (such as, “What are your hobbies or what do you do in your free time?”).
Exercise, hiking, being outdoors, yoga (yes, yoga! ), fishing, or really anything you do that isn’t harmful to you or others can be considered among these activities.
The department wants to know that your primary activities don’t involve binge drinking, smoking, compulsive gambling, illegal drugs, or anything else that might be considered unhealthy because they don’t want to cause any trouble.
Inshort, the correct answer is, “I ask for help. Admit I don’t know andseek out the answer. ”.
Nothing is more dangerous than someone pretending to be an expert on the subject when they are not because firefighting is inherently risky.
Thepanel is looking to find out two things:
Thisis your time to shine. Sell yourself!
It’sparticularly important to exude confidence when answering a question likethis. It can be challenging because you’re so anxious, but it’s imperative that you respond convincingly.
Incorporating your tangible and intangible assets, such as your skills, experience, and knowledge
Keep it short and only mention a few things that, in your opinion, set you apart from other candidates.
I frequently observe a few mistakes with potential candidates.
Thefirst of these is being too wordy. This is particularly prevalent when people are asked, “So _______, tell us about yourself.” ”.
It can be difficult to keep your mouth shut because you want to give them the best possible impression of who you are.
Remember,keep your answers to around two minutes max.
Make an outline of two or three points you want to discuss and stick to those points when you practice speaking. This brings up another important point,practice.
Youmust practice your answers before going into the interview.
Another common error I see candidates make is to continually bring up the negatives or to be self-deprecating in their responses.
I understand that many people find the idea of an interview unsettling, and they may attempt to appear humble by playing down their strengths and self-confidence.
I can’t emphasize enough how crucial it is to project confidence in both your words and how you carry yourself.
Here is a video that summarizes how to approach and respond to who questions.
Sonow it’s your turn. Practice the questions marked with a (who) using this list of sample answers.
Question #1: Why Do You Want to Be a Firefighter?
Despite the fact that it is emotionally and physically taxing, firefighting is glamorized on television, so firefighter interview questions will determine if you’re in it for the long haul. “I want to help people” is cliché, so avoid that. Instead, you can:
How You Could Answer
“Watching the September 11 rescue and recovery got me interested in firefighters for the first time. But I also understood that you don’t necessarily need to be working on a national emergency to have an impact. Since I’ve been a resident of this town since I was in my teens, I want to keep it safe and improve it. “.
FAQ
What should I wear to a volunteer firefighter interview?
Unless they are neat, dark, and worn with a blazer and dress shirt, jeans and t-shirts are a poor choice. Planning ahead is necessary for any interview so that you can present your best self to those who don’t know you at all
How do you stand out in a firefighter interview?
- Come dressed in the appropriate attire. …
- Share your passion for firefighting. …
- Provide strong examples of previous experience. …
- Be honest about the challenges you faced. …
- Show your willingness to commit. …
- Talk about integrity and ethics. …
- Practice answering common interview questions.
Why do you want to be a firefighter best answer?
One of the most fulfilling and honorable professions in the world is firefighting. Not only do you get to save lives, but you also take on the duty of keeping the peace during crises. A brave risk-taker, critical thinker, and quick decision-maker are necessary qualities for a firefighter.
What are three important qualities that Firefighters needs?
- Excellence in Communication.
- Compassion.
- Fast and Sound Decision-Making Skills.
- Courage.
- Physical Stamina and Strength.
