The firebrigade. (becoming a fireman)

[c_dug]

I remember a thread a while back about becoming a fire man/woman, i neglected to mention at the time that im going through the process myself, anyway i though this might be of some intrest to a few of you since ive just got back from my psychometric assesment.

Ill start at the begining.

1. Pick a brigade you want to join, most only take on applications at certain times, i.e. Essex isnt recruiting untill 2010 however Surry (the one im going for) runs a rolling recruitment process all year round. Note that if you fail your application you can not re-apply to that brigade for one year, you can apply to any other brigade across the country though. I think i am also correct in saying that you can only apply for once at a time.

2. The application form. The examiners today told us that only 30% of people make it through this stage, for anyone stupid that means that 7 out of 10 people wont even get to the first set of tests! I havent got the best memory in the world so i dont remember every question however they're things about team work and handling situations, IIRC there is 6 questions and each one has a stringent word limit, i may still have the application form on my pc. If i do i dont mind emailing it to people, ill update on that later.

3. The Psychometric testing. Basicly do you have what it takes to be in the fire brigade?
I sent off my application forms around the end of october and before christmas i had been sent through a package containing a CRB form and the date of my tests (today) so i was given 4 months notice, quite a bit!
I had to be at the test centre at 8:30am and the first test began just before 9. The day consists of 4 multiple choice tests, the first test is Handling data/numbers, this basicly involved looking at a graph or set of data and applying commen sence, there was some basic addition, subtraction and multiplycation to be done, nothing too hard though, for me this was the easiest out of the tests.
The second test was understanding information, this was basicly reading short passages and deducting information from these, most of the questions were pretty strait forward, a few required the process of elimination when the answer wasnt staring you point blank in the face but all in all nothing too straining again.
The third test was problem solving, there was a short sentence at the begining of the paper that was all to easy to forget however it made answering the questions correctly alot simpler. The sentence said "The fire brigade consider saving a life more important than saving property" There were a few challenging questions which basicly came down to what extent you risk your own health and safety to help someone.
The final test is the National Firefighters Questionnaire, this is 127 questions long and is untimed, it is all a matter of opinion and is on a 5 option scale from "Strongly agree" to "Strongly disagree"
I think alot of it comes down to how you answer these questions to be honest.

So that is what i have done so far, it will take two weeks to hear back from them and the next stage is an interview with a panel, that will be sometime before july apperently.

So, fingers crossed! I'll keep you updated on my progress

Oh and i probably havent been very clear on some of that so if anyone wants to know more about any stages that ive been through ask and ill tell.

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[c_dug]

I do have the application forms still so if anybody wants to take a look PM me your email address and ill forward it on to you, its got all my answers on it but i guess it will give you an idea of what they expect from a successfull application form. Oh and i will be removing my address and phone numbers.

Oh and i dont think im meant to send it to people at all so if i dont recognise your username(i.e. you've been on the forum for less than a month or something) then i might not send it to you, sorry but i dont want to ruin my chances somehow (i know my luck!)

Anyway that bit wont apply to most of you id imagine, so just PM me anyway if you do want a look, it wont hurt

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[c_dug]

Got my exam resaults through today, passed

Next stage is an interview with a panel on the 21st april.

I shall keep this updated for anyone who cares

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Congratulations and good luck.

All the best

Keith
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[JonB]

As above, good luck.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[JAMSXR]

Well done
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[c_dug]

Thanks everybody

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[debdimps]

oOOOooooo fireman I'll be watching how you get on, just because

My brother and My dad were fireman, my dads retired now, Old flame they used to call him

One thing they don't teach you is the sense of humour you will need, my dad has some crackin stories, bunch of pranksters at Dudley fire station.

Good luck c_dug
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CBR 600Fi (PGM) in BRIGHT YELLA! (sold)

[c_dug]

Well, i have my interview tommoro at 1pm, very nervous!

Ive been going over some practice questions, they're not definetly going to come up but they're a good rough guide, theres a few tricky ones that i could do with your take on, just give an example of what you would say if you dont mind, ill check this again before i leave tommoro

Also a question that is likely to come up is "why do you want to be a fireman?" im thinking of something along the lines of, "Ive always wanted to be in one of the services, i wouldn't like to be involved in the armed forces as i dont like the idea of killing people and while i think i would find the police interesting i think it would be too confrontational to suit what im after, i feel the firebrigade will provide the perfect balance." Or something along these lines at least, thoughts?

thanks

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[c_dug]

Oops forgot to add the questions these are a few of the hardest, theres a list of the full 20 here for anyone that wants a peek.

When have you made a mistake that affected others?

Give an example of a time when you have encountered different groups of people and tell us how you approached treating everyone as equals. (with this one i cant really think of a time, 19 years of life experience tends to make this sort of question a little harder!)

When have you changed your behaviour following comments from another person.

thanks again.

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[nick606]

first one i cant really help you with but i wouldn't go too in depth like i wouldn't say i once forgot to give my nan her meds so she died

ever had a job in a shop or pub or any public service thingy ? interacting with a wide range of people

for the third one any previous jobs you can bull shit about ?

thats all it is bullshit really

there just seeing how you interacted with people and work as a team. So previous jobs, team sports, wasn't you a lifeguard that be a good one to bullshit about.

[J D]

How do you pick a brigade ? Is it just an online thing or .....?

Cheers

[Fortuna]

Only advice I can give is, be prepared for the reality of some of the horrific things you will see if you get in.
My dad's mate is a fireman and some things he's seen are really upsetting, especially when they involve kids.

[cheesyleps]

All the best with the process mate. Do keep us informed, I am very interested to hear how it goes.

I had to do a week long advanced marine firefighting course in August last year and physically, it was probably the toughest week of my life! I don't think there is much that can prepare you for the feeling of walking into an intensely hot room with literally zero visibility (even reading your bottle gauge when holding it against your mask is difficult) and having to conduct a thorough search for casualties.

If you do get accepted, my suggestion would be to really work on fitness before the training starts. Both cardio and upper body strength (you don't realise just how difficult it is to carry an unconscious person until you try). Not saying you are unfit, but it can never hurt to be even fitter.

Talking to the instructors who were serving fire fighters with Lancashire, the vast majority of failures during the training are down to either fitness or panic during BA entries (not an awful lot you can do to prevent that, purely down to personality).

Despite being physically extremely difficult, it was surprisingly exciting. Would be something I would really look at myself if I wasn't so unfit and hadn't already invested 3 years into training for a different career.

Photo of a bunch of unfit lager-swilling naval officer cadets after an hour under air conducting search and rescue drills. I'm the fat ginger **** at the back

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/Cheesyleps/n507226010_1467192_4363.jpg
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"Son, some day you will make a girl very happy, for a short period of time. Then she'll leave you and be with new men who are ten times better than you could ever hope to be. These men are called Sailors."

[chris-red]

Good Luck dude I hope you do well!
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[c_dug]

Hmmm Im really not so worried about the strength side but the fitness thing concerns me alot, Im not fat or anything but running a 10 minute mile isnt exactly my forte

Oh and with the picking a brigade thing you need to find which ones are recruiting at the time and then download the application pack and send it on to them, as above i have my application here if you want it PM'd to you, you can see what kind of thing they're after, according to the site appx. 90% fail on the application form...

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[c_dug]

Every fucking thing that could have gone wrong went wrong!

That is all.

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[JonB]

Unlucky.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[WildGoose]

It did strike me as that kind of process when I was looking into it. Care to share any more details, they really will make you work for it.

If its what you want to do, keep at it. Some of the folks on the UK fire service forum have been in the cycle for 6-7 years trying to get in.
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[c_dug]

Well i started badly by taking two wrong turns and ending up on the M23 near gatwick with less than 10 minutes to go till my interview was meant to start, needless to say i was late.

The main interview consisted of ~20 questions, it was one interviewer and a lady writing down my answers, the questions were all from a sheet and were aimed to find out specific things about me, i.e. my working in a team or following orders.

At the begining the interviewer told me the interview should last about an hour but the previous interviews had been a fair bit less, mine lasted about 30 minutes.

I think my answers were all bad, i found myself struggling to come up with examples and after a few sentences often found myself regretting the choice of example, for instance for a team work question for some reason i choose a stocktake at work, which is basicly glorified counting, seriously wtf was i thinking!

At the end he gave me an oppertunity to say anything that i feel may help towards their decision, i think they expected something, i didnt have anything at all to add.

So all in all i think it went pretty damn bad! I have to wait 10-14 working days to hear back, im not expecting much but as always ill keep you posted.

Oh and for anybody else who gets to the interview stage, all of the questions i was asked are on the list in the link above, i suggest prepairing very well.

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[cheesyleps]

Mate, don't get so disheartened. The fire service is notoriously picky with their recruiting (as they should be, and as they can be with the sheer number of applicants). Chalk this one up to experience and try again. You know you can deal with the initial stages and now you know what to expect from the interview. Next time you will be there early, be relaxed, and have your answers well prepared.

When it comes to that sort of question regarding teamwork and leadership etc. is there not something "more appropriate" you can call on than your job? Things like voluntary work, duke of edinburgh schemes, or the scout association have a tendency to come across much better than paid work, especially shop work.

If all else fails; lie But make it a good, believable lie.

I went through similar interviews to start my training in the merchant navy. Didn't prepare very well but luckily I was fresh from doing a summer of voluntary work at a scout association camp site and had a lot of stuff fresh in my mind to call on.

If the fire brigade is what you really want to do, stick with it mate. Not being accepted on the first few attempts is not unusual for that job. It takes time, but if you prepare properly for the next interview you will do an awful lot better.
____________________
"Son, some day you will make a girl very happy, for a short period of time. Then she'll leave you and be with new men who are ten times better than you could ever hope to be. These men are called Sailors."

[c_dug]

Ill definely be giving it another go, as you say i know i can get through the earlier stages, i've not written this one off completly but im being realistic about it, ill have to wait for the letter to come through to know for sure.

c_dug
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[c_dug]

Well i knew i'd done bad but i got the letter through today and i really dont think i could have done any worse, i have to go to work but when im back tonight ill update with a copy of the letter incase it will help anybody else when they get to their interview.

The worst part is i thought it was only a 3 month wait to re-apply, i have to wait a year

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Whosthedaddy]

Don't really understand why the application process has to be so drawn out, and as for some services not recruiting or only once a year whats all that about?

Not really anything more can be said other than bad luck.

I've interviewed lots and its not just you that falters at the questions, everyone does. I was terrible in my last interview almost shaking my head as soon as I started to speak as the rubbish examples given
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[c_dug]

I said i'd post a copy of the letter so here it is, its pretty bad, although my mates seemed to find it quite funny

Anyway it should give you an idea of what kind of thing they want to hear in the answers you give.

Heres how the letter went, there were about 20 question all together, split into 4 sections, Working with others, Commitment to excellence, Commitmnt to development, Commitment to diversity and integrity, and something else that i dont remember and didnt get evaluated on. Each section had a either 3 or 5 questions IIRC.