Getting hired in today’s economy is extremely difficult. Many departments are still trying to figure out what their budgets are going to be. The federal and state governments are still a moving target, which means that the cities and counties are still uncertain as to their financial status.

Here is the way the budget works in California. When a product is sold the vendor charges sales tax. Depending on the city, this ranges from 8.5% to 10.5%. This money is sent to the state who takes a percentage. The remainder is sent back to the city that puts it in their general fund. The general fund then pays for essential services.

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Wow, what a job and the journey was about as bumpy and filled with road blocks and hurdles as you can imagine. However, we made it and to that end we have a new and improved web site for you. Thanks to the design team of Shift Design Studios and the owner Bill Novak. Thank you very much for your time and talent.

First you will notice that the look and feel is completely different. The Logo has changed along with color and format. The one thing that remains the same is NO ADVERTISING. You will not be bothered by pop up ads and flashing banners. This site is for you and we have taken many steps to make sure you are getting what you want and pay for, no Distractions.

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Secrets are thoughts or information that are kept from knowledge or view. To be more specific, they are the things that are important to you that elude you on your search for information that may prove to be important in your quest for a job as a professional firefighter. Success is a favorable or desired outcome. Basically, success is the culmination of all of your efforts good and bad. Now that we know that the secrets of success are not hidden from you we can proceed to finding them. In this two part series we will discuss the secrets to successfully obtaining a career in the fire service.

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The topic that I will be presenting is getting hired in the fire service. This is the first part of a multi-part series.

Whether it’s your first fire service job or you’re looking to promote, I can never emphasize what I believe in. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”.

Trust me when I say that whether you are dropping off your application, participating in a ride-along, or interning for your Paramedic licensure, you are being “judged”.

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A firefighters role is extremely varied which involves working in a vast array of situations and environments including:

• Hot and humid atmospheres.
• Dark and confined spaces.
• Oxygen deficient atmospheres.
• Prolonged periods of physical activity.
• Working long hours during the night when your body is telling you to rest.

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Low back pain is among the most debilitating injuries in the American workforce today. Firefighters are not immune. But what can we do ourselves?

There is no magic bean for mechanical low back pain. There are a variety of choices for care for your back pain: chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, physical therapy, pain killers and muscle relaxants. Whatever your choice: Your healthcare provider cannot help you nearly as much as you can help yourself. Any treatment they do really needs to be additive to what you do yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

First, I want to thank Craig Freeman and the Perfect Firefighter Candidate/Firecareers.com team for allowing me to share of my experiences and thoughts with you, I’m really excited to be a part of this great resource for both future and current firefighters. I also want to thank you for taking the time to read and even comment on the items I plan to share with you now and in the future!

I want to start off with my first blog with a letter one of my fellow firefighters gave me a year or so ago (unsure where he actually found it) as I think it helps provide focus and perspective to future and even current firefighters, and is even timely because of the reference to St. Patrick’s Day. I don’t know who the author of this was, and it is titled “anonymous letter found in a firehouse at the Fire Department New York (FDNY).”

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Becoming a firefighter is anything but easy. Consider, these days nursing is becoming a hugely popular career route, especially here in the San Francisco Bay Area where salaries are the highest in the nation. Recent RN graduates around here can’t find jobs for months and for some, over a year. well boo-hoo! Try getting into firefighting where the average time to get hired runs 5 years!

There aren’t too many careers out there that are quite as hard to break into as firefighting, and so I pose the question: How bad do you want it, and is it worth it? Let’s consider.

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