Fire Recruitment and The Importance of Volunteering
Firefighters trace their roots back to the island of Malta and the Knights of the Crusades. When not at war, they volunteered their time to building hospitals and taking care of the sick.
St. John Ambulance and the symbol of the fire service, the Maltese Cross, are two of the lasting icons of these Knights.
To this day, firefighters volunteer their time to assist people in their communities by organizing boot drives for Muscular Dystrophy, fundraising for burn victims, and participating in countless community programs and charity events.
Volunteering is a major reason why firefighters are such respected members of the community.
If you are a fire recruit asking yourself,
“Why am I not getting a firefighter interview?”
A weak resume could be one reason.
A crucial method to strengthen a resume is to add volunteering.
Most hiring managers say they will hire a person who volunteers before a person who does not. Organizations want to hire good people, and good people help people.
This is a trend that is not going away. High schools require students to volunteer for two reasons:
- personal development and
- to be more employable.
Fire departments need people to help with charity projects. A fire recruit’s past track record is a good indicator of his/her/their future involvement in the fire service.
It is not enough to volunteer because it looks good on the resume.
There is a noticeable difference in a fire recruit’s commitment when comparing a person who volunteers thirty hours a week over seven years to someone who volunteers one hour a year at the company picnic.
Volunteering needs to be real and sincere, and it can be done for a number of different organizations over the years. What is important is what you learn from volunteering:
- gained experiences and
- insight.
Volunteering gives a fire recruit opportunity to demonstrate the key concepts of behavioral interview questions.
Firefighter interview concepts include, but are not limited to:
- leadership,
- teamwork,
- learning skills,
- motivation,
- personal growth,
- problem solving,
- conflict resolution, and
- communication.
In a firefighter interview, fire candidates who volunteer are able to provide concrete examples in their answers. This improves their interview scores and demonstrates good character.
Volunteer with an organization, program, team, or charity you like and have fun doing it.
The program is irrelevant. Volunteering provides life experience, and that is what firefighter interview questions are designed to determine.
Fire recruits who volunteer can share their concepts of the world and understanding of human nature. Volunteering also develops self-esteem, improves mental health, and gives a sense of purpose.
Volunteering makes people happier. Happy people are more employable.
If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, consider the following:
- Girl Guides and Scouts Canada
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- YMCA
- Firefighters Without Borders
- OVERT
- Red Cross
- St John Ambulance
- Habitat for Humanity
- Local fire department, hospital, school, library
- Community sports organization
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Learn. More. Now.
- What to Expect in a Fire Recruitment
- How Long Does It Take to Become a Firefighter in Canada?
- What to Expect on a Firefighter Aptitude Test
- How to Prepare for a Firefighter Written Exam
- Fire Recruitment and The Importance of Volunteering
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