How to Find Firefighter Employment

When you are looking for firefighter jobs, there are several strategies you can use to find available positions.

You can use online job boards to find work, contact your local fire service directly, or check out department web sites to get the information you are looking for.

Online Job Boards

Listings for firefighter or firefighter paramedic positions may be posted online on sites like Monster.com or HotJobs.com. Some postings may be for specific positions, while others are announcements indicating the date and time when prospective firefighters can write entrance exams in certain jurisdictions. You have the option of setting up a job search alert to receive notifications by e-mail when opportunities matching your criteria are posted.

Contact the Hiring Fire Department Directly

If you want to discover how the hiring process works for a specific fire department or agency, you have the option of making direct contact. This may be in the form of an e-mail or phone call to get more information. You also have the option of visiting a fire house (in between calls) and asking the firefighters who work there about the hiring process.

This is also a good opportunity to learn more about what the job is like, from someone who can tell you about the challenges and rewards of working for the fire department. For some people, being a firefighter is something they have always known they wanted to do, but for others the desire to do this type of work developed more slowly. Since the work can be very demanding, and there is a lot of competition for available positions, a strong desire to succeed is a must.

Municipal or Fire Department Web Sites

Most municipalities and fire departments have web sites and these are a good source of information about job openings for firefighters. Not only will you find information about the positions they are looking to fill, but you will also find out the specific qualifications necessary to be considered for a position. The site should also let you know what steps are involved in the application process, which has several components.

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