Behavioral Firefighter Interview Preparation Guide

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Fire suppression systems have a proven record for controlling and extinguishing unwanted fires. Many fire officials recommend that every building, including residences, have fire sprinkler systems.

Prevention attempts to ensure that no place simultaneously has sufficient heat, fuel and air to allow ignition and combustion. Most prevention programs are directed at controlling the energy of activation.

A firefighter (also known as a fireman) is a rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten property and civilian or natural populations, and to rescue people from dangerous situations, like collapsed or burning buildings or crashed vehicles.

☼ I am a person that learn quickly and perform better under pressure, am a very good team player that motivate others in other to achieve the company‟s common goals
☼ Will do well in this job because I already have previous experience in the similar field. so I will use my previous experience in this job and I am interested in learning new things and enhance my skills.
☼ I believe I will do well in this job because I have the relevant skills and experience. I also have the drive, interest and determination to make a real success of this role.

This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely:
I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user- friendly.

For this question you first need to read and understand the job specification, as this will tell you what experience the interviewer is looking for. Your answer should relate your experience and achievements to that of the job role. Often interviewees will talk about experiences that are not relevant to the job role, this will only lead to the employer becoming uninterested in you. Answer sample: I have over 4 years experience as, in that time I have gain.
I understand the importance of and. and use my creative skills to organize and activities to do while keeping entertained. Recently I also won an award for employee of the year.

Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self- improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.
☛ Employers look for applicants who are goal-oriented. Show a desire for continuous learning by listing hobbies non-work related. Regardless of what hobbies you choose to showcase, remember that the goal is to prove self-sufficiency, time management, and motivation. Answer samples
☛ Every should learn from his mistake. I always try to consult my mistakes with my kith and kin especially with elderly and experienced person.
☛ I enrolled myself into a course useful for the next version of our current project. I attended seminars on personal development and managerial skills improvement.

Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off. Everyone makes mistakes, of course, but some companies are more willing to learn from them than punish those involved. You've learned that when you do make mistakes, someone is usually disappointed in the choice you made, but you have to figure it out for yourself, they might help you decide what „s right and what's wrong, but you'll be the decider on which you choose. You've learned that people do care about you, and to not do it again if you don't want to. Answer samples Every one makes mistakes but only few people can realize there mistakes and they don't want to repeat those mistakes again. I am the one in those few people, I don't want to repeat the mistakes which had done by me in my job/work.

As mentioned above, a firefighter should and have to know his important role to people‟s lives, safety as well as to the protection and maintenance of properties as much as possible when a fire happens. A firefighter should remember that keeping human lives is the most important duty. In some cases when doing his job, a firefighter has to decide between lives and valuables. If this is the case, remember that human lives are always prioritized and more important than anything else.

In an interview, please bear in your mind that a firefighter's responsibilities are different from other jobs. And this is crucial because this social job will ensure the safety of everyone and community. If an unfortunate fire happens, a firefighter is not only the savior but also the person who is responsible for the safety and even lives of other persons and properties on the site.

To become a firefighter, your profile shall be checked carefully if you have got trained qualifications and skills in firefighting? Working in a group and in case you haven‟t been trained before, you can influence other persons as well as expose others to risks. Therefore, it is important to answer properly and honestly about your previous training and education courses in the interview. And you also need to have relevant documents or certificates. They can be used to prove that you have been trained before; however, it is not necessary to show them in a short- time interview and if the interviewers don't ask.

This is an important point when the employers look at your CV before an interview as they can have a general evaluation about your abilities. They will assess whether your previous training courses or education are suitable for the job they offer or not. Therefore, training or education can become a critical element in recruitment process, and in the same case, it is the element that decides whether you pass the first round of interview or not.

► What do you think the future holds for the fire service?
► Where do you see the fire service going (how do you see it changing) in the next 5-10 years?
► If we were to contact your present or former employer, what would be one negative point they might raise about you?
► Are you currently on any other fire department eligibility list?
► What would you do if we offered you a position, and then soon after, you were offered a position with a bigger and better paying department, why would you stay?
► As part of the hiring process we will be doing an extensive background investigation. Is there anything in your past that you would like to discuss or explain to this panel?

► What are your hobbies and/or interests?
► Define harassment/sexual harassment?
► What would you do if you were witness to someone being sexually harassed/harassed?
► Have you ever been directly or indirectly or known someone who was involved in a sexual harassment/harassment dispute? What were the circumstances?
► Honesty and Integrity, define them and why are they important in the fire service?
► Pride and Loyalty, define them and why are they important in the fire service?
► What are the advantages and disadvantages of similar groups vs. diverse groups of people when working as a team?

► What duties does a firefighter perform?
► What is the most essential duty a firefighter performs?
► What type of person would you find it most difficult to work with?
► Would you ever disobey an order?
► When would you disobey an order?
► What do you know about the city of ________?
► What do you know about the organizational structure of the ____ Fire Department?

► What kinds of personal conflicts/problems might arise in a firehouse and what could you do to minimize such problems?
► What personality traits do you possess that make you feel you would be a good firefighter?
► If hired what would you give to our department?
► What are some of the important traits a firefighter must possess?
► What is the most important trait a firefighter must possess?
► How could you help maintain good relations around the firehouse?
► What is a typical daily routine in a firehouse?
► What will you do with your spare time while on duty?

► What is the advantage of working in teams?
► Why is teamwork so important in the fire service?
► How do you and your family feel about you working 24 (or 48) hour shifts?
► What makes you think you would be able to deal with the stresses of being a firefighter?
► How have you prepared yourself to remain calm and react effectively at emergency scenes?
► Give an example of a time which you were faced with an emergency situation.
► Explain the circumstances and your actions?

► Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
► Why do you want to be a firefighter?
► Why do you want to be a firefighter for the City of _______?
► What is the most appealing aspect of being a firefighter?
► What is the least appealing aspect of being a firefighter?
► What do you consider to be your strongest asset? your weakest?
► Why would you be a good firefighter?
► Give an example in which you had to work as part of a team in order to achieve a common goal?

► Please prioritize the following in order of importance to you: Career, Family, Friends?
► Suppression, Prevention and Public Education, rank them in order of importance in the Fire Service and explain your reasoning?
► Describe a difficult decision that you've had to make in your life. What were the circumstances and what was your decision? Would you make the same decision again?
► Tell us about a conflict you've had with a co-worker or supervisor. What actions did you take to resolve this conflict? What did you learn from it? What would you do differently if the same situation arose again?
► Tell us about a mistake you've made in your past and what you learned from that mistake?
► What have you done to prepare for this interview?
► What have you done to prepare for a career in the fire service? What have you done to prepare for a career with the _______ fire department?

► Give an example of a mistake you made. What did you learn from that mistake?
► How do you cope with stressful situations in general?
► Present a situation requiring efficient teamwork. What would have happened had the group not worked as a team?
► Do you have any volunteering experience? How did this experience impact your desire to be a firefighter?
► Give an example of a situation when you helped someone. Did you ever save a life?
► Do you have an example of a situation wherein you followed strict rules to complete a task, perhaps against your initial judgment?
► IN your previous employment, have you ever initiated improvement in work methods or suggested higher standards?
► Can you give an example of a situation wherein you worked outside of your job profile to solve a problem?

Even people who answer this question positively can still be part of the firefighting force, as there are education programs, and desk job. Discuss your limitations with the interviewer.

Saving human life is the primary goal. A firefighter must stay fit - firefighters exercise daily. Ability to work with a team, follow orders without fail, bravery, quick thinking and acting, calmness in emergency are all essential qualities.

The fire department is one of the most important institutions in a society. With the fire department in place, fires can be prevented, minimized, and lives can be saved.

Fire prevention, education programs in schools and for groups, and of course rescue of people, pets, and household goods are the main thrust of the firefighter's tasks.

Do not be overly dramatic or emotional in your response, although a bit of excitement it in line. Give your honest reasons. For example, speak about your desire to help others and keep the community safe. If some experience with firefighters or some article or story inspired you, relate it briefly. Of course, for many it is the dream of their childhood; this should be mentioned in passing.