What is the PQA based Application Form?

The PQA based application form is the first stage of the National Firefighter Selection Process. The National Firefighter Selection Process is used throughout most UK FRS (although may vary in some Scottish Brigades.) Even with regional variations, most FRS use PQA based questions for at least part of the application form -Not sure what a PQA is? 

The National Firefighter Selection Application Form is similar to any other in that it is a structured document containing a set number of questions and a space to answer these questions, within a set word limit. You will also have a page requesting personal details such as name, address etc but this sheet will usually be removed before your application is assessed to ensure your anonymity. From that stage on your application will only be identifiable from an assigned applicant number.

Where do I get an Application for the Fire Service?

We do not have Application Forms to send to our customers. All Applications can be supplied by your chosen Fire Service. Please contact them for details.

What type of questions will I have in the application form?

The PQA Based Application Form means that all questions are based on the PQAs. All answers are measured on how well they match the type of behaviours described by the PQAs. Visit our Store to find out how we can help you with your Application form.

PQA type questions* follow a very structured format. Some FRS may also choose to include more traditional questions such as ‘describe why you want to be a firefighter’ or ‘explain what you would bring to the role’. However, these type of questions have been phased out of many organisations, both within the FRS and in the commercial sector, because they do not provide as reliable evidence about candidate suitability, as PQA type questions.

*In non-FRS organisations these type of questions may be referred to as competency based or behavioural.

How do I answer PQA questions?

You will be asked to answer PQA questions based on your own experiences. Answer as truthfully as possible as it is usually fairly easy to spot a made-up or exaggerated answer. It is also worth remembering that a core principle of the FRS is Commitment to Diversity & Integrity. If you can’t be honest in your application, it sheds doubt on your integrity overall.

The questions are phrased such as this:

‘Please describe a time where you have worked effectively with others’

• ‘Can you give an example of a time where you have resolved a challenging problem?’
• ‘Provide an example of when you have had to meet high standards’
• ‘Please describe when you have had to create a detailed plan’

These types of questions will ask you about what you have done, not what you might do or what your opinion about something is. This is a much more reliable way of finding out about how you behave and what your attitudes are.

If you are asked what you might do it can turn into an exercise in you trying to guess what they (the markers) want to see. It can have little to do with your actual skills or aptitudes. If you are asked your opinion it can lead to subjectivity in the assessment i.e. there is a danger of not being rated as highly if your opinion does not match your assessors.

Looking for something extra? Click here to find out more information about our Application Feedback service.  It’s so good several customers have said they would pay twice as much for it, although the good news is you won’t have to!

How to answer your PQA question

Structure your answer according to the following guidelines, making sure you cover:

Situation- an overview of the situation;

Task- what you had to do

Action- what action you took/ how you tackled the issue;

Result- what was the outcome.

This is easy to remember by the acronym ‘STAR’

The application form actually divides the sections for you into ‘Situation’, ’Role’ and ‘Result’.

Remember

• Include plenty of detail related to the actions you took, rather than lots of detail setting the scene. It is your role in the situation that is the most crucial evidence for you to provide.
• Describe what the impacts were of your actions and why you took these actions.
• Make sure your language is easy to understand and try not to include irrelevant detail.
• Ask someone else to read your example to make sure what you have written is clear and doesn’t leave too many questions unanswered. Remember, this isn’t an interview, you won’t have a chance to respond!
• Follow the guidelines in terms of length of response/ text size etc. You will have 150 words per answer. Don’t exceed this, but make sure you don’t use less than your word allocation. This is crucial. You only have 150 words to prove you have got what it takes. Don’t waste any of them.
• Check for repetition or any detail which does not add to your answer in terms of how effectively you behaved.
• Don’t try to include direct quotes from the PQAs in your answer. It isn’t enough to show you are aware of the PQAs; you need to show, in your own words, how you demonstrated them. For instance, it’s no good saying, ‘I demonstrated effective teamwork’, without explaining what you did; in what way it was effective; and what the results were to prove it was effective!

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