The one thing you WILL be asked in your Firefighter Interview!
Wouldn’t it be great if you could get a list of all the questions you’ll be asked in your Firefighter interview?
We can help with some of the most popular questions at FRS Development, and though we can’t give you an exact blueprint to follow we can tell you the one think you WILL be asked in your Firefighter Interview!
There’s one thing the interview panel will definitely want to know – and that’s WHY you’ve chosen to pursue a career in Firefighting.
It’s important that you answer this well – the possibility of you getting the job could depend on it.
How will the interviewers ask?
The panel could ask for this information in a variety of ways, including:
- The obvious – why do you want to be a Firefighter!
- What interests you about a Firefighting Career?
- Why did you choose this career path?
- What does being a Firefighter mean to you?
These are the most obvious, although there are a lot of other ways they might put it!
Why is it so important for the interviewers to know this?
The recruitment team want to know that your desire to do the job comes from the right kind of intentions. Firefighting is challenging, dangerous, mentally and physically difficult work. The want to make sure you’re fully aware of this, and are up to the task!
Some people are drawn to the career for the wrong reasons – they see the job as exciting, a profession that others look up to, with our stopping to consider if the career is actually the right fit for them.
There are hundreds of applicants for each firefighter position that comes up, so the recruitment team want to make sure they’re giving the job to the most worthy candidates!
How can I answer well?!
Take a piece of paper and write down all the things that attract you to the job. Then write down all the positives you can think of about being a firefighter, and all the negatives. This will help you establish your own feelings and opinions and give you a good base for your answer – and it’s important to be honest!
Does your list of negatives far outweigh the positives? Maybe it’s best to have a hard think about whether this is the career for you. Do you want to help others, to serve your community, or do you just like the idea of the uniform and the status that it brings along with it?
These are the things that the panel will be trying to find out!
You can also back up your answer by showing you’ve done your homework:
- Research the career and that means taking into consideration ALL the things that Firefighters do – from the dangerous and heroic to the important communication tasks such as safety talks to the community.
- Each FRS has a slightly different ‘mission statement’ and a set of core values. It’s important that you’re aware of these for the FRS you’re applying to.
- Know the role and requirements of a Firefighter inside out! Prove how you match up to these requirements, using examples from your past experiences.
- Keep an eye on the news and current issues surrounding the Fire Service, in particular in your area.
Of course, this knowledge will also stand you in good stead whilst answering other interview questions too!
Showing your passion for, knowledge of and commitment of the role, and that you’re interested enough to go above and beyond in researching and keeping up to date with what’s important to the Fire Service could give you that extra boost you need to sand out head and shoulders above your fellow applicants!
