Hereford and Worcester FRS Firefighter Recruitment Process

Looking to apply for a firefighter position with Hereford and Worcester FRS? Our step by step guide is here to help you through the Hereford and Worcester FRS Firefighter Recruitment Process!

What are the specific requirements?

For Hereford and Worcester FRS, as well as meeting the other basic firefighter requirements you’ll need to:

The Hereford and Worcester FRS Recruitment Process

Step 1 – Application

You’ll apply through the We Manage Jobs portal here.

You’ll be asked in your initial online application to enter your personal details and answer some basic screening questions, designed to make sure that you understand and meet the basic job requirements.

You can save and return to the application at any time but on this particular portal please remember to click on the Save Progress button at the top right hand corner of the page!

You’ll also be asked to disclose any unspent criminal convictions and any medical issues at this stage.

HWFRS are a little different in their application process. Unlike many FRSs, they ask you to upload a CV or word document detailing your employment history over the past 5 years.

You’ll also need to detail your qualifications, and any relevant training or learning you’ve completed.

You’ll then be asked to answer three questions designed to assess your suitability for the job. Please note these have a 200 word limit per question!

It’s a good idea to practice your answer in a word document or similar so you have an accurate word count. This will prevent any of your answer being cut off!

Step 2 – The Online Tests

If your initial application is successful you’ll then be asked to complete a series of online behavioural and psychometric tests. We’d always advise you to try to complete these on a computer, rather than on a smartphone or tablet, if you can.

You’ll be sent a link via email to an online testing platform hosted by a company called SHL.

There are two stages of testing. Stage one involves two untimed behavioural and judgment tests.

The Dependability and Safety Instrument test is a behavioural test designed to find out how you are likely to behave in terms of safety and dependability, and how you view risk.

The Firefighter Talent Screener is essentially a Situational Judgement Test (SJT). It’s been developed to measure your judgements in a realistic work setting. The test will give you several hypothetical scenarios, each depicting a typical situation you could face as a Firefighter, and ask how you would react.

Neither of these tests require any operational experience or knowledge. If you’re successful you’ll then be sent a link inviting you to complete stage two – Verbal and Mechanical Reasoning.

These tests are designed to assess your verbal and mechanical reasoning skills. If you pass the verbal reasoning section you’ll then be asked to continue on to the mechanical reasoning test.

These test will be timed, so it best to prepare for them in advance as much as you can!

Step 3 – The Physical Testing

If you’re successful in the fitness and functional tests there are also various physical tests you’ll have to pass – fitness is a crucial part of the Firefighter role!

You’ll be provided with personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE)on the day.

The tests are made up of activities designed to assess your fitness, strength, stamina and coordination, as well as seeing how you cope with tricky situations you might encounter on the job such as heights and enclosed spaces.

You’ll receive an email with the time, date and location.

The physical tests include:

You’ll receive an email informing you of your results, but these tests are are on a pass/fail basis.

Step 4 – Interview Selection Day

If you’re successful you’ll be invited to the interview selection day which will consist of a verbal presentation, group exercise and interview with a panel from the recruitment team.

Please note – you MUST bring photographic ID with you to the interview selection day or you won’t be allowed to stay and complete the assessment!

HWFRS have a strong positive diversity policy, and as such they will remove all candidates’ personal details (information directly related to sex or gender, age, disability, or marital status) before handing your information and assessment results to date to the interview panel.

You’ll be given information in advance on the topic and length of your presentation – but don’t worry, it will be a short one!

The group exercise will take the form of a task or discussion in which you’ll have to showcase your team-working skills.

The one to one interview will last around an hour. You’ll be asked several questions on aspects such as your skills, experience, behaviours, values and competencies.

You’ll be asked questions relating to your behaviour on certain occasions or in specific circumstances, which you’ll then need to provide evidence for by using concrete examples from your past work and life experience.

This is your best chance to convince the panel that you are the candidate that they want to employ.

Again, it’s really important that you prepare adequately for the day – forewarned is forearmed!

Spend a bit of time thinking about what you might be asked, and write down your responses so that they’re fresh in your mind before the interview.

Step 5 – Fitness Tests and Medical

This is a cardiovascular fitness test, and takes the form of the Chester Treadmill Test.

The Chester treadmill test is a 12-minute graded treadmill walk test designed to assess whether or not you can achieve the minimum recommended VO2 max.

The next step is a full medical. You will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire, then undergo (and pass!) a medical assessment examine your health and fitness against the required standard.

The doctor will also ask any questions they might have about your medical history or completed medical questionnaire.

The medical assessment will include checking your:

There will also be an examination of your eyes, ears, mouth, heart, lungs, reflexes, abdomen and general mobility.

Step 6 – Pre employment Checks

Pre-Employment Checks will be made on all of the information that you have provided in your application.

The final check will also involve contacting your references, and performing a standard criminal record check.