Tyne and Wear FRS Firefighter Recruitment Process
Applying in the Tyne and Wear area for firefighter jobs? Our guide to the Tyne and Wear FRS Firefighter Recruitment Process is here to help you know what to expect!
Step 1
The Online Application
When recruitment is open the application form will be accessible from the Tyne and Wear FRS website.
Make sure you don’t miss out on finding out when this happens by signing up for our Firefighter Recruitment text alerts!
The application form contains the following sections:
- Personal details
- Education and Training
- Employment History
- FRS Employment History (if you’ve been a Firefighter, or applied previously)
- Support Requirements/Disability Declaration
- References (One must be from your current employer, if you have one)
- Declaration of any offences
- FRS Core Values
- Personal Statement – How you meet the PQAs
Step 2
The Psychometric Tests
If your initial application is successful you’ll then be asked to complete a series of online behavioural and psychometric tests.
You’ll receive an email with details of how to complete the tests.
You’ll first be asked to complete a Behavioural Styles questionnaire, and Situational Judgement Test
Then there will be ability tests to complete:
- Numerical Reasoning
- Verbal Reasoning
- Mechanical Reasoning
The questions will have multiple choice answers, and you’ll be given a specified amount of time to complete them.
Step 3
Physical and Fitness Tests
You’ll be asked to complete the ‘Bleep Test’, or shuttle run, to prove you meet the required level of fitness.
There are also various physical tests you’ll have to pass. These 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.
The physical tests include:
- Enclosed Space Test
- Ladder Climb
- Casualty Evacuation
- Ladder Lift
- Ladder Extension
- Equipment Carry
- Equipment Assembly
Step 5
The Interview
If you make it through the physical assessment tests you’ll be invited to the final stage, a competency based interview.
In these types of interview you’ll be asked questions relating toy our 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.
You generally won’t have long to wait before the FRS informs you if you’ve got the job! They will let you know either way, but even if you haven’t made it on this attempt you’ve done amazingly well to get so far.
If you’re successful at the interview day and have been offered the job, there are some final checks that the FRS will need to run.
Final Checks in the Tyne and Wear FRS Firefighter Recruitment Process
You’ll be asked to attend a medical and fitness assessment with the Occupational Health department.
The medical is a general assessment to check that you’re fit for firefighter duties, and includes looking at your:
- Hearing
- Lung function
- Eyes
- Grip strength
- Blood pressure
The final pre-employment checks will involve checking the information on your application form, contacting your references, and performing a standard criminal record check.
