Always the Bridesmaid
Just about every day, Captain Rob and I receive emails from folks who want a career in Fire Service. Some of the emails are written as a thank you. Some are about problems they have run into. Some – like this one – are worth sharing. Doing so might help somebody else. At least, this is our hope.
Captain Bob,
I was one month from being hired for a notable fire department in Washington when I received a letter stating that I was NOT recommended for hire. I had taken the medical, and psych, and turned in the background packet. I had been interviewed by the background investigator. I had even been fitted for turnouts. I received the letter and have been struggling to find out why. Let me give you a little background about me and this department.
For two years, I worked on their city ambulance (in the fire station) for over two years with NO disciplinary actions for misconduct. I work for them as an administration Reserve Firefighter after I had already passed my Chief’s interview. The captain calling all my references was one of my station captains while I was on the ambulance. So, when I was failed out, I was in shock.
No one could give me any answers. H.R. told me to call the two-division chiefs in charge of the hiring process. I called and left 3 messages with no response. I called the captain I had worked with. He could not comment on or off the record.
Finally, I called and left a message with the Chief of the department. His representative called back and said that it was not my psych, nor my medical that stopped me in my tracks. He said that something or a combination of things is why I was not recommended for hire. He said he could be specific.
I want to know what recourse I have in finding out what it was that failed me. I don’t want to keep running into the same wall with future departments. What do you recommend I do? The background was not that extensive. Just employment, friends/coworkers, old roommates, driving record (totally clean), nothing major. Any direction you could send me in the better. Thank you.
– Kevin
Here is my reply:
Hi Kevin,
I’m sorry. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to reverse what has taken place when you are in the background or on probation. Whatever the reason or reasons (you may never find out) you did not meet the standards or culture of the department. Having the opportunity to be around a department, on an ambulance, or as a volunteer, does not always work in your favor.
I know some great volunteers who are still grasping onto the dream that they will still be hired. But they have stayed too long at the fair and don’t have a prayer of seeing a badge. Honestly, they would have been better off testing as an unknown walk-on.
Here is something to think about. When you are in a department regularly, you can become too familiar with the department and the personnel. It is easy to overstep the bounds. If you have not already established a natural bridge, some firefighters will react by tanking you. Yep, just like a bunch of old ladies. You will never know what happened.
I have witnessed new rookies make fatal mistakes by trying too hard to be accepted. They try too hard to impress their fellow firefighters. They forget they are that snotty nose rookie.
The only advice I can give is this: You need to keep your mouth shut, be cordial, friendly, and humble. You have no time or opinion until you have earned it. You can’t force it.
As Captain Paul Lepore so accurately put it:
Even if he or she is successful in the academy setting, their true colors will come out during the probationary period. The firefighters in the station have a unique way of weeding out those that may not belong.
My best advice is to take a step back, lick your wounds, take responsibility for what happened, regroup and try testing for other departments. If you have been let go during probation or fired by a department, it will be difficult but not impossible to find a better fit; especially if you are a medic.
Read that again – it is not impossible.
Captain Bob
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