The Background Check
That’s right. You have made your decision and are ready to give it your all to become a firefighter. You are committed to doing everything you can, within reason, to earn your badge. We hear what you are saying. And, all of us at eatsress.com want this for you, too.
Let’s get started.
How does your background look? Even if you are already a firefighter and making a lateral move, you will still have to go through every step in the hiring process, just like you did as an applicant. You read that right. You will start at square one.
Background checks can be a sticky area. If a career as a firefighter in your future, you want to make sure you live your life as if you were still testing to get your first badge. One paramedic candidate was hired for his first job in Oregon. Now, he was trying to come home to California to be closer to his family. Although he had never smoked pot before he hired, he smoked marijuana on a ski trip with his firefighter friends three years ago. That mistake cost him the position.
In today’s digital world, it’s not uncommon for background investigators to ask what websites will be revealed by your browser history. Some will go as far as to ask for the login credentials for your social platforms. It is not uncommon for investigators to check what you have posted. Recently, a Fire Chief told me that he had witnessed candidates in their last steps of the hiring process that were tanked by what they had posted on Social Media. This is true. And it’s not pretty.
Here is the gist. If you have an interest in becoming a firefighter or making a lateral move, keep your nose clean. We have all made mistakes. If you have a deep dark secret, admit it. Own it. Move on. Back in my day, I went to jail for drag racing. Yes – in my teenage years. When interviewing, I admitted it and owned up to it. You know how this worked out for me. I cannot promise that this tactic will give you the desired outcome, but being honest is always the best policy.
If you have concerns about something in your past or current life, let us know. We talk with firefighter candidates all the time. With 40+ years of experience in Fire Service, we will help you evaluate your circumstances. After all, we have helped thousands earn their firefighters’ badges.
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