{"id":245,"date":"2024-03-04T23:18:06","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T05:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/?p=245"},"modified":"2024-03-09T00:12:35","modified_gmt":"2024-03-09T06:12:35","slug":"51-firefighter-interview-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/51-firefighter-interview-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"51 Firefighter Interview Questions (Updated for 2024)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>I\u2019ve compiled a list of 51 firefighter interview questions (with answers). If you&#8217;re in the middle of prepping for your interview, you&#8217;ve come to the right spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Preparing for <em>any<\/em> interview can be stressful, especially a high-stakes one like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve broken down each type of question you&#8217;ll likely get into 4 categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Who<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each of these questions has a good answer to it, which I&#8217;ve included below the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re in the middle or preparing for your interview, I would read through each one and be prepared with an answer that fits your background and experience, but also tells the interviewer what they&#8217;re wanting to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-e281900e\">\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">P.S. &#8211; If you need help getting your resume all set for your interview, I can <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/resume-review\/\">review your resume<\/a> to make sure you&#8217;ve got the best chance at getting the firefighter job you want.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:49px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>51 Firefighter Interview Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s\nstart with a list of questions.&nbsp; Then, we\u2019ll\naddress the different types of questions and how to answer each.&nbsp; Here are 51 firefighter interview questions\nyou can be sure you\u2019ll encounter along with their respective category:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tell us about yourself. (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tell us about your family. (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tell us about your best friend. (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>When did you decide you wanted to be a firefighter? (why)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Why do you want to be a firefighter? (why)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What have you done to prepare for this job? (what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What have you done to prepare for this interview? (what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What is the primary goal of the fire department? (what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What aspect of the job appeals to you the most? The least? (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What is the job of a firefighter? (what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Do you feel you are qualified to be a firefighter with ______\nFire Department? (what\/who\/why)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If hired, what would you bring to this job? This department?\n(what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Why do you want to work for _____ Fire Department? (why)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tell us what you know about _______\ncity\/department\/district. (what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What do you feel is your biggest strength? (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What do you feel is your biggest weakness? (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What would your previous boss say about you? Something\npositive and negative. (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What are the most important attributes of a firefighter? (what\/why)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What is the most important trait a firefighter must possess?\n(what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Suppose you found drugs in another firefighter\u2019s locker. How\nwould you respond? (how)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Suppose you noticed your Lieutenant was intoxicated. How\nwould you respond? (how)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How would you respond to another firefighter offering you an\nillegal substance? (how\/who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How would you handle a conflict with another firefighter? (how)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How would you respond if you saw another firefighter steal? (how\/who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How would you handle bullying in the workplace? (how\/who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How would you handle conflicting orders at a scene? (how\/what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How would you deal with an irate citizen? (how)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How would you deal with sexual harassment towards yourself?\nTowards another? (how\/who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How would you deal with a coworker making racist remarks or\njokes? (how\/who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How would you deal with an order against your moral\njudgment? (how\/who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How would you deal with an order that put you in great\ndanger? (how\/what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>When you don\u2019t know an answer, how do you respond? (who\/what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tell us about a time you disagreed with your boss? A co\u00adworker?\nHow did you handle it? (how\/who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If we offer you the job, when could you start? (why)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Are you on any other hiring lists? (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If we were to offer you the job, would you leave if offered\na job elsewhere? (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?\n(who\/why)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>At the end of your career, what would be an accomplishment\nyou would be most proud of? (who\/why)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What are the character traits of a firefighter? (who\/what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Have you ever been in an emergency situation? (who\/what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How do you handle stress? (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How do you handle criticism? (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What are your hobbies? (who\/what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Why should we select you over the other candidates? (who\/why)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What are the roles of a rookie firefighter? (what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What are your questions for us? (why)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tell us about yourself in High School? (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What have you done since High School? (who)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What do you think are the roles of the firefighter within\nthis city\/district? (what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What do you think the day to day activities\/responsibilities\nof a firefighter are? (what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What sort of formal education do you have? (who\/what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tell us what life experience you have that can relate to\nthis job? (who\/what)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s\nimpossible to know exactly what you will be asked prior to an interview.&nbsp;\nEven though most interviews have the same general questions and follow the same\ngeneral format, every department is different and puts different amounts of\nimportance on different information.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On\ntop of that there may be impromptu questions you may be asked that are sparked\nby something you say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nexample, one question I encountered in one of my interviews that caught me off\nguard went something like this.&nbsp; \u201cImagine\nit\u2019s the end of your career, what would be one achievement you would be proud\nto have completed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not\nsomething you typically prepare for, but it was still a great question!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\nbeing said, even though it\u2019s impossible to prepare for every possible question\nyou can get asked, but what you can do is prepare for different types of\nquestions and have answers prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-660cd1f95e2b2\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-660cd1f95e2b2\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/51-firefighter-interview-questions\/#Who_Interview_Questions_for_Firefighters\" title=\"Who Interview Questions for Firefighters\">Who Interview Questions for Firefighters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/51-firefighter-interview-questions\/#What_Interview_Questions_for_Firefighters\" title=\"What Interview Questions for Firefighters\">What Interview Questions for Firefighters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/51-firefighter-interview-questions\/#Why_Interview_Questions_for_Firefighters\" title=\"Why Interview Questions for Firefighters\">Why Interview Questions for Firefighters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/51-firefighter-interview-questions\/#Situational_Questions_for_Firefighters_How\" title=\"Situational Questions for Firefighters (How)\">Situational Questions for Firefighters (How)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/51-firefighter-interview-questions\/#Other_Firefighter_Interview_Info\" title=\"Other Firefighter Interview Info\">Other Firefighter Interview Info<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_Interview_Questions_for_Firefighters\"><\/span><strong><em>Who<\/em> Interview Questions for Firefighters<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A\nquestion I can almost guarantee you will get at some point during your\ninterview (usually at the beginning) is something like <em>\u201cSo, ______, tell us\nabout yourself.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pretty\nobvious what they are asking, but what they really want to know is your\nbackground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sure,\nthey\u2019ve run a criminal background check to see if you have been <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/can-a-firefighter-arrest-someone\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arrested<\/a> and have probably\ntalked to your references, they know the basics.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But,\nwhat they really want to know is, in your words, what kind of person you are,\nwhat makes you tick, how do you spend your time, what have you achieved, what\nare you proud of, what outlets do you have for stress, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nis obviously important information for them to know.&nbsp; After all they may\nbe inviting you to be a part of their family.&nbsp; They want to know as much\ninformation as they possibly can before they offer you the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nis a prime opportunity to tell them your story, your achievements, your beliefs\netc.&nbsp; No matter how great your background, experience or resume is it\u2019s\nimportant to remain humble.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s\ngood to be proud of your accomplishments and experience, but few things are as\noff-putting as an arrogant person.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nlong as your answer includes relevant information to the question being asked\nyou should be on the right track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nwith most of the questions you will encounter during your interview, it is\nimportant to keep this brief.&nbsp; Try to keep your answers under a couple of\nminutes max.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How\nto answer:<\/strong> <strong><em>Tell us about yourself.<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually,\nthis is asked at the very beginning of an interview.&nbsp; If that is the case, it\nis important to take a minute and thank the panel for their time and the\nopportunity to interview with them.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will go a long way and shows\nrespect for them, their time and the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nfor the question, try to keep it brief.&nbsp; As with all the other questions\ntwo minutes should be plenty of time to touch on the highlights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\npanel isn\u2019t asking you for your life story, but rather they want to know more\nabout you.&nbsp; As long as your answer is relevant to you it should be\nfine.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things\nyou\u2019ll want to focus on are your education, relevant experience for the job and\na brief story of what got you from where you were to what brought you in front\nof the panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou\u2019re a candidate who is relatively young (under 23) talk about what you did\nin high school.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Any\nacademic accomplishments would be acceptable to talk about, or any kind of\noutside group or organization that you were a part of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\nwould also be good to talk about any sort of related job experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These\ninclude things like EMS\/fire experience are obviously the best but what other\nskills or experience do you have that could be valuable to firefighting?&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A\nprofessional firefighter not only operates as a first responder but also has a\nrole as a representative or emissary of the government entity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Were\nyou on a speech or debate team and are well-spoken? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Have\nyou learned or enjoy auto mechanics?&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These\nand other skills are secondary to the position but will be well thought of by\nthe interviewers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> What do you feel is your biggest strength?&nbsp; What do you feel is\nyour biggest weakness?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>These\nquestions trip up a lot of candidates, especially when asking about weaknesses.&nbsp;\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nmost common sticking point I hear is that they don\u2019t want to come off as\narrogant talking about their strengths, and they don\u2019t want to come off as\nincompetent by talking about a weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll\nstart with the weakness, as this is usually more difficult to articulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nfirst thing you need to understand is that <em>everyone<\/em> has\nweaknesses.&nbsp; This includes every person you will ever sit in front of on a\nhiring panel.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A\nhuge mark of maturity is being willing to admit a weakness in a given\narea.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\nbeing said, there is no need to feel as though you will ruin your chances of\ngetting hired by admitting to a weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,\nI would strongly caution and advise every candidate to be careful on exactly\nwhat weakness or personal struggle you choose to reveal to an interview panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou have a major character flaw or serious problem, the interview may not be\nthe best time to talk about that. &nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, I\u2019m not encouraging dishonest or bad people to <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/joining-the-fire-service\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">join the fire service,<\/a> but I would be cautious about admitting to a very personal struggle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conversely,\nwhat I tell every candidate I speak to is to choose a weakness or flaw that is\nrelatively generic.&nbsp; One that a lot of people generally struggle with, but\nnobody can really look down on you for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nexample, in all of my interviews I discussed my struggle with being able to\nstay organized.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nvarious reasons, organization has always been a weakness for me, but in past\nyears I have improved greatly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nability to be organized is one of those things that a lot of people struggle\nwith, but it isn\u2019t a big enough weakness to be considered a serious character\nflaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After\nall, can anyone really admit to being perfectly organized in every aspect of\ntheir life 24\/7? &nbsp;I doubt it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally,\nwhen stating your weakness, it is important to always state two things.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First,\nthat you have been working on whatever it is, and have improved, and second you\nneed to state <em>how<\/em> or <em>what<\/em> you have done to improve.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Remember, words mean nothing; action is king. <\/em>(This will be something we discuss a lot on this site, especially when it comes to taking responsibility for past mistakes such as a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"DUI (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/can-i-be-a-firefighter-with-a-dui\/\" target=\"_blank\">DUI<\/a> or others).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Far\nfewer people have difficulty discussing their strength.&nbsp; This is usually\nbecause everyone\u2019s favorite subject is themselves.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nisn\u2019t a bad thing, it\u2019s just human nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When\ndiscussing a strength, it\u2019s important to not just state what it is, but provide\nproof of how you have demonstrated that strength.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both\ntangible and intangible strengths work well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nexample, if you have a lot of higher-level education or experience you can use\nthat as a strength.&nbsp; Most people would see advanced degrees or knowledge\nas an asset.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also,\ndon\u2019t be afraid to talk about intangible strengths as well.&nbsp; Things such\nas patience, persistence and the ability to work in teams can be a huge\nstrength.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,\nyou choose to answer don\u2019t forget that your ultimate goal with this interview\nis to cast yourself in the most positive light as possible.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> How do you deal with stress?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Firefighting\ncan be a very stressful career.&nbsp; Uncertainty, sickness, lack of sleep,\ndanger, PTSD and a whole host of other issues will be present in every day of\nyour career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With\nthe advancements in research when it comes to mental health, PTSD, depression\nand other issues, the management of stress is becoming a bigger and bigger\nissue in today\u2019s fire service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou are asked this, or a question similar to this (<em>What are your hobbies?\nWhat do you do in your free time?<\/em>) the panel wants to know that you\npractice healthy habits or have healthy outlets to relieve all of the\nstress.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These\nthings can include working out, hiking, being outdoors, yoga (yes, yoga!),\nfishing or really anything you may do that isn\u2019t harmful to yourself or others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The department doesn\u2019t want to invite trouble, so they want to know your main outlets don\u2019t include things like binge drinking, smoking, compulsive gambling, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"illegal drugs (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/do-firefighters-get-drug-tested-a-simple-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\">illegal drugs<\/a> or anything else that can be considered unhealthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> When you don\u2019t know an answer, how do you respond?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In\nshort, the correct answer is, \u201c<em>I ask for help.&nbsp; Admit I don\u2019t know and\nseek out the answer.<\/em>\u201d&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Firefighting\nis inherently dangerous, and nothing&#8217;s more dangerous than someone pretending\nto know what they are doing when they don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\npanel is looking to find out two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>The hiring panel wants to know that you are willing to ask for help.&nbsp; Being a good firefighter requires constant learning.&nbsp; With learning comes questions.&nbsp; <br><br>They want to know if you are willing and able to ask for advice from senior firefighters.&nbsp; They also want to make sure you would be willing to sacrifice your ego and ask a question rather than put yourself and others in danger.<br>      <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The panel wants to know that you are motivated.&nbsp; They want to know that you will take the initiative to continue to expand your knowledge without being forced to do so.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> Why should we hire you over all of the other candidates?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nis your time to shine.&nbsp; Sell yourself!&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s\nparticularly important to exude confidence when answering a question like\nthis.&nbsp; It can be hard because you\u2019re so nervous, but it\u2019s critical that\nyou answer in a way that is convincing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Referencing\nyour strengths (tangible and intangible), your skills, experience and knowledge\nall come into play.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be\nsure to keep it brief and touch on a few different aspects that you feel make\nyou stand out as a candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\nare a few common mistakes I see all the time with prospective candidates.&nbsp;\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nfirst of these is being too wordy.&nbsp; This is especially common with the\nquestion \u201cSo _______, tell us about yourself.\u201d&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s\ntough not to say too much because you want to fit as much in as possible to\ngive them the best picture of who you are.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember,\nkeep your answers to around two minutes max.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make\nan outline of two or three points you want to touch on and when you practice\nand speak only to those points.&nbsp; This brings up another important point,\npractice.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\nmust practice your answers before going into the interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another\ncommon mistake I see with candidates is repeatedly referencing negatives or\nbeing self-deprecating with your answers.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\nget it, a lot of people are uncomfortable with the idea of an interview and\nthey may try to downplay their strengths and confidence in an attempt to seem\nhumble.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I can\u2019t stress enough how important it is to exude confidence not only in your words, but in the way, you carry yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, here&#8217;s a video that sums up how to approach and answer who questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Firefighter Interview Prep Course - #2 The &quot;WHO&quot; Questions\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LAijc6qlou8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>So\nnow it\u2019s your turn.&nbsp; Use this list of practice questions to practice the\nquestions which are marked with a (who). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Interview_Questions_for_Firefighters\"><\/span><strong><em>What<\/em> Interview Questions for Firefighters<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This may\nseem fairly self-explanatory, but these questions are geared towards what you\nknow.&nbsp; Whether it be about specific fire\ntactics or you knowledge of the fire service, they want to know what you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou are a candidate who is completely new to the fire service, chances are they won\u2019t be asking you\nquestions about specific fire tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,\nif you are a lateral hire or have experience in the fire service don\u2019t be\nsurprised if they ask you some scenario-based questions.&nbsp; This is your\ntime to shine.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,\nkeep in mind that there\u2019s a good chance that there are people on that panel who\nhave been fighting fires longer than you\u2019ve been alive.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re\nnot going to blow them away with your knowledge so keep it simple and show them\nthat you are an intelligent, competent firefighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou\u2019re a new firefighter, the panel is going to ask you questions geared more\ntowards a different set of knowledge.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019re\ngoing to ask you questions based more on do you know the basic duties and\nfunctions of the job.&nbsp; What do you know about the particular city\/district\n(more on that later in this article) to which you are applying, and do you know\nthe number one responsibility of the fire department?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether\nor not you have fire service experience the panel will essentially be asking\nwhat you know about the job, and what the primary role and function of the fire\ndepartment is <strong>(hint: to protect life and property)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make\nsure you do your research on the city before you get into the interview.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\nmay not ruin your chances of getting hired, but if you are asked a basic\nquestion about the city\/district and you don\u2019t know, it certainly won\u2019t look\ngood for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These\nare questions that are a perfect opportunity for you to showcase any outside\nknowledge or skills that you possess that would be helpful to a\ndepartment.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\nare some ideas that are particularly useful firefighting skills:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Any\nmechanical skill.&nbsp; Small engines, vehicle maintenance, etc.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Knowledge\nand experience in the trades.&nbsp; Plumbing, electrical, masonry, building\nconstruction, etc.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>IT\nor radio knowledge.&nbsp; Working with software or radio systems<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advanced\nmedical certifications\/licenses. Paramedic, Nurse, Physician Assistant etc.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Education\nexperience.&nbsp; Working with children or some kind of teaching\/coaching role<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These\nare all important for different reasons, but each one of these skills is needed\nin the personnel of a fire department.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nis important information for the panel to know as it will allow them to see\nwhat other roles you could play in the department outside of your basic\nfirefighting duties.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\nalso shows the panel that you have initiative and are willing to learn and take\non more responsibility within the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\nare some examples of common questions asking about your knowledge, and how to\nanswer them properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> What is the most important attribute of a firefighter?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nquestion is fairly straight forward, and difficult to mess up.&nbsp; The\nproblem that candidates often over-think this question and don\u2019t provide\nadequate reasoning as to <em>why<\/em> they believe a particular attribute is so\nimportant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things\nlike honesty, integrity, courage, teamwork, compassion etc. are all great\nanswers, just be sure to back them up.&nbsp; It also doesn\u2019t hurt to discuss\nnot only why you believe that particular trait is important, but how you embody\nand demonstrate it in your own life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you may feel that having compassion is one of the most is the <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/7-traits-of-all-great-firefighters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">most important traits a firefighter can possess<\/a>.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou have experience volunteering in some capacity mention that you demonstrate\ncompassion in your own life by giving your time to ______ group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> What aspects of this job appeal to you the most?&nbsp; The least?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nquestions like this it\u2019s important to just be honest.&nbsp; Again, this one is\ndifficult to mess up so just go with whatever really appeals to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\nlearn best by examples, so I\u2019ll tell you what I said during my interviews. I\ntalked about how the idea of working as a part of a team was the most appealing\naspect of the job.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Working\nas a part of a group to accomplish important tasks was something I had\nexperience with and enjoyed a lot.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\nappeals to you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\nwill warn you, if your sole reason for wanting to be a part of the fire service\nis for money, time off, schedule or anything related to that, now may not be a\ngood time to bring that up (more on that later).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nfar as what doesn\u2019t appeal to you, again just be honest.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nme, the least appealing part of the job is watching other people suffer.&nbsp;\nWhether that\u2019s physically, emotionally, psychologically or any other form, it\u2019s\nsomething I really don\u2019t enjoy.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not\nthat I think many people do, but for me I find seeing it first-hand particularly\ndifficult.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\nabout the job isn\u2019t appealing to you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> What have you done to prepare for this job?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nwith all of the other questions just be honest.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are\nyou noticing a theme here?&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\npart that trips candidates up is they feel that they have to have a big\nelaborate answer as to what they did to prepare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou\u2019re reading this article, guess what you\u2019re doing?&nbsp; Preparing for the\njob!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you currently work as a <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/7-benefits-to-becoming-a-volunteer-firefighter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"volunteer firefighter (opens in a new tab)\">volunteer firefighter<\/a>, you\u2019ve been preparing for the job for as long as you\u2019ve been on the department.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou work in EMS or some other capacity, that counts too.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou have a regular workout or training regimen that is preparation as\nwell.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally,\nsomething as simple as taking time to talk to people you know that currently\nwork as career firefighters can be counted as job preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\nare all sorts of ways to prepare for this job, so think about what you\u2019ve done\nor are currently doing and don\u2019t be afraid to include that in your answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> What is the primary role of the fire department?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Protect\nlife and property.&nbsp; Straight and simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t\nget me wrong the fire department has many functions within the community such\nas education, training, fire prevention, public service, maintenance (through\nregular inspections) and many others.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But\nmake no mistake the <em>primary<\/em> role of the department is simply to protect\nlife and property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> If hired, what would you contribute to this fire department?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Before\nwe got into discussing the different question types I mentioned that a lot of\nthe principles and answers are similar; they overlap and can be used for\nmultiple questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nquestion is no exception.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nasked what your contribution would be to the department now is essentially your\ntime to sell yourself (very similar to <em>why should we hire you over all of\nthe other candidates?<\/em>).&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speak\nextensively about your strengths, skills, experience and knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be\nspecific about what you could bring to a department.&nbsp; Maybe you\u2019re a\nmechanic and you can fix anything with an engine.&nbsp; You\u2019ll be very valuable\nto a department.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe\nyou have experience in teaching groups.&nbsp; You\u2019ll be perfect for school\ntalks and other community events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pick\na few different skills or sets of knowledge that you possess that could prove\nto be very helpful to a department and talk about those.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> What do you think are the daily responsibilities of a firefighter?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, there are some out there that think the day of a firefighter consists of naps, occasional working out and TV watching.&nbsp; Here are links to articles that talk about <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"firefighter schedules (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/firefighter-shift-schedules-and-working-hours-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\">firefighter schedules<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/12-things-firefighters-do-every-day-when-not-fighting-fires\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"what firefighters do on a daily basis (opens in a new tab)\">what firefighters do on a daily basis<\/a>.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While\nsome days can be slower than others; if that\u2019s what your idea of daily\nresponsibilities in the fire house is, you have a lot to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nfire department actually wears several hats in the community.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nmentioned before the primary role is to protect life and property through\nresponding to emergencies, but other responsibilities include station\nmaintenance, training, public service\/education, inspections and other fire\nprevention measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally,\nnow isn\u2019t the time to try and make a joke about watching TV or other\nduties.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While\nyou may get a sympathetic smile from someone on the panel, I promise it will\nnot be received well and ultimately hurt your chances of getting hired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nbiggest mistake a candidate can make when answering questions about their\nknowledge and skills is not being honest about your skills and abilities or\nexaggerating them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What you have to remember is that typically there are decades of experience on a given panel.&nbsp; If you try to exaggerate your way through a question, and it is obvious you don\u2019t possess that particular skill or knowledge, you have all but eliminated your chances of being hired by that department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, here&#8217;s a video that goes over how to approach and answer what questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Firefighter Interview Prep Course - #4 The &quot;WHAT&quot; Questions\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DWTXeTttmsI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Your turn.&nbsp; List a few different skills, experiences or sets of knowledge you possess that could be helpful to a fire department.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Interview_Questions_for_Firefighters\"><\/span><strong><em>Why<\/em> Interview Questions for Firefighters<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t\nget me wrong, being a career firefighter comes with a lot of perks.&nbsp; Great\npay, lots of time off, pension, benefits and the list can go on.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,\nif this is your only reason for wanting to get into the fire service now is <strong>not<\/strong>\nthe time to bring that up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before\nI move on with this section let me make one thing clear.&nbsp; A lot of\ncandidates email me asking me if their reasons for getting into the fire\nservice are acceptable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As long as your reasons aren\u2019t illegal, immoral or an attempt to hurt anyone or anything&#8211; don\u2019t let anyone tell you your reasons aren\u2019t good enough or aren\u2019t the \u2018right\u2019 reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll\nhear a lot about the brotherhood of the fire service and reference to\nservice\/sacrifice and alike.&nbsp; While this is all true, we all arrived here\nfor different reasons and on different paths, and your reasons are exclusively\nyours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An\neasier way to approach questions about your why is to think about what in the\nfire service initially attracted you to it.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nsome people it\u2019s the constant change and never knowing what\u2019s going to happen\nthat day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nothers it&#8217;s a specific event or person in their life that affected them so much\nthat from that point on they knew the fire service was for them.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nme, I had a background in soccer and played in the pros for a couple\nyears.&nbsp; When I stopped, I realized what I missed the most wasn&#8217;t\nnecessarily the game, but the camaraderie of being part of a team.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nfire service was the closest thing that I knew of that matched what I was\nlooking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be\ncareful though, questions about your why are easy to mess up with clich\u00e9\nanswers.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I\nwant to help people, <\/em>or <em>I want to give back to the\ncommunity<\/em>, are probably the most common answers any interview panel has\never heard.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s\nnothing inherently wrong with that, but make sure you have some kind of unique\nstory as to what sparked that interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\nare some examples of common questions asking why you are there, and how to\nanswer them properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> Why do you want to be a firefighter?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nis a question I can almost guarantee you will get in some form.&nbsp; It may\nnot be as straight forward as this, but this will be information the panel will\nwant to know.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether\nyou have a lot of reasons or one or two they should fit a few criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First,\nif you have a clich\u00e9 answer that\u2019s not necessarily a bad thing.&nbsp; You just\nhave to be able to back it up with something unique and memorable.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyour sole answer is <em>I want to help people,<\/em> or <em>I want to give back to\nmy community<\/em> you won\u2019t be doing yourself any favors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not\nthat there\u2019s anything wrong with that, but you will blend in with everyone else\nthat has the <em>exact<\/em> same answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second,\nas I said before, your reasons for wanting to work in the fire service are for\nyou alone to determine, and whatever your reasons, they\u2019re not bad.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,\nas I\u2019ve also said before in this article don\u2019t mention anything about pay,\nbenefits, time off or anything else similar to that.&nbsp; Even in a joking\nmanner this will not be looked upon as funny and will reflect very poorly on\nyou and your chances of getting hired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally,\nwhen you answer this question, tell a story.&nbsp; There have been many books\nwritten about the power of story and the impact it has on communication, but\nthis is the key to being unique and memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now,\ndon\u2019t get me wrong just because you\u2019re unique and memorable doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll\nget hired; there\u2019s a lot of other things you must do and need to fall into\nplace for that.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Don&#8217;t forget, people remember stories, especially when they resonate with them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nexample, a couple years ago, I was working with a candidate helping him prepare\nfor his upcoming interview.&nbsp; I asked him, why do you want to be a\nfirefighter?&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\nproceeded to tell me that a long time ago (when he was a teenager) his father\nhad passed away from cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While\nhis father was going through chemotherapy and treatment he was having all kinds\nof other health related issues.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One\nnight, his father took a turn for the worse.&nbsp; It was the middle of the\nnight and his mother called 911.&nbsp; He remembered the firemen coming to his\nhome being kind, empathetic and caring for his father as if he was their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\nwas so impressed that complete strangers would come to his home in the middle\nof the night, put their own lives on hold just to take care of someone he cared\nabout.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From\nthen on, he knew he wanted to be a part of something like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\nhe didn\u2019t know was that when I was a teenager, I went through an almost\nidentical experience!&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My\nfather passed away from cancer, and I watched complete strangers do their best\nto care for him.&nbsp; If I was on the hiring panel for his future department,\nI wouldn\u2019t hire him solely based on having a similar experience, but I can\nguarantee you I would remember him and his name!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make\nsense?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think\nabout your own life and what you\u2019ve seen and experienced.&nbsp; It could be as\nsimple as witnessing something years ago or knowing someone that impacted your\nlife, and you just never forgot it.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So,\nwhen was the first time you noticed the fire service?&nbsp; What sparked your\nfirst interest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> Why do you want to work for _______ Fire Department?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This\ncan be such a tough question!&nbsp; Especially when it\u2019s a city or area you\u2019re\nnot from and know nothing about.&nbsp; Let\u2019s clear a couple thing up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One,\nthis question isn\u2019t going to make or break your chances of employment with a\nparticular department.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And\ntwo, every firefighter out there knows exactly how competitive it is to get\nhired.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/4-questions-for-lt-armand-guzzi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">officer<\/a> on that panel knows that you have probably tested at every department you could and would be just as willing to accept a job offer from a neighboring city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou\u2019re from that area and it\u2019s your hometown or had some kind of great\nexperience in this particular area, this question is easy for you to answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But\nwhat about the rest of us that may have never even been to that city except to\ndrop off our application?&nbsp; What are you supposed to say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A\ngood answer starts with you researching as much as you can about the\narea.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\nabout that area do you like or are you attracted to?&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make\na list of these things and hold on to it.&nbsp; Maybe you know someone in that\narea or maybe there is some other kind of personal connection to that\narea.&nbsp; That would also be good to include on your list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever\nyou do, don\u2019t lie and certainly don\u2019t say something to the effect of <em>it pays well<\/em>.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like\nwith everything else, answering this question properly begins with you doing\nyour research on the city\/district and department to which you are applying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> Are you on any other Fire Department hiring lists?&nbsp; If you were\ncalled by another city would you leave for that department?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>These\nare two tough questions.&nbsp; Questions that I have personally received in\nevery interview I have had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For\nthe first question, are you on any other fire department hiring lists?&nbsp;\nThis question is best answered by being honest which in most cases the answer\nis yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nI said before, every person on that panel knows how difficult and competitive\nit is to get hired, and most if not all of them would give any candidate the\nsame advice of testing as much as you can.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\nwon\u2019t hold it against you that you are doing everything you can to achieve your\ngoal of being a career firefighter, and if they do, trust me, that\u2019s a place\nyou don\u2019t want to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nsecond question, if you were called by another city would you leave for that\ndepartment?&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In\nmy opinion, this is a bit of a loaded question.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Going through the hiring, on-boarding, and training process is really expensive.&nbsp; The tests (physical, written, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"polygraph (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/firefighter-polygraph\/\" target=\"_blank\">polygraph<\/a>, psychological etc.) all cost way more than most people realize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After\nthat, if you\u2019re hired they need to spend more money for your gear, your salary,\nyour benefits and so on.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once\nyou\u2019re hired they\u2019re spending even more money on you training, maybe paying\nsomeone overtime for other training and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\na department hires you they have already invested a significant amount of money\ninto you and your success with their department.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou tell them flat out that you are going to leave at the first opportunity\nwhat do you think that would do to your chances of employment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\nneed to ask yourself, what\u2019s your goal?&nbsp; If your goal is to get hired and\nbecome a career firefighter, you should answer accordingly.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because,\nthe truth is, you have no idea if another city is going to call.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nis a typical interview questions.&nbsp; It\u2019s designed to find out what kind of\ndrive, determination and vision you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nis a good time to talk about your passion for the fire service, and how this is\nwhere you see yourself for the rest of your career.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have any ambitions to expand your role through other specialties and training such as <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"rope rescue (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/rope-rescue\/\" target=\"_blank\">rope rescue<\/a>, hazmat or water rescue?&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have any aspirations to move up through the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"ranks in a fire department (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/fire-department-ranks-and-structure-a-complete-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\">ranks in a fire department<\/a>?&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nso, talk about those things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a minute to write these things down and start using them as talking points for your answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, here&#8217;s a video that goes over what to expect and how to answer why questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Firefighter Interview Prep Course - #3 The &quot;WHY&quot; Questions\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z4OJ9PodtKQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Situational_Questions_for_Firefighters_How\"><\/span><strong>Situational Questions for Firefighters (<em>How<\/em>)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The\ndreaded situational questions!&nbsp; These tend to give candidates a really\nhard time.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A\npart of the reason is because a lot of times these, unlike the who, what, and\nwhy questions don\u2019t relate exactly to you, your knowledge, skills and\nabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re\nall experts about ourselves, but that\u2019s usually not the case about difficult\nsituations.&nbsp; The types of questions that present some kind of moral,\nsafety or ethical dilemma that leaves you wondering exactly how to answer the\nquestion.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes,\nthere is a right way to answer these questions, and yes, if you don\u2019t answer\nthem correctly it will reflect poorly on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nwith the questions that ask about your knowledge, if you don\u2019t have any actual\nfire service experience they probably won\u2019t be asking you questions directly\ninvolving fire tactics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,\nthey will want to know that you are able to think through situations in a\nlogical way and make the correct decision.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These\nare meant to test your problem-solving skills and give the panel an insight\ninto how you would think through dilemmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\nare some examples of situational questions you may receive in an upcoming\ninterview.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nscenarios listed are meant to be general, the real interview will give you more\nspecific scenarios &#8211; these are just meant to be a reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> How would you deal with conflicting orders on a scene?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nis a very popular question, and there\u2019s a good chance you will be asked this in\nsome form or another.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually\nthe question will paint the scenario as you are on the scene of an incident\nwhen the Lieutenant (Officer A) gives you orders to do one thing while a\nCaptain\/Chief (Officer B) gives you orders to do another.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How\nwould you respond?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Almost every accident, mistake and unfortunately death on the fire ground comes down to one thing; communication.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\nis imperative that you let the panel know you understand the importance of communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\ntruth is, 9 times out of 10 in the real world if you relayed to any officer\nthat you were already assigned to a task he would find someone else to handle\nwhat they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But,\na simple way to answer this question is to tell Officer B that you have already\nreceived orders from Officer A to do a certain task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask\nOfficer B if he would like you to continue doing that original task or if he\nwould like you to begin the new task that he has assigned.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If Officer B says he wants you to discontinue your old task and begin with the new task he has assigned, <em>communicate<\/em> to Officer A that Officer B has reassigned you to a new task, and begin working on the new task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\nis not your place as a <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/probationary-firefighter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">probationary firefighter<\/a> to decide what task is\nmore important or try to do both.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\na new guy your job in this scenario is to communicate, take orders and complete\nthe task.&nbsp; Let the logistics and priority of certain tasks be determined\nby the officers on a scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally,\nwhoever the higher-ranking officer is who you should listen to.&nbsp; The chain\nof command is very important and respected in almost every instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> How would you respond to an order that puts you or others in great\ndanger?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nquestion can throw a lot of candidates off because they lose sight of the most\nimportant thing on the fire ground.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Safety<\/strong>.&nbsp;\nIt is number one priority on any scene regardless of the scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A\ngood way to go about answering this question is to let the panel know that you\nunderstand that firefighting is inherently dangerous.&nbsp; Most people don\u2019t\ngo into burning structures, and that alone is cause for risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,\nyou must let them know that you\nunderstand that safety of yourself and your crew are the top priorities on any\nscene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell\nthe panel that if you saw something that you felt was unsafe you would relay\nthat to your officer and clarify the order.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nyou were told to continue anyways you should trust the experience and knowledge\nof your officer and continue with the task assigned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> Would you ever refuse an order?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>It\nfeels odd calling this a trick question.&nbsp; But, this is a trick question!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember\nwhat we talked about at the beginning of this section?&nbsp; They, the hiring\npanel, want to see how you think and problem solve for yourself.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\nwant to know that you\u2019re not just a robot that will do whatever you are ordered\nto do regardless of the consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply\nput, the answer to this question is yes, you would refuse an order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\nwould (and should) refuse an order if it puts you in a situation that is an\nobvious threat to life safety.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now,\nwe can spend all day chasing what if\u2019s, and that\u2019s part of what makes the job\ndifficult.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But,\nyou\u2019d be hard pressed to find any officer that would want one of their\nfirefighters to put themselves in an obvious life-threatening situation like\nthat just because they said so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> How would you respond if you found drugs\/alcohol in another\nfirefighter\u2019s locker?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Now\nwe\u2019re beginning to move beyond the questions that relate to the job and on to\nmore interpersonal types of questions.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These\nare important for the panel to ask as you will be spending so much time\ntogether with your future crew.&nbsp; They want to know how you would act in\ndifferent scenarios outside of firefighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nname of the game here is respect.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s\nimportant should you ever have an issue with another that you approach the\nindividual in private.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After\nall, it could just be a misunderstanding and you don\u2019t need everyone knowing\nabout the issue.&nbsp; So, step one is to approach the individual in\nprivate.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nis where I see a lot of candidates get tripped up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Do\nnot ever feel as though you are supposed to look out for or cover for someone\ndoing something that is illegal, immoral or not in line with the policies of\nthat department.&nbsp; <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doing\nso is not only wrong, but a danger to you and your crew.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember\nin an earlier question when we discussed the importance of life safety?&nbsp;\nThe same applies here, and it would be irresponsible and dangerous to allow\nanother firefighter to continue while intoxicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s\nimportant that this information is relayed to a superior officer.&nbsp; Follow\nthe chain of command appropriately, and once you have done this your job is\ncomplete.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\nhave treated your fellow firefighter with respect and looked out for the safety\nof yourself and your crew by reporting the incident to an officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to answer:<em>\nHow would you respond if you witnessed another firefighter steal?&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Again,\nthis is a pretty generic scenario.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In\nyour interview they may paint a picture of you being at the store, doing\noverhaul in a house or some other scenario where you watch a fellow crew member\nsteal something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nsame rules apply here as with the last question.&nbsp; Approach the individual\nprivately and make them aware of what you witnessed.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After\nall, it may just be a misunderstanding (probably not, but you never\nknow).&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However,\nif it is not a misunderstanding you absolutely must let your officer know about\nwhat you witnessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This\ngives a lot of people anxiety.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nobody\nwants to be seen as a snitch, especially when you are a <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/probationary-firefighter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">probationary firefighter<\/a>, but not doing something\nand reporting it is not only wrong, but ultimately it hurts you and the entire\ndepartment.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Never\nfeel as though you are supposed to cover for another individual\u2019s illegal or\nimmoral activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> How would you deal with an irate citizen? <\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>First\nand foremost be safe!&nbsp; Are you noticing\nthe pattern here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately,\nin today\u2019s world people are unpredictable.&nbsp; It has become a regular thing\nto hear in the news about police, EMS and fire personnel being attacked.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If\nfor any reason you feel as though this individual is a threat to you or the safety\nof your crew the first thing you need to do is get to safety and ask for police\nassistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But,\nlet\u2019s assume it\u2019s the 90-year-old lady in the grocery store who is upset about\nwhere the <a href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/7-types-of-fire-trucks-and-what-they-do\/\">fire truck<\/a> was parked (yes, this happens).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Assuming\nthat there is no threat to you or your crew, it is important that you listen to\nany citizen that addresses you.&nbsp; Whether it\u2019s something valid or\nridiculous it\u2019s important to respect and listen to members of the\ncommunity.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do a quick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCImFIupG_THxdM92rYqNUyw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"YouTube (opens in a new tab)\">YouTube<\/a> search and you will find lots of great examples of firefighters listening to and respecting people who are out of control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally,\nwhatever their complaint, it is best practice to refer this individual to your\nsuperior officer.&nbsp; Let them be the one to handle the situation as they likely\nhave more experience and could refer them to better resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to\nanswer:<em> How would you handle a situation where you witnessed bullying?<\/em><\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This\nis a tough question to answer.&nbsp; If you\u2019ve never been a part of the fire\nservice before, the culture is very unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll\nhear a lot of talk about the kitchen table and this is where a lot of\nnicknames, jokes and verbal sparring will happen.&nbsp; I don\u2019t mean that in a\nbad way, it\u2019s just part of the culture and something that you will absolutely\nencounter at some point in your career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s\ntough to discern what is and isn\u2019t bullying especially in today\u2019s world where\njust the word <em>bullying<\/em> can put people on edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\ngood news is that the best way to approach this question is really quite\nsimple.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As\nwith any disagreement or misunderstanding it is important to approach the\nindividual in private and make sure they are okay.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll\nhear a lot of people say that you have to have thick skin in the fire service,\nand while that is absolutely true that doesn&#8217;t make disrespect and degradation\nof an individual acceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you see that someone is <em>truly<\/em> being bullied, that\u2019s unacceptable and should be reported to an officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, here&#8217;s a video that goes over what to expect and how to answer situational (how) interview questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Firefighter Interview Prep Course - #5 The Firefighter Scenario Interview Questions\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Gx5cvRh0wFg?start=1&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_Firefighter_Interview_Info\"><\/span><strong>Other Firefighter Interview<\/strong> <strong>Info<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Earlier\nin this article I discussed the importance of doing your research on a\ndepartment <em>before<\/em> your interview\nstarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\nis a simple checklist of things to keep in mind and research ahead of\ntime.&nbsp; Not all of this information will\nbe easily accessible, but it can usually be found on the city\u2019s website or some\nother form of public information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. City population. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. Department apparatus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3. Size of the city (square miles) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>4. Major landmarks (large buildings, major roads, golf\ncourses, large factories etc) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>5. Department functions (fire, fire\/ems, fire\/ems\/rescue,\nspecial capabilities, other services offered etc) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>6. Number of incidents in previous years <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>7. Medical control <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>8. Chief and officers <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>9. Major events in the city\/district <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>10. Major past events<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n                <div class=\"ml-embedded\" data-form=\"d7ViWE\"><\/div>\n            \n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other resources you may be\ninterested in:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"What is appropriate firefighter interview attire? (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/firefighter-interview-attire\/\" target=\"_blank\">What is appropriate firefighter interview attire?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Should you have a closing statement during your firefighter interview? (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/firefighter-interview-closing-statement\/\" target=\"_blank\">Should you have a closing statement during your firefighter interview?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"A quick guide to firefighter polygraphs (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/firefighter-polygraph\/\" target=\"_blank\">A quick guide to firefighter polygraphs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"How to prepare for the Chief\u2019s interview (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/fire-chief-interview\/\" target=\"_blank\">How to prepare for the Chief\u2019s interview<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019ve compiled a list of 51 firefighter interview questions (with answers). If you&#8217;re in the middle of &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"51 Firefighter Interview Questions (Updated for 2024)\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/firefighternow.com\/51-firefighter-interview-questions\/#more-245\" aria-label=\"Read more about 51 Firefighter Interview Questions (Updated for 2024)\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":246,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,17,7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>51 Firefighter Interview Questions (Updated for 2024) | FireFighterNow<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I\u2019ve compiled a list of 51 firefighter interview questions (with answers). 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