To Take the Job or Not!
A few years ago, one of our candidates, Gavin, was going to a chief’s oral for a training position. Several older and in-service firefighters were offering Gavin their advice. They were saying that he should not be doing this. They said it could limit his chances of being hired by another department where he was on the list. Gavin was focused on what “they” said. Gavin decided to play hard to get in the Chief’s Oral.
My take on this advice is that after you have been a firefighter for a while, you forget how tough it was to get this job. I asked Gavin one question. I asked Gavin how many departments were knocking on his door right now? His response was ZERO – You read that right – ZERO!
I asked Gavin if he could survive on the decreased pay of the training position. He told me he could. You see, Gavin was also a physical therapist. His plan was to pick up shifts on his off days. I asked Gavin how badly he wanted to be a firefighter. He assured me that this was his dream. I suggested that Gavin go into the Chief’s Oral as this training position was the most important interview of his life.
My thought was that if they offered Gavin the job, then he would be elevated into a position of having options. Here is the gist. It can be a lot easier to get another firefighter position if you already have one. And this position is a great way to gain experience and training. Also, it looks great on an application and resume.
Gavin took my advice. He went to the Oral and was offered the position. By the time this happened, he realized the opportunity and accepted the job. The next year, Mill Valley tested for full-time firefighters. Guess who got one of these jobs. You guessed it. It was Gavin – the guy whose firefighter friends told him the trainee position would hurt his chances. He now had a badge! The next year, the department sent him to paramedic school. Then, the department Gavin really wanted to work for tested for fire/medics. Guess who got one of those badges? It just kept getting better. Go, Gavin!
Here is the long and short. Opportunities come our way in life. Being able to recognize and take advantage of opportunities matters. Even when the future is uncertain, your decisions can make the difference and create options. Ask Gavin. He who took the trainee position. It was worth it. Oh, by the way. Not one of the other departments where Gavin was on the list called him during this time period.
Captain Rob
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