Career Advice for a Firefighter

Firefighters work in various emergency situations to extinguish fires and handle dangerous incidents where the public or property is at risk. They respond to emergency calls, including car accidents, floods, fires, and chemical or hazardous substance spills. Firefighters work in various environments, including homes, businesses, and public spaces.

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How to Become a Firefighter

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Firefighter

Should you wish to work as a Firefighter you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Firefighter

  • GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A to C equivalent) in English and Maths
  • Full driving licence
  • Over the age of 18
  • Ability to pass fitness, medical and enhanced background checks

Key Responsibilities for a Firefighter

  • Inspecting fire and safety equipment in homes and businesses
  • Collaborating with police and ambulance services
  • Monitoring and maintaining fire service vehicles
  • Managing and extinguishing fires
  • Attending accident scenes to manage and reduce risk to the public and property
  • Analysing fire scenes to identify possible causes
  • Participating in fire drills and training
  • Promoting fire safety via talks and training sessions
  • Preparing incident reports
  • Maintaining physical strength and stamina

What to expect as a Firefighter

Working as a firefighter involves attending various emergencies and incidents to control fires, protect the public, and minimise property damage. You will need to extinguish fires, provide emergency medical assistance and handle dangerous situations. Firefighters regularly carry out fire safety training and inspections and conduct fire drills. To succeed as a firefighter, you will need excellent physical strength and remain calm in intense and stressful situations.

Recommended Firefighter Jobs

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How to get Firefighter Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Firefighter job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Firefighter application. If you have not held a Firefighter position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Firefighter role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Firefighter CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Firefighter application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Firefighter in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Firefighter 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Firefighter and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Firefighter experience.

How to get Firefighter Experience

What does it take to be a Firefighter? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Firefighter jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Firefighter through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Firefighter Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Firefighter part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Firefighter or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Firefighter freelance work

If you have impressive Firefighter qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.