Never give up, never slow down.
Showing posts with label Training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Training. Show all posts
Saturday, 9 August 2014
Thursday, 26 December 2013
The Process
Right now I am getting ready for paramedic school but studying drug cards like crazy, waiting on UFA to let me know if I will be continuing the testing process with them. Until then it's just business as usual.
As much as I would like to be done with school and just start working, this process is just not over until I have the job. So it's just time to keep on going, continue and persevere.
Even if motivation is hard to come by.
As much as I would like to be done with school and just start working, this process is just not over until I have the job. So it's just time to keep on going, continue and persevere.
Even if motivation is hard to come by.
Friday, 22 November 2013
Sleeplessly Testing in Seattle
So as you probably already know I tested for an entry level firefighter position in Seattle. What you may not know what that this was THE test I wanted everything to go perfectly for. This is THE department I want to be a part of, and this was THE weekend where absolutely everything went wrong. So here is my story, maybe you can learn from it.
This is a pretty good visual description of how I felt before this trip started. Confident, ready to conquer the world and just completely on top of it. Then I woke up.
Late.
My alarm found a way to not wake me up and for the life of me I couldn't tell you why. What I can tell you is that I had planned to wake up with plenty of time to pack for my 2 day weekend away, and that all of that time was wasted away while my brain decided to ignore the incessant noises of my alarm clock.
It was pandemonium, I was grabbing the closest clothing to me and throwing it into my backpack. So here's what I managed to pack:
Truly a sensible packing list, right?
The next hiccup in my journey stemmed from traffic. You know how people drive slower than the speed limit because there is a cop? Yeah I got stuck behind every single one of those people on the way to the airport, just perfect. I was a belligerent outspoken Irishman behind the wheel to the point where I about lost my voice.
So after my wonderfully peaceful drive down the canyon, I caught a bit of a break. The perfect parking spot at the airport. I was thrilled, "finally, something is going my way. Maybe this is where the day turns around."
But as certain that I have Irish roots, Murphy's law was out to get me that fateful morning.
I sprinted to the terminal from the parking lot, because who waits for that shuttle? My backpack full of useless junk bouncing around on my back, the cold air rapidly filling and freezing my lungs just as fast as I could exhale the cloud of steam back to the wonderful smelling Salt Lake basin. Positive thoughts in my head even though I know I have about 30 minutes before the doors on that plane close.
Of course, the security line at SLC is backed up out of the cattle herding zone. So then begins the timer game, and I know you've all played it. You know the game where you time how long it takes you to complete one lap of the security line and then you figure out how many 'laps' you have left. I did the math, and it was not looking good. I had about 2 minutes of margin for error and I still didn't know what gate I had to get to!!!
Sure enough I get through security without a glitch, but let me tell you I looked like a crazy person after I got past the checkpoint. I didn't even take the time to put my shoes back on, I just sprinted for the gate. When I got there, the agent was there... the door was closed. I looked to her and said, "I've missed it haven't I?" She shot meet a stern look, which was quickly remodeled when she saw that I had sprinted from security with all my belongings carelessly bundled in my arms.
"What's your name?"
I gave it to her.
"Sit down quickly."
So now I'm running down the jetway and I round the corner. The flight attendant is LITERALLY closing the cabin door when she sees me, she says to me, "sit down quickly!" Of course I comply, I had somehow made my flight.
I turned to the man sitting next to me who was staring at me, definitely amused about how I entered the aircraft. After I was settled in I said to him, "The only reason that I am here, is because of nice people."
Before I continue, and yes there's more, I want to put good vibes out there to everyone who helped me make that flight. You made my life a better place to spend my time.
I had planned on printing a document at my good friend's house when I got there, but it turns out he didn't have one. At first I didn't think it was a big deal, but as I read over the invitation email more carefully it seemed more and more like if I didn't have this document on physical paper I wouldn't be allowed to test! At this point I was feeling a lot like...
Then I started calling everyone I know to see if I could use their printer; it was now about 1130 pm the night before my exam.
Kinkos was closed... I checked. Thanks a lot Mitch Hedberg!
http://funny2.com/hedbergd.htm
Finally I get a hold of my sisters friend, at about 1230 am.... and she has an infant daughter. I felt terrible asking but I did it anyway and she was the godsend that helped me out (for which I am eternally grateful), I drove to her house printed out one document and left promptly to go try and sleep before my huge test. However, thanks to the events of the preceding day I was so stressed out I could hardly keep my eyes closed.
Morning rolls around, I have now woken up about 5 times in a panic because I thought that I overslept again. No such thing happened, we left early plenty of time was put aside for problems we might have AND THEN WE GET A FLAT TIRE! Absolute absurdity, but not that big of a deal as we both know how to change a tire. HOWEVER, the last person who put the wheels on the car had stripped one of the lugs.
Time to call a cab, only the cab can't find me.... at first. OH and I had to borrow money for the cab, just icing on the cake really.
FINALLY I arrive at University of Washington campus.
.... and then I have to figure out where I'm REALLY going. To be perfectly honest, I paid the cab and started sprinting across campus completely aimlessly just hoping for the best which happened to be one of the only things that I got right.
I made it, SOMEHOW I MADE IT!!! I was thrilled beyond words. The test then started with a mandatory 2.5 hour study session, within that time I only fell asleep like 6 times. Fatigue had taken it's toll, but I endured and finished the exam with 91% and was invited back for Oral board interviews.
My alarm found a way to not wake me up and for the life of me I couldn't tell you why. What I can tell you is that I had planned to wake up with plenty of time to pack for my 2 day weekend away, and that all of that time was wasted away while my brain decided to ignore the incessant noises of my alarm clock.
It was pandemonium, I was grabbing the closest clothing to me and throwing it into my backpack. So here's what I managed to pack:
2 belts
Swimsuit...
1 extra shirt
No socks
No extra underwear
5 hats
My computer
2 extra hoodies
Toiletries
(pretty sure there is a bra in that, but you get the point)
The next hiccup in my journey stemmed from traffic. You know how people drive slower than the speed limit because there is a cop? Yeah I got stuck behind every single one of those people on the way to the airport, just perfect. I was a belligerent outspoken Irishman behind the wheel to the point where I about lost my voice.
But as certain that I have Irish roots, Murphy's law was out to get me that fateful morning.
I sprinted to the terminal from the parking lot, because who waits for that shuttle? My backpack full of useless junk bouncing around on my back, the cold air rapidly filling and freezing my lungs just as fast as I could exhale the cloud of steam back to the wonderful smelling Salt Lake basin. Positive thoughts in my head even though I know I have about 30 minutes before the doors on that plane close.
Of course, the security line at SLC is backed up out of the cattle herding zone. So then begins the timer game, and I know you've all played it. You know the game where you time how long it takes you to complete one lap of the security line and then you figure out how many 'laps' you have left. I did the math, and it was not looking good. I had about 2 minutes of margin for error and I still didn't know what gate I had to get to!!!
Sure enough I get through security without a glitch, but let me tell you I looked like a crazy person after I got past the checkpoint. I didn't even take the time to put my shoes back on, I just sprinted for the gate. When I got there, the agent was there... the door was closed. I looked to her and said, "I've missed it haven't I?" She shot meet a stern look, which was quickly remodeled when she saw that I had sprinted from security with all my belongings carelessly bundled in my arms.
"What's your name?"
I gave it to her.
"Sit down quickly."
So now I'm running down the jetway and I round the corner. The flight attendant is LITERALLY closing the cabin door when she sees me, she says to me, "sit down quickly!" Of course I comply, I had somehow made my flight.
I turned to the man sitting next to me who was staring at me, definitely amused about how I entered the aircraft. After I was settled in I said to him, "The only reason that I am here, is because of nice people."
Before I continue, and yes there's more, I want to put good vibes out there to everyone who helped me make that flight. You made my life a better place to spend my time.
I had planned on printing a document at my good friend's house when I got there, but it turns out he didn't have one. At first I didn't think it was a big deal, but as I read over the invitation email more carefully it seemed more and more like if I didn't have this document on physical paper I wouldn't be allowed to test! At this point I was feeling a lot like...
Kinkos was closed... I checked. Thanks a lot Mitch Hedberg!
http://funny2.com/hedbergd.htm
Finally I get a hold of my sisters friend, at about 1230 am.... and she has an infant daughter. I felt terrible asking but I did it anyway and she was the godsend that helped me out (for which I am eternally grateful), I drove to her house printed out one document and left promptly to go try and sleep before my huge test. However, thanks to the events of the preceding day I was so stressed out I could hardly keep my eyes closed.
Morning rolls around, I have now woken up about 5 times in a panic because I thought that I overslept again. No such thing happened, we left early plenty of time was put aside for problems we might have AND THEN WE GET A FLAT TIRE! Absolute absurdity, but not that big of a deal as we both know how to change a tire. HOWEVER, the last person who put the wheels on the car had stripped one of the lugs.
We relentlessly tried to get the wheel off of that car but to no avail.
Time to call a cab, only the cab can't find me.... at first. OH and I had to borrow money for the cab, just icing on the cake really.
FINALLY I arrive at University of Washington campus.
.... and then I have to figure out where I'm REALLY going. To be perfectly honest, I paid the cab and started sprinting across campus completely aimlessly just hoping for the best which happened to be one of the only things that I got right.
Side note, things went well when I sprinted around... coincidence?
The outcome was good, but the journey was one of the most trying events I've dealt with.
Well Worth it, I came out on top...
...Humbled yet triumphant
Sunday, 17 November 2013
Monday, 28 October 2013
The Journey to the Job
This is me (I'm on the right) about two years ago. All I had to my career of firefighting was a Utah EMT-Basic and a job offer for ski patrol. These two steps are some of the biggest that I have made towards working as a professional firefighter.
I was told time and time again that the process for becoming a firefighter was nothing short of daunting, but I persevered and told myself there was no way I would ever quit till I got the job, and I stand by that today. At the same time, I wish that I had a little bit better of an idea about exactly how hard it was to be able to get anywhere in the world of firefighting.
So I lucked out and got the first EMT job I applied for, and that luck was stronger than I could have ever hoped because I landed myself a ski patrol job in the land of the dirty hippies where terrible facial hair is revered (pictured above).
Let me tell you though, ski patrol has a very miniscule overlap with the world of firefighting and there will always be someone out there to remind you of that. Just being on ski patrol is not enough to say, "I have experience as an EMT," not in my opinion anyway. It's a great starting point, and will probably be enough experience to get you a low level ambulance job, and if you don't like the idea of medical response as a part of your job duties in firefighting you should try a different career, like wildland firefighting.
Pretty cool right?
Ski Patrol was really hard work and a complete blast, I would trade my time there for anything in the world. If it were a year-round job, without having to move from Utah to Australia and back, I would do it forever. I don't feel like being nomadic though, so I'm trying to settle into a structure firefighting job.
The whole time I was on ski patrol, and all the time between, I was putting out applications for fire jobs all over the area. I began noticing a trend that is more and more prominent every day. People don't want to hire someone who is just a firefighter, or just an EMT Basic, they want the full package. "ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC," is what you will begin to see more and more.
I have spend a lot of my time, and I mean A LOT, filling out applications and driving to different departments to test for jobs. I have spent a lot of money, and many miles on the road. My point being, I have put a lot of time out there and I'm not even close to the highest ranked candidate out there. I think that I should be, and that I have a lot of potential to be a great asset to any department that would take me. But until I achieve that level of training that is exactly all that it is, potential. What I have learned is that fire departments don't to invest in potential, they want you to show them what you can do with it.
Go out, and show them what you can do. Get all of your certifications and a Degree if you can. I would say the only thing you benefit from taking tests before you have your certs is the practice of taking the actual tests. Chances are pretty high that you aren't going to make it without a highly decorated resume.
The most important thing I would say that has kept me going is just knowing that I am going to do it. You have to believe in yourself or you will never make it. It is a long haul to become a firefighter, get ready to bear down and plug away till you get there, and NEVER stop once you do. Just because you are a firefighter does not give you the right to complacency, there are thousands of guys gunning for your job and don't you ever forget it.
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