Firefighter Oral Board Interview Questions:
A fireman’s job is a challenging job. There are three main parts of the selection process. These are:
- The written test
- The physical agility test
- The firefighter oral board exam
The oral board interview is the most challenging part of the selection process. Most candidates can pass the written test. Below, you will see the various parts of written exam. Most candidates find the physical agility test easy to pass. The oral exam is one where many candidates can’t go through and it requires serious interview preparation by the candidate.
Read on and download our recommended preparation guide.
Common Firefighter Requirements:
Various cities have their own requirements for firefighters. Some require you to go through psychological tests and even drug tests. Some require you to possess a valid driving license. There are different age requirements but many of them have 21 years (or lower) as the eligible age. You may be required to pass some medical tests and submit copies of various documents like your birth certificate, certificate of diploma or equivalent and a copy of your high school records.
The requirements common for all firefighters are:
- You have to take and pass a physical exam.
- You have to pass a written examination.
- You have to pass a physical agility test.
- Certain education requirements (at least a high school diploma)
- You must pass the Firefighters Oral Board Interview and answer the questions satisfactorily.
Sample Firefighter Oral Board Interview Questions:
1. Tell us something about yourself.
2. Why did you decide to be a firefighter?
3. If you are selected, what will you bring to this job?
4. Why do you want to work for this agency?
5. Do you think you are qualified for a firefighter’s job?
6. Have you done any preparation for this position?
If you have applied for multiple agencies, you should tell them the truth. This will only demonstrate that you are serious about becoming a firefighter and will increase your chances of getting hired.
7. What do you know about us?
Read a lot about the department, its achievements, recent news and other things before you go for the oral board interview.
8. What are your strengths and Weaknesses?
9. What are your hobbies?
Prepare for questions like these well in time before the interview. Other questions include “What thing do you want to improve in yourself?”
10. Question about previous employment.
You should tell them about your previous jobs. You may also be asked the reason to quit a particular job. You should tell them honestly.
Scenario Type Interview Questions for Firefighters:
How Would You Handle the Following Scenarios?
1. How will you counter drinking or drugs on the job?
2. How to deal with an employee crisis at an emergency?
3. Conflicting orders at an emergency situation
4. How to handle an irate citizen?
5. What will you do if you have a report about someone stealing on the job?
6. How do you handle a conflict with another employee?
7. Racial situation
8. Question about Sexual harassment at workplaces..
9. What will you do if your senior gave you an order that could place you in great danger or be morally wrong?
10. When do you expect to start working if you are offered the job?
11. What would you do if another city called you for the job?
12. How do you answer a question you have no idea about?
13. At what level do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
14. What qualities should a firefighter have? What qualities do you have?
15. Have you ever been in an emergency situation? Tell us what you did?
16. Why should we prefer you over the other candidates?
17. How do you handle a conflict of interest?
18. What word would you use to describe yourself in a positive way? A Negative way?
19. Do you have any else to say?
(Question to ask the interviewers: Here you should ask them something.)
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Additional Duties of Fire Fighters:
Apart from fighting fire, various additional duties can be assigned to them. These include inspection of various buildings for fire safety violations, providing emergency medical services and ensuring fire permit requirements are met.
Firefighters also help provide assistance during floods and other natural disasters. Firemen can also take part in investigations of fires and raise awareness among the general public.
There are various specialized units within the fire department. These include the hazardous materials team, dive team, marine response team, heavy rescue team and others.
Structure Firefighting Physical Test:
The physical test will test the physical fitness and special skills of a candidate. A firefighter has to be a strong and fit person. There are various types of physical tests depending upon the state or department. Some of the firefighter physical tests are listed below:
1. Hose Advance – This test involves pulling an attack line over a 100 feet distance.
2. Forcible Entry – The candidate will use a 9-pound molded plastic sledgehammer to drive a 160 pound steel beam on the Keiser Force Machine a horizontal distance of five feet.
3. Victim Rescue – This involves dragging a mass as heavy as a victim for a set distance.
4. High-rise Pack carry – The candidate has to carry a weight up to a certain number of floors.
5. Crawl – This requires some tough crawling on hands and knees.
The physical tests seem difficult but most candidates are able to pass these tests. The candidates who are able to successfully pass the physical tests are invited to the oral board interview.
Wild Land Fire fighters:
1. Wild land firefighting requires even more difficult work and above average physical fitness. The work conditions involve steep terrains, extreme weather and wild areas. A special test called “pack test” is required to be passed by wild land firefighters. This test is required by the Federal Government and tests the extreme work capacity of the candidates. The Pack Test is developed by fitness and exercise experts and it tests aerobic capacity and muscular fitness of the candidates. The test involves hiking 3 miles with a 45 pound pack to be done in 45 minutes. The state or city departments may have their own requirements and additional physical tests as well.
Firefighter Written Exam:
The written examination consists of the following parts:
Reading Comprehension
Basic Mathematics
Basic Science
Mechanical Aptitude
Communication Skills
All of the above parts of the written exam are essential to fire fighters. This test is not difficult but there is greater competition here are more candidates recognize the benefits of a fire fighter’s career. 70 – 80% score is generally enough to pass but greater scores are required to be successfully hired as these points are added to the final score.
Sample Practice Questions:
Now you can’t go for the firefighter’s written exam without any previous preparation. You should study the sample practice questions about all parts like Reading Comprehension, Basic Mathematics, Basic Science, Mechanical Aptitude and Communication Skills. While you may already have the knowledge about most of these subjects, but still you require preparation and revision of facts.
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