Firefighter Sample Interview Questions - How Do You Feel About the Firefighter Schedule

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I'd like to help you with a common fire service interview question. The question in itself is very simple. The problem in this case isn't with a difficult to answer complex question, the problem is that most candidates give a yes or no answer and a one word answer in an interview setting leaves a void in the room that can damage the remainder of your interview. Here's the right way to answer a simple question and please note that I not only give them an answer but I back up a solid answer with that all important support element from my family. The panel will ask me the firefighter sample interview questions and I will answer as if I am you the firefighter applicant.

Oral Board Panel: Being a firefighter with this agency will require that alternate between spending three full days at the station, four days off, then spending another four full days at the station, then three days off. During your tours of duty, you'll be spending all of the time at the station. How do you feel about this schedule?

Applicant: I fully anticipated that type of schedule when I began preparing myself for this position. I understand that any career can call for a person to make sacrifices and that this type of schedule is typical of the fire service profession. The schedule won't have a negative impact on my personal life and I'd like to note that my family is understanding and supportive of the schedule of a firefighter as well.

My family has planned for some time for this change of schedule, and I'm fully prepared to meet the needs of the department when I'm here, and the needs of my family when I'm with them.

Answer Explanation & Breakdown: This is an often asked question in one form or another, and most candidates give a very boring answer that doesn't go too much beyond, "I have no problem with the hours."

In my answer however, you can see that I not only took the opportunity to indicate that I'm aware of, and accepting of the hours and days that I'll spend at the department, but I also took this rare opportunity to claim a bit of ownership of the position.

Did you catch what I said? I told the panel that I would meet the needs of the department when I'm HERE. This is very subtle, and should be used very sparingly, once or twice per interview, but it's very powerful and it worked well in this answer. In other words, I rather suggested that I'm already hired.

Finally, I gave the panel a very impactful bit of bonus material in my answer, when told them that my family was also prepared for the schedule change, and very supportive. If you're married, please be sure to state that your wife or husband is supportive, rather than just stating family.

This again is the type of answer that will cause the panel to see that you're a candidate that is not just a bit different, but significantly different than everyone they have, and will interview that day.

Remember, standing out, POSITIVELY, makes all the difference.

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