Fire Brigade

ando

Hi all

I'm looking into joining the Fire Brigade. Is anyone here in the Brigade? What is the job like, is there much stress involved? How socialable is the job?

I'm currently in IT and have been for nearly 4 years but I'm not to happy, I can't see myself staying in IT for another few decades!. Ideally I'd like to do a bit of IT on the side while in the fire brigade. I've heard of a chap doing that and he's loaded, got a house in Florida aswell as here.... My Dad was a fire chief but is now retired 10yrs, so his advice is a little out of date for someone looking to join the brigade. I guess I'm looking for a job that is secure aswell

I'm joining the Gym next week and aim to bulk up a good bit, and over the winter get fit. Any advice on how to increase my chances, any clubs I could join?? Stuff like that would be helpful.

nads

i love your optimism

you can't just get a job in the fire brigade

they recruit periodically, and very rarely

i think they had a huge recruiting day in croke park there a good few months ago

good luck though man if it comes up again soon


I'd say 1% of the work is actual fires - the rest i'd say is ripping open smashed cars with the jaws of life and seeing the destruction

ando

yea m8, I know its difficult to get in. A few of the lads around my area tried to get in the last time they advertised but I dont think any got in. I guess all I can do is get into shape and hope for the best

Redshift

Best three pieces of advice I can give you if you want to get into the brigade.

1, Join The Civil Defence preferably the Auxuliary Fire Brigade (Proves your interest at interview and gives you an insight into the job)
2, Get really good at Maths, English, and Observation Skills (Aptitude Test)
3, Get yourself in shape (The dreaded bleep test)

Getting into the Fire Brigade is really tough, there are lots of guys who spend years preparing themselves for the recuitment process and they are going to be tough to beat unless you are prepared to put the work in.
You just missed the last recruitment to give you an idea almost 10,000 applicants went for the aptitude test the council took the top 620 to the first round of interviews. I applied last time and scored an average of 90% across the tests but I failed to go forward being placed wait for it 621 :rolleyes: which meant I missed the next stage by one. The test last time was fairly easy as tests go the only drawback is the very short time you get to complete an awfull lot of questions you don't have time to check your answers.

Hope this helps you and see you next recruitment

RicardoSmith

The dreaded bleep test?

Redshift

RicardoSmith wrote:

The dreaded bleep test?

Check here for description
You have to run between two points back and forth at the same time there are audible bleeps which get shorter in duration apart on each cycle you must arrive at each point before the next bleep.

ando

thanks for the advice red

jank

If your dad was an ex fire chief then surely he can sort you out with something even an interview!

That how most of these council/corpo jobs go.

Redshift

jank wrote:

If your dad was an ex fire chief then surely he can sort you out with something even an interview!

That how most of these council/corpo jobs go.

Even if that was possible, you must get through the aptitude test first, That part of the process is done by a third party company and all you are at that stage is a number. And if you fail to go forward from the first stage all the politcal pull in the world is not going to help you.

ToxicPaddy

Redshift wrote:

...Join The Civil Defence preferably the Auxuliary Fire Brigade (Proves your interest at interview and gives you an insight into the job)

A guy I used to work with wanted to join the fire brigade too, so he did
exactly that. Joined the civil defence, trained up in the Auxiliary fire brigade,
also brushed up on his first aid skills and got the relevant certificates
required.

Bulked up bigtime in the gym and got seriously fit. Started a whole regime of
fitness training, weights, diet etc..

Took about 2 years but he got there..

So if youre willing to put in the effort, id say you have as good a chance as
anyone..

best of luck with it..

Tox

BrianD3

You probably know all this already but here's some info on the selection process:
http://www.corkcorp.ie/departments/fire/recruitment.html

The fitness requirements don't look overly tough TBH. A few months solid training with cardio + weights should see the average person pass them (although perhaps just passing is not enough? given that the competition for jobs will be intense) I notice they measure grip strength as part of the physical. Get yourself a set of Captains of Crush grippers which are cheap enough and a great device for strengthening your grip, and you'll fly through that aspect of the test.

BrianD3

Borzoi

ando wrote:

Hi all

I'm looking into joining the Fire Brigade. Is anyone here in the Brigade? What is the job like, is there much stress involved? How socialable is the job?
.

The brother is after making sub officer in Dublin Fire Brigade, I think he's in there 17 years now! Loves it.

It is a stressful job - particularly on the Ambulance. But it doesn't have the grinding numbing stress of an office job. More intense and shorter bursts

Like all jobs it's as socialable as you want. Bear in mind that the FB is a quasi miliatary organisation, like the cops, so they do put a fair emphasis on order following.

Like the lads have said, getting in is all about making sure you're better prepared than the next guy - civil defence, army backgrounds are good. First aid qualifications, emergency resuciatation certs also help. The fitness thing isn't as uber, but it certaiunly won't go against you. Good sense is an other requirement, I think their recruits tend to be in the early to mid 20s more than lmost, though the bro did mention a new recruit about 40!

The shift system is far better than the cops, the holidays are fixed, but you get a lot - planty of time to nixer if that's your thing.

If you've anything specific to ask I'll see what I can do