– As we start a new week it’s time to focus on the current company officer and advancement. This can take many forms to include a promotion to a staff position like Training Officer or the next level company officer-Captain or even to Battalion Chief.

The first step in this process is to truly know what the job is at the next level, do your research!! We will concentrate on the staff position in this post.  The job posting should have all the minimum requirements needed, you should ensure you meet the minimums and hopefully you exceed the type of position you are looking at; i.e. Training Officer should have multiple instructor certifications or for arson multiple cause and origin or interviewing skills.

The next step is to look into the change in schedules and workload or lifestyle this will impose. This type of promotion is truly a life altering event!! If you have never left shift life this move will tug at your inner core and make you ask yourself if this is the right move or not?

Now that you’ve researched the position and the schedule change, it’s time to focus on preparing. A great place to start is with your professional career resume.   Do you have one? If you do when was the last time you looked at it? You don’t want to turn in a resume for a professional promotion and the last thing that was on there is from 3 years ago!!  Remember you are selling yourself and competing against others who want the position as bad as you do.

Mid-week post we will go over the other steps for preparation.

If anyone wants resume advice send an email to: listening@thefirementor.net

Also, check facebook: The Fire Mentor

It’s time for the mid-week update. Hopefully you have determined what kind of person you are and what it takes to pursue this profession or move forward in your career. This should not be a decision made lightly, as sometimes we forget who is really counting on us!!

As this is a site about mentoring, this is where we get to pass on information about our job to those wanting to start a career, move up in the profession, and return the favor to others.

So let’s revisit who we are working for: The public, not just the people in our community but all those traveling through our neighborhoods. We are working for our brother and sister firefighters, who constantly are counting on us to have their backs.  And finally we are working for our families, whether it’s a spouse, children, mother and father-they all expect us to do our jobs as safely and smartly as possible to ensure our return at the end of our shift!!

Email me at: listening@thefirementor.net

Visit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefirementor/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

 

As I put a new post on The Fire Mentor Facebook page about applicants for getting on the “job”, please read the post below and then add to what applicants should prepare themselves for or add some words of wisdom!!!

Welcome to week 2. As this is a page about the Fire Service and Mentoring we are going to speak to those persons wanting to come into the greatest profession on earth!

So you want to get on the “job”. Let’s start with a few words of advice about the Fire Service and why are you seeking this career, because it’s not just a job!! Are you looking for a solid pay check and benefits, a job where you have a lot of time off, or a job where it looks like you get to sit around and watch TV all day???  If so, please go to another FB page or I can help you look for a different career path. The Fire Service is a calling not a job, “many are called, few are chosen”!!

If this better describes you or what you are seeking then let’s move forward: a self-starter, the need for little supervision, willing to get dirty (actually like getting dirty), having a 23 hour shift of training and admin duties followed by the last hour of high intensity high stress life changing calls, then stick around for tomorrow’s post!

The Fire Service Needs YOU!!!

I’m listening-The Fire Mentor

Visit www.thefirementor.net

Welcome to The Fire Mentor website. My goal is to prepare the future of the fire service. This site will assist you with getting hired, getting promoted, mentoring & coaching needs, and succession planning.

This blog post is the best place to get started. What are some of your career goals? Have you created a personal success plan? If you are close to the “golden years” of your career do you have an exit strategy, or just going to go fishing when you retire?

I’m listening, The Fire Mentor