Have you ever been a volunteer firefighter?
Many fire inspectors started as volunteer firefighters to gain experience and knowledge and see if a fire service career is for them. However, not every jurisdiction has volunteer departments, so not everyone is afforded the opportunity. There is no correct answer to this question; the interviewer is only looking at your past experience.
"I did work as a volunteer firefighter when first starting my career. I had graduated from the fire academy, but it took five years of testing all over the state to get hired by a paid department. In the meantime, I worked as a volunteer to gain experience and improve my skills. After I got hired by a department, I continued as a volunteer for two more years to assist with their training."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I have not had the opportunity to be a volunteer firefighter. I am aware of the many hours of training that are required to become a firefighter and I have the ultimate respect for the men and women that choose that career path. My focus has been on the prevention side.
Amanda's Feedback
I like the way you've worked to answer this with a positive spin even though you don't have firefighter experience. If possible, you can expand this answer by talking about any collaboration you've done with fire departments when it comes to training the community, homeowners, or business owners in fire prevention of safety. This will further highlight your ability to work with others, including fire services, to keep people safe.
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