Why do you want to work for this city's fire department?
Interviewers want to see how much you know about their department and the community it serves. They want to hear the reasons you chose to apply to their fire department and what makes it unique from others. Now is an excellent time to show the interviewer that you have done your homework and learned all you could about their department.
Do extensive research on the department before your interview. Find out who the Fire Chief is, how many stations they have, how many employees, what area they serve, awards and recognition received, specialized teams they operate, and their mission and vision statement.
If you can, it is best to visit a few fire stations, take a tour, meet the fire department members, and ask why they enjoy working for this particular department. If the department allows, sign up for a ride-along and see how they operate. The more you know about the department, the better.
Describe three to five reasons this particular department appeals to you. In addition, highlight any time you have spent on ride-alongs, visiting the stations, and talking to the crews. When you show you have put extra effort into learning about the department, the interviewer will see how motivated you are to work for their department.
"I want to work for this department because it provides service to a community of over three million people in the area where I grew up. My goal is to go to paramedic school, and I like that your department provides ALS services. I am also interested in working with the swift-water rescue team at Station 6. I did a ride-along with the crew at Station 6 and witnessed a water rescue during the time I spent with them. They encouraged me to apply for this position and had nothing but great things to say about the department. This is the only department I have applied to because I want to serve the community where I grew up."
Avoid saying you do not know much about the department but decided to apply because they are hiring. When a person does not know much about the department they applied to, it shows the interviewer that they have not done their research and are not enthusiastic about working for this particular department.
Interviewers want to hire Firefighters who are passionate about working for their department. They want employees who take pride in the department and positively represent the department when interacting with the public. If you do not know anything about their organization, it shows the interviewer that you may be an unreliable and disinterested employee.
Most firefighting positions have too few openings for the number of applicants that apply. You need to stand out from the others. If the other applicants tell the interviewer everything they know about the department and you cannot, the interviewer will pass you over for another candidate.
"I want to work for this department because of your excellent reputation in the community and the high call volume you run. I like how progressive and diverse your department is and that you offer and encourage advancement within your organization. I want to gain experience as a Firefighter and cannot do that as quickly at a smaller department with a lower call volume. I want to work on the Urban Search and Rescue Team, and your department is one of a few in the state who offer that opportunity."
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 just simply want to serve and protect my community. Nothing feels better than saving lives.
Amanda's Feedback
This is an answer you can build on. You can strengthen this answer by providing more detail about why you want to work with this specific department. Is it located in your hometown or in a place you want to live? Do you know others that currently work there? Does this department have a strong performance record that illustrates its passion and excellence in protecting the community?
Anonymous Answer
The department's statement to protect the property, environment, and lives while serving the community with compassion and commitment is something that strikes a chord with me. As a child, I grew up seeing the department in parades and other events but as I've grown older and can actually appreciate what a firefighter is in this city means, it makes me want to serve my community on a closer and more personalized basis.
Amanda's Feedback
I like that your response hints at the fact that you've done some research and resonate with the fire department's core mission. Consider enhancing your answer further by talking about how you grew up in this area, are committed to being a part of the community long-term, and want to give back and invest more deeply in your community by becoming part of the fire service.
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