Firefighter. Candidate Information Guide. What to Expect on the Firefighter Exam

Transcription

1 Firefighter Candidate Information Guide What to Expect on the Firefighter Exam 2013

2 THINGS TO KNOW & REMEMBER CORRESPONDENCE All primary communications from the Personnel Board to applicants will be delivered only through . Please make sure the address on your application is up-todate. DEADLINES Registration for the Firefighter Written Exam closes at: 4:00 PM CT, on TUESDAY, APRIL 23, CELL PHONES Do NOT bring any communication devices (e.g., cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc. to either test (i.e., Written Exam & Structured Interview. If you bring a cell phone or other electronic device, you will be asked to return it to your car. You must comply with this rule in order to be admitted and you will still be subject to the check-in time deadline. We will not confiscate or hold your prohibited electronic device. Using any communication device after you have checked in to the test site will be considered cheating, and you will receive a zero on the test. LOCATIONS The Firefighter Written Exam will be held at: The South Meeting Rooms Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N Birmingham, AL For maps, see The Firefighter Structured Interview will be held at: The Personnel Board of Jefferson County 2121 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd Birmingham, AL NOTE: This is just a summary. Detailed information you need is included in the rest of the document Firefighter Candidate Information Guide 3

3 Introduction Thank you for your interest in the job of firefighter in Jefferson County, Alabama. This Candidate Information Guide provides you with general information about the job of firefighter, as well as the various Fire Departments within Jefferson County. The Guide also provides you with specific information regarding the testing process for firefighter, including recommendations for preparing yourself to test. Please read this document thoroughly and carefully before coming to take the firefighter exam. I. The Job of Firefighter Firefighters are an important part of the protective service in Jefferson County. Working cooperatively with the police departments, sheriff s department, emergency management service, and other agencies, firefighters actively work to promote safety and protect the public in a variety of emergency situations. Currently, the majority of calls to which firefighters respond are medical in nature, requiring that firefighters be trained not only in fire suppression but also in emergency medical treatment. The Personnel Board of Jefferson County serves fourteen fire departments within Jefferson County. These departments are: City of Bessemer City of Birmingham City of Fairfield City of Gardendale City of Homewood City of Hueytown City of Irondale City of Leeds City of Midfield City of Mountain Brook City of Pleasant Grove City of Tarrant City of Trussville City of Vestavia Hills Jefferson County operates under a Merit System for employment. This means that the selection of individuals for employment is based on the merit of those individuals as determined through a testing process designed to assess applicant competency in areas determined to be important for the job of firefighter. The Personnel Board of Jefferson County administers the test for firefighter to determine the relative merit of each applicant and who is eligible for hire. At the end of the testing process, candidates who pass the test are rank-ordered based on their performance on the exam (this rank ordering of candidates is referred to as an eligibility register. A list of applicants scoring at the top of this register (this list is referred to as a certification list is then made available to the fire departments listed above. Once a fire department receives a certification list containing the highest scoring applicants, the hiring process becomes the responsibility of that department. The testing or selection process performed at this stage will vary from fire department to fire department. The following sections of this Guide describe the testing process for Firefighter as administered by the Personnel Board of Jefferson County Firefighter Candidate Information Guide 4

4 III. Firefighter Test Phase I: The Job Application In order to be invited to sit for the Firefighter examination, you completed an on-line application form. You can access this form by going to and clicking on the Login link. Your Existing Account and Application: You can access your account and application by entering your existing User ID and Password to log into the system. You are encouraged to check the information on your application to ensure it is up to date. Inaccurate contact information can lead to a failure to receive important information about the examination or an inability of fire departments to contact you about potential employment. As of January 1, 2013, the Board no longer sends notices to applicants via U.S. Mail. If you have an application with us, PLEASE BE SURE WE HAVE A CORRECT AND UP-TO-DATE ADDRESS FOR YOU. It is the candidate s responsibility to ensure that their contact information remains up-to-date. If you can t remember your User ID or your password, you should contact the PBJC Helpdesk at You should not attempt to create a new account by utilizing a different social security number. Individuals who attempt to create a new application by creating an inaccurate social security number will be disqualified from employment consideration. IV. Firefighter Test Phase II: The Written Exam Applicants who qualify for the job of Firefighter will be invited to take a written exam, the Firefighter Experience Survey (FES, on Thursday, April 25, 2013, in the South Meeting Rooms of the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC. This survey asks a series of questions related to your life experiences, including experiences in school, at home, at work, and in the community. These questions have been shown to be related to successful job performance of firefighters. You must answer these questions truthfully as they apply to your own life experiences. Since your responses can be verified, providing untruthful answers could result in your disqualification from the testing process. You will have approximately two hours to complete this portion of the exam. How Do I Sign Up For The Written Exam? By following the instructions provided in the notice, you will be able to register ONLINE for the written exam at Failure to register by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, automatically removes your application from further consideration and you will not being allowed to sit for the examination. You are only allowed to sign up for one test session, and you must report at or before the scheduled time in order to be admitted to the test Firefighter Candidate Information Guide 5

5 What if I Can t Take the Exam on the Scheduled Day? Make-up examination dates/times WILL ONLY be provided to applicants that would be prevented from taking the exam because of ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. Applicants in this circumstance must provide copies of orders documenting active military duty that would preclude taking the test during regularly scheduled sessions. Otherwise, as a matter of standard PBJC procedure, absolutely NO make-up examination dates or times will be provided regardless of extenuating circumstances preventing you from attending. Failure to appear for the exam due to illness, emergency situations involving family members, job obligations, or vacations will not result in a make-up. Also, tardiness to the test due to unforeseen obstacles such as traffic delays will also disqualify you from the exam. What Should I Bring to the Written Test? You should bring a VALID DRIVER S LICENSE in order to check-in on the day of the test. When you check in, PBJC staff will ensure your license is valid (i.e., non-expired and that you are 18 years of age. You will NOT be permitted to take the test unless you have a valid driver s license! The Personnel Board will supply all other materials including pencils and erasers. What is Prohibited for the Written Exam? Do NOT bring any communication devices (e.g., cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc.. If you bring a cell phone or other electronic device, you will be asked to return it to your car. You must comply with this rule in order to be admitted and you will still be subject to the check-in time deadline. We will not confiscate or hold your prohibited electronic device. Using any communication device after you have checked in to the test site will be considered cheating, and you will receive a zero on the test. Do not bring this guide with you. All information needed for the examination, including the meter reading instructions at the end of this guide, will be provided to you at the examination. When Will I Know if I Passed the Written Exam? Notices will be sent via to all candidates approximately 3 weeks after you take the written exam. What if I DO NOT Pass the Written Exam? Candidates who do not pass the written exam will receive a score and instructions for how to deal with any questions or concerns about the final score. The written exam for Firefighter is referred to as a hurdle. This means that in order to proceed through the rest of the hiring process, you must receive a passing score on the exam. Typically one-third to over one-half of the candidates for Firefighter do not pass the written exam. If you do not pass the written exam, please do not be discouraged. This does not mean that you have no hope of a career in the fire service. It simply means that for this testing period, you did not score high enough on the written exam administered by the Personnel Board of Jefferson County to receive further consideration Firefighter Candidate Information Guide 6

6 What if I DO Pass the Written Exam? If you pass the written exam, you will receive an notice indicating that you passed and instructions on signing up for the Structured Interview. The Written Exam is pass/fail, so your exact score is not relevant and will not be provided. The Structured Interview will take place Wednesday, May 29, As with the written exam, structured interview sessions will ONLY be available these two days. V. Firefighter Test Phase III: The Structured Interview What is the Structured Interview? Candidates who pass the Written Exam for firefighter will be invited to complete a Structured Interview. The term structured is used because with this interview, all job candidates are asked the same exact questions, given the same amount of time to prepare for and respond to those questions, and the answers are graded according to the same standards (using the same key. In addition, the manner in which the interview is administered is the same for all candidates. When you report to take the Structured Interview, you will first go with a group of other candidates into a classroom, where you will be given a booklet containing the interview questions you will be asked during the interview. You will then have approximately 20 minutes to read the questions and begin preparing your response to each question. You may wish to outline your answers on paper, or simply make some notes to help jog your memory during the interview. After you finish preparing for the structured interview, you will be escorted to an individual testing room where you will complete the interview. Your individual testing room will be equipped with a video monitor, and there will be video and audio recording equipment mounted in the ceiling of the room. You will NOT be asked questions by a live, in-person interviewer. Rather, the interview questions will be asked aloud by a video narrator through the video monitor. You will respond out loud to each question, and your responses will be recorded and scored at a later date by trained assessors. To see an example of a candidate completing a video-based structured interview, please visit our website at How Do I Sign Up For the Structured Interview? The procedures for signing up for the Structured Interview will be similar to signing up for the Written Exam. Recall that you will receive an notice after the Written Exam which will include instructions for signing up. The Structured Interview will take place Wednesday, May 29, There will be several sessions throughout each test day from which to choose for the interview. You will again be required to pick one specific check-in time and you must report at this time in order to participate. Again, no make up exams will be provided for individuals who fail to register for the test or fail to show for their scheduled test time Firefighter Candidate Information Guide 7

7 What Do I Need to Wear to the Structured Interview? Assessors are trained to ignore physical appearance when scoring your interview. As such, it is not necessary to wear a business suit, uniform, or other more formal attire to the interview. However, as with any job interview, looking your best will help make you feel more confident. As such, you may wish to be well groomed and neatly dressed. It is also important that you feel comfortable, so make sure that you avoid wearing clothing that will make you feel uncomfortable. What Should I Bring to the Structured Interview? You MUST bring a form of photo ID to the interview. You will not be admitted to the exam without proper government-issued identification (i.e., driver s license, military ID, passport. You DO NOT need to bring separate proof of age to the Structured Interview. You ARE allowed to bring a beverage and/or snack with you to the exam. You are NOT allowed to bring reading materials. Reading materials will be confiscated before you begin the exam. Do NOT bring any communication devices (e.g., cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc.. If you bring a cell phone or other electronic device, you will be asked to return it to your car. You must comply with this rule in order to be admitted and you will still be subject to the check-in time deadline. We will not confiscate or hold your prohibited electronic device. Using any communication device after you have checked in to the test site will be considered cheating, and you will receive a zero on the test. Do NOT bring this guide with you. All information needed for the examination, including the meter reading instructions at the end of this guide, will be provided to you at the examination. When Will I Receive My Score From the Structured Interview? Approximately six weeks after the interview, you will receive notification that will include your score on the Structured Interview and your rank on the eligibility list. The notice will include instructions for handling any concerns or questions you may have about your final score or ranking. VI. Firefighter Test Phase IV: The Certification Process After completion of all Personnel Board testing processes, your name will be placed on the list of individuals who passed the examination called an eligible register. Once the eligible register is established, fire departments will be able to request a list of individuals who are eligible for hire. The way your name is sent to the various departments is called the Certification Process. Whenever a fire department has a vacancy for firefighter, the department will submit a request to the Personnel Board to fill the position. The Personnel Board will then send that department 2013 Firefighter Candidate Information Guide 8

8 a list containing the names of all candidates whose scores on the examination placed them within the Top 10 Ranks on the register. Candidates often find that they are tied with a number of other who achieved the exact same score. Tied scores are ranked the same on the final hiring list. When names are sent to a department as part of the certification process, all tied scores are sent. So a list containing the top 10 Ranks may include more than 10 people. Names are listed alphabetically and candidates within the top ten ranks are considered equally eligible in terms of making applications available for consideration. For example, assume that you are ranked 8 th on the eligible register, and that you selected the City of Gardendale as one of the departments where you were willing to work. If the City of Gardendale has an authorized vacancy for a firefighter, a request is submitted to the Personnel Board for the certification list. The Personnel Board will then compile a list of everyone who (a is ranked from 1 st to 10 th and, (b indicated an interest in being hired by the City of Gardendale. This will include you since you are ranked 8 th. The City of Gardendale will conduct assessment activities deemed appropriate for identifying the most suitable candidates for employment as a Firefighter with the City of Gardendale. Please note that specific assessment activities are developed and implemented by each jurisdiction. These activities will most likely vary from department to department, and the Personnel Board of Jefferson County has no input or control over which activities are utilized. The certification process described above outlines steps taken to fill a single position. When a jurisdiction has multiple positions to fill, additional ranks are sent. Specifically, one additional rank is sent for each additional authorized vacancy. So, for example, if two positions were vacant, then 11 ranks would be sent. If 30 positions were to be filled, then 39 ranks would be sent. The Personnel Board has no control over when various fire departments request the Firefighter list or how many positions they intend to fill. Generally, if you are in the top 10 to 15 ranks on the register, your name will likely be certified to most jurisdictions at some point during the year. The higher the number associated with your rank (i.e., rank 1 is the top rank with the highest test score, rank 2 is the next top rank with the next highest test score, and so on, the less likely and less frequently your name will be sent to a fire department to be considered for hire. So, for example, if your ranked 30 th on the exam you are much less likely to be considered for a job than if you are ranked 5 th. Your rank can change as people are hired off the list. Once all names at a particular rank are exhausted, applicants at the next highest rank move into eligible group. VII. Firefighter Test Phase V: Physical Ability Testing Once your name and application has been sent (i.e., certified to a fire department, and the department is interested in considering you for a firefighter job, you will have to complete a physical ability test. The City of Birmingham has a physical ability test that is comprised of five tasks, including a hose drag, a dummy drag, a stair climb, a hydrant opening/closing, and a pulley hoist. All other departments require candidates to pass the CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test which is comprised of tasks similar to Birmingham s test. Both of these physical tests are challenging. Individuals who are overweight, out of shape, or physically weak will have a difficult time passing the exam. It is very important that if you are not in excellent physical shape already, you seek assistance from a doctor or physical trainer to establish an exercise 2013 Firefighter Candidate Information Guide 9

9 program that will increase your endurance and strength before you take the physical ability test. Candidates who are successful throughout the entire testing process but who are not able to pass the physical ability test will NOT be employed as a firefighter. Please note that the physical test is NOT conducted by the Personnel Board of Jefferson County; it is conducted by the fire departments after you are certified for employment. The CPAT is covered in great detail in a YouTube video that can be accessed through the following link (please click. VIII. Other Important Information What Training Do I Need Before I Am Hired as a Firefighter? You do not need any experience or training in firefighting to be hired as a Firefighter in Jefferson County. However, the following training or experience may further your chances of being hired by one of the jurisdictions. Paramedic License Since a majority of the work done by firefighters is medical in nature, individuals with medical experience are frequently preferred by many of the fire departments. Having your active Paramedic s License will increase the likelihood of your being hired after you complete the testing process, given that you are ranked high enough on the register to be certified. Most departments will hire Paramedics first and then fill remaining vacancies with non-paramedics. Emergency Medical Technician Following Paramedics, individuals already EMT certified will frequently have a greater chance of being offered a position with a fire department. Certified Firefighter Holding firefighter certification may enhance your chances, especially with the smaller departments. Physical Training As described above, being in excellent physical condition will aid you during the Physical Ability Test, during training academy, and during your time on the job. How Do I Prepare for the Written Exam or Structured Interview? Because of the basic nature of the questions used in both the written exam and structured interview, advance study or preparation is not necessary. However, the following are suggestions which may help you prepare mentally and physically for the exams. 1. Get a good night s sleep before the exam, and eat prior to attending your testing session. Being well rested will help you focus on the exam, and your brain needs energy to work properly Firefighter Candidate Information Guide 10

10 2. Dress comfortably for the exam so that your clothing does not distract you from the exam. 3. Once you are seated at the Written Exam, make sure that you can see the large video screens clearly. Immediately notify a test monitor if you feel that your view is blocked. Don t wait until the test is underway. 4. Prior to the Structured Interview, make up interview questions and then practice answering them out loud. Most interview questions will be situation-based. In other words, you will be given a situation and asked how you would handle the situation, or how you have responded when faced with the situation. Practicing answer questions out loud will help you prepare for the test situations, particularly if you audio/video record your responses and carefully critique your performance. Questions of this nature usually begin with Tell me about a time whenm, or If you were asked to (fill in an assignment, tell us how you would go about completing this assignment. Most questions ask for more than one piece of information. For example, the question Tell me about a time whenm may be followed up with sub-questions like How will you go about making your decision, and What actions will you take, and why? These suggestions do not guarantee success on the test, but may help you prepare. You may have other strategies that will also be helpful to you. What If I Have Questions During the Process? If you have any questions about the testing process, please Dr. Jim Austin, at jim.austin@pbjcal.org. Although communications are preferred, you can also call Jim at ( Cheating Policy Any activity that could be characterized as cheating is strictly prohibited for the written test and structured interview. Such activities will include the following: Talking with other candidates during the test administration. Using any notes, reference materials, or information not provided at the test by the Personnel Board while preparing for or answering questions on the exam. Receiving any information about the exam from other candidates prior to beginning the exam. Using cell phones or other communication devices during the exam. Taking any notes or materials from the test site containing any test information. Leaving designated areas during test administration without authorization by the Personnel Board staff. Candidates caught engaging in any of the above activities or other activities deemed inappropriate will be disqualified from the exam and possibly barred from employment within the Merit System Firefighter Candidate Information Guide 11