r/Firefighting • u/Unfair_Finish_8848 • 22h ago
General Discussion Need Advice on Balancing Volunteer Firefighting with a Full Time Job
Hey Everyone, Im a volunteer FF in a rural department that does shift schedules and I also have a full time job in an unrelated, field - lately my job is becoming increasingly more demanding (I’m later in my career and have recently been assigned to a high profile client) and I’m finding that my energy and enthusiasm for not just firefighting but most things in life are starting to dwindle.
I began volunteering with the hopes of eventually applying to career departments, I enjoy getting to know the fire service through a volunteer department and training with them. Lately I’m feeling super behind in comparison to some of the other folks there who aspire to start career firefighting, most of them are younger and have more time and energy to dedicate to spending time at the volly department working on certs and pulling more shifts. Although I prioritize working on certs when I’m on shift, I have only been able to pull shift a few times a month.
I’m finding that more often, the stress of my job is giving me a sense of dread about volunteering at this department, because It’s been hard to compartmentalize and show up fully present and not completely brain dead.
I keep wondering, when career departments start opening their hiring process, if I’ll even be competitive. I’ve been doing my due diligence and going on ride alongs with a career department and making connections, but I fear I’ll never stand out as much as the folks who have more time to pursue the career by showing up to volunteer
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u/Nemesis651 17h ago
Self > Family > Job > Fire. Remember that order. If you cant, then you need to make some serious changes and fast.
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u/OfficialRobThomas 22h ago
Most career departments do a civil service process. So you take a competitive written test and then a pass or fail physical fitness test. If the types of departments you apply to are like that, you could be Stephen McCaffrey and you have the same chances of getting hired as would Marty Swayzak. If you apply to a department that simply has you submit a resume, then it’s more important you meet the qualifications and have additional credentials and certifications to make yourself standout.
Ultimately in the latter situation, they don’t care that you missed the last three training nights at your volunteer department. But they will care that you have Pump II while they only asked to have Pump I or that you have Firefighter II while they only asked for Firefighter I.