[MONICA]

Hi All,
Well, I'm depressed because i didn't get selected for perm. position. I was the first female to pass the Agility test, passed the written exam, tied for 8th on the Eligibily List, went through the Panel Interview and Chief's Interview. Unfortunately almost all of the paramedics in the area tried out this year. Most on the eligibility list had EMT/FF cert. I had enrolled for the Academy last year had to drop due to work schedule. I have no training, Prior service military, but wanted to get the experience,(plus i really want to do this!) and I know they've hired people w/o training in the past. Majority on the dept. from chief's on down have said if a female passes the Agility/Written, they're on..didn't happen. I didn't expect it, but when its also been said by a Chief (indirectly) that they don't want to work with females,,am I beating my head against a wall???
I enrolled for EMT, class starts tonight, really excited to start,,,just needed to vent...I know it can take years,,i'm prepared for that...THE GREATER THE OBSTACLE, THE MORE GLORY IN OVERCOMING IT!

[DJ]

Monica-
Sorry to hear you missed the cut. Female or not, the powers that be will probably hire the most qualified person for the job. Is there a place nearby where you can gain experience as a volunteer ff? Just a thought. Good luck to you in the future.

[MONICA]

When we first moved to this area 5yrs ago, my husband (who had his EMT/FF II ) (he's now on the city dept.) couldn't get on a volunteer dept, it's mostly kept all in the family,, but i will look into it..I'm hoping that after i get my EMT cert. before the current eligibility list expires i'll have a chance when FF's retire,,,one of the Chief's told me that if i'd had any training at all i would have been in there....if not, I'll get in the Academy and try out again next year,,,

[firething]

Monica - I just think your attitude is great. Yeah, you're disappointed, but it's only made you more determined and you're immediately looking for ways to improve your skills. I hope employers see that go-getter attitude. A chief once told me that having "heart" is one of the most important qualities of a firefighter. Good luck to you.

[mnfiregal]

Monica, Same thing has happened to me. I was told if I just made the list I was in. I was only one of two women who made the list out of 450. They hired 7 men, and neither one of us women. The commission members got caught being quoted saying that the women on the list weren't strong enough. We both scored well on the physical beating out many of the guys. Unfortunately, this still is happening to women in the fire service. I have learned to move on. I try and try again with other departments, some I've gotten a really welcome feeling from and others not so much. I'm usually the only girl at the tests. I stopped believing that I was going to get in because I was a female, now I count on getting in because I'm a qualified candidate. Don't get discouraged.......I haven't yet

[MONICA]

Looking back at my first post it could sound like I was expecting to get hired because I was the first female ,It was just a let down in general because I really want to do the job, and while I work on getting my EMT cert. I do a 40hr+ work week in a job that I DREAD..I'm sure I'm not alone on that....Then i get to listen to calls my husband goes on and just want so badly to be a part of it. I know they've hired people with no training whatsoever, it just happend mommy/daddy/uncle/somebody was on city council,etc...
it also seems that these recruits don't last long..
If I passed everything, did well on tests/interviews, if there's any edge I have over others I'm gonna grab it and run,,I'll do the time and my work ethics and dedication will speak for themselves...
In the meantime, I'm halfway through EMT, love my class..everything happens for a reason,,right? It just wasn't meant to happen at that time,,,


I'm so grateful for this forum, all the advice, info., support given is a Godsend...my husband is my greatest supporter,,,but in the end he's a "he"..he couldn't know the "she" side to all of this...thanks!

[FireCali]

Girl just keep plugging along. I have been at it for 3 years. Its been three years since I did my EMT and 2 years since the academy and I just started applying to get hired in March, and guess what the biggest blow was the fire department I applied for was big department that had over 3,000 applicants and I was put into the top highly qualified candidates pool of about 300 people and still havent gotten picked and I am still testing but no luck. It really sucks to have my soon to be hubby on a department for 10 years and he just has to work and come home and I am struggling to get on fulltime and finish all of my degrees, and make money at the same time.
Well I guess what I am meaning to say is if we really want the fulltime job we will not give up and keep plugging along like you and I are doing. Life has many obstacles and I have seen and am still seeing plenty of them everyday, but I cant give up, because I have a mental picture of where I want to be someday in the near future. Dont let anyone stop you from attaining your goals and dreams, because I have almost done that on many different occassions and I look back and say what was I thinking. Good luck girl and keep your head up, because it will all work out one day, and you will be the proudest person inside knowing you acomplished everything.

[Sarah Silence]

[MONICA]

Thanks for the replies, lights a fire under my butt to get me through another day...also for the advice about getting on an ambulance while waiting for FF position, didn't think about that...much appreciated!
_________________
What is important is not what happens to us, but how we respond to what happens to us.
— Jean-Paul Sartre

[Sarah Silence]

[Rebekah]

Hey, don't give up. You are on the right track and have a positive attitude. Take any training you can get. Don't stick all your eggs in one basket (take evey test you qualify for). I've been hired on since '93, I hit every test I could, learning different things along the way. The suggestion to work as an EMT on an Ambulance or get on as a volunteer was great, you will be getting hands-on experience. Also, you will have people (fellow employees or supervisors) to evaluate your work ethics, how you work in the chain of command and how they think you handle your self on the job. Which will be great when the background comes into play vs. someone that wasn't taking progressive steps.