With job offers happening again….
Just a few thoughts from someone who has been around for a bit. Most of this applies to FAE.
-If you marked a location on your form, be prepared to say YES or NO when the phone rings. Asking to “think about it” sets the process back, and now other people are waiting on you to answer before it can proceed. Complain all you want about the archaic nature of it, it it’s what it is.
-Consider, do you really need to promote? Do you even want to? Can you comfortably work in an environment you’ve not been in and be successful/adaptable/confident?
-Are you willing to be a supervisor? This is a dead serious question I think a lot of people fail to consider. You will be a company officer. You have to be the one to set the standard, abide by that standard. You have got to understand that all the dumb shit you don’t want to do, guess what, find a way to motivate your folks to do it. No, I don’t want to go and do “XYZ’s” either, but we are and here is why, and here is the plan on how we are gonna do them.
-You went from top of the food chain (hopefully) as a firefighter and now you’re bottom as an engineer. Remember that. You don’t deserve anything to be given to you. Earn the respect, earn the high marks on the evals, earn the right to be in your position. Don’t show up to show up and be worthless. Actually accomplish something once in a while.
-Learn what you don’t know. Spend 30 minutes every evening reviewing policy/procedure/SOG/MOU, know this shit. All the firefighter skills, you should have mastered those by now, otherwise this is not a position you should be accepting.
-You don’t know everything, don’t pretend to. Speak confidently, but be able to back up your statements.
-Know the difference between the MOU and Policy. It’s incredible how often these get confused (usually by the overconfident fucks).
-When items are due, do them. You don’t have any excuse not to, (as someone who has heavy admin workload) I promise you that. I manage to get them done on top of everything else I have going.
-Be a good team leader. Motivate your people, train them, encourage them. Remember, if it’s you and 2 FFs, you’re the lead. Find humility, but have a backbone.
-Don’t read those stupid “leadership” books that everyone who listens to Joe Rogan picks up, find something more worthwhile and meaningful. Probably get a book or two on human psychology in the workplace.
-Wear the uniform with pride, or don’t wear it at all.
-Expect and ensure PPE is worn at all times when required.
-Read the room and figure out when your opinion matters, and more so when it doesn’t. A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool speaks because he has to.
-Before you spread a rumor, or “intel”, validate its truth. Stop being that guy that spreads shit that they heard from someone else who doesn’t know shit.
-Remember what it means to be that first day FF1 again. Please don’t accept job if you aren’t ready, and willing to learn.
-If you are coming from an outside agency, WELCOME. We are happy to have you, we welcome your experience, and leadership. Just remember that this is a massive place with so many different tasks, policies, ways to doing things, it’s a lot… ask questions!
I also gave this a vague title, likely it’ll be subject to the same questions ever other thread asks, but whatever. I also wrote this on mobile and there’s so much more I could say, maybe?
Anyway, I could probably add more things to my checklist, but seeing as how I’m sure I’ll end up seeing some new fresh faces shortly… some who deserve it, and some who managed to fill out some forms correctly. Go forth and be good. Maybe some other salty fucks can add some stuff here.