u/SC-Viper

Hey y'all.

32, male.

As the title suggests, I recently underwent a 2-month recruitment process to be a CalFire Fire Communications Dispatcher. I took and passed the Criticall exam on my first try, attended a mandatory information session, and completed a panel interview.

Two weeks later. Human resources thanked me for my time and had told me they moved forward with another applicant. I was crushed.

For context, I recently decided to pursue a career in dispatching and with no experience in this field, I'm not surprised I wasn't offered a position. (Also the applicant pool was between 50-70 people.

However, I haven't lost hope and I am more than ever motivated to become a dispatcher. But I know having related experience and certifications helps.

So I am thinking of obtaining the following experience/certs until interviews open again-hopefully next year in the Spring again:

Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course (offered by a local college and sheriffs dept; self sponsored)

EMD Certification

CPR & AED certifications

Along with these certifications, I am also wanting to volunteer in hotline crisis intervention (specifically for the youth)

Currently working on getting a certified WPM above 75

Currently learning Spanish fluently (I am hispanic, but don't speak/write/read it well enough)

Is this enough? Am I missing something? Is there something more I can be doing? Please any advice, tips, insights on how I can make myself a more desirable applicant is helpful.

Thank you.