Should I Keep Taking Tests After I'm Hired

Should I keep taking tests after I’m hired by a department?

After getting hired by a department, many of you still have that dream departments in mind that you want to work for.  Maybe it’s for a larger department that has more fires and emergencies.  Or maybe it’s simply your hometown department. 

As we’ve said in the past, your first goal is to be hired full time on a department; you can then pursue other departments.

It doesn’t reflect badly on you to seek employment with another department after you are hired.  The other department could look at it as a positive statement, that you cared enough to go through the process work their department. 

The only time it is a problem is if you keep jumping around from department to department.  Then it will make it look like you aren’t loyal or committed, or it could be perceived that you can’t get along with your coworkers.  If you do it once or twice, it’s not a bad reflection on you. 

But make sure that if you decide to make a switch, it’s to a department that can offer you job security.  Is the city financially secure?  Do they have a lot of retirements coming up where they need replacement firefighters?  You don’t want to jump to another department and then get laid off.

Good luck in your pursuit of the greatest job on the face of the earth!  Remember – luck goes to the prepared!