Sample Interview Questions
General or Traditional - Common questions about yourself
If you are serious about becoming a firefighter write a full answer to each question.
• What are your positive personality traits
• Name all of your strengths
• Why do you want to be a firefighter? (set in priority)
• Why do you want to be a firefighter for the city of __________?
• Why should they hire you?
• What computer skills do you possess?
• Do you have a criminal record?
• What is the definition of stress to you?
• How do you deal with everyday and special stress?
• What is one word your friends would use to describe you?
• What have you done to prepare for this interview?
• What have you done to prepare for a career in the fire service?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
• What is the most appealing aspect of being a firefighter?
• What is the least appealing aspect of being a firefighter?
• What do you consider to be your strongest asset? Your weakest?
• What activities have you been engaged in, in order to improve/maintain your levels of fitness?
• Why would you be a good firefighter?
• Why have you chosen to be a firefighter instead of a police officer, ambulance paramedic, etc.?
• What do you believe to be the most important attributes of someone being a firefighter?
• What are your plans if you are not successful with your application?
Work Habits
• What would your previous employer say about your work habits?
• What duties do you perform at your present job?
• Have you ever abused sick days at work?
• If your shift started at 8:30 am what time do you think would be considered late?
• What type of person would you find most difficult to work with?
• Would you ever disobey an order? If so – When and why would you disobey an order?
• How would you feel taking orders from somebody younger than yourself; can you demonstrate a time when you’ve been in this situation?
Qualifications
• Relate your education and work experience to firefighting
• Do you think you are qualified enough to be a firefighter?
• What skills do you have that would be a benefit to the fire department?
• What fire related training do you have?
• What responsibilities do you have in either your job or domestic activities?
• Have you any experience of communicating with the general public; give some examples. What do you consider the most important factors in being able to communicate clearly with the public or group of people?
• One aspect of a firefighter’s role is to produce written reports, would this present any problems or concerns?
Fire Department Knowledge
• What do you like about our city?
• What do you like about our fire department?
• How many calls do we run annually?
• What medical training do you require to work here?
• What roles do our firefighters play in the community?
• What is our chief’s name?
• Have you ever visited any of our fire stations?
• Do you know how many fire stations we have?
Behavioral – These questions are designed to give fire departments an insight regarding each applicant’s frame of mind such as negotiation, persuasiveness, teamwork, communication skills, decision making, problem solving, planning, organization, and coping with pressure.
• Tell us about a time when you had to deal with an angry or hostile person (e.g. a customer, boss, co-worker, and friend).
• Tell us about a high stress situation you have experienced.
• Tell us about an instance where you helped someone you didn’t know.
• Tell us about an instance where you were responsible or accountable for someone else.
• How would you react to unwanted attentions from your work mates? For example, bullying, name calling, initiation ceremonies, etc.?
• Can you tell us about a time when you have told a lie and had to or chose to go back and confess?
• Tell us about a time when you had to exercise self-discipline.
• Can you explain the difference between discipline and self-discipline?
• Discipline is considered to be very important to the fire service, why do you think fire departments promote discipline?
• Can you tell us about a time when you’ve been caught in an embarrassing situation? How did you overcome this?
• Tell us about a time when your positive attitude influenced others to be positive or motivated.
• Confidentiality is critical in the fire service, why do you think it is so critical?
Case or Hypothetical - Defines your problem-solving skills at a moment’s notice by giving examples of what you'd do "if".
• We hired you and your home town soon announces they are hiring, what would you do?
• You are at a fire call and your captain asks you to climb a ladder you know is unsafe, what would you do?
• A co-worker member is making racist comments and it’s bothering you or a co-worker member, what would you do or say?
• Your captain takes you aside and you notice he has been drinking, what would you do?
• You are walking past a house and smell gas and you notice what looks like someone unconscious in the house. What would you do?
• You are evacuating an entire floor of an apartment building because of a small fire on the floor below. You encounter a hostile occupant who refuses to leave his apartment. How would you handle this situation?
• You have just been informed about a co-worker who has been accused of committing an offence. What would you do?
Practical – Fire
• What is a flashover?
• What is a backdraft?
• What are the signs of building about to collapse?
• What are the types of building collapses?
• What are the classifications of fire, the associated letter and explain how each extinguishes that fire?
• Describe the different methods of heat transfer?
Practical – Medical
• What does ABC stand for in CPR?
• What is the rate of respirations for an adult, child, and infant?
• What is the average resting heart rate for adult, child, and infant?
• Name three different types of fractures?
• What are the indications of a head injury?
** For a complete list of over a 150 of the most common interview questions used by fire departments, purchase your copy of the book
The Complete Guide to Becoming a Firefighter