1. Never lie.
Aside from the moral implications, if you are considered for employment and your fabrications are found out, you would have smeared your reputation as a potential firefighter and more importantly as a person.

2. Never use the word "résumé" on your résumé.
The Fire Department is smart enough to figure out that they are reading a resume.

3. Never include salary information.
If this is a concern you can use other methods to determine your potential pay scale.  You should contact the city’s human resources because firefighters are city employees so as a taxpayer you privileged to know the salary of the fire department.    

4. Don’t attach job references & testimonials.
Usually at the end of the resume it will say, "references available upon request". This is sufficient. You may include your reference and any testimonials you have in your application package.

5. Never include personal statistics & photographs.
Facts about your marital status, age, height, weight, photographs etc, are not important and are only invitations for discrimination.

6. Don’t include personality profiles.
The Fire Department will gain an understanding of your personality from the interview.

7. Don’t copy someone else’s resume. Be original and creative.
Start your résumé from scratch. Use the sample résumé in this book as a template however be creative and original with the content. Writing your own resume will give you a chance to express who you truly are.  It is also important that you are familiar with the content on the resume, it would not be wise to struggle answering any questions they have about the content on your resume in an interview.