Case studies: Firefighter: Gary Pickup

Gary discusses the skills needed to get a job as a firefighter...

I was searching for firefighter training prior to my graduation. I had submitted applications from the start of the third year of my BSc in Policing and Criminal Investigation due to the potential length of the recruitment process, which can sometimes take up to a year.

Luckily, I passed the interview for my current job in August 2010, but because I wanted to undertake my postgraduate study, I remained in a successful applicant holding pool for eighteen months whilst I completed my MSc in Forensic Science. I started my training for the Fire and Rescue Service in Scotland in May 2012.

The subjects I studied at university have not been directly relevant to the job of firefighter. However, the skills and confidence I gained during my studies were absolutely vital to my current employment. I volunteered as a Special Constable for two years during my second and third years of undergraduate study in order to gain valuable life experience I needed to help me secure my current job.

Each working day is different, and I am learning skills and knowledge all the time. Everything is new and there is a lot of pressure to get it right, with written, oral and practical assessments carried out every week to monitor individual progress. The skills I have learned from my degree and voluntary work have been essential for my current job, especially the communication and personal development skills.

I enjoy doing a job that is different every day, working closely with my colleagues and making a significant difference within the community. The stresses of the situations I face are undoubtedly the most challenging part of my job, along with maintaining a high level of personal development at all times.

The best advice I have for students and graduates who would like to get into this career is that the knowledge gained from university is important, but it is the communication skills and personal confidence that are crucial when applying for any job. Job-specific life skills are hard to obtain while studying at university, but it is important to develop these through other methods, such as volunteering, like I did.

Persistence and tenacity are also key factors when applying for any job. You need to make sure that you retain your confidence if you face with the disappointment of unsuccessful applications.

AGCAS

Sourced by Jill Freeman, Staffordshire University

Date: 

July 2012

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