So I have been talking to this agency and they have offered a full expense payed trip for me to fly down and stay for a few days. I have only talked to them over the phone and am a little weary about an agency that seems to be so willing to pay for me to go down there. Was wondering if anyone had any input on them....
Looking at job positions....anyone ever heard of Lincoln County EMS in Ruidoso, NM?
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R.O.P.
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I know some people who may have an opinion. Give me a few days.
If you are thinking of relocating from the Pacific NW down into the Desert SW, you may be in for a climate shock...
I for one would love to live where you do (Ariel, WA). What don't you like about that area?
If you are thinking of relocating from the Pacific NW down into the Desert SW, you may be in for a climate shock...
I for one would love to live where you do (Ariel, WA). What don't you like about that area?
Ruidoso is NOT a true picture of the desert southwest as it sits at 7000ALT.
Don't have an opinion on their EMS system, but I know the area well. I live maybe two hours away, and we have a family vacation home about 40min from Ruidoso
Ruidoso is a mountain, heavily-tourist town of several thousand. It's main two draws are the Mescalero Apache casino/resort and the quarter horse track/slots casino.
It has a heavily congested downtown area full of shops, restaurants, etc.
The weather there is stellar, rarely breaks 80 in the summer. Hunting, fishing, hiking abound. TONS of wildlife IN town and the surrounding area. You can snow ski at Ski Apache also.
When you go, stop in for lunch at Can't Stop Smoking. Order a tri-tip sandwich w/ baked beans and german potatoes.....epic goodness!
I'll be honest, there could be low-pay issues. I know FIRE/EMS/LE has fought for every nickel they are paid. Also could be an issue finding affordable housing, just depends.
Don't have an opinion on their EMS system, but I know the area well. I live maybe two hours away, and we have a family vacation home about 40min from Ruidoso
Ruidoso is a mountain, heavily-tourist town of several thousand. It's main two draws are the Mescalero Apache casino/resort and the quarter horse track/slots casino.
It has a heavily congested downtown area full of shops, restaurants, etc.
The weather there is stellar, rarely breaks 80 in the summer. Hunting, fishing, hiking abound. TONS of wildlife IN town and the surrounding area. You can snow ski at Ski Apache also.
When you go, stop in for lunch at Can't Stop Smoking. Order a tri-tip sandwich w/ baked beans and german potatoes.....epic goodness!
I'll be honest, there could be low-pay issues. I know FIRE/EMS/LE has fought for every nickel they are paid. Also could be an issue finding affordable housing, just depends.
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Actually there isnt anything that I dont like about here. The issue is AMR, which is the main ambulance agency anywhere near here is not hiring medics right now. The best they can give me is they MAY be hiring a few in a month or two. The ambulance agency I work at now North County EMS, unfortunately doesnt have any full time positions either and all Im working there right now is 24 hours a week. Hard to survive on that, so even though I dont want to leave I need to go where I can get a job and this agency just happens to be one of the places Im looking at.
The area does look pretty amazing. I actually looked at the pay and talked to one of the medics there and it is higher then what i would make around here.
eveningsky339
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Well, you're being offered an all-expense paid trip and the job situation at home doesn't seem to be looking great. Factoring in the beauty and potential for more $$$ in the area, I'd take the trip before making any informed decision on the matter.
Level1pedstech
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Have you thought about going across the river into Oregon and trying AMR or Metro West. Even as a medic I know you have to start out on a wheelchair van until a medic spot opens up at AMR, I'm not sure about Metro West.
You may have to expand your search area and consider commuting. You would not be the first one to have to make a long drive to find that first full time medic job. I know for a while AMR was hurting for medics and IV techs over in Yakima, I think they work a fire schedule so commuting in ten days a month would be a breeze, I commute 125 miles a night six nights a week but I like where I live.
I have noticed over the years that medic spots in our area open up when the various fire departments do their hiring. We have techs where I work that get picked up as medics almost every cycle, some go fire some don't but the system is always moving. If you can tap into the cycle for Vancouver Fire,Portland Fire and TVFR you will notice the sucking sound of medics being hired away from AMR and the others.
While your waiting you could try and get on as a tech, I know Providence Milwaukee is taking applications. Three 12 hour tech shifts and a 24 at North Country should be able to keep you hanging on until you get a full time medic gig. You may end up making more in that scenario than you would working full time as a medic on an AMR car in Clark County. If you can get on as a tech the networking with those in the field both fire and EMS is tremendous and you will know well in advance when spots are going to open up and who you need to talk to. Tech spots are hard to find this time of year because for the most part every one is settled into their various school schedules but it wont stay this way for long. Very few people get in on the first try so be patient and keep applying.
While your waiting learn how give a good interview its a skill you will need to have mastered down the line. Be careful of interview advice from some of the monkeys on this site, they mean well but it will prove to be less than helpful. You may only get one chance with the job market the way it is so you need to be ready to smoke the competition and sell your package. Check out firecareers.com and search for interview advice you will find more than enough information from people who know what their talking about.
I was definitely going to go down there and check them out. I was just trying to see if there was anyone out there that happened to have any info on the agency. I have googled them countless times and everything seems to be fine, was just a little disturbed in the fact that they are offering a new medic (not even done with all testing yet, actually just got back from my written) a full expense paid to come down and interview. Just looking to get a little background on them outside of the agency itself..
I would love to work in Oregon, but unfortunately didnt receive my associates. I need to finish up some credits for college before I can and until then it means nothing in Oregon. I actually have applied for a few ED Tech positions and am waiting to hear back from those. I had also started the process with Port of Portland this last go around, passed their written but had issues come up prior to the physical which made it so I couldnt go...but until I find something I have definitely been reading up on interviewing for fire depts and am taking my practical in Vegas next weekend, during which I will test with Medic West giving me just that much more practice. So....we will see how that goes
R.O.P.
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Ruidoso
OK I asked around a bit, but didn't get any too-specific answers.
I heard they have a hard time keeping medics. I heard the hours can be long. I heard there have been some personality conflicts. Like I said... nothing too specific.
Those are just OTHERS opinions, so take them at face value (obviously!)
I do believe there is, or just was, a sign-on bonus though. Good luck!
OK I asked around a bit, but didn't get any too-specific answers.
I heard they have a hard time keeping medics. I heard the hours can be long. I heard there have been some personality conflicts. Like I said... nothing too specific.
Those are just OTHERS opinions, so take them at face value (obviously!)
I do believe there is, or just was, a sign-on bonus though. Good luck!
I did some asking around myself.
There does seem to be an issue with the way they run their shifts. Apparently they are running their people into the ground. Working 24hr shifts, then requiring you to be on an on-call status. No pay unless you make a run.
There's alot of medics down here who would like to go up to Ruidoso and work two 24s and come home, but they're not allowing that. If you're not actually working you have to be on-call and go nowhere.
There does seem to be an issue with the way they run their shifts. Apparently they are running their people into the ground. Working 24hr shifts, then requiring you to be on an on-call status. No pay unless you make a run.
There's alot of medics down here who would like to go up to Ruidoso and work two 24s and come home, but they're not allowing that. If you're not actually working you have to be on-call and go nowhere.
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I was aware of the on call status....however they do pay while you are on call and pay time and a half if you get called in. You are assigned your actual shifts then have the option of two or three days on call a week. Which may change before too long because I have been told they are trying to open up another station. Thanks for the feedback!