Advice??

Jeremy89

Jeremy89

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Hey everyone,

I was hoping you could help me out. As some of you might know, I am a new EMT in the field and am having trouble finding jobs. I've tried everywhere! Schools, Ambo companies, Hospitals, water parks, basically any health-related field in the greater Phoenix area. Now I have some family in CA. One of my cousins said I can do ride alongs and apply part time for their ALS service up in the mountains. Also, Rural/Metro, a large company in San Diego is hiring. However, with them, I would likely get stuck with transports.

My question:
Which would look better on a job app? Keep in mind I'd only be doing this for the summer to get experience.
Have I overlooked anyone that would hire an EMT? I just feel so hopeless at this point and can't understand why it is so hard to get a job. Yes I'm only 19 and a new EMT but I can't believe I haven't even gotten a single call back or interview. Why is it so difficult? How did you guys get your first jobs?

Thanks for your support!

Jeremy
 
In my area (northern NJ) you can get experience by joining a volunteer service. That's probably not an option in your area. You don't want to hear this but your best option may be to suck it up and work for a transport service. While everyone hates working on transport trucks, most 911 providers (at least out here) don't want to hire a new EMT because no matter how good your EMT course, there are things you need to learn by doing. By reading the posts on this site you should realize that there a subtleties to this profession and even us old timers learn new stuff every day. The feeling of the 911 providers is that you should learn gradually by doing non-emergent transports with an occasional emergency thrown in. In other words, they want you to make your mistakes with the transport company's patients.

A transport company is a good place to learn and practice ambulance operations, basic patient care skills such as vitals, interaction with patients and their families, interaction with other providers such as nurses, doctors, paramedics, and being able to work with a partner. These things can't really be taught in a class. If you think of your transport time as post-graduate training in EMS, it might make it easier to deal with.

Once you have 6 months to a year of experience, you'll find yourself getting callbacks from 911 providers.
 
You could probably get a job doing non-911 hospital/nusinghome/dialysis transfers in Los Angeles . . . POSSIBLY at a 911 company if you have a spotless driving record and know your stuff really really well.
 
So what would look better on a resume? a small ALS service? or a well known BLS service?
 
Jeremy89 said:
Hey everyone,

I was hoping you could help me out. As some of you might know, I am a new EMT in the field and am having trouble finding jobs. I've tried everywhere! Schools, Ambo companies, Hospitals, water parks, basically any health-related field in the greater Phoenix area. Now I have some family in CA. One of my cousins said I can do ride alongs and apply part time for their ALS service up in the mountains. Also, Rural/Metro, a large company in San Diego is hiring. However, with them, I would likely get stuck with transports.

My question:
Which would look better on a job app? Keep in mind I'd only be doing this for the summer to get experience.
Have I overlooked anyone that would hire an EMT? I just feel so hopeless at this point and can't understand why it is so hard to get a job. Yes I'm only 19 and a new EMT but I can't believe I haven't even gotten a single call back or interview. Why is it so difficult? How did you guys get your first jobs?

Thanks for your support!

Jeremy
Click to expand...

Let me help enlighten you...................

If I was a manager, I wouldn't hire you for 4 reasons...........

1. You are under 21 and I probably couldn't get you covered on my insurance as a driver. Therefore, you are of no use to me on an ALS truck.

2. You are only looking to work for a couple of months. I have to spend money to train and orientate you just for you to leave, there would be no return of investment.

3. You are a new EMT with no experience. I would seek either experience or even possibly a dedicated career ALS provider first.

4. "Stuck with transports" shows me that you have little interest in EMS as a whole. This career isn't about the glory of running 911, it is about pt. care. If you are not interested in offering a level of interest consistant with a patients whole continuity of care, then I am not interested in hiring you.

Don't take it personally, but EMT's are a dime a dozen. For every opening that I have, I have 100 interested EMT's. You have to make yourself competitive, your original post completely opposes that.................

Take an interfacility transport position, become proficient in assessing, documenting, and obtaining vital signs. Gain expereince from your ALS partners if applicable. Then when you have a solid year or two of experience, go and seek your 911 position as a competitive candidate.

Good Luck!
 
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Ok, I admit I could've worded it differently. I am looking to get the most out of one summer. If I could find a company here at home, I would love to do transports. However, if its just for the summer, I want the most experience in the least amount of time (like everyone else). Yes, I know I'm under 21 but that's no excuse to not hire me. The age to drive an ambo in CA is only 18, which is one of the reasons I'm considering it. I know I have no experience, but how am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me? (not even transport companies).

"Take an interfacility transport position, become proficient in assessing, documenting, and obtaining vital signs." Like it's that easy to just 'take' a job. If I could, I would. Believe me, I don't want to spend a summer in a foreign state, but I am willing to do what I need to to get experience, which should show some determination.
 
if you are looking to only work for a couple of months.....try a casino. I know the ones here in Kansas city had ad for them on craigslist. Try that....better than nothing.
 
Jeremy89 said:
Yes, I know I'm under 21 but that's no excuse to not hire me. The age to drive an ambo in CA is only 18, which is one of the reasons I'm considering it. I know I have no experience, but how am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me? (not even transport companies).
Click to expand...

Ok, first issue is that you need to become certified in the state. In California, at least, be prepared to wait about 1-2 weeks (if memory serves me correctly) for your background check to clear. You also need to have a physical completed and signed off by a physician. There are places like occupational health clinics that will do that for a fee.

Second, just because you can get an Ambulance Driver Certificate (you may need a California driver's license, but they might honor an out of state drivers license) doesn't mean that a company's insurance will let you drive an ambulance. That said, there are still companies that will hire someone whom is ineligible to drive based on the company's insurance plan.
 
Whoa! Well, it is just as hard in Canada to get a job fresh out of school. Especially full time work. Most positions are casual. People want experience and just laetly up here we are becoming a demand. To many people all retiring at the same time. It doesnt matter where you get the experience as long as you get it. Nice thing is you can try it and if you don't like it or can't make it work...then quit. Exerience is always the key and if you have any contacts in the field as them if they can poitn you in the right dirctin in California. I dunno how licenseing is in the states but we are all licensed under the College of Paramedics here and that is also wher they obtain our insurance.
 
Jeremy89 said:
So what would look better on a resume? a small ALS service? or a well known BLS service?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily a well-known BLS service, but a service (ALS or BLS and whatever size) with a solid reputation. My company is a BLS service, but had the best reputation in the county, I believe. Citizens have asked for it by name. That's going to look better than a large ALS transfer company.
 
Jeremy,
If you are serious about a career in EMS and have had difficulty being hired, there is something you can do. Contact the interviewer at one of the companies where you were rejected and set up an informal meeting with him to discuss your hire-ability.

Tell the interviewer that you understand that you didn't meet their needs as an employee and you are trying to improve your chances with future interviews. Ask them for candid responses on where you were deficient. Was it something in your demeanor, your appearance, your experience, education, age, did you just remind them of a guy they disliked in high school? Find out what it was about the person they did hire that tipped the balance towards them and away from you.

By the questions you ask, you can show them that you want an honest, in depth assessment of your interview skills and your future in EMS. Most HR people will give you the standard "you do not meet our needs at this current time: because its easier and less likely to offend the recipient. But, if you ask for more detail, and can impress them with your maturity, and your desire to learn and improve from the information, most will give you more detail.

Then, you have to listen to the information without getting hurt feelings, attempting to argue the point, or to convince them that their impression was inaccurate. The point it, this is the impression you created with them and your behavior may need to change in the next interview.

Local fire department hired a guy they rejected earlier after this type of post-interview process. It shows that you are willing to learn and change. Also shows that you possess a certain amount of professionalism and maturity.
 
Jeremy89 said:
Ok, I admit I could've worded it differently. I am looking to get the most out of one summer. If I could find a company here at home, I would love to do transports. However, if its just for the summer, I want the most experience in the least amount of time (like everyone else). Yes, I know I'm under 21 but that's no excuse to not hire me. The age to drive an ambo in CA is only 18, which is one of the reasons I'm considering it. I know I have no experience, but how am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me? (not even transport companies).

"Take an interfacility transport position, become proficient in assessing, documenting, and obtaining vital signs." Like it's that easy to just 'take' a job. If I could, I would. Believe me, I don't want to spend a summer in a foreign state, but I am willing to do what I need to to get experience, which should show some determination.
Click to expand...


Another way to look at the transfer calls as a way to do a full assessment...When I was starting as an EMT the Medics always got to work up the critical patients. I tell my employees - patient care and your safety first. So if my EMTs need to roll code because they went to pick up Grandma for a high temp at XYZ nursing home and the staff there forgot to mention she was breathing at 60 reps........that is a BIG part of EMS not just the trauma.....give me someone who knows disease process over someone who plugs the holes (bleeding) and can splint.

The medical aid requires skill, knowledge and good judgement
 
I was fortunate in that I got a paying job as an EMT at age 18 (after 1.5 years as a volunteer) with a non-emergency service. This service allowed me to work part-time, and pick up shifts when I came back from college on vacations. You might not be able to work out such a sweet deal, but it's worth a try.

As for working BLS transfers vs. 911 calls, I prefer the 911 calls, too, but I've found transporting some of my dialysis patients to be an incredibly rewarding experience...give it a try and you may be pleasantly surprised.

I'm now 19 and trying to get a job with a 911 service, and I have one huge advantage over you (2.5 years experience), but I'm still running into a lot of the same problems. I always try to get a face-to-face interview with a honcho at the service I'm applying to work with. Usually, I get told that they can't hire me since I'm not 21, but one service is currently negociating with their insurance company since I left such a good impression with one of their high-ranking officials. I've also gotten offers to be a dispatcher...Not what I really want to do, but I may end up giving it a shot.

Good luck!
 
I've been out of school since the end of january and i've just been offered a job, oh i know it's with r/m doing the lowley transport bls stuff....but here's the deal sunshine, you have to pay your dues.........i'm stoked to be working with r/m.....why?? because if you did some research, they are contracted with sdfd and they have a bridge program where you get teamed up with a medic to do the 'fun' stuff..........a company in general for the most part is not going to hire you for a few months, unless of course it's like a seasonal job......

sorry to come off a little harsh but i think that some people forget you don't get things handed to you and you have to pay your dues (even if it's volunteering at a hospital) got to start somewhere :) and any job worth doing there's always going to be some b.s along the way, you just got ot figure out how to get around it.....good luck!!
 
jazminestar said:
I've been out of school since the end of january and i've just been offered a job, oh i know it's with r/m doing the lowley transport bls stuff....but here's the deal sunshine, you have to pay your dues.........i'm stoked to be working with r/m.....why?? because if you did some research, they are contracted with sdfd and they have a bridge program where you get teamed up with a medic to do the 'fun' stuff..........a company in general for the most part is not going to hire you for a few months, unless of course it's like a seasonal job......

sorry to come off a little harsh but i think that some people forget you don't get things handed to you and you have to pay your dues (even if it's volunteering at a hospital) got to start somewhere :) and any job worth doing there's always going to be some b.s along the way, you just got ot figure out how to get around it.....good luck!!
Click to expand...

Its always refreshing to see new EMT's that have little conceptual knowledge of EMS citing things like this...........................

"lowley transport bls stuff"

"fun" stuff

"b.s. along the way"

These words shouldn't be coming from the mouth of a new EMT. It's not "paying dues" as you term it. It's called becoming proficient in stabilizing and treating patients. Regardless of whether they are stable or unstable. Your 120 hour advanced first aid class does not REMOTELY prepare you for that. Thats why there are very few reputable EMS agencies that put an EMT-B as a lead medic in an emergency envitonment. Most do it because they want to provide the minimum level necessary for the cheapest price (i.e. your volunteer BLS services). Professionals look beyond the economics and politics and offer the service that community deserve (i.e a paid organized Paramedic level service). Looking down on valuable experience that will offer the exposure and practice to hone your skills and knowledge shows disinterest. Doing it because you have to get where you are going shows that you are in it for yourself, not as an advocate for your patient. So maybe you should be the one doing some research. Maybe you have more to learn than you realize. Hopefully as you mature in EMS, you will see why this thought process is damaging the industry and preventing us being viewed as true medical professionals.................................
 
i was actually being really sarcastic in saying 'lowley bls stuff' and 'fun' stuff and yes i think starting out as an emt-b is paying your dues............you have to start some where right? and yes you do need to become proficient, that's an abosolute........but when you start at the low end of the totem poll (to learn or not to learn) is paying your dues..........i was making a point in being sarcastic that you're not going to start out 19 years old and be at the top rung.....you know what i mean?? i'm 30 years old (working since i was 14,that's a lot of work expierence) and even i couldn't get a foot in the door at a hospital in san diego without either 'knowing someone' or doing voluenteer work (plus i've been in the allied health field for 4 yrs now in a different capacity)............so please i'm not so immature and i do know what i'm talking about..........and i've done pleanty of research.......also you have to take into account the areas you're working, i don't know how it is in houston, but here in san diego, EVERYONE is a paramedic, firefighters have to be paramedics first, then you have the paramedics who aren't firefighters, so bls, emt-b whatever you want to call it, around here is starting out and is paying your dues ;) just like if i were to work in a hospital as an er tech, you don't think i would be paying my dues in some sense before i were to become an emergency room nurse? people when going to paramedic school and nursing school due clinicals don't they?? isn't that paying your dues?? getting expierence so when you do start working in the ultimate capcity of what you want, you know what you're doing...........and as you said "It's called becoming proficient in stabilizing and treating patients" you're totally right.......but you have to start somewhere and working your way up is paying your dues..........maybe you and i just have diffrent definitions of that. :blush:
 
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Thats why there are very few reputable EMS agencies that put an EMT-B as a lead medic in an emergency environment. Most do it because they want to provide the minimum level necessary for the cheapest price (i.e. your volunteer BLS services). Professionals look beyond the economics and politics and offer the service that community deserve (i.e a paid organized Paramedic level service). Looking down on valuable experience that will offer the exposure and practice to hone your skills and knowledge shows disinterest.
Click to expand...
Would you like to rephrase this? Or explain it, one or the 'tother. While I agree that my 120 class didn't prepare me for a lot of major traumas, my 5 years of experience as a volunteer has made me at least competent enough to leave the trauma patient at the hospital in slightly better condition then I found them. Our squad has a couple of volunteer basics that have been running as basics for almost as long as the NREMT has been around and I'd rather work a trauma with some of the old time basics then the new paramedics. You can't be saying that a volunteer ISN'T a professional. The only difference between a volunteer and a professional is the amount of their paycheck, that's it. A volunteer receives the same level of training as a professional.
 
"Paying your dues" comes from early 1900s with the establishment of labor unions which the term union dues later came about for fees to belong. People also working hard labor in prison camps "paid their dues" to society.

Health care professionals (and others) climb career ladders. Education, knowledge, skills and experience are acquired to make it to the next rung on the ladder. If you perceive your education as hard labor, thus paying your dues, you are doing yourself an injustice in the learning and experience process. Professionals like to look at their next step as a challenge and not a laborious task.

Everyday on a BLS truck should be an educational experience. Unfortunately many do not know how much there is to learn and do not take full advantage of there time with the patients on thse "BS" calls. Again, that vocabulary should not be used.

Too many EMTs wait until they start paramedic school when they think it will all magically come together and suddenly they will be great masters of assessment. This is one of several reasons why I do not encourage anyone to remain as an EMT for any longer than it takes to finish Paramedic, RN or whatever. There should be no time lapse from EMT to the Paramedic program to keep moving up the rungs of the ladders without taking on the "paying your dues" task mentality.

The same process goes for being an ER Tech. If you have the mentality of doing hard labor instead of seeing the learning opportunities, then there too, you will be doing yourself and the patients an injustice. Perception by the public will be reflected by your attitude toward the path you have chosen.
 
wolfwyndd said:
Would you like to rephrase this? Or explain it, one or the 'tother. While I agree that my 120 class didn't prepare me for a lot of major traumas, my 5 years of experience as a volunteer has made me at least competent enough to leave the trauma patient at the hospital in slightly better condition then I found them. Our squad has a couple of volunteer basics that have been running as basics for almost as long as the NREMT has been around and I'd rather work a trauma with some of the old time basics then the new paramedics. You can't be saying that a volunteer ISN'T a professional. The only difference between a volunteer and a professional is the amount of their paycheck, that's it. A volunteer receives the same level of training as a professional.
Click to expand...

No, I believe it was phrased just fine. I am not going to sit here and rehash the finer points of the ALS vs. BLS or the paid vs. volunteer war. I think those dead horses have been beaten enough. The points have been made by many people. Trauma is a bad representation to justify a losing battle. Neither BLS nor ALS makes a significant impact in a trauma patients outcome, the trauma surgeon and time does............................
 
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