Hi!
I'm brand new to EMS; I finished my EMT-B course at the beginning of August, prepared myself for the NREMT for about two weeks and passed that. I recently finished registration for my State/County and also took my Ambulance Certificate test last week at the DMV. Now that I've got everything done and taken care of, here comes the hard part: finding a job. :unsure:
Now, I won't go into the specifics of my life, but I'll be honest and say that at I was one of the 'screw-ups'. While I didn't delve into drug/alcohol abuse or anything of that sort, general laziness mixed with reoccurring mental issues led me down a path where I was very unsuccessful. I skipped a bunch of classes, failed a few courses, and don't have any solid past employment that would look good on a resume. It wasn't until I took the First Responder course (on a random whim) that I finally found a passion - something I genuinely enjoyed doing and learning about. Fast forward to now, and here I am, ready and eager to get a job... only, I don't know how.
Could any of you explain to me the process of getting hired? Of course, there's the general application - references, schooling, etc. I've got that down, but how exactly would I present myself to my potential employers that I am a knowledgeable and responsible candidate - despite my previous records showing otherwise. If I miraculously manage to land an interview, what sort of things would they ask? I noticed that a lot of companies have a physical test; would it be good to prepare for that as well?
Any tips or advice that of you can tell me, I'd greatly appreciate it. I know I've made my mistakes in my life, but joining EMS is not something I'd like to add to that list.
I'm brand new to EMS; I finished my EMT-B course at the beginning of August, prepared myself for the NREMT for about two weeks and passed that. I recently finished registration for my State/County and also took my Ambulance Certificate test last week at the DMV. Now that I've got everything done and taken care of, here comes the hard part: finding a job. :unsure:
Now, I won't go into the specifics of my life, but I'll be honest and say that at I was one of the 'screw-ups'. While I didn't delve into drug/alcohol abuse or anything of that sort, general laziness mixed with reoccurring mental issues led me down a path where I was very unsuccessful. I skipped a bunch of classes, failed a few courses, and don't have any solid past employment that would look good on a resume. It wasn't until I took the First Responder course (on a random whim) that I finally found a passion - something I genuinely enjoyed doing and learning about. Fast forward to now, and here I am, ready and eager to get a job... only, I don't know how.
Could any of you explain to me the process of getting hired? Of course, there's the general application - references, schooling, etc. I've got that down, but how exactly would I present myself to my potential employers that I am a knowledgeable and responsible candidate - despite my previous records showing otherwise. If I miraculously manage to land an interview, what sort of things would they ask? I noticed that a lot of companies have a physical test; would it be good to prepare for that as well?
Any tips or advice that of you can tell me, I'd greatly appreciate it. I know I've made my mistakes in my life, but joining EMS is not something I'd like to add to that list.