Los Angeles - What good opportunities for employment?

JPINFV said:
Wow. The sad part was that I always assumed that Freeman would be a good program since it's associated with UCLA.
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I'm sure it was, until fire got ahold of it and used it as their medic mill.

The good ones come out of Mt SAC and Crafton. Don't see as many out of (steels herself against the negativeness to come) RCC in LA.
 
Sapphyre said:
(steels herself against the negativeness to come) RCC in LA.
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...but RCC has a kick *** drumline.


[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo8PNzMQSyc&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]
2003 National Championships... At least wait till you get past the opening...
 
PeterB said:
I wish I could get on with McCormick, but no word yet.
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Peter,
From what I know, McCormick is not actively hiring at the moment, I was told by management that it could change in 2 weeks or 2 months, probably sooner rather than later. So hang in there and you may hear from them soon.
 
What the $(#*@?

So after reading all of your posts and encouragement, I applied at AMR, McCormick, Care, Gerber, Schaefer, and APT.

So Gerber calls me back right away. I go down there, and there are three guys sitting in a room taking a test. Two are in business attire, one in jeans. I was dressed professionally, as they told me. So I start the written test, but its hard to concentrate because the HR lady is talking the entire time. She tells us our possible scheduling, hours, all this stuff. She gives us candy during the test, funny lady. So I pass the written test, and I go outside for the physical. We GS carried one of the other job candidates across the parking lot. Plus we lifted a guy on a backboard from the ground six times in a row. Easy.
So I go back inside, and the HR lady tells me I DIDN'T PASS THE WRITTEN TEST. She says the last question is a scenario. It says "Write in Essay form the procedure." I wrote it sort of an essay, sort of an outline, so it would be clear what the procedures are, PENMAN, AVPU, ABC's, etc. I didn't think it was correct to write a STORY! So I said to her, "Excuse me?" She said sorry but we have to follow directions. I watched the guy in jeans go to the next step of filling out a schedule request, and the other guys that scored lower than me on the multiple choice test, and I left.
I feel like saying I was burned by the informal HR lady, but maybe I just have sour grapes.
What do you guys think? Anyway, five other companies to go. We will see how soon I can get hired.
 
PeterB said:
So after reading all of your posts and encouragement, I applied at AMR, McCormick, Care, Gerber, Schaefer, and APT.

So Gerber calls me back right away. I go down there, and there are three guys sitting in a room taking a test. Two are in business attire, one in jeans. I was dressed professionally, as they told me. So I start the written test, but its hard to concentrate because the HR lady is talking the entire time. She tells us our possible scheduling, hours, all this stuff. She gives us candy during the test, funny lady. So I pass the written test, and I go outside for the physical. We GS carried one of the other job candidates across the parking lot. Plus we lifted a guy on a backboard from the ground six times in a row. Easy.
So I go back inside, and the HR lady tells me I DIDN'T PASS THE WRITTEN TEST. She says the last question is a scenario. It says "Write in Essay form the procedure." I wrote it sort of an essay, sort of an outline, so it would be clear what the procedures are, PENMAN, AVPU, ABC's, etc. I didn't think it was correct to write a STORY! So I said to her, "Excuse me?" She said sorry but we have to follow directions. I watched the guy in jeans go to the next step of filling out a schedule request, and the other guys that scored lower than me on the multiple choice test, and I left.
I feel like saying I was burned by the informal HR lady, but maybe I just have sour grapes.
What do you guys think? Anyway, five other companies to go. We will see how soon I can get hired.
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Welcome to the world of private ambulance companies. ;)
 
Sorry to hear that happened. She might have "burned you" by not letting you rewrite it, but if the test said to write it in essay form, I imagine they...well, wanted you to write it in essay form. Outlines are easy, but they probably wanted to grade your ability to write and gauge your knowledge and critical thinking based on the details of what you would do on that scenario, rather than just listing procedures from school.

I would take that experience as your test trial. You'll be more comfortable at your next interviews, now. Good luck Peter.
 
where are you located? if you really want good experience stay out of LA county. the FD runs everything and you are nothing more than a gurney jockey. if you can make a commute id go to San Bernadino, Riverside, Ventura, or Kern County. you can get 1 on 1 with a medic, instead of being a taxi for LA county FD.

and I did two years at Schafer, and two at McCormick. all 911 companies are basically the same in LA, maybe a lil different pay/equipment but in the end you wont learn much (other than how to BLS ALS calls and cut corners)
 
Sapphyre said:
I'm sure it was, until fire got ahold of it and used it as their medic mill.

The good ones come out of Mt SAC and Crafton. Don't see as many out of (steels herself against the negativeness to come) RCC in LA.
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I didn't realize that RIVERSIDE community college was in Los Angeles. I have met many good and bad medics from all 3 of those as well as Freeman. I can only assume you don't like the "paramilitary" structure that RCC has or maybe how long it is. Honestly, any student will get out of medic school what they put in. Mt. SAC has the rep for toughness but also for not teaching and merely throwing the book at students and telling them to memorize it.
 
Just because RCC isn't in LACo doesn't mean that medics from RCC don't make their way to LACo.
 
jgmedic said:
I didn't realize that RIVERSIDE community college was in Los Angeles. I have met many good and bad medics from all 3 of those as well as Freeman. I can only assume you don't like the "paramilitary" structure that RCC has or maybe how long it is.
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I never said RCC was in LA, in fact, it's in RIVERSIDE, based out the Moreno Valley Campus. The program itself shares grounds with several Public Safety academies not too far March Air Reserve Base.

I also never said *I* didn't like the program. (why don't you check my profile picture again, a little more carefully....) But, every time I bring it up, there are a number of people here who complain that it sucks, JUST because of the paramilitary attitude....

The reason it was associated with LA in my post, is because I work in LA, very closely with LACoFD medics....
 
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Sapphyre said:
I never said RCC was in LA, in fact, it's in RIVERSIDE, based out the Moreno Valley Campus. The program itself shares grounds with several Public Safety academies not too far March Air Reserve Base.

I also never said *I* didn't like the program. (why don't you check my profile picture again, a little more carefully....) But, every time I bring it up, there are a number of people here who complain that it sucks, JUST because of the paramilitary attitude....

The reason it was associated with LA in my post, is because I work in LA, very closely with LACoFD medics....
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My fault, I think I misread your original post. You were saying there are not a lot of RCC medics in LA? Apologies for jumping to conclusions. I went to RCC's medic program, and I loved it, there are a lot of "hoops" to jump through, but I feel the EMS education is very good. I think the reason you don't see many RCC medics in LA is that the program is really long and in-depth for those who are looking for a quick P-card just to get on with FD.Many of us were there for medicine and not necessarily just for a FD job.
 
jgmedic said:
My fault, I think I misread your original post. You were saying there are not a lot of RCC medics in LA? Apologies for jumping to conclusions. I went to RCC's medic program, and I loved it, there are a lot of "hoops" to jump through, but I feel the EMS education is very good. I think the reason you don't see many RCC medics in LA is that the program is really long and in-depth for those who are looking for a quick P-card just to get on with FD.Many of us were there for medicine and not necessarily just for a FD job.
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No, I was recommending the program, as a (in my very uneducated opinion) much better alternative to Freeman. Seems like everyone discounts the IE when asking about the Greater LA area. And, the issue about the negativeness, again, is that a lot of the posters here don't like the paramilitary atmosphere. They think it breeds hose jockeys....

Did you check my profile picture? When you do, look at the shoulders.... you might see something familiar.
 
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Sapphyre said:
No, I was recommending the program, as a (in my very uneducated opinion) much better alternative to Freeman. Seems like everyone discounts the IE when asking about the Greater LA area. And, the issue about the negativeness, again, is that a lot of the posters here don't like the paramilitary atmosphere. They think it breeds hose jockeys....

Did you check my profile picture? When you do, look at the shoulders.... you might see something familiar.
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lol at the uniform, mine are folded up in the corner of my closet, if I never put that horrible Class A jacket on again, it will be too soon. When did you go? I was PM class 9 09/07-10/08.

So this isn't a total hijack, to the OP, If I were looking for B employment in LAco, I would go Care or McCormick. I worked for Care for 2 years and it was a good experience, solid company with 1st rate equipment. Working P/B is cool, but most places you will not be allowed in the back to do pt care unless you are on a BLS unit.
 
jgmedic said:
lol at the uniform, mine are folded up in the corner of my closet, if I never put that horrible Class A jacket on again, it will be too soon. When did you go? I was PM class 9 09/07-10/08.
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Ahhh, we may have run into each other. I was Spring '08, Wednesdays.
 
PeterB said:
So after reading all of your posts and encouragement, I applied at AMR, McCormick, Care, Gerber, Schaefer, and APT.

So Gerber calls me back right away. I go down there, and there are three guys sitting in a room taking a test. Two are in business attire, one in jeans. I was dressed professionally, as they told me. So I start the written test, but its hard to concentrate because the HR lady is talking the entire time. She tells us our possible scheduling, hours, all this stuff. She gives us candy during the test, funny lady. So I pass the written test, and I go outside for the physical. We GS carried one of the other job candidates across the parking lot. Plus we lifted a guy on a backboard from the ground six times in a row. Easy.
So I go back inside, and the HR lady tells me I DIDN'T PASS THE WRITTEN TEST. She says the last question is a scenario. It says "Write in Essay form the procedure." I wrote it sort of an essay, sort of an outline, so it would be clear what the procedures are, PENMAN, AVPU, ABC's, etc. I didn't think it was correct to write a STORY! So I said to her, "Excuse me?" She said sorry but we have to follow directions. I watched the guy in jeans go to the next step of filling out a schedule request, and the other guys that scored lower than me on the multiple choice test, and I left.
I feel like saying I was burned by the informal HR lady, but maybe I just have sour grapes.
What do you guys think? Anyway, five other companies to go. We will see how soon I can get hired.
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Sorry for bumping this thread, but I find this funny. I know the HR woman your talking about, she is quite the card to say the least. I have four friends who have left Gerber due to "broken promises" I chose to stay away because during recruiting I asked if my school schedule would be a problem, even went as far as to give them a 90 day detailed schedule. She looked it over and told me it wouldn't be a problem, that if I went to Mccormick it would be, but not with Gerber. I took there tests, passed them all, when it came time for final interview they put up a fuss about my schedule. I explained to them that THEIR recruiter told me it was no issue, they responded with " you were misinformed."

They wanted me to take time off from school, I told then no, and said thank you and left.
 
Here's the latest

I am not sure about putting all these Ambulance company names on here, but anyway.

I finally went down to McCormick in person, PeskyFish and a couple of others told me to go down there in person. So I did, and finally I will have an interview this Wednesday. Written, Physical, Skills, the usual.
Then Care called me! Finally!! I have an interview there on Friday morning.

So I am pretty happy that at least something is happening. I feel like I am forgetting stuff. I am studying again.

Oh and I went down to Schaefer twice, and called three times. They said they have my app and will call me.

Thanks for all the tips, people!!!

Peter
 
Good luck with the interview on Friday Peter. Hope to see you around in McCormick land!
 
Peter,
good luck with getting the experience you desire! In my experience, working in LACoFD jurisdictions has been a blessing-I grew up here in the East SGV. Working in the area I live is a great benefit as it was easier to train, learn and better myself as an EMT.

Having worked for the same private ambulance company for the 4 yrs, I have good memories(partners/crazy calls) as well as horror stories similar to many here running 911 in LACo...

You either treat every day working on a BLS rig like the field training it is or you become bitter at FF's PM's for the position they're in and you're not...

I've come to appreciate "paying my dues" and feel that when I'm on scene first, my partner and I can handle anything were presented with until The engine/squad show up.

Yes the pay is brutal(In 'n' Out burger flippers make waaaay more than me) but if you're a good EMT,chances are you'll be a good paramedic.

Lots of slackers,crybabies, and bitter EMT's are employed by various private ambulance companies her in LACo...It's up to you, and only you if you want to join their ranks,OR, better yourself/situation.
 
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