Heh, seen this a million times on EMTLife, but didn't expect to be put into the position myself.
Been trying to get hired at 911 in my area for about four years now (applied when it was AMR back then, it switched to a different company and I applied to them too). I've interviewed once, and was not hired.
Decided to give San Diego a shot, I have an interview there very soon.
After I scheduled an interview with San Diego, they found a preceptor for me at the 911 in my area and they are hiring now (10 full time EMT positions, 10 part time EMT positions). That's a lot of open positions!
Pros to San Diego:
- I'd finally have a chance to do 911.
- I'd live closer to my brother, maybe even with him.
- New start. I feel like I've wasted a lot of time in the bay area.
Cons to San Diego:
- I have to move.
- I wouldn't know the area, hospitals, people, company well.
- I'd take a $2/hr pay cut.
- Probably conflict with the preceptor they found for me.
- I'd initially do primarily IFT still on a BLS unit. (I've worked dedicated CCT for about 2 years.)
Pros to 911 in my area:
- I'd finally do 911 (it's exclusive, no IFT calls.)
- Pay is way higher. Starting pay is $6/hr more than what I currently make (I am told $6/hr night differential so $12/hr more if I work night), $8/hr more (or $14/hr more if I work nights) than what I would make in San Diego .
- The protocols, policies, company, area, hospitals, and a fair amount of people that work there wouldn't be foreign to me. I've done several ride alongs with the division and have worked in the county for almost three years.
- Wouldn't conflict with my internship.
Cons to 911 in my area:
- None if I get the job.
Only bad thing is that last time the 911 in my area was hiring, I didn't apply to all the other places that were hiring (including San Diego, I applied and withdrew my application), I turned down an interview for a company that does 911, but requires you to do >6 months IFT for them first (starting pay was about $4/hr more than what I currently make), I interviewed, and didn't get the job. I massively regret not pursing other places.
This is all the same company (the 911 in my area, the division I work for right now, and San Diego), and if I transfer, I am not allowed to transfer for at least one year. Each division is treated like a different company and it's not easy to transfer.
This is killing me because the timing is so lousy.
San Diego sounded like a good idea. I was gonna look for my own paramedic preceptor there and finally have a chance for 911. I feel like I've wasted time in the bay area, passed up on a lot of opportunities. Not giving San Diego a try I think is a stupid idea.. if I straight up didn't interview with them or turned down a job offer if one is made, but interview with the 911 in my area and don't get a job offer, I am stuck where I am at now (only pro would be that I would easily be able to do my paramedic field internship within a week or two from now). If I didn't give my 911 area a try right now and went all in for San Diego and got offered a job, accept, I would likely either have to turn down the preceptor my school/911 found for me (likely) and look for one in San Diego or fly/drive back and fourth (8 hour drive) every week to do my field internship. Not really realistic. I would be turning down a chance to doing exclusive 911 for significantly higher pay than both my current division and the one in San Diego also.
One of my friends I talked to (he works for San Diego) really wants me to go to San Diego, and doesn't think I have a chance for the 911 in my area. I dunno, I feel like my odds are way higher than before.
Am I crazy for even thinking that San Diego might not be as good of an option now?
