WA state EMT employment

[Joe2point0]

I recently completed my EMT-B course through NWRTC in Vancouver in December, and my NREMT back in January, and have been incessantly looking for work since. I've tried AMR, Rural/Metro, Tri-Med, Olympic Ambulance, even North Country EMS' resident program... No-one's bitten so far and at current I'm completely without work. No-income but for the grace of family I have a place to stay. Is there something I'm missing here? Should I try in eastern WA, or even a different state perhaps?

 

[PotatoMedic]

I would say in your situation. apply anywhere and everywhere you are willing to move to. And keep applying to trimed.

 

[NomadicMedic]

Ditto. Apply at everyplace east of the Cascades as well.

 

[Drax]

Apply at any job, then continue looking for work in EMS.

 

[crubs]

I recently completed my EMT-B course through NWRTC in Vancouver in December, and my NREMT back in January, and have been incessantly looking for work since. I've tried AMR, Rural/Metro, Tri-Med, Olympic Ambulance, even North Country EMS' resident program... No-one's bitten so far and at current I'm completely without work. No-income but for the grace of family I have a place to stay. Is there something I'm missing here? Should I try in eastern WA, or even a different state perhaps?

I took my EMT class at that exact same school just over a year ago. I still haven't even gotten close. I'm beyond frustrated and have honestly reached the point to hopelessness. I see all these "keep on looking" posts but I don't see what's to look for. I am convinced that there are no jobs for me, and what few jobs there are will inevitably have competitors whom have experience. As long as the other guy has experience, they will get the job. That's capitalism, and it sucks.

 

[Drax]

I took my EMT class at that exact same school just over a year ago. I still haven't even gotten close. I'm beyond frustrated and have honestly reached the point to hopelessness. I see all these "keep on looking" posts but I don't see what's to look for. I am convinced that there are no jobs for me, and what few jobs there are will inevitably have competitors whom have experience. As long as the other guy has experience, they will get the job. That's capitalism, and it sucks.

It isn't capitalism, it is supply and demand. If you want an edge, volunteer somewhere whilst looking for a job.

EMS is not an easy career field to get into, employers know this, and just as fire departments are becoming more difficult to get into so are EMS jobs.

As I said before, look for work anywhere. Then while you're working, look for work as an EMT or otherwise, volunteer your off time else where, like search and rescue/local volunteer fire departments. With so few places available these days, you need to broaden your search. Look at Casinos, Correctional Facilities, Summer Camps and Recreational Events. Get additional certifications (CNA, RA-C, MA-C) and apply for hospitals and clinic jobs. Otherwise, go back to school and either hop into a nursing plan or paramedic plan. Many places will hire you if you state you're in nursing school pursuing a higher level of medical education.

I'm not sure what your career end goal is, but do something from above that works towards that, ever searching, never giving up. I can't imagine anyone wants to stop at transport level EMT, but who knows, I don't know everything.

 

[crubs]

It isn't capitalism, it is supply and demand. If you want an edge, volunteer somewhere whilst looking for a job.

EMS is not an easy career field to get into, employers know this, and just as fire departments are becoming more difficult to get into so are EMS jobs.

As I said before, look for work anywhere. Then while you're working, look for work as an EMT or otherwise, volunteer your off time else where, like search and rescue/local volunteer fire departments. With so few places available these days, you need to broaden your search. Look at Casinos, Correctional Facilities, Summer Camps and Recreational Events. Get additional certifications (CNA, RA-C, MA-C) and apply for hospitals and clinic jobs. Otherwise, go back to school and either hop into a nursing plan or paramedic plan. Many places will hire you if you state you're in nursing school pursuing a higher level of medical education.

I'm not sure what your career end goal is, but do something from above that works towards that, ever searching, never giving up. I can't imagine anyone wants to stop at transport level EMT, but who knows, I don't know everything.

There's no demand, and when there is, the supply is so great the the probability that somebody with no experience can get a job is approximately 0; that's capitalism. You think I haven't tried looking for volunteer positions? There are none; at least none which I qualify for.

 

[Drax]

There's no demand, and when there is, the supply is so great the the probability that somebody with no experience can get a job is approximately 0; that's capitalism. You think I haven't tried looking for volunteer positions? There are none; at least none which I qualify for.

I don't think we have the same definition of capitalism.

I got a job less than a month after completing EMT school with no other medical background. My friend who was holding out for transport only, recently got a job with AMR making over 14 dollars an hour in Seattle, he did of course wait almost 4 months to get this job.

Not sure what your search methods are, but there are jobs out there. This career field requires networking, so you may not be able to find any work on your own, but don't just look for open applications, contact HR, do ride-alongs with departments and see when they're doing some hiring or if they know anyone who is.

And I disagree with your statement about there being none that you qualify for. Many volunteer jobs don't require you to have any certifications. In particular, fire will take you if you have nothing and show great/para-military character traits.

That said, you could always join the military, 68W or is it 86? Great pay, great experience sometimes, endless opportunities for advancement (depending on your desire and definition).

I had a co-worker who was reserve medic and just got sent to nursing school in Texas on the military's dime.

 

[Barny Brownson]

Spreading many applications is the way to go I would assume with jobs not as easy to get these days.

 

[Handsome Robb]

There's no demand, and when there is, the supply is so great the the probability that somebody with no experience can get a job is approximately 0; that's capitalism. You think I haven't tried looking for volunteer positions? There are none; at least none which I qualify for.

You need to calm down. Seriously. He was just trying to help.

People get jobs with no experience every day. Your snippy and piss poor attitude is probably the reason you haven't gotten a job.

You wanna know what EMS agencies look for in people with no EMS experience? Customer service experience because thats 95% of what we do. I've got another idea. What about a degree? Maybe paramedic school? Look in the mirror before you start blaming other people and "capitalism".

 

[crubs]

I apologize if anyone felt personally offended by my comments. Keep in mind that I have asperger's and have a hard time communicating how I feel, and for that matter interpreting how others feel. My attitude is merely negative because that's how the market has shaped it. If the market gave me a reason to be positive I would be, but I'm just being realistic here.

I've looked at enough agencies that I've lost count. I've made phone-calls, sent emails, made visits and talked to people in person. Most of the time I've failed to qualify, most commonly because 'X months/years of experience required'. Other times the job 'closes after 50 applicants' which usually only takes a few days to fill. When I manage to speak to other applicants, it becomes quickly apparent that they are far more experienced than I. Now if your an employer an you have to applicants whom are basically the same in every way other than that one of them has 1000X experience than the other, who would you pick? I define capitalism as being economic Darwinism; survival of the fittest and elimination of the weak. Of course, the more experienced, the more fit.

Of course I've tried all the volunteer programs around and so far I haven't qualified for jack-squat. It doesn't matter that my I graduated at the top of my EMT class or that I have a 3.8 GPA for my biology degree. Worthless pieces of paper that prove nothing other than that I'm a bookworm.

I've only even qualified to send in a handful of applications to the countless agencies that I've looked at, and those few agencies are always going to have applicants that are more experienced. It has nothing to do with my attitude; I left that class with optimism that before long I would be doing the thing I love: helping people in need while employing applied science. But then I realized, over the course of months, that it's a cold and cruel market out there with no desire for someone like me. I went from confidence to frustration, and I've now reached the point of hopelessness. I feel far to unmotivated to even try sending in another application. What's the point when I know I'm going to be rejected?

As I last ditch effort, my plan is to travel across Oregon and Washington in hopes that there might be one agency that will allow me to work. Thanks for telling me about Seattle, Drax. It makes sense that an area with more people would have more people in need. Now what agency did you apply to? Your story gives me spark of hope that I might be able to get something. Though it's hard to believe that you could get a job at AMR with no experience...

 

[NomadicMedic]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but perhaps you need assistance with the way you're communicating. Most community colleges offer some public speaking classes, you could find an employment coach that could help you with interviewing skills, enlist the help of a resume writer…

I worked as an EMT in Washington, specifically in King County, and never had any difficulty in finding a position. I later worked as a paramedic for several agencies in Washington, and never had any difficulty in getting hired.

Perhaps your attitude is keeping you from the job you want. Having some outside help in fine-tuning your interview skills, your professional communication skills and maybe your general outlook… Might be just the ticket to landing that job.


I can tell you, without reservation, that TriMed hires EMTs with zero experience all the time. AMR hires EMTs with zero experience all the time.

 

[crubs]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but perhaps you need assistance with the way you're communicating. Most community colleges offer some public speaking classes, you could find an employment coach that could help you with interviewing skills, enlist the help of a resume writer…

I worked as an EMT in Washington, specifically in King County, and never had any difficulty in finding a position. I later worked as a paramedic for several agencies in Washington, and never had any difficulty in getting hired.

Perhaps your attitude is keeping you from the job you want. Having some outside help in fine-tuning your interview skills, your professional communication skills and maybe your general outlook… Might be just the ticket to landing that job.


I can tell you, without reservation, that TriMed hires EMTs with zero experience all the time. AMR hires EMTs with zero experience all the time.

I've already taken "Writing in the Major" which has allowed to to refine my resume specifically for medical careers. Indeed, I bombed the only interview I scored with Metro West, but what did it matter? They had three positions open; there were three other candidates, all of whom had plenty of experience. I didn't stand a chance. What's the point of taking an interview class if there are no interviews to be had?

AMR rarely opens EMT jobs down here. The one time they did, I applied and never even heard back. There was that other time I applied to a small wheelchair transport company called "Community Ambulance" in Portland. They didn't even look at my resume, they denied me solely on the basis of my application. Even though I appeared to be the only applicant, what could possibly have been wrong? Could it be that the 'relevant experience' section was blank?

From my memory, the secretary complimented me for me thorough, prepared, and polite. So she must have either told the employer that I was ugly, or the employer just looked at the 'experience' section and said 'NOPE'.

If I had a positive attitude in the beginning, a discouraged attitude in the middle, and a hopeless attitude now, what attitude have I not tried?

As a paramedic, your credentials make you far more valuable. But again, King county is in the Puget Sound area, so I guess that's a place to look.

 

[Drax]

...she must have either told the employer that I was ugly, or the employer just looked at the 'experience' section and said 'NOPE'.

:huh:

This is a map of where you live. (Courtesy of Google Maps)

Every name you can read on this map, needs to have an application put into the local fire department, career or volunteer. If they're not hiring, ask to do a ride along (at each one).

https://www.google.com/#q=emt+basic+jobs+vancouver+wa

^ Visit every indeed listing on this page within that mapped area that says EMT B, even if it doesn't look like it means you. Put in an application to all that don't explicitly "require", if they say "preferred", that means apply.

http://portland.craigslist.org/search/?sort=rel&areaID=9&subAreaID=&query=emt&catAbb=jjj

^ Visit every EMT related listing on this page.

https://www.google.com/#q=private+ambulance+companies+vancouver+washington

^ Put in an application at every one of these.

http://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/index.cfm?&CFID=4444896&CFTOKEN=94280598

^ Periodically search this site.

http://www.publicsafetytesting.com/

^ And this one.

Repeat searching all of these at minimum once every 3 days.

Do all of this while working on continuing education. I want to stress, this is the bare minimum (for me anyway). If you don't have at least 25 applications out within a month, you're not trying hard enough. For the testing sites, yeah you'll be paying some out of pocket, if you're going to pay though, go big. Prepare rigorously for these tests, researching every possible end.

I am never going to break it down this big again. I want you to succeed, I believe in you, so make it happen.

 

[Drax]

After you've crushed that list, work on other areas within the state and nearby states and prepare to sleep on couches and in your car. Whatever it absolutely takes. This is how you beat the competition, this is how you win. If you're not willing to do this, then you just found yourself in the 95%.

Check out this too:
http://ccsosarwa.org/home/
http://swwsar.org/default.html
http://www.mcsosar.org/

GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS SEARCH.

If nothing else, they probably won't turn you down at every single station for a ride along. If you were unsuccessful, then I would include my ride alongs on my resume in a fashion that made them sound "not required by school".

Finally, be pumped and excited every time you walk into one of these departments and ask about participating/attending a drill.

After doing this for several months, you'll see invites to interviews and other opportunities pop up maybe once every three weeks if you're lucky. In my opinion, that is success.

 

[Drax]

I know I've probably spammed this thread a lot now and I apologize, but I forgot one important detail. DATES! Gather these dates (next recruitment periods, drills, ranges in which companies are hiring etc). Fill your calender up! And talk to EMTs in your area (irl) and find out where/how they got started.

Every interview is experience, learn what not to do next time.

 

[crubs]

After you've crushed that list, work on other areas within the state and nearby states and prepare to sleep on couches and in your car. Whatever it absolutely takes. This is how you beat the competition, this is how you win. If you're not willing to do this, then you just found yourself in the 95%.

Check out this too:
http://ccsosarwa.org/home/
http://swwsar.org/default.html
http://www.mcsosar.org/

GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS SEARCH.

If nothing else, they probably won't turn you down at every single station for a ride along. If you were unsuccessful, then I would include my ride alongs on my resume in a fashion that made them sound "not required by school".

Finally, be pumped and excited every time you walk into one of these departments and ask about participating/attending a drill.

After doing this for several months, you'll see invites to interviews and other opportunities pop up maybe once every three weeks if you're lucky. In my opinion, that is success.

Well I can't say I haven't done pretty much all of that. Those last few sites are some of the only ones I haven't seen. No matter, I'm ready to sleep on couches.