any firefighters?

[TUnit]

Hey all, I'm looking at getting into a fire academy this next semester to become a firefighter. I just wanted to see from some of you firefighters if all of you had to take a polygraph test? This is not something I want to do at all, not that I'm a bad person but I havent had a good past...I'm a change person. Just wanted to see if all ***artments require this or if I will be able to find one that doesnt

[gigem]

i dont think all do ive got a buddy whos in the fire ***t and it seems he didnt for one but he transferred to another and did theres some guys around who can be more defintive on this. good luck

[TUnit]

thats what I'm starting to notice is there are some. but I just want to know if a majority of them do? and if anyone knows the state of one that doesnt, can you tell me

[gigem]

ill call my buddy hes here in tx i dont think its a state by state but a ***t thing

[gigem]

he just text and said not all do in tx and hed call later i say go for it unless you have a criminal background then everyone is gonna check that. he said it ***ends on where you test at i know a.m has a good fire school ill fill ya in when i hear

[TUnit]

A&M does? hmmm. I was wanting to go to one where my g/f could get into a good college. thanks for the info gigem...really appreciate it. i have no criminal background or nothing, except for a dui that I never got convicted of...it was deferred and I was 18 at the time...now 23. the main thing im worried of is the drugs and steroids i have done in the past...and steroids currently being done

i've just heard some will look down on you if youve ever tried drugs and if you did then to have not done them in over 5 years.

[gigem]

yeah ill let you know but it basically is a ***t to ***t basis no set standard in tx just deny it a polygraph can be beat my buddy does steroids and is at one that polys so who knows but ill let ya know

[wascaptain5214]

retired firefighter here.......my former ***tment didnt polygraph. drug test .....yes ....but lucky for me, not for steroid use .

[TUnit]

what ***artment or city if you don't mind me asking?

[maxex]

I have never heard of a civil service d epartment having to take a polygraph, although im not sure about some of the smaller city paid companies.

[dank1970]

dont worry about it trust me. dont lie in an interview just tell the truth on all questions and explain youself if asked to elaborate.dont ramble be short and to the point. I dont know if your hiding anything other than steroid use but you will most likely take a personality test and a very long psycollogical test designed to expose certain things the fire service looks for in selecting candidates.there will be an extensive background check done by that cities police ***t. dont offer any info your not directly asked for.some ***ts.do give polygraph tests, mine did not.good luck

[TUnit]

dont worry about it trust me. dont lie in an interview just tell the truth on all questions and explain youself if asked to elaborate.dont ramble be short and to the point. I dont know if your hiding anything other than steroid use but you will most likely take a personality test and a very long psycollogical test designed to expose certain things the fire service looks for in selecting candidates.there will be an extensive background check done by that cities police ***t. dont offer any info your not directly asked for.some ***ts.do give polygraph tests, mine did not.good luck

a personality test and psycollogical test? what do they try to find out with those?

[gigem]

ive never taken one for cival serv but i have take one that is prob similar basically they try to get in your head and try to evaluate what kind of person you are. based on your answers they try to determine your way of thought . the one i took for ex they may ask the same question a couple times worded differ i can rem the questions but they are simple test in my opinion its basically to see you you think this is ok or this is wrong to see if you would lie steal etc etc. im sure there is more to it but its nothing to worry about

[Fordfan01]

different ***artments have different kinds of tests but if u havent done any type of hard drugs in the past five years or had sex with animals( yes im serious) then u should be fine

[dank1970]

thats it exactly fordfan01 and gigem pretty much sum it up with that. dont sweat it man. if you want to get on and are serious about being a firefighter go to the bookstore or library and get some books on civil service exams, firefighter entrance exams, and brush up on algebra and decimals and basic math and reading comp. also find out what the physical agility at that ***t. consists of and train for it some are pass fail some are still based on time and seconds are a huge factor so train like you want it or forget it. then if you get invited to an interview there are alot of books on that too.it took me 6 years to get it but it was worth it I was not offered a position despite placing in the top 20 out of 2500 applicants 8 times at three different ***ts. but hey some get lucky and make it the first time.good luck man. some people freak out and quit cuz they cant take it thats what the tests are supposed to **** out but some get thru and dont really like the job' as for me I love it, it's not always easy or fun and sometimes just downright sucks. Its a long hard road to get this job these days but if you want it bad enough you can do it ,good luck man.

[wascaptain5214]

very true dank1970.

[dank1970]

thanks cap.