Introduction: Your Guide to the Firefighter Hiring Process in Canada

Graduating from a Pre-Service Firefighter Program is only the first step toward becoming a firefighter in Canada. The competition is fierce, and not everyone who completes their training will land a job. Factors such as retirements, municipal budgets, and training capacity directly impact hiring frequency. Some candidates spend 5 to 10 years in the recruitment cycle, writing tests and attending multiple interviews before getting hired.

To stand out, you’ll need a strategic plan, perseverance, and a deep understanding of what each city looks for in new recruits. In this comprehensive guide, we break down the firefighter hiring process for Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver in 2025 including key qualifications, testing stages, and tips to succeed.

Toronto Fire Services Hiring Process: Requirements and Stages

Minimum Requirements:

• Age 18+, legally entitled to work in Canada
• Valid Ontario D driver’s licence with Z endorsement
• NFPA 1001 Level I & II with IFSAC or ProBoard seals (from an OFM-recognized institution)
• NEW for 2025: Valid EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) certification
• A full set of current OFAI Candidate Testing Services (CTS) certificates: aptitude, vision, hearing, treadmill, and physical fitness tests

Assets:

• Volunteerism, multilingualism, emergency medical experience (e.g., lifeguard, paramedic)
• Experience operating heavy vehicles, military or healthcare background
• Demonstrated swimming ability, commitment to health and fitness

Toronto Firefighter Recruitment Stages:

1. Application Screening – Based on qualifications and assets
2. Document Verification – Must submit valid certifications
3. Panel Interview – Behavioral and competency-based questions
4. Clearances – Medical, criminal record, employment references, driver’s abstract
5. Job Offer – For those who pass all prior stages

Calgary Fire Department Recruitment: Step-by-Step Breakdown

Minimum Requirements:

• Age 18+, legal work eligibility in Canada
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Class 5 licence (non-GDL) with fewer than 7 demerit points
• No criminal activity in past 3 years

Calgary Firefighter Application Process:

1. Apply Online – Submit application when the process opens
2. Aptitude Test – FireTEAM (NTN) virtual proctored exam (US$65+)
3. Document Upload – Proof of qualifications
4. Preparation Session + Personal History Statement (PHS)
5. Panel Interview – STAR-format responses
6. Polygraph Test – Confirm information from PHS (C$500)
7. CPAT Fitness Test – Optional orientations and trial runs (C$200)
8. Reference Check – Three professional references required
9. Selection Committee – Comprehensive file review
10. Conditional Job Offer – Medical, criminal, and documentation clearances

Note for Candidates: Calgary includes high upfront costs and requires in-person testing for key stages. Familiarity with the FireTEAM exam is crucial. Consider working with a firefighter aptitude test tutor to prepare effectively.

Vancouver Firefighter Hiring: Qualifications, Exams, and Interviews

Required Qualifications:

• High school transcripts (not just diploma)
• Valid Class 3 BC driver’s licence with air brake endorsement
• Two years post-high school work experience
• BC EMALB Licence (FR, EMR, PCP, etc.)
• NFPA 1001 Level I & II with IFSAC or ProBoard seal
• Vision/hearing per NFPA 1582 standards
• Clean driver’s abstract and no disqualifying criminal convictions

Preferred Qualifications:

• Additional emergency services training, coaching, trades, medical or military experience
• Volunteer work, athletic background, second language skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and computer literacy

Vancouver Firefighter Recruitment Stages:

1. Online Application – Rolling cycle, so apply early
2. Written Exam – Includes NFPA-based questions (from IFSTA 6th Ed.)
3. Panel Interview + References – In-depth assessment
4. Vancouver Physical Assessment Skills Test (VPAST) – Two-day physical evaluation
5. Ride-Along Orientation + Criminal Check
6. Ride-Along Program – 2–3 day shift evaluations
7. Presentation to Chief & Board – Final internal review
8. Medical Evaluation – Full physical and medical screening (approx. C$500)
9. Formal Job Offer

Important Note: VFRS emphasizes diversity, soft skills, and real-world community involvement. Preparing for the written exam is crucial. An experienced firefighter exam prep tutor can provide targeted strategies and study support.

Key Differences: Firefighter Hiring in Toronto vs. Calgary vs. Vancouver

Top Certifications Needed to Apply as a Firefighter in Canada

• NFPA 1001 Level I & II – Mandatory for all three cities
• Emergency Medical Certification – EMR or EMALB (depends on province)
• Valid Driver’s Licence – With correct class and endorsements
• Vision/Hearing/Medical Standards – Per NFPA 1582

How to Pass the FireTEAM and OFAI Aptitude Tests

• Study aptitude categories: mechanical reasoning, math, reading, human relations
• Practice with real test formats: timed, proctored, and scenario-based
• Use materials aligned with OFAI Stage 1 or FireTEAM content
• Consider tutoring for confidence and speed under pressure

Why Working with a Firefighter Aptitude Test Tutor Makes a Difference

Working with a qualified tutor helps you:

• Understand each city’s unique testing requirements
• Learn proven strategies to improve test performance
• Get personalized feedback and practice with real sample questions
• Build confidence and avoid common applicant mistakes

Conclusion: Plan Your Path to a Firefighter Career in Canada

Landing a firefighter job in Canada means more than checking boxes. You need a structured plan, patience, and a strong support system.

Prepare by:

• Working with a firefighter aptitude test tutor to master entrance exams
• Staying physically and mentally fit year-round
• Building a resume that highlights leadership, service, and emergency readiness
• Volunteering and networking in your community
• Saving for exam fees and certifications

Ready to Crush Your Firefighter Aptitude Test?

Whether you’re applying to Toronto Fire Services, Calgary Fire Department, or Vancouver Fire Rescue, passing the firefighter aptitude test is your first major hurdle, and the most competitive.

As a firefighter aptitude test tutor, I specialize in helping aspiring firefighters:

• Master exam content tailored to OFAI Stage 1, FireTEAM (NTN), and entry-level firefighter exams
• Build real test-day strategies and time management skills
• Boost confidence for interviews and physical testing phases

Get one-on-one support, practice real questions, and maximize your score.

Book your personalized firefighter aptitude test prep session today.

👉 Click here to book your first session now!

 

Lou-Anne McPherson

Founder, Firefighter Aptitude Test Preparation | S.M.A.R.T. Tutoring

Creator, Firefighter Aptitude Test Preparation YouTube Channel

If you’re new here, welcome!
This space was built with you in mind: serious firefighter candidates who deserve the best available guidance in their fire recruitments.

Please share this site with any other aspiring firefighters you know. Let’s end gatekeeping together.

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• About the Author
• Back to Firefighter Blogs

OFAI Aptitude Testing

• Online testing is held in a proctored computer lab at the GTAA Fire and Emergency Training Institute (FESTI) in Mississauga, ON
• Firefighter candidates have three hours to complete the Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test (FACT).
• If a firefighter candidate has a disability within the definitions of the Ontario Human Rights Code and needs to request testing accommodations for the FACT test, they are to contact the OFAI Administration office at least 10 weeks before the assessment to obtain accommodation request forms.
• OFAI Aptitude Test Cost: $75 +HST

Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test

• Number of questions 110 multiple-choice questions
• Types of questions Multiple choice, general aptitude and personal characteristics
• Weighted components 45% aptitude, 55% character

Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test Questions

• Reading Ability – 15 questions
• Mathematical Reasoning – 15 questions
• Map Reading – 10 questions
• Writing Ability – 10 questions
• Personal Characteristics – 60 questions

OFAI Aptitude Test Scoring System

• Pass/Fail Candidates do not receive their FACT Test results immediately. If successful, the firefighter candidate’s account will be updated with a certificate within 72 hours. OFAI Municipal Partners do not receive a candidate’s results.
• Failed Attempts If a candidate does not pass the firefighter FACT test, they may retake it after 15 days if it’s their first attempt or after 30 days on all subsequent attempts. If additional OFAI tests are booked on the same day, candidates are able to complete them as scheduled.
• Feedback Firefighter candidates are not told their results, nor are they given a mark. The proctor is not permitted to discuss the results of a candidate’s FACT test, but a candidate can email the OFAI administration office after their second failed attempt to request general feedback.
• OFAI Aptitude Test Validity Period: 24 months

What to Study for OFAI Stage 1

Reading Ability

• Fire-related material
• Interpreting tables and charts
• Answering factual information questions

Mathematical Reasoning

• Rational numbers (whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percentages)
• Steps to solve word problems
• Calculations. Calculators are not permitted, but paper is provided.

Map Reading

• Read and interpret directions
• Read and interpret directional locations
• Read and interpret legends

Writing Ability

• Vocabulary and understanding the meaning of words
• Written skills (spelling, grammar, punctuation)
• Synonyms and antonyms

Personal Characteristics

• Firefighter situational judgement
• Most appropriate/ Least appropriate firefighter human relations questions
• Firefighter personality (interpersonal skills, teamwork, commitment, honesty, integrity, emotional stability)

How to Study for OFAI Stage 1

• FPSI, the creator of the FACT test, sells a Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test Orientation Guide. This OFAI Stage 1 practice test will help candidates understand the FACT test format and the types of questions they are likely to see.
• The OFAI website provides a free Pre-Assessment Guide to download. Use this guide to help you understand what to expect on your OFAI Stage 1 assessment day.
• Our 60-question Firefighter Aptitude Test PDF is free to download. Use this firefighter practice test to assess your skills in Oral Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Writing Ability, Mathematics, Mechanical Aptitude, Map Reading, Spatial Reasoning, and Human Relations.

Get your Firefighter Aptitude Test PDF Here >>

When preparing for the Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test, aim to achieve 8/10 or greater in each testing component before attempting the FACT.

OFAI Tutor

The S.M.A.R.T. Tutoring FPSI Firefighter Aptitude Test Preparation Course is designed for future firefighters who want to pass Fire and Police Selection, Inc. (FPSI) tests including the FACT Test (OFAI Stage 1).

After taking this Firefighter Aptitude Test Preparation Course, OFAI Stage 1 firefighter candidates will know what to expect and how to approach the FPSI Firefighter Test.

 

Lou-Anne McPherson

Firefighter Aptitude Test Preparation | S.M.A.R.T. Tutoring

Firefighter Blogs

Firefighter Human Relations and Personality questions ask you to reveal your decision-making skills, interpersonal skills, and personal characteristics.

I often ask the aspiring firefighters I work with about the approach they take to answering Human Relations and Firefighter Personality questions on a firefighter test. Most firefighter candidates answer in the same way:

• Be honest,
• Follow the chain of command, and
• Stick to the ends on a confidence scale.

If you’re answering firefighter Human Relations and Personality questions in this automatic manner, there’s no wonder why you’re not passing this portion of a firefighter test.

Lie #1: Be Honest

The fact is some firefighter candidates do not have the firefighter personality.

Listen, if I answered firefighter Human Relations and Personality questions honestly I’d fail too! I like introverted activities like reading and Yoga at home over team sports and social gatherings. I’m a teacher more than a coach, I have a difficult time taking orders from people, and I’m certainly easily excited. So, my true personality is not in line with that of a successful firefighter.

That’s not to say I can’t pass the firefighter test and become a successful firefighter, however.

To pass, I would have to strategize. I would have to answer questions with the firefighter personality in mind, and I would have to be consistent in my answers. If you’re like me, and you don’t have the firefighter personality, consider answering strategically instead.

Lie #2: Follow the Chain of Command

Do you really think your ranking officer wants to hear from you every time you have a problem on the floor?

Heck, no. They don’t!

Future firefighters need to understand when to report a situation and when to deal with it on their own.

Firefighters are expected to have excellent teamwork skills. This means they are to communicate with each other and work together to diffuse most difficult situations. In this regard, doing nothing to resolve an issue is just as wrong as reporting it to the Chief.

If the questions involve illegal acts of any sort, then reporting to a ranking officer is warranted. Otherwise, choose the best answer that demonstrates your ability to work with a group of people effectively.

Lie #3: Stick to the Ends on a Confidence Scale

Many aspiring firefighters that I tutor say that they respond with all 1s and 9s on an OS Test or all Strongly Agree and Strongly Disagree on a firefighter personality test. If this was the correct way to answer firefighter personality questions, no one would be failing!

Firefighter candidates are expected to answer confidently on their tests, but they have to be mindful of the scenario. In some situations there is a degree of distress expected.

Likewise, you are permitted to disagree with some things and strongly disagree with others.

Read the questions carefully and answer as confidently as you can in the given situation.

Conclusion

Be careful when you follow the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.

If firefighter candidates you know are answering questions in a particular way and not passing their tests, would you answer the same questions in the same way?

As a professional firefighter you will be expected to make critical decisions on your own. It is imperative that you use your judgement when answering firefighter Human Relations and Personality questions. Avoid the group-think mentality.

How to prepare for a firefighter written exam:

Many firefighter candidates go into their firefighter written exams underprepared because they only give themselves a few weeks or days to study before they write their exams.

As a result, they fail their firefighter written exams not because they don’t have the ability to pass them but because they don’t give themselves enough time to lean how.

First, let’s debunk the idea that firefighter candidates aren’t given enough warning.

Fire recruitments are like Christmas. They come every year. For most cities, they come every other year. Knowing this, budget enough time and money to become a competitive fire candidate in time for your next firefighter recruitment.

Here’s How…

Understand How Much Time It’s Going to Take

Take mathematics, for an example.

Written firefighter exams asses the fire candidate’s ability to apply mathematical concepts to firefighter scenarios (word problems). These math skills were taught in elementary and high school. For most firefighter candidates, it has been a while since they were in high school and they need to refresh their math skills in order to answer firefighter math test questions.

Refreshing your math skills takes time, so budget wisely. On average, it takes firefighter candidates 3-6 months to properly prepare for the mathematics component on a firefighter written exam.

Unless you have passed the stage of writing firefighter aptitude tests, you are still in it! Firefighter aptitude test-takers should prepare as such – and study regularly – instead of studying only a few weeks before a city opens its firefighter recruitment.

Schedule Time for Firefighter Exam Preparation

In the same way you schedule and commit your time to going to the gym to prepare for your firefighter fitness test, schedule and commit your time to regular weekly study sessions.

You will need time to learn new academic concepts and test-taking strategies. You will also need time to

• memorize facts and formulas
• answer practice test questions
• practice your test-taking approach

The closer you are to your firefighter test date, the longer your study sessions should be to a maximum of two-three hours.

Train Your Brain Like You Train Your Body

Most firefighter candidates take a “full-body” approach to their firefighter written exam preparation. They often write full practice tests and then review the answers to those questions in one study session. Thus, they cover all testing components in one sitting.

As an alternative, try incorporating a “split training” approach to your firefighter written exam preparation. Focus on specific testing components on different days across the week.

Sample Firefighter Written Exam Study Schedule for CPS Test

• Firefighter Oral Comprehension – Monday
• Firefighter Reading Comprehension – Tuesday
• Firefighter Mathematical Reasoning – Wednesday
• Firefighter Mechanical Reasoning – Thursday
• Firefighter Human Relations – Friday

By the end of the week, you will have studied all of the testing components in a more concentrated manner.

Assess Your Areas of Strength and Weakness

Practice answering sample test questions that are similar to what you will see on an actual firefighter written exam. Identify the testing components that you struggle with and then focus your study efforts in those areas.
Spend more time developing the skills and strategies required to answer questions correctly and improve your scores in your weaker areas. This includes learning how to identify the specific types of questions that give you difficulty and what is required to answer them.

Aim to achieve 85% or greater in each testing component to be competitive in a city’s firefighter candidate recruitment pool.

If you are on the Firefighter Mailing List, I am helping you do this every week! Join today to receive free firefighter test questions and answers, so that you can assess your test-taking skills and abilities.

Simulate Your Firefighter Written Exam Experience

In most cases, you will be put out of your comfort zone in a firefighter testing situation.

In this way, the testing process itself also mimics the job of a Career Firefighter. Cities hire fire-candidates who can demonstrate that they are prepared and ready to do what is asked of them under difficult and/or stressful conditions.

Alleviate feelings of nervousness and test anxiety by preparing for your firefighter written exam in advance. Try these study strategies in your next firefighter exam preparation session:

• Time your firefighter practice tests.
• Wear an analogue watch to track your time answering firefighter exam questions.
• Workout before writing a full firefighter practice test to simulate completing a firefighter fitness test before a written firefighter exam.
• Study at the library to simulate test-taking in a public space with distractions that are outside the norm for you.
• Practice transferring the numbers from a firefighter test question on to paper and using them in a calculation.
• Practice transferring your answers on to an answer sheet to simulate using a scannable answer sheet.
• Practice answering questions online to simulate online firefighter tests.

Get Help Sooner than Later

Unless you actively take steps to learn how to answer challenging firefighter test questions correctly, your scores will likely stay the same.

The cost of lost opportunity and wasted time far outweighs the cost of seeking academic support and professional test preparation services: “You could continuously keep failing and be thousands of dollars in debt or just not make that benchmark.” (M.K., Professional Firefighter).

Another successful fire recruit says, “It’s a matter of trying to achieve your goals too. If this is where you’re failing, then why wouldn’t you invest the money? You’re never going to get any better unless you work on the particular part that you’re failing.” (F.S., Professional Firefighter)

If you struggle while studying for firefighter aptitude tests on your own, consider working with me to prepare for your next Written Firefighter Exam!

Request a Tutor

Background

As part of the Ontario Fire Administration Inc. (OFAI) Stage 3 Firefighter Technical Skills Assessment, firefighter candidates will be asked to complete the proper forming of five knots and to explain the fundamental purpose of each knot to the evaluator.

To pass the OFAI Skills Assessment, firefighter candidates must study the content in the IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting, 7th edition text. This tutorial will help you with that.

5 Study Strategies for OFAI Stage 3

Watch Video Tutorial >>

1. Group or Chunk Information

Use this strategy to memorize sentences!

Chunk information into groups of 3-4 to help you break-down longer pieces of material.

EXAMPLE

“The foundation knot for an entire family of figure-eight knots is the figure-eight.”

t, F, K, / f, a, E, F, / o, F8, K, / i, t, F8

Make flash cards. Number the cards to keep them in order.

Review the flash cards often and assess whether you remember the information.

2. Visualize the Content

In your mind, create pictures of the material you need to remember.

EXAMPLE

“A rope is divided into three parts: working end, running part, standing part.”

3. Make a Mnemonic or Formula

Create a rhyme, use abbreviations (like S.M.A.R.T. Tutoring), or make a formula to assist your memory.

EXAMPLE

“A rope is divided into three parts: working end, running part, standing part.”

4. Engrain It

Read it.
Write it.
Say it.
REPEAT.

5. Test Yourself

Practice verbalizing (saying it out loud) the content you need to remember while practicing the skill.

Try this activity:

1. Write each piece of content you need to remember on poster board.
2. Tape or pin the poster board onto a wall.

3.Read the content on the poster board out loud:

“The figure-eight can be used as a stopper knot so that the rope will not pass through a rescue pulley or the grommet of a rope bag.”

4. Using a rope, tie a figure-eight knot.
5. Repeat steps 3-5.

BONUS:

Put your posters in areas of your home that you’ll see often:
• bedroom
• in front of treadmill
• sticky notes on a bathroom mirror.

The more you work with the content, the more you will remember it.

Learn. More. Now.

Related OFAI Test Preparation
• OFAI Stage 1 Writing Ability
• How to Pass the Firefighter Aptitude Test

Things to Know Before Becoming a Firefighter:

If you were in a group of 10,000 fire recruits and each of you paid for a custom resume writing service that asked you to pick one resume style from 10 templates, what is the likelihood of your custom resume looking like another fire recruit’s in the same firefighter applicant pool?

The answer is highly likely.

Fire recruits must learn how to discuss what is on their resumes and sell themselves in an interview. The likelihood of recruits gaining this personal experience in a generic fire recruitment service or course is slim to none.

Fire recruits who are serious about becoming firefighters need to step up in order to stand out. Following the masses is not going to get them the job. Recruits have to start vetting the fire recruitment services available to them as there are far too many services that will take their money without regard to the individual fire recruit’s success.

The First Step to Become a Firefighter

The first step to become a firefighter is to understand the fire recruitment process.

After obtaining firefighter qualifications, there are other certifications, licenses, and training recruits must invest in to become competitive in a fire recruitment applicant pool. After all, the posted firefighter job requirements are the MINIMUM requirements needed to become a firefighter.

Fire recruits need to gather information from a variety of fire recruitment services and resources to support their fire recruitment. This includes emails, articles, books, websites, and professional services.

The next step to becoming a firefighter then, after understanding the recruitment process, is to take the time to understand the fire recruitment services available and how they can assist a recruit in making it easier to become a firefighter.

Why Evaluate Fire Recruitment Services?

First and foremost, fatalities have happened on the firefighter training ground. We can prevent them from happening by requiring the services we work with in the fire recruitment industry to uphold moral, ethical, and professional standards.

Second to this, fire recruits who are serious about becoming firefighters spend money, time, and effort on every aspect of the fire recruitment process to obtain a conditional job offer within the fire service. Using critical thinking skills and making a plan for their fire recruitment will save the recruit in the long run.

Professional firefighters are critical thinkers. They consider and evaluate information to make informed decisions on the fire ground and in the fire hall. Recruits who want to become firefighters refine their critical thinking skills throughout their firefighter recruitment process to become the best candidate for the job. The journey to becoming a firefighter starts here.

Consider Available Fire Recruitment Services

• Firefighter recruitment job alerts
• Firefighter application, resume, and cover letter
• Firefighter aptitude test preparation
• Firefighter personal characteristic assessment
• Firefighter physical fitness test preparation
• Firefighter clinical assessment
• Firefighter skills assessment
• DZ truck driver training
• Firefighter technical skills training and certification
• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification
• Other licenses related to firefighting: Boating, Drone
• Firefighter interview preparation and mentorship

Vet Fire Recruitment Services Before Investing in Them

It is important to evaluate each fire recruitment service or product to determine the quality of the information provided within it. Take the time to thoroughly investigate an individual, company, website, or resource before investing significant amounts of time, money, and effort into it.

Reputable fire recruitment services are registered businesses that are owned and operated by those who comply with legal and regulatory measures. Not all reputable businesses in the fire recruitment industry are owned by firefighters and not all firefighters operate reputable businesses. To assist you in determining whether a service is trustworthy, use this guide and set of questions to vet all of the fire recruitment services noted above.

1. How is the Service or Product Relevant to Your Fire Recruitment?

Question what you pay for.

I’m going to use firefighter aptitude test preparation services as an example, because this is my area of expertise.

First, I provide a free consultation to discuss the fire recruit’s needs and answer any questions they might have. I disclose that I am an experienced Professor and Learning Strategist at the Post-Secondary level with over a decade of full-time experience in firefighter aptitude test preparation. Currently, I charge $60 per tutoring session. In that session I provide the fire recruit with relevant test preparation materials that I wrote and published. I teach recruits how to identify and answer test questions in addition to providing other test-taking strategies to improve their time management in tests. Every session is structured to make the most out of the time spent with the recruit.

In the same space, my competitors charge the same rate for the same amount of time. However, the service they provide is subpar at best. They charge for consultations. They hire people with little experience in firefighter aptitude test preparation who stumble around with someone else’s material on paid tutoring time. Additionally, some companies include irrelevant materials like career guidance, resume reviews, and promotional swag in their paid tutoring packages. None of this is relevant to developing the fire recruit’s academic and test-taking skills, which is precisely what firefighter aptitude test preparation and tutoring is for.

2. What Makes the Business or Service Provider an Authoritative or Reliable Source?

It seems that everyone is an “expert” in the fire recruitment industry, but what qualifies a person as an expert?

According to Google, an expert is a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.

Reputable businesses and service providers do not hide from the public. If you can not identify the full name of the person selling and/or providing you a fire recruitment service, start to question why.

Reputable businesses specify what makes their employees experts in the fire recruitment industry. Be wary of vague or blanket statements in promotional materials. It is one thing for a business to say they have experts with years of experience, for example. It’s an entirely different thing to back up what they say with specifics as it relates to the fire recruitment industry.

A retired teacher might have a lifetime of classroom teaching experience, or a firefighter might have passed several aptitude tests and gone through many interviews, but a serious fire recruit must ask how that type of experience translates to their own firefighter recruitment.

3. Where is the Business’ Paid Content Coming From?

If someone creates their own content, then he/she should absolutely be able to take you through their research and creative process. They should have no problems answering questions about their experience, qualifications, and how their data was collected. Moreover, their claims should be backed by research and their facts and/or statistics should be verified in other sources outside their competitive space.

If a service provider is using someone else’s work, then that author should be credited for it. Far too often we see fire recruitment services promoting someone else’s work as their own. It is always best to invest in the primary source of information, rather than paying top dollar for second-hand advice from a copywritten content thief whose main objective is to make money off the work of others. Integrity is a key characteristic in the firefighter personality. Don’t be caught associating with the wrong people.

4. What is the Reason for a Business’ Writing and Does it Promote an Agenda?

As a successful business owner, professional writer, and educator, I personally prefer content marketing over all other types of marketing. It’s a creative outlet for me to communicate with fire recruits and earn their trust over time while educating them with something of value.

Often, free resources that require a fire recruit to sign up via email lead into a business’ sales funnel. Take fire recruitment email alerts, for example. The fire recruit signs up to receive free fire recruitment alerts from a business in return for their email address. The business then sends a weekly newsletter with the free alerts and ads promoting their services and the services of their paid affiliates and sponsors. While the free job alert might be useful, fire recruits need to be mindful of this type of marketing because the business is set on selling them something under the guise of free help.

5. Is the Business Transparent in its Advertising?

If so, the business should disclose all material connections it has with any business interest, product, and/or service it is promoting according to the deceptive marketing practices provisions of the Competition Act.

This may include the following material connections:

• Receiving payment in money or commissions
• Receiving free products or services
• Receiving discounts
• Receiving free trips or tickets to events
• A personal or family relationship

All business representations made to the public should be truthful and presented in a way that recruits can see clearly and understand them correctly: “Linking to or tagging a brand, posting a discount code, or linking to an affiliate webpage is unlikely to be enough.” (https://ised-isde.canada.ca).

6. What do Public Reviews Say about the Business?

Online reviews can offer fire recruits insight into a fire recruitment service’s history, customer service, and the quality of the products and/or services being offered.

Reputable businesses connect to third-party customer review sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook so that their clients can leave a public record of their services and/ or products.

Look for history and consistency when evaluating online reviews.

For example, our public record of Google reviews started nine years ago. Since then, 73 clients took their time to review our services and products. Our average Google review rating is 4.7. The data on our Facebook reviews is similar: They started in 2016, and 65 reviews were written from different clients. Our average Facebook review rating is 4.8.

Be wary of professional services and products that are not connected to customer review sites for the public to review them. Question a lot of negative reviews that are posted over time and across customer review sites by different people. Understand reviews that are solely posted by the business owner, like reviews on the business’ website and social media pages, are often written by the business owner and not an actual client.

7. What are the Personal Characteristics of Fire Recruitment Service Owners?
If becoming a firefighter also involves understanding and demonstrating integrity, it might be counterproductive to invest in and learn from people who have no integrity. The best way to determine whether a fire recruitment service or product is worth your time is to contact the owner directly and ask questions about who they are and how they operate their business.

In my 12.5 years of professional experience in the fire recruitment industry, I have found that reputable business owners in this industry will applaud your seriousness of purpose when asked questions rather than get defensive about it and gaslight you.

Reputable fire recruitment service providers know what’s at stake. If asked, a reputable business owner will likely go above and beyond in assisting you with understanding their business and what makes it reputable within its perspective field.

Ask the Owners of Fire Recruitment Services these Questions

• What is your story? Every business owner has one.
• What is your experience as it relates to the specific service/ product you provide?
• What knowledge and qualifications do you and/or your employees have in the specific service you provide?
• Do you have a registered business?
• How long have you been operating?
• Who creates your content?
• Do you have insurance?
• Are your programs in compliance with NFPA and the Ontario Fire Service?
• How do you get paid?

Do some online digging to determine if a fire recruitment service is trustworthy. Finding negative stories about a company from news sources is one way to determine if a business is reputable. Checking public records for any bankruptcy or criminal proceedings against a company is another.

If you’re still not sure, try the business’ free resources and ask for a free consultation to discuss your fire recruitment needs. This will give you the chance to ask your questions and experience the products or services firsthand without making a substantial investment.

Conclusion

If the fire recruitment industry is a sandbox, the fire recruit must look out for cat shit. It is up to the fire recruit to do their homework and vet fire recruitment services. Otherwise, they risk losing their time, money, and effort put into their fire recruitment.

I recently heard that, after a full day of interviews, an Ontario Fire Chief trashed every applicant’s resume that day because the applicants answered the interview questions exactly the same. These fire recruits invested in a fire recruitment service that gave them canned interview answers. Unbeknownst to the recruits, it cost them their chance at a conditional job offer.

As business owners in the fire recruitment industry, it is our duty to not take advantage of new fire recruits who are unfamiliar with the fire recruitment process. It is our responsibility to guide fire recruits in the right direction, so that they can get through the fire recruitment process safely and in a time- and cost-efficient manner. Before becoming a firefighter, do yourself a favour and vet the fire recruitment services that you invest in!