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Firefighter's Five Step Guide to a Promotion
Featured Author:
Battalion Chief Paul Lepore
Paul Lepore is a Battalion Chief with the City of Long Beach, California, Fire Department. He entered the fire service as a civilian Paramedic for the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. After completing his education at the Los Angeles County Paramedic Training Institute, Lepore worked in the high impact area of South Central, Los Angeles.
Lepore was hired by the Long Beach Fire Department in 1986 and completed their 12-week academy. He spent the next two years working as a firefighter until he was promoted to firefighter/ paramedic. Lepore was promoted to Fire Captain in 1998 and is currently a Battalion Chief.
For more information:
- Add Chief Lepore as a FireLink Friend
- Visit AspiringFirefighters.com
More articles from this author:
FireLink.com/Battalion Chief Paul Lepore
March 19, 2008
You’ve done the hardest part, you survived your initiation years and become a valuable part of your department. Now what? Most promotion advice resources neglect public service jobs such as career firefighting so here’s your chance to learn what it takes to move up in the ranks. FireLink featured writer Battalion Chief Paul Lepore has offered a multitude of resources to get you started.
First things first, how do you know when it’s time to get promoted? If you can identify with the following signs, it’s time to think about what your next step might be.
• You feel like you can anticipate the captain’s orders.
• You notice people look to you for decisions or advice.
• You are encouraged by your peers.
• You know more than the rest of the firefighters on scene.
• You are searching for a new challenge.
• You are more worried about your crew’s safety than getting to the nozzle.
• You want to make more of a difference in the organization.
• You want to have a greater role in the training of new firefighters.
Think you’re ready?
The best way to get started is to research the process of getting promoted. Find out what your minimum requirements are and make sure that you meet them. Get your game plan together and make sure that your team supports you in your endeavor. Taking criticism from your peers will be a big part of being a leader and you might as well start at the beginning.
You also need to know your exam process. Typical components of your exam will be:
• Written exam
• Simulator
• Oral interview
• Resume review
Step 1: Plan for Promotion
Guide to Promotion: Table of Contents
Paul Lepore is the author of the best-selling series of career how-to books for firefighters. You can buy them directly from the FireLink Bookstore
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