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I am trying to become a dispatcher. I have turned in my pg county resume for the position for over 7 months. I have no experience as a dispatcher but I really want to become one. How do I get started? I know I have to be a dispatcher aide first. What should i do? Please help me.

You dispathers amaze me on how you can do all that. Kudos to all of you.

In Toronto (Canada) our community colleges have different courses. I didn't take any and just answered a classified ad in the newspaper. However it took over 10 months to go thru the hiring process. You may want to contact the people you submitted your resume to and see where you are in the process. Good luck and definately practice on the multitasking. Oh yeah and practice using your internal editor....you know, that thing that stops you from saying all of those goofy things on the radio when silly situations happen. Almost got me into trouble a few times when I didn't use the 'editor'!

I started with the Dispatch center after being a volunteer firefighter for almost three years and stayed there for one year before getting my current job as a career firefighter. Learn CPR inside and out, be calm and confident when interviewing, learn your area were you want to be a dispatcher i.e. named streets and best access. Learn to multitask and type fast practice in the mirror giving a dispatch Engine 1, engine 5, tower 6, battalion 1, rescue 2 respond to box alarm 1234 bates warehouse on 146 James street one-four-six James street fire reported second floor time of dispatch 22:35. Or something similar, also get a scanner and listen to what the dispatchers are saying on the radio to learn what they do as well. Good luck and have fun it was a great job I just like getting my hands a little dirtier.

Become invovled in some way. The place I work at really pushes for those in the fire service to work in our alarm office. we have a couple of those in the EMS field. But we push for Paid or volunteer fire Dept. Multi tasking is a must work on your typing skills. There is a lot more to dispatching than most think yeah you may have a shift and not do much. But then you are busy cause thunder storm is buildiing and covers the entire county. 911 calls are pouring and well. Just remember there are people out there that need help and remember you are working for people that are giving help. Be sure you get the right info and make sure your people are safe and not being sent into difficult or dangerous incidents. what ever info pertaining to the call you can get early the better. I can go on for days. I was a Vol. FF first and went into fire disptaching so I understand what the guys and gals are going into. Our county dispatch works for around 12 different depts. thats is a topic for another time however. Work hard at want you want. Dig for info. Networking is the key someone know a someone! Worked for me!

Smith_emt has a good idea! if you are wanting to become you have to be able to multi-task, there are always two or three things going on at the same time and you can not miss a thing, others life is in your hands!! Another thing you need to do is be persistant in letting the supervisor, Sheriff, Chief or whoever does the hiring know that you are interested in the job, do not bug them to death but stay on top of the job status and try to talk to them at least once a month to check up on the status of the job. Practice your typing and computer skills! That is a must!  Good Luck

keener_77 says ...

See if you can get in and sit with the dispatcher for a while

that is a great idea, every applicant that applies with our department hasa to sit in for a couple hours during the interview process

Sitting in is a great idea.  Do it as often as they will allow.  This accomplishes a couple of things: you become familiar with their procedures; you make sure it is really something you want to do; and, it let them get to know you.  Your face will be familiar whenever you interview.  You will have shown initiative, too.

Also, consider trying to do a ride-along with one of the crews.  Most agencies will allow you to do this.  Network and get your face out there.  Then, during your interview you can comment what you have been doing to prepare for this type of work.  And, now there are people they can contact who they respect and get feedback on you.

I def. agree with the above dispatchers. I am a certified Telecommunications Operator in Texas & have TCLOESE hours on my hard work. Multi-tasking & being patient with those that don't want to cooperate are the two biggest things in a dispatcher's career. I was a dispatcher for a smaller town so I got to control the radio traffic, fire / police dispatch, phones, people in the lobby, running people's info for the police officers, staring incidents in the computer, working 911 calls & dispatching ems through that, calling city workers:  all at the same time. It's a very demanding & very stressful job but it's a very wonderful career & when you save a person you'll fell 10ft. tall.. then there's the opposite and you just want to go home, just keep trucking!

 It's a very hard job & doesn't seem very rewarding at times because those around you are getting the thanks but without YOU (Dispatcher) there is nothing. There are Academies, online schools, distance learning courses you can take to become certified & you have to keep up with all certifications every 6months. Go to your Police Department & see if you can go on a ride-out to listen to a dispatcher... most Police Departments will not let anyone where they are because what we hear has to remain confidential & there are laws that state that people who are not certified aren't allowed to be in the rooms because of the equipment & people's info (privacy thing). Going on a civilian ride-out with an officer is one of the ways you can connect. Hope some of this helps & hope you join the magnificant "brotherhood" of dispatchers... we all become pretty close & you'll find that out. :-)