Some of the most high-risk careers are also the most rewarding. If you’re a firefighter, this probably resonates with you. We so appreciate your commitment to people and your community. It’s safe to say that you do the work most of us run far, far away from.
Our skills have nothing to do with putting out fires, but we’re sure you’ll appreciate the research and work we’ve done to help you draft the best possible resume as you pursue a new position.
Here, you’ll find five free firefighter resume samples and accompanying tips and tricks to ensure you avoid common pitfalls and create a resume that will stand apart from the competition in 2023.
Why this resume works
- Your firefighter resume should include quantitative metrics (numbers).
- We recommend you list at least three metrics per work experience, but more is almost always better.
- Numbers speak louder than words and can demonstrate your capabilities to handle firefighting responsibilities, whereas words alone make your resume a longer read and less convincing.
- Don’t worry if you haven’t included metrics yet. Our resume tips can show that it’s easier to do than you might think!
- Start by brainstorming relevant statistics that relate to your job title. As a firefighter, this could be the percentage of crew members you collaborated with, apprentices you’ve mentored, the acreage of wildfires you’ve fought, how many emergencies you’ve responded to, and the amount of time you’ve saved by improving efficiency, etc.
- Then, rework your current bullet points to include these metrics. If you’re having trouble finding exact numbers, it’s okay to use a ballpark estimate.
Why this resume works
- One of the least appreciated but most important parts of your senior firefighter resume is your resume skills section.
- Your skills section may include both hard and soft skills.
- Hard skills are king and include job-specific abilities like evacuation, fire containment, ladder use, and EMS know-how.
- Soft skills, which often apply to a variety of jobs, may include strengths such as verbal communication and organization.
- We recommend you sprinkle a mix of highly job-specific skills and more general soft skills throughout your resume.
- As a seasoned firefighter, don’t forget to include the education and certifications you’ve earned. These are two areas that take up little space, but can quickly eliminate you from the applicant pool if omitted.
Why this resume works
- It’s pretty tough to write your entry-level firefighter resume when you’ve never worked as a firefighter. Relevant experience can help you stand out, like an EMT position, paramedic, or volunteer SARS worker.
- If you lack this kind of expertise, though, don’t worry. Everyone starts somewhere, and employers are usually willing to look at relevant experience.
- Working as a server, sales associate, or call representative, for example, can demonstrate your ability to collaborate with coworkers and work in high-pressure environments.
- If you’ve just graduated and lack job experience, you can add a resume objective to highlight any applicable skills you match from the job description while also consuming excess white space; if white space is a problem, a well-chosen resume template can often resolve the issue.
- Keep your objective to a concise, two to three-sentence snapshot of your very best skills, and include a metric or two showing the impact you’ve had in previous jobs or the number of years you worked in a relevant position.
Why this resume works
- A resume summary is one section of your resume we consider optional.
- Unlike the resume objective, it’s useful if you boast 10+ years in the field and can showcase a specialization or two to set yourself apart from the competition.
- If this describes you, and you opt to include a summary on your wildland firefighter resume, make sure it’s customized. In fact, it will require some rewriting for every job application you submit!
- Make sure to include the title of the job you’re applying to, the name of the company/department/organization, and how your specializations will provide value.
Why this resume works
- Your volunteer firefighter resume should be flawless. Just because it’s a volunteer position, don’t think there won’t be competition!
- Fire chiefs are looking for a trustworthy team member to add value to the station without getting in the way or requiring constant guidance. Use your work experience bullet points to demonstrate your capacity to work just as hard as full-time firefighters.
- Include metrics on achievements like the number of drills you attended, the average number of calls you responded to, how many firefighters and departments you’ve collaborated with, awards earned, memorable fires you’ve worked, etc.
- Begin each bullet point with an action word to own your accomplishments; they help make your point quickly and are easier to read.
- Lastly, give yourself the best shot at landing your dream firefighting job by using our free resume checker to ensure you’ve covered the bases of perfect grammar, action words, and sufficient metrics.
