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THE MUG 10
TEN QUESTIONS THAT UNLOCK REAL STORIES OF SUCCESS.
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AT A GLANCE
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I am able to make my patients feel comfortable and well cared for while using my analytical brain to give them the best dermatologic care possible.
My unique genius is to respond to life threatening emergencies, quickly analyze the situation, put a plan in action, and save lives.
WHAT IS YOUR
UNIQUE GENIUS?
how did you become interested in this career?
EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11
From the outside of my high school gymnasium, we saw the smoke coming out from the Twin Towers during 911. [That's] what motivated me to want to get in the fire service and become a firefighter.
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IN WHAT WAYS IS THIS JOB
A PERFECT FIT FOR YOU?
I am trustworthy
I can handle stressful situations
I enjoy helping my community
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I love being a firefighter. I want to continue as long as I possibly can as a firefighter, climbing the ranks to a lieutenant or a captain or a chief one day. Because I know that I want to make a positive impact on somebody.
WHAT SKILLS DOES IT TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT YOUR JOB?
RESILIENCY
If I can't trust my coworker or they can't trust me, we won't be able to get the job done. We end up going in environments where everyone else is running out and we're running in. To do those types of jobs, you need to be tough. You need to be resilient, you need to be educated, you need to be physically fit, and you want to help others.
I am able to make my patients feel comfortable and well cared for while using my analytical brain to give them the best dermatologic care possible.
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER?
BE OPEN-MINDED
I've been really blessed with this career choice. I was focused and motivated to pursue it. I maybe would have gone a different directions, but [you] never know where [life is] going to take you. I always say go into a situation with an open mind to absorb as much as you can.
I am able to make my patients feel comfortable and well cared for while using my analytical brain to give them the best dermatologic care possible.
IN YOUR BODY OF WORK, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
RESPECT OF MY TEAM
Having the respect of my coworkers, having respect of the public is probably what I'm most proud of. People knowing that when you're there, you're going to help them is very important to me.
WHAT'S THE COOLEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
HELPING OTHERS
There's a lot of cool parts about being a firefighter: the adrenaline rush, the opportunity to help people. But I think one of the coolest parts about being a firefighter is that every time you make contact with someone in the public, they know you're going to help somebody and they're happy to see you.
WHAT'S THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB?
LACK OF CONTROL
It's definitely a challenging, but rewarding career choice. You get the opportunity to help a lot of people, but you also deal with a lot of bad. You see people who've lost lives and who've lost their entire home. You realize your job is to help them, but sometimes it's out of your control.
WHAT'S 1 THING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW OR UNDERSTAND ABOUT YOUR JOB?
LITTLE DOWNTIME
It's not as much fun as it looks like it is on TV. People think we sit around a lot, [but] we don't get breaks. We don't have downtime. We run all day, all night. Other times, we're going to be spending three hours on the training yard with zero interruptions.
WHAT WAS A DEFINING MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE?
MY FIRST FIRE
[After] my first fire, I'm more of an aggressive firefighter. Back then, I wasn't too sure what to do and how to do it. I literally had to be pushed into the room by my boss saying, 'Hey, if you want to put this fire out, you got to make the room.'
I also realized that being in those fires is really hot, even with all your safety gear on. It's not a superhero garment — it's safety gear. Your adrenaline is flowing. There's no feeling like it.
INDUSTRY STATISTICS
FIREFIGHTER
PROJECTED GROWTH
Projected Growth: 4-7%
Projected Openings: 28,000
AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY RANGE
$29,150-$84,750
TOP SKILLS FOR THIS JOB
Working as a team
People skills
Sensitivity
Collaboration
Organizing
Conflict Management
Operating Machinery
Ability to Handle Stress
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Leadership
Stress tolerance
Concern for others
Wear protective equipment
Hands-on
Operating machinery
TRAINING + DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
High school diploma/GED or certificate after high school usually needed