4 Mar
2009
There has been much talk in the fire science classes I’ve taken, as well as among my friends, as to what to wear during an interview to get hired as a firefighter. Among all the details and strategies for making a good impression during an interview, what you will be wearing is the very first thing your interviewers will see. It IS your first impression, and your last as you leave the interview.
Just like everything you say during an interview, what I’ve always been told is this: YOU DO NOT WANT TO STAND OUT IN A FIREFIGHTER INTERVIEW! What departments are looking for in a Probie is a worker bee, a drone. Wearing anything too flashy is just the same as going into an interview and acting all cocky or like some badass. You are not a badass. You don’t even know 1% of what your interviewers know. Your style, along with your attitude should reflect this humbleness.
There are three things to keep in mind when choosing a suit: Style, Color and Fit.
Style:
The tricky thing to keep in mind when buying (or borrowing) a suit for an interview with a fire department, is that you want to impress, but you don’t want to look TOO fancy. Experienced firefighters will tell you this is a “blue collar” profession, and your interviewers will probably be older, experience firefighters. The fact that your suit cost a grand will definitely not impress them, in fact it will probably work against you.
I would definitely avoid anything double-breasted, and preferable two-button as opposed to three-button. Again, humbleness is key. You want to look like a rookie, because that’s what you are. Just look like a rookie with a good head on his shoulders.
Color:
There are only two choices here: Charcoal or Navy. Thats all there is to say about that. Oh, and no pinstripes either. You’ve been warned. Haven’t you seen Mad Men? Nothing too flashy when it comes to a tie, either.
Fit:
Make sure you give yourself enough time before the interview to have the suite tailored. If you already have the suite well in advance, be ware if you lost or gained any weight. (You are working out, aren’t you?)
Good luck, guys and gals. If you have yourself the perfect suit, it’s like haveing a suit of armour while going into battle. Plus, during your interview, you’ll have one less thing to worry about!
Further Reading:
ArtOfManliness.com - Dress & Grooming
Career
Tags: Career, firefighting, interview, suit
Eisho
10 Mar 2009
Nice, I went with the navy. I’ve heard that you don’t want to wear a red tie (power color), but I’ve seen quite a few guys at interviews sporting them. I guess it comes down to what your interviewer thinks.
Editor
10 Mar 2009
Yes, I’ve heard the same thing (actually, I’ve heard a woman shouldn’t wear a red dress during an interview, lol), but still the same idea, red is too bold. Some guys might think it’s “cute” to wear a red tie to a firefighter interview, but guess what? You don’t want to be “cute” during an interview either!