Firefighter exam for dummies

Introduction About this book Conventions used in this book Foolish assumptions How this book is organized Part 1: So you want to be a firefighter? Get ready! Part 2: Gearing up to take the test: the written exam Part 3: Demonstrating physical, mental, and emotional fitness with interactive tests Part 4: Practice firefighter exams Part 5: Part of tens Icons used in this book Where to go from here Part 1: So You Want To Be a Firefighter? Get Ready! Chapter 1: Getting the lowdown on the job of firefighter Understanding what it's like to be a firefighter Knowing your role Looking at shifts: timing is everything Picturing your work environment Considering risks on the job Handling the highs and lows From firefighter to Fire Chief: climbing the fire department ladder Staring on the bottom rung Firefighter Engineer Moving to middle management Fire lieutenant Fire captain Battalion chief Becoming the top dog Assistant/division chief Deputy chief Fire chief Finding firefighters: who they work for In the public sector In the private sector Predicting the future: how many firefighting jobs will there be? Chapter 2: Throwing your hat in the ring: applying to be a firefighter Finding and applying for a job Understanding job requirements Obtaining information about the exam and the position Filling out the application Submitting resumes, cover letters, and references Noting special considerations Road to landing a firefighter job Written exam Physical ability test Oral interview Medical exam Psychological evaluation Chapter 3: Preparing yourself for the firefighter exam Getting familiar with the written exam Test format Question topics Tips for the written exam Preparing for the non-written tests 1,2,3, lift: prepping for the physical test You don't say: prepping for the oral test/interview Keeping it clean: prepping for the background check Take a deep breath: prepping for the medical test Don't psych yourself out: prepping for the psychological test Part 2: Gearing Up To Take The Test: The Written Exam Chapter 4: Showing off your reading and verbal comprehension Getting an overview of the reading and verbal comprehension component What is a reading passage, anyway? Tuning in to the listening portion Processing what you read and hear Scanning the questions first Noting important details Figuring out the main idea Answering different types of questions Finding-details questions Determining-the-main-idea questions Questions about new words Questions that use not or except Drawing-conclusions questions Questions about charts and tables Practice reading and verbal comprehension questions Answers and explanations Chapter 5: Mastering verbal expression Acing vocabulary questions Choosing the correct synonym Looking for context clues Acing spelling questions Remembering spelling rules Mastering commonly misspelled words Acing grammar questions Choosing the correct verb tense Choosing an agreeable answer: subject-verb agreement Choosing the correct pronoun (or pronoun-like adjective) Navigating space and time: prepositions Using the right adjective: is it good, better, or best? Practice verbal expression questions Answers and explanations Chapter 6: Testing your observation and memory Watching out for observations and memory questions Observing diagrams and other images Reading the words accompanying an image Reading and recalling written information Developing great observational skills Covering space: how to observe using a pattern Covering topics: How to observe using memory devices Handling questions involving recall Answering questions about visual material Answering questions about written material Practice observation and memory questions Answers and explanations Chapter 7: Sizing up your spatial orientation skills Getting from place to place with spatial orientations Answering questions about maps and floor plans Noting the details Reading the question and tracing the route Choosing the correct answer Practice spatial orientation questions Answers and explanations

Chapter 8: Making decisions based on reasoning and judgment

Applying reasoning and judgment to firefighting

Answering questions about firefighting operations

Answering questions about interpersonal relations

Answering questions about following procedures

Answering questions about public relations

Answering questions about logical reasoning

Practice reasoning and judgment questions

Answers and explanations

Chapter 9: Performing mathematical calculations

Laying out basic rules and reminders

Working with units of measurement

Parts of the whole: breaking down common math concepts

Piecing together fractions

Gimme tenths! Working with decimals

Out of 100: using percentages

Solving algebraic equations

Keeping the balance: basic algebraic equations

You've go the power! Properties of exponents

Coming to terms with FOIL: multiplying binomials

Comparing things with fractions: ratios and proportions

Shaping up your geometry skills

Making sense of word problems

Practice mathematics problems

Answers and explanations

Chapter 10: Mechanical aptitude: knowing the nuts and bolts of machines

Tinkering with tools

Common handheld tools

Forcible entry tools

Mechanical devices

Looking at levers

Ramping up your effort with inclined planes

Turning to wheels and axles

Perusing pulleys

Sinking your teeth into gears

Stretching out with springs

Sorting out screws

Practice mechanical aptitude questions

Answers and explanations

Chapter 11: Acing the national firefighter selection inventory test

Checking out what's on the NFSI

Assessing your cognitive skills

Testing your verbal comprehension

Examining your verbal expression skills

Appreciating problem sensitivity questions

Applying deductive reasoning

Drawing conclusions with inductive reasoning

Making sense of information ordering

Measuring mathematical reasoning

Navigating number facility questions

Showing off your personality attributes

Evaluating your coping skills: stress tolerance

Playing well with others: team orientation

Looking at what gets you going: motivation/attitude

Practice NFSI questions

Answers and explanations

Part 3: Demonstrating Physical, Mental, And Emotional Fitness With Interactive Tests

Chapter 12: Show them what you can do: passing the physical exam

Let's get physical: the whys and wherefores of physical exams

Why you have to take a physical exam

How a physical exam works

Getting the lowdown on the local test

Acing the physical exam: a closer look at a standardized PAT

Before the test

During the test

Event 1: Dry hose deployment

Event 2: Charged hose deployment

Event 3: Halyard raise

Event 4: Roof walk

Event 5: Attic crawl

Event 6: Ventilation exercise

Event 7: Victim removal

Event 8: Ladder removal/carry

Event 9: Stair climb with hose

Event 10: Crawling search

Event 11: Stair climb with air bottles and hose hoist

After the test

Chapter 13: Acing your oral interview

Preparing for the interview

Putting your best self forward

Knowing what to expect during the interview

Answering typical interview questions

Following up after the interview

Chapter 14: Knowing what to expect during medical and psychological testing

Understanding what happens during the medical exam

Putting your heart to the test

Catching your breath: lung tests

Giving some fluids: blood and urine tests

Checking your organs

Now see here: examining eyes and ears

Walk this way: monitoring muscular and skeletal disorders

Getting a once over for glandular and gastrointestinal disorders

Understanding what happens during the psychological exam

Completing the personality questionnaire

Interviewing with a psychologist

Part 4: Practice Firefighter Exams

Chapter 15: Practice exam 1

Chapter 16: Practice exam 1: Answers and explanations

Chapter 17: Practice exam 2

Chapter 18: Practice exam 2: answers and explanations

Chapter 19: Practice exam 3

Chapter 20: Practice exam 3: answers and explanations

Chapter 21: Practice exam 4: National firefighter selection inventory (NFSI)

Chapter 22: Practice exam 4: Answers and explanations

Part 5: Part Of Tens

Chapter 23: Ten ways to improve your chances of getting hired

Be prepared

Visit local fire departments

Volunteer

Maintain a clean background

Enroll in some firefighting classes

Identify where you want to work

Apply at multiple locations

Practice for perfection

Take the exam more than once

Stay focused

Chapter 24: Ten things every firefighter should do

Show respect for the job

Demonstrate integrity

Be a team player

Check your gear

Display leadership qualities

Find a work/home balance

Ask questions

Respect your superiors

Be flexible

Have fun

Appendix: Observations And Memory Exercises

Index.