How to become a firefighter in Moose Jaw

Required at application

Required before hire

1. 1Application with resume and fire college transcriptSubmitted to City of Moose Jaw Human Resource Services.

   Moose Jaw hires through periodic expressions of interest rather than a standing posting. The most recent one, Competition 24-07, closed February 15, 2024, so watch moosejaw.ca and saskjobs.ca for the next competition and quote its number on everything you submit.

   The posting asked for a complete resume and your Fire College transcript, sent to City of Moose Jaw Human Resource Services at 228 Main Street North, Moose Jaw, SK, S6H 3J8, or by email to postings@moosejaw.ca. Order your transcript from your fire college early, because it must arrive with your application, not after.

   Check the minimums before you apply: Grade 12 or GED, graduation from an IFSAC-accredited training institution, NFPA 1001 Firefighter Level I and II, registration with the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics at minimum as an EMR, and a valid Saskatchewan Class 3A licence or the ability to acquire one, with a current driver's abstract. The posting says plainly that this is a competitive process and that you should be sure you meet the minimum qualifications before you submit.

   The posting lists related training and experience as assets, so name them clearly on your resume instead of burying them. It also requires no criminal record, and a criminal record check is part of the process, so be honest with yourself about that before you apply.

   Department source for this stage

   Read roadmap step 7Review your Gap ListCertification tracker
2. 2Pre-employment testing in Moose JawApplicants must be prepared to travel to Moose Jaw, and more than one trip may be required. A written test may be required, and physical fitness testing may be requested before an offer.

   The posting warns that applicants must be prepared to travel to Moose Jaw to complete the pre-employment testing steps, and that more than one trip may be required. If you live out of province, budget the time and cost for repeat trips, and confirm scheduling details with Human Resource Services when you are invited.

   A written test may be required at some point during the process, and you may be asked to perform physical fitness testing before being offered employment. The city does not publish the test format or a fitness standard, so ask what to expect when you are contacted rather than assuming it matches another department's test.

   Because no standard is published, prepare broadly: keep up general firefighter fitness with gear-weighted conditioning, and review the core NFPA 1001 material your fire college taught. Arriving fit and current is safer than guessing which specific test you will face.

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   Read roadmap step 8Drill the question banksSit a timed mock
3. 3InterviewOnly applicants who qualify are interviewed.

   The posting states that only applicants who qualify will be interviewed, so an invitation means your credentials passed screening. Treat the interview as the stage where the panel decides whether they want to work a truck with you, not a re-check of your certificates.

   Build answers around what the posting says the job is: operating fire apparatus, firefighting and rescue under hazardous conditions, hazardous materials, routine maintenance at the fire hall, and shift work including weekends and public holidays. Show that you understand and accept the shift work reality rather than glossing over it.

   The posting names the ability to communicate effectively and work well in a team as requirements, so come with specific stories that show both. Use real examples with a situation, what you did, and the result, and be straightforward about gaps instead of inflating your experience.

   Department source for this stage

   Read roadmap step 11Run a mock panel interviewInterview playbook
4. 4Eligibility listThe department hires from an eligibility list; being on the list does not guarantee a position.

   The posting says the Moose Jaw Fire Department will establish an eligibility list to hire from, and that being on the list does not guarantee you a position. Expect a wait, and do not turn down other opportunities on the assumption that a call is coming.

   The city does not publish how long the list lasts or how candidates are ranked, so confirm both with Human Resource Services. Keep your contact information current with them and let them know if you add qualifications while you wait.

   Registration with the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics at minimum as an EMR is a condition of employment, so do not let it lapse while you are on the list. The posting also requires that you be able to pass a medical examination and a criminal record check, so keep both in good order so a job offer is not delayed.

   Department source for this stage

   Read roadmap step 14Academy preparation guideStart a fitness program