Firefighter Hiring Process Components:
  The Background Investigation

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THE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

Virtually every fire department requires a candidate to successfully pass a background investigation, before they are accepted into the recruit academy.  This usually requires you to complete a "background packet" that can consist of up to 30 pages of information you are expected to provide.

Items that can be included and evaluated within a background investigation can include:

- Verification of ALL of the information you listed on your application and/or resume (checking for completeness and accuracy)
- Credit history check (poor financial management can lead to disqualification)
- All vehicle accidents you have been involved in
- Your record with the Law (arrests, traffic tickets, etc.)
- Military related information (if you were in the military)
- Information about EVERY job you have ever held or have held for the past 10 years.  This information can include name of company, name of supervisor, address/phone number of company, job title, job duties/responsibilities, salary information, etc.
- Drug use / alcohol use
- Any lawsuits you may have been involved in
- Family / relative contact information
- Verification of all residences you have ever resided at
- Verification of all of your certificates and degrees you stated you possessed

NOTE: If you do not know any or all of this information at this point in time, you better do what you have to do to obtain ALL of that information very quickly.  There is a background investigation in your future, don't wait until the last minute to get all the required information!

It is not uncommon to be given the background packet and be told that you have anywhere from 24 hours to one week to complete it. Not turning it in on the due date or turning it in incomplete is unacceptable!  Remember, this is a portion of the hiring process and if you can't follow the directions or provide ALL of the requested information, you are subject to being disqualified from the process!  Start obtaining the required information now!

KEY POINT:  Make sure you make a copy of the background packet that you are required to fill out.  Number one it will make it easier for you the next time you have to complete one because most background packets are similar in nature. Number two, it allows you a permanent record of what information you provided the department so you ensure you remember what information you had provided.

After you complete the background packet, it will usually be turned over to a person that will verify the information you provided.  The person doing your background investigator may be a member of the local law enforcement agency, a member of the fire department (arson investigator, chief officer, etc.), or a person working for a private background investigation company that is probably an off-duty or retired peace officer. 

It is not uncommon for the background investigator to contact all of your family members, your former and current work supervisors, your references and your former college instructors to verify the information you had provided.  A good suggestion is to make sure that every person you have provided contact information for has been contacted by you in advance to let them know you are testing for the position of firefighter so they may be prepared to answer questions about you.  This way, they are not blindsided by phone calls from the investigator.  Also, if you put down a person's contact information, make sure they at least have something good to say about you.  Ask them what they will say about you to the background investigator. This is extremely important because is is not uncommon to be asked during an oral interview "if we contacted a former supervisor, what would they say about you?"  At least this way you can provide them with an honest answer, not just a "duh, I don't know."

Questions the background investigator might ask your relatives, references, or family members can include:

- Do you feel the individual would make a good firefighter?
- How well does the individual get along with others?
- Does the individual take any drugs or use any alcohol that you are aware of?
- What are the individuals strengths?
- What are the individuals weaknesses?
- Is the individual honest, ethical, dependent, hard-working?
- Would you rehire the individual (for your former supervisors)?
- Is the individual responsible, mature, accountable?
- Does the individual demonstrate common sense?
- How do you feel about the individual performing the duties of a firefighter?
- Is the individual have a tardiness or absenteeism problem (for your supervisors)?
- Has the individual ever been arrested or had problems with the law?
- Do you put complete trust into this individual?

Remember that nobody is perfect.  Remember that the job of the background investigator is to find out discrepancies, falsifications, inaccuracies, or inconsistencies with what you have documented on your application, resume, and background packet.  Any one of the above problems can and potentially will lead to your being disqualified from the hiring process.  The key is to be honest and to not lie! 

FREE DOWNLOAD: 

CLICK HERE to download a background packet that you can fill out (you are able to type your responses in the boxes) and keep as a reference tool so that when you get that real background packet to complete, you should already have the majority of the information they are asking for at your fingertips. 

Even though this background is for a peace officer position (which most firefighters do not qualify as), this is very similar to what will be provided to you by a fire department if they are interested in hiring you.

For more valuable tips on how to successfully complete and proceed through the background investigation process, visit Captain Bob's website section that is titled "101 Inside Secrets on How to Get a Badge" - once there, scroll down to the section titled "BACKGROUND." 

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