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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Create a Firefighting
Resume in 5 Simple Steps

  • Step 1: Add Contact Info

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  • Step 2: Include Work Experience Details

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  • Step 3: Provide Education Details

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  • Step 4: Select Your Skills

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  • Step 5: Fill in Your Background

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Get Expert Writing Recommendations for Your Firefighting Resume

Our firefighting resume examples show you how to write a resume that will heat up your career. Certified resume writers craft these simple yet effective descriptions, each one tailored to the unique position you’re after. For example, job seekers in forest fire and natural disaster cleanup require different keywords than 911 fire paramedics in urban and suburban settings.

To craft your own professional resume, use our Resume Builder, which offers your professionally-written content for your resume. Here are some examples of content our builder might recommend for your firefighting resume:

  • Conducted structural integrity inspections
  • Inspected alarms, hydrants and sprinklers
  • Safely used forcible entry tools
  • Deployed fire containment strategies
  • Identified and analyzed potential hot spots

6 Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Firefighting Resume

  • Do provide a keyword-rich professional summary. Make the hiring manager’s job easier by summarizing your best strengths at the top using descriptive, eye-catching keywords such as “fire prevention expert” and “emergency response.” This creates a hook to keep them reading.
  • Do write your full job title for each entry. While it may seem logical to use abbreviations to save space, not all fire stations use the same acronyms. Writing out the full job title ensures a professional appearance to your resume and helps decision-makers see your role.
  • Do include the location of each job. Especially if you have recently worked for regional or local agencies, the squad leader reviewing your resume may know your former boss. This should work in your favor — sometimes it really is about who you know.
  • Don’t forget the education section. If you have completed a degree in Fire Science, a job corps program, fire cadet boot camp or other special training, include it on your resume. This will give you a clear advantage against other applicants who did not specialize their job focus.
  • Don’t add fluff. Working as a firefighter requires technical skill, specialized education and peak physical fitness. Your future boss needs to quickly see that he can trust you with handling a life or death situation. Focus your resume on the critical skills needed for the role.
  • Don’t skimp on details. The type of specialized skill set you possess should be in bullet point form and elaborated upon thoroughly. Use detailed, impressive examples such as “Performed at 99% daily attendance for 12 consecutive months and 0% tardiness” or “Accomplished Firefighter-Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic (FF-EMTP), renewed December 2019.”

Beat the ATS with These Firefighting Resume Skills

You want to begin fighting fires, saving lives and tackling the thrill of emergency calls, but first you have to get your resume past the applicant tracking system (ATS). Recruiters, squad leaders and fire captains use an ATS to save valuable time with hiring. Rather than manually reading dozens of resumes, an ATS digitally scans all applicants’ resumes for relevant keywords that match open job postings.

Use LiveCareer’s Resume Builder to ensure that your firefighting resume has the desired phrases and terms that the ATS will recognize. Some of the firefighting keywords often prized by an ATS include the following:

  • Fire code compliance
  • Ability to lift up to 200 pounds
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Structural and high-rise fire experience
  • HAZMAT handling
  • Leadership training
  • CPR and First Aid certification
  • Swiftwater and confined space rescue
  • Daily nozzle and hose equipment inspections

Firefighting Resumes for Every Professional Level

Entry-Level
Junior Firefighter Resume Example Centered Build my Resume

Junior Firefighter

Landing a job as an entry-level firefighter requires applicants to showcase their proudest skills and achievements, as seen in this functional resume format. The job seeker puts her best skills forward, such as safety, communication and teamwork.

Even though she doesn’t have years of experience in the field, she has plenty of knowledge and practice with the basics of firefighting, such as fire equipment knowledge, fire safety awareness and First Aid and CPR experience. Her professional summary also conveys enthusiasm and eagerness. Build My Resume

Mid-Career
Fire Safety Resume Example Director Knowledgeable Build my Resume

Fire Safety Director

The combination resume format is a smart choice for mid-career job seekers in firefighting. For example, this applicant for a fire safety director position must provide both evidence of experience in the field and the expertise required to supervise employees. As such, his resume demonstrates his capability for the job with a college degree in the field.

His nine years of experience in the industry is also a key point of the resume, and this format helps show off his impressive career trajectory. Also of note are his career background details, such as, “developed safety training procedures” and “provided instructions to staffers.” Build My Resume

Executive-Level
Fire Captain Resume Example Modern Build my Resume

Fire Captain

The resume for a fire captain role must go beyond that of a typical applicant and show a long, successful career in firefighting. This applicant employs the chronological resume format to show off a history in the field that stretches back more than 20 years.

His background as a firefighter, lieutenant and captain of another fire department supports his readiness for the position. He also brings expertise in essential supervisory skills, such as staff performance evaluation, site inspections and rescue direction. Build My Resume

More fire-fighting resume samples

Find resume examples for your desired fire-fighting career. Get access to expert writing recommendations, do’s and don’ts and everything you need to write a perfect resume.

battalion chiefcoordination center officerdeputy fire chieffire chieffire inspectorfire investigatorfire lieutenantfire marshalfire safety directorfire sprinkler designerfire sprinkler fitterfire suppression technicianfire watch hole watchfire watcherfirefighter emtfirefighter paramedicfirewatchfirewatch holewatchfirewatch officerwildland firefighter
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Recommended
Firefighting Cover Letter

If you find this sample helpful, we have many more firefighting cover letter examples.

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Resume Success Stories

Statistics and Facts About Firefighting Jobs

Median Pay for Firefighters

Yearly

2019 Median Pay$50850 per year
05K10K15K20K26K31K36K41K46K52K

Hourly

2019 Median Pay$24.45 per year
01530
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Occupational Outlook for Firefighters

Job Outlook, 2018-285% increase (As fast as average)
Employment Change, 2018-2817,600 more jobs
010K20K
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Popular Job Titles in Firefighting

  • Fire Captain
  • Fire Chief
  • Fire Marshal
  • Firefighter
  • Safety Officer
  • Volunteer Firefighter

Source: Occupational Information Network (Municipal Firefighting and Prevention and Supervisors), Occupational Information Network (Municipal Firefighters), CareerOneStop

Educational Requirements of Firefighters

Master’s Degree$3
Bachelor’s Degree$20
Associate Degree$22
Some College, no Degree$38
High School Diploma$15
Less than High School Diploma1%
010203040
Source: CareerOneStop

Gender Diversity Amongst Firefighters (2018)

Gender composition

Female 4.48%

Male 95.5%

Source: Data USA

Racial Diversity Amongst Firefighters

White (including Hispanic)83.64%
Black7.49%
Two or More Races3.33%
Other2.56%
Asian1.05%
American Indian0.683%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander0.316%
01734516885
Source: DataUSA

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