Firefighter Resume Examples | The Ultimate Guide With Writing Tips, Skills + More

You need lots of training with the recommended hours before going into the interior of a burning building being 100 hours. With the right firefighter resume examples, you can also craft your resume that will increase your chances of getting your dream job as a firefighter.

Firefighters must possess specific skills, character traits, and paramedic and firefighter knowledge, which should be evident in your resume. They should also know the procedures that should be followed when the emergency alarms go off and respond appropriately.

Whether you're getting started in your firefighting career or want to advance to the next level, we have some great resume writing tips for you that will help you write an exceptional firefighter resume. Check out our resume examples and resume builder, which are the perfect resources for you if you don't know where to start when creating your professional resume.

This guide will also have the following information:

• A sample firefighter resume that is easy to follow and understand.
• The right skills for your resume for a firefighter.
• The best professional experiences for your entry-level firefighter resume.
• How to structure your resume without leaving any vital sections.

Additional Information On Firefighter Salaries and the Job Market

According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, the employment of firefighters is projected to grow 8 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

The industries with the highest levels of employment in Firefighters include:

• Local Government excluding schools and hospitals
• Other Support Services
• State Government excluding schools and hospitals
• Federal Executive Branch
• Other Ambulatory Healthcare Services

The average salary for a firefighter is $48,000, but the typical range is $36,000 to $60,000, depending on your education, skills, and experience.

How to Make a Firefighter Resume

Most firefighter jobs will have specific requirements, so a job-winning resume should have these requirements. Think about some of the best qualities that a firefighter should have, such as a strong work ethic, team player, a person of integrity, and love for the community.

Your previous work and volunteer experiences should showcase these qualities to show the hiring manager you're the best person for the firefighter job. If you have experiences where you've worked under pressure and performed well, don't leave them out because they will be relevant to your resume. The same goes for your skills and educational qualifications relevant to the firefighting job.

Check out these other resumes that might interest you.

• Military resume
• Social work
• Teamwork skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Community service

Firefighter Resume Format, Layout, and Structure

The resume format is critical because it determines how you structure your qualifications. The best format for your resume should represent your top qualifications first. Let's look at some of the formats you should consider.

If you have a lot of experience, the best format for you is the reverse-chronological format because it focuses on your experience. It's also a good choice because most hiring managers love it since it's easy to scan on ATS systems.

If you don't have experience, the best format for you is the functional resume format which focuses on your skills. It's perfect for career changers and recent graduates.

The third option is the combination/hybrid resume which mixes the best features of the functional and reverse-chronological format. If you have years of experience as a firefighter and possess the required skills, this is the perfect format for you.

The layout of your firefighter resume should be easy to read and understand. Use easy-to-read fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, Georgia, Cambria, and Calibri, and a font size of 10-12pt. The margins on your resume should be one inch on each side and not smaller than half an inch to prevent it from looking too busy.

The structure of your firefighter resume should have the following sections:

• The header section
• Professional summary/objective
• Work experience
• Education section
• Skill section
• An additional section (Computer skills and certifications, languages, volunteer work, awards/honors, and interests)

The Header Section Of Your Firefighting Resume

The header is a critical section that contains essential details of your resume, including:

• Your full name
• Job title
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• Location
• A link to your LinkedIn profile.

Your contact information must be accurate; otherwise, the hiring manager won't have a way of reaching you if you get the firefighter job.

Photo Or No Photo

A photo is not essential on your resume because it increases the chances of discrimination and unconscious bias. However, if the recruiter asks you to send one, it should be a professional headshot.

Prove Your Experience As A Firefighter

This section highlights your employment history and showcases the experiences that make you the best candidate. Employers love this section and will spend most of the time looking at what you've previously done to determine whether you're a suitable candidate for the firefighting position.

Use this section to list your previous experiences related to the job. Start with your most recent job and go backward. If you've not worked as a firefighter before, add the positions with transferable skills that will be useful in a firefighter position.

Under each workplace, list three to five responsibilities using bullet points and quantify the results with facts and figures. This gives the recruiter an idea of the value you could bring to the job.

When listing the work experience, add the name of the company/organization, your job title, and the years you've worked at each place.

Example for an Entry-Level Firefighter

Example for Experienced Firefighters

Describe Your Educational Qualifications

This section is simple and should summarize your relevant educational qualifications. Firefighter positions require at least a high school diploma to get the job, but if you have a college degree, don't leave it out because it sets you apart from the other candidates.

The details you'll add to this section include:

• The name of the degree/diploma
• The name of the school
• The year of graduation
• GPA(optional)

Always start with your most recent qualification, and you can leave out your high school diploma if you have a college degree or Master's.

Correct example

Most Valued Skills for Firefighters

The right firefighter skills will increase your chances of landing an interview. These skills are vital because they allow you to do the job efficiently and effectively. You'll need the perfect mix of hard and soft skills to stand out as a unique candidate.

The perfect firefighter job description will have some of the skills you need in your resume. The description also gives you direction on the correct wording of the skills when you're adding them to your resume to ensure the ATS systems do not filter it.

The best way to structure your skills is by using bullet points, making it easy for the hiring manager to spot them on your resume.

Let's look at some of the skills you should add to your firefighter resume.

Hard skills

• Sprinkler specialist
• Fire prevention
• Fire safety
• Arson investigation
• Qualified pump operator
• Valid Driver's License
• Mechanical aptitude
• Fire suppression

Soft skills

• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Decision-making skills
• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving skills
• Teamwork
• Listening skills
• Time management

Write a Winning Professional Summary

The professional/resume summary is the second section of your resume, which introduces your resume. It summarizes your top achievements and highlights your experience and skills. Usually, it's two to four sentences, but make it engaging and catchy to get the recruiter's attention and get them to read the rest of your resume. If you don't have experience, you'll use a firefighter resume objective that expresses your interest in the job and highlights your career goals and how they align with the company goals.

Example For A Firefighter With Experience

Example For A Firefighter With Experience

Incorrect example

Additional Sections for Your Resume

Whether you're writing a wildland firefighter resume or a volunteer firefighter resume, you shouldn't leave this section out of your resume. This is the section that can give you an edge over the other candidates and help you land the job.

If you have extra qualifications and skills that you want to highlight, you'll add them to this section. This ensures that the recruiter doesn't miss these qualifications. Our resume templates will help you incorporate this section in your resume if you have trouble figuring out how to add it to your resume.

Here are some of the sections you should consider adding to this section.

Certifications

If you have additional certification, it's always better to add it under this section instead of the education section. That's because this ensures that the recruiter does not miss it even when they glance at your resume. Certifications boost your resume because they show that you have additional training as a firefighter. Some of the firefighter certifications you can add to your resume include:

• Firefighter Level 1 Certification
• Firefighter Level 2 Certification
• Fire Inspector Level 1
• Fire Inspector Level 2

Interests

You've probably been discouraged against adding this section to your resume, but it's a section you should consider having in your resume. It shows the recruiter that you're a diverse candidate and can give you something to talk about during the interview, especially if you have common interests with your potential employer.

Languages

Hiring managers prioritize bilingual candidates, so if you can speak multiple languages highlight it under this section to ensure they don't miss it. You should also use the official language reference when listing the languages as follows:

• Germany's Goethe-Zertifikat (70%) or higher is required.
• IELTS - English (a minimum score of 6.5 is required)
• DELF for French (with a score of 60% and above)

Tips to Make Your Firefighter Resume Better

• Use a professional firefighter resume template to structure your resume properly and ensure that you don't miss any vital sections.
• Add the right keywords and action verbs to optimize your resume and get past the applicant tracking systems.
• Avoid using one resume for multiple applications and tailor each resume you send out to match the company you're applying to.
• Tailor the job title and optimize it with the right keywords.
• Choose the correct format and layout for your resume.
• Keep your resume summary/objective short but catchy and engaging.
• Check your resume for typos and grammatical mistakes before sending it out to the recruiter.

Key Takeaways: Writing a Resume for Firefighters from Zero

• The information in your header section should be accurate.
• The perfect resume template is essential in helping you structure your resume.
• Your resume should highlight your top qualifications, experience, and skills.
• The resume summary introduces your resume and summarizes your top accomplishments.
• Your professional experiences should be relevant to the firefighter job.
• Use bullet points to list your skills to make them more visible.
• If you don't have much experience, use a resume objective to introduce your resume.

Complement Your resume with a Cover letter

A cover letter gives you the opportunity to describe your achievements and highlight your experience and skills. It allows you to inject some personality and showcase your writing skills, which a resume doesn't allow you to do. Some recruiters will ask you not to send one but always accompany your resume with one if that's not the case. Check out our cover letter templates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which organizations are hiring for firefighter jobs?

According to Glassdoor the companies include the following:

• S Forest Service
• S Army
• S Air Force
• Department of Defense
• S Marine Corps
• CAL Fire
• S Navy

What are the top qualifications required before becoming a firefighter?

The minimum qualification is a high school diploma, but you should get an EMT certification and a degree in fire science or a related field if you want to stand out.