What you should know about the Firefighter Psychological Test
Firefighters are one of the most critical parts of our society. They help keep us safe in an emergency and are always there to lend a helping hand. However, before someone can become a firefighter, they must first pass their firefighter psychological test.
Firefighters’ psychological evaluations usually consist of a written portion and an interview with a psychologist.
The written portion is typically in the form of a personality test, which can be over 1000 questions depending on the area you are applying for. It is a multiple-choice test that covers a wide range of topics, from firefighters’ duties and responsibilities to your personal beliefs and values.
The interview portion of the evaluation is used to further assess any potential psychological issues that might impact a person’s ability to safely and effectively perform their duties as a firefighter.
The purpose of both of these portions is to evaluate and screen for any significant mental health disorders that could potentially interfere with a person’s ability to perform their job as a firefighter.
Here are a few key tips to help you pass your firefighter psychological test:
- Find consistency in your answers. It is essential that you find consistency in your answers on the written portion of the exam. Many of the questions will seem very similar, and an individual who is lying will be noticeable because of this. It is important you answer each question honestly and to the best of your ability. Doing so will increase your chances of passing the exam and moving on to the next stage of the process.
- Prepare for a long test. Firefighter psychological exams are known to be quite lengthy, with the average being 2 – 6 hours long. Prepare for this by getting a good night’s sleep and making sure to eat something before going into the test.
- Stay focused. While the test may be long, you will want to do your best to stay focused and ensure you answer the questions to the best of your ability. Remember, honesty and consistency will be critical, and this will require your focus for the exam duration.
- Wear something nice and presentable, yet comfortable. First impressions go a long way and considering the length of the test, if you can be comfortable at the same time that would be great.
- Use practice tests. Practice tests will help you prepare for how the test will be structured, as well as your ability to stay honest and consistent with your answers. At Firefighter Practice Tests, we offer simulated fire department entrance exams including a personality practice test. You can view ours HERE.
- Participate in forums. By participating in forums, you can read others personal experience with their entrance exams as well as ask any questions you may have to a knowledgeable audience. One of the best forums for firefighter knowledge is: https://forums.firehouse.com/
The most fundamental tip that anyone can give you for your Firefighter Psychological Test is to be your honest self.
Be genuine, and you will have an edge over other candidates who might be trying too hard to fake it. At the end of the day, what counts is whether you can do the job and if you would be a good culture fit for the fire station. So, relax, be yourself, and let your passion for firefighting shine through!