WorkSource Seattle-King County Hosts Career Events

- The Seattle Fire Department's (SFD) entry-level hiring process involves the FireTEAM test, a Public Safety Self-Assessment (PSSA1), an Oral Board Exam, and a Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). The top 1,500 candidates who pass the initial tests are invited to the in-person oral board interviews. - The FireTEAM written exam, conducted by the National Testing Network, is approximately 2.5 hours long and evaluates reading, math, mechanical reasoning, and human relations through video scenarios. The human relations portion is a test of common sense and teamwork, requiring no prior firefighting experience. - The Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) is a pass/fail exam consisting of eight events that must be completed in under 10 minutes and 20 seconds while wearing a weighted vest. Functional training should target job-specific tasks like stair climbing, hose dragging, and forcible entry simulation. - Even if a candidate has a valid CPAT certification, the SFD requires them to complete the test again through its own process once they are in the top 25% of the hiring register. - The SFD oral board interview is typically a short, 15-minute panel interview where interviewers do not have access to the candidate's resume. Preparation is critical, and candidates should be ready to answer behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). - Approximately 80% of the emergency calls the Seattle Fire Department responds to are medical in nature. The department has over 1,000 employees and operates out of 33 fire stations across the city. - For early-career financial planning, firefighters are encouraged to save beyond their pension. Many utilize a 457(b) plan, a type of retirement account available to public employees, and focus on building an emergency fund covering at least three to six months of living expenses.