Thousands Line Up For 35 Miami Firefighter Jobs

Miami Herald:

In just under 12 hours Monday, the chance to become a Miami firefighter disappeared.

More than 1,000 applicants had stood in line -- many of them camping out overnight -- to apply for 35 firefighter jobs that offer $46,000 a year, plus benefits. The city started taking applications from those who qualified at 8 a.m.

Read the whole story: Miami Herald

Comments

[VJKramer]

09:11 PM on 02/03/2009

This post is a little misleading. It has always been very common to have 500 to 2000 applicants for firefighter recruitments. The job, while very dangerous at times, consists of lots of non-firefighting duties. The pay and schedule are very desirable (don't let anyone try to fool you on this). The qualifications to apply are light, usually high school diploma and no experience.

For Miami to end up with 35, they need to start out with 750. There will be many of these applicants who fail the tests, don't show up at the tests, etc. Also, Miami has to limit numbers to be fiscally responsible. If they placed no limit on the numbers, they might have to administer a written exam to 3000, a physical agility test to 1000, interviews to 500, etc. Obviously, very costly including for the City's staff time to test those who have no chance of getting a limited number of positions.

Comparing firefighter recruitments to other jobs is not appropriate. The number of firefighter applicants in Miami or else where has little to nothing to do with the current economic situation.

[Amennyc]

04:35 PM on 02/03/2009

2/3 rds most likely are idiots who think just their "charm" will get them an interview. Once the applications are read, the weeding process starts and those who dropped out of high school can be thrown out. Most live larger in their heads than possibly reasonable.

[politisophical]

04:24 PM on 02/03/2009

thats probably not good

[ltva]

02:55 PM on 02/03/2009

....as the Republicans continue to block the stimulus package---like children.

[000Jade000]

02:28 PM on 02/03/2009

OMG. Imagine what it will look like when stimulus job applications are being taken.

[FreedomTruth]

02:25 AM on 02/04/2009

Huh???????

[gjohntheterrible]

02:22 PM on 02/03/2009

This is what applying for a job looks like in a 3rd world nation.

[Topsailsman]

01:44 PM on 02/03/2009

I guess these are all the lazy people who don't want to work, eh Republicans? We all know that if they REALLY wanted a job, they would have one, right Republicans?

[DixieMelody]

02:25 PM on 02/03/2009

Right.

It's JUST a "psychological recession."

[gjohntheterrible]

02:34 PM on 02/03/2009

Stop whining!!!!

[copperblaze22]

01:44 PM on 02/03/2009

And yet the GOP thinks that $500 million for state and local fire stations is too much. In the grand scheme of things, given urban sprawl, and other conditions. I'm sure Miami could use more than 35 fireman on there post.

[nomoredead]

01:11 PM on 02/03/2009

Bush and the republicans did more damage to this country than Osama Bin Laden.

[Realtor n VA]

03:45 PM on 02/03/2009

AND THAT IS THE D*MN TRUTH!!!!!

[soylentgreenleftovers]

12:54 PM on 02/03/2009

This is not news where I am from. Every time the San Antonio FD hires there are 3000+ applicants.

[Liberalbozo]

01:41 PM on 02/03/2009

Does that tell you anything about exactly how "dangerous" being a firefighter really is? Work 20 years 4 days on and 4 days off and then retire at age 45 and start a second career on the taxpayer dime? Something wrong here.

[uglicoyote]

02:09 PM on 02/03/2009

Next time your home or business catches on fire, put it out yourself. It's not dangerous after all.

[hortonhearsawho2]

02:59 PM on 02/03/2009

considering only four or five get all the overtime well....

[markinaz]

12:12 PM on 02/03/2009

Saw the other day where a company got 5000 resumes in 12 hours for 12 job openings! Things are going downhill fast. Time to live much more simply and appreciate the things you have, not the things you want.

[nomoredead]

01:17 PM on 02/03/2009

Mission Accomplished !
This is the dream of ever greedy big corporation...thousands of hungry, willing to do anything and work for anything applicants.
If we don't get more unions going this will become the next China as far as pay.

[ebanks84]

11:05 AM on 02/03/2009

I wish all of them good luck. Bless you!

[vippy]

10:53 AM on 02/03/2009

For anyone who believes we have an unemployment number of less than 10 % read and weep
with this article.

[levelshot]

10:40 AM on 02/03/2009

No comment