Merseyside Success 2020

[AdamFire]

I have been dreaming of writing this ever since I joined the forum in what seems a lifetime ago back in 2017. But today I am actually delighted to share I have been successful with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and I start in September this year.

Has it been one of the hardest periods of my life? Yes! Is it worth every bit of it? Absolutely!

I initially passed the interview back in March of this year, but I have held off posting until I had passed the medical.

This was my seventh attempt and every attempt along the way has been a challenge in some way but one thing I can say is every attempt in which I failed, I also learnt and grew as a person. Looking back after each attempt, I can definitely say it made me want it more each time and I found staying positive (as hard as that was at times) and believing in myself (easier said than done) definitely kept me going. The recruitment is a long drawn out process and I personally found the closer I got to my dream, the more I got knocked back.

It was September 2017 when I first attended a Taster Day for Lancashire. That is when the dream really caught fire. This was my first ever firefighting application and I managed to make it all the way to interview. I came out thinking I had done the best I could have done but unfortunately it was not enough. Looking back now I definitely was not ready as I was not the person I am today.

The next step I believe was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I joined LFRS as a fire cadet instructor. I gained valuable experience and enjoyed being around people who I aspired to be. I suddenly felt myself knowing so much more about the fire service and I could not wait for the next recruitment.

In between all of this, I applied for Cheshire and also made it to interview. Again, I was not deemed ready as my answers were not structured well enough. Also, running alongside this, I applied for the first time with Merseyside. I was unsuccessful at assessment centre due to not being involved enough. One of my first real lessons I learnt here was that it just was not possible to revise for two separate recruitment campaigns at the same time. This is something I promised myself I would learn from and not make the same mistake again.

Up came my second chance with Lancashire. After making it to interview last time round, I was unsuccessful due to not scoring high enough on the maths. This was really tough to take as I passed it the time before. Apparently, it goes off top percentage so I can only assume this time I was not in the top percentage unlike the recruitment before.

There I was after four failed attempts back where I started.

Merseyside opened their recruitment again and I was ready. I made it once again to assessment centre. After failing the assessment centre last time, I knew exactly what to do. I acted on feedback and I spent days and nights revising Merseyside inside out. I knew every statistic going. I somehow found a way to show the assessors every quality I had as a person. I came out of the assessment centre this time feeling confident. It was a great feeling receiving the email confirming I had passed and put my wrongs as rights. I was then invited to interview and to take part in the Mersey swim. This is where I learnt the BIGGEST lesson in life ever. I spent every spare minute preparing for my interview. I visited stations, did mock interviews, practised PQAs…I could go on. I was as ready as I could ever be. Up came the swim. I see myself as extremely fit and was not too worried. This is where I went wrong. I failed the swim by seconds. My whole world seemed to collapse before me. I had overlooked it completely. At this point in my life, it was genuinely the worst feeling I had ever experienced. Goes without saying, I did not get the opportunity to even have my interview.

Summer 2019 was a massive reflection point in my life. After spending a couple of days moping about and feeling sorry for myself I realised I had to do something. I had to make it right. I took up swimming as a hobby and it soon became an obsession. I was desperate to put it right. At the end of every session in the gym I spent thirty minutes in the pool swimming lengths and timing myself. I even managed to get my hands on a dry suit and a buoyancy jacket to replicate the timed swim open water.

It was soon November 2019 and Merseyside opened their recruitment again – earlier than expected which was great news for me. I had my application sent off within days.

Not long after, Greater Manchester opened. I had never applied before.

I was not keen on applying at first as I did not want to be part of two recruitments at the same time again and I wanted my time dedicated to Merseyside. However, after checking the dates, every stage seemed to be a month apart from the Merseyside campaign. I was lucky enough to get a taster day with Greater Manchester and that enabled me to apply. If anything else, it was a nice distraction whilst waiting on news from Merseyside. My GM application was successful, and I passed the key skills tests, after lots of revision! Then, a shock to the system personally as I failed my first ever physical. I was expecting the confined space to be like Merseyside and Lancs but it wasn’t.

Back onto Merseyside, which now had my full attention, I once again passed each stage, carefully ensuring no stone was unturned and nothing was overlooked or assumed. The assessment centre somehow seemed harder this time but fortunately I still passed. Then COVID-19 hit so the swim was suspended and interview was up first. I once again prepared for this moment - I was so ready for it. It was here I suffered my first personal struggles during these recruitment campaigns as my father passed away a few days before my interview. Upon reflection, I was in auto pilot for my interview and I was that focussed and well-prepared that I knew exactly what I had to do. I came out knowing I had given a great account of myself and had answered all questions as well as I ever could have. I would recommend the ‘how2become’ firefighter interview questions and answers as these personally helped me on how to structure my answers.  

Two weeks later I received that dream phone call. My interview had been successful. It was an emotional time knowing the years of trying, the application drafts, the tests, the revision, daily forum searches and posts etc had finally paid off. However, I still had a swim to do!

Within four weeks of this, my world fell apart once again when I lost my mother. I have recently found out this was due to COVID-19 pneumonia. As you can imagine, losing both parents is indescribable but I can honestly say the upcoming swim was a welcomed distraction.

Swimming tests were confirmed for June. I was ready this time. I was not going out again for the sake of a few seconds. I knew I had spent almost a year practising but with gym closures I had to make sure I was ready. I had access to a large fishing pond and carried out numerous swims in a drysuit and boots with a 30m rope attached so effectively I was swimming 60m. Some may think this is extreme but I was not making that mistake again.

I passed the swim, knocking thirty seconds off my failed attempt. Then came my conditional offer. I must have read it a thousand times over. It was an amazing feeling.

There was one last hurdle – the medical. I was referred for my ears (unilateral hearing) and high blood pressure. This was all quickly sorted with a second hearing test (had to go private due to obvious NHS waiting lists due to COVID-19) which confirmed there was no underlying medical issues. The blood pressure wasn’t an issue and after a second testing at my own doctors, everything was fine and it was put down to nerves on the day.

Goes without saying, I am extremely proud of myself for achieving what I set out to do and I am looking forward to my future with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. I feel my setbacks throughout these recruitments and the way I bounced back defined me as the person I am today and I look back and I am honestly grateful for every opportunity I had to better myself and learn from mistakes.

I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead during the recruits course and throughout my career.

Thank you to everyone on the forum who has contributed to anything because believe me I have spent countless hours on here and it has helped me significantly. A special thanks to @Kim for her support and advice.

I hope anyone reading this who is currently struggling to stay positive or to believe in themselves, or is suffering any setbacks, realises that one day it will happen and it’s just a case of keeping going until that day arrives. Life can be difficult at times, both personally and professionally, but take it from me, that dream is always worth chasing.

Struggle will teach you the things you need to know to become successful and the more bad times you experience the more you will value the good times and do whatever it takes to stay on top.

Good luck to everyone on their own personal journey and thank you for reading.

[LibbyNolan]

This is such a great story, huge congratulations on your success you must be feeling extremely proud !!  

I’m looking to apply for Greater Manchester FS when they open applications for the taster day later this year. From what I have read it is an extremely difficult recruitment process, so I wondered if there was anything you would advise doing to aid my application? 

(I have downloaded all the how2become guides and began training for the multi stage fitness test. I planned to revise for each each stage e.g the maths tests, once I had been successful in the previous stage - but I’m unsure on this approach after reading posts on the forum) 

Look forward to hearing your thoughts! 

[JuanFran]

@Twissy90, your story is nothing short of amazing! Your ability to keep going despite any adversity shows you are lion hearted and is an inspiration to me. I'm sure you have all the qualities to be a phenomenal firefighter and I hope you enjoy your new career. 

[Airze]

Brilliant stuff you should be so proud well done! 💪🏻👍🏻👊🏻💙

[Steve93]

Very well done, you have came along way and your determination has paid off in the end.

Your ability to get the practice in for the swimming tests during these times has also paid off and shows you are willing to overcome any obstacle thrown at you.

I’m sure your mam will be extremely proud of you for achieving your dream!

I also start in september so we are in this together, it’s the best feeling ever relieving that offer!

Again a massive congratulations to you and i wish you the best for your training course and career.

[Luminoki]

What a wonderful read, enjoy the job mate it really is a job like no other

[AdamFire]

8 hours ago, LibbyNolan said:

This is such a great story, huge congratulations on your success you must be feeling extremely proud !!  

I’m looking to apply for Greater Manchester FS when they open applications for the taster day later this year. From what I have read it is an extremely difficult recruitment process, so I wondered if there was anything you would advise doing to aid my application? 

(I have downloaded all the how2become guides and began training for the multi stage fitness test. I planned to revise for each each stage e.g the maths tests, once I had been successful in the previous stage - but I’m unsure on this approach after reading posts on the forum) 
 

Look forward to hearing your thoughts! 

Thank you very much!

First of all, with GM, you have to be very quick in getting a Taster Day. Might be different this time if it's virtual? But last time it was basically first come first serve to book onto a Taster Day and once you had attended this, you had the opportunity to submit an application. 

Yeah I suppose in some ways the application stage is the hardest as that's when they have the most applicants and it's where you have to stand out to make the initial cut. If I remember correctly, the application was based around three questions: solving problems, team work and community. 

From my experience, nearly all applications have a strong focus on your role in the community so I would definitely recommend thinking about that. For example, I volunteer for Lancashire Volunteer Partnership telephone befriending to the most vulnerable in the community and I am a volunteer fire cadet instructor so I always felt I could answer this question well. 

Whatever service you are trying to get into, research their IRMP as this will help. 

I started revising for the maths test early as I knew I needed to. The tests themselves are functional skills and the pass rate is level 1. So I would say when you revise depends on where you are know with your ability really. I personally see no harm in starting early though. 

There is no harm in planning ahead in my opinion, as long as you are confident you are not over-looking the stage you are working towards. I have been that person who overlooked a stage and it's frustrating looking back. 

I would also recommend keeping on top of your fitness throughout as you will have the bleep test and also there will be some other type of fitness test in a medical. 

If you need any advice going forward, please feel free to message me and I will do my best to help.

Good luck!

[Andy1]

Great read @Twissy90 and well done for persevering through all those set backs. I’ve been there, but as you say definitely worth it. Enjoy the course and your future career.  

[Carl]

First of all, a massive congratulations, well done and well deserved. I hope. a lot of people can take note of your achievement and of course the set backs you have encountered.

To lose both parents in such a short time and not to give up is commendable, so hats off to you. Your parents will be proud of you. 

I hope unlike others you stick around on the forum and pass on some of that learning you encountered along the way. The forum doesn't end here, we need people like you on here to provide that inspiration to others who are trying. 

[Karl]

A massive well done, I take my hat off to you. No one can ever say you dont deserve it or haven't worked hard enough to get were you are now.

With such a resilient mentality, I am sure you will be successful in the job. I know its been hard and tough with your parents. You are a credit mate. The hard work continues now.

I would personally take a week away from it all and go and enjoy yourself, if you have the time. Then smash your fitness and concentrate on any pre read study they give you. Work hard on the course, be keen, be open minded and look out for others and you'll be fine. 

Condolences with what you have been through but also a massive Congratulations on your success, one of the best things I've read for a while.

[AdamFire]

Thanks everyone. Means a lot!

I have enjoyed reading other success stories on here and taken inspiration from them so it’s nice to finally have my own.

This forum has helped so much and I hope I can begin to help others the way that I have been helped.

[TravisJ2020]

Wow this story is really inspiring 

 

I’m halfway through my application at the moment but this was one hell of a inspirational read. Amazing 

[SR_5latr]

Massive congratulations @Twissy90! A great example of never giving up. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of you parents as well. I'm sure they'll be very proud looking down on you.

[Noddy]

Nice one well done 👍👍👍

[LibbyNolan]

Thanks so much for getting back to me!

All this information is really helpful and I have successfully gained a place on the taster day this weekend which is a good start. I will definitely start brushing up on my Maths following your advice and will get in touch if I need any more tips moving forward! 
 

Good luck in the next stages of your training & thanks again for your help  !!! 

[Carl]

Guys, can we resist the urge to start discussing aspects of the recruitment process in this section as detailed here.

This section is dedicated to the individuals who have worked hard to be congratulated on their success and as such replies should be kept to congratulating them on such. 

There are lots of other sections allowing an member to start a topic on all aspects of recruitment. 

[Bobby87]

@Twissy90Wow !
You’ve just give me hope I’m sitting searching this forum and I’ve found your story . Well done I’ve just had what I can only describe as the most savage interview trying to accept that chances are I’ve failed and thinking what to do and you’ve just Reminded me that it will all be worth it ! 
you are an inspiration 👍👍

[Airze]

Well done mate absolutely brilliant to hear so happy for you! 👍🏻