Selection process
The following sections are designed to give you an indication of the recruitment process, what to expect and what will be required of you. The selection process spans a set period and is broken down into stages.
If you are successful through the shortlisting stage, you will be required to take part in a series of assessments designed to enable you to demonstrate the necessary skills and experience to be a Wholetime Firefighter.
The assessments include ability tests and practical job-related tasks relevant to a Wholetime Firefighter's role. These assessments will be administered fair, structured and welcoming environment in order for you to do your best on the day.
Every assessment has a minimum standard. If you do not reach the standard, we will not be able to consider your application further at that time.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the practical assessments will be provided. To ensure enough clothing is available in the right sizes, you will be asked to provide sizing information prior to attending the assessments. You will however be required to wear jogging bottoms, a t-shirt, and a pair of socks to wear beneath the firefighting clothing.
Please note that applicants who have been unsuccessful in completing a new recruit’s course within the last two-year period are not eligible to apply for the role of Wholetime Firefighter.
The initial assessment stage:
Application Form
The application form plays a vital role in the process. Once you have registered you will then be able to begin completing the application form. You will be given a timeframe to complete and submit your application form (this is usually a two-week window). The application form provided is the only accepted format of application; therefore, please do not email a CV or covering letter with your application.
Only application forms submitted by the date and time specified will be accepted. Any application forms submitted after the closing date and time will NOT be processed.
We ask that you tell us about your skills and experience in relation to the various personal qualities that we require for our Wholetime Firefighters. You may wish to refer to the person specification when looking for transferable skills. You may draw on any of your experiences to answer the questions, from home life, leisure activities, work (paid or unpaid), voluntary work or education.
The information provided by you in the three questions you complete in your application form will determine whether you proceed to the next stage.
Online aptitude test stage:
If you are successful at the application form stage, you will be invited to complete three online assessments.
This stage involves completing a series of two timed and one untimed test which are detailed below and will take approximately one hour in total to complete:
Verbal Reasoning
For the Verbal Reasoning test, you will be presented with a passage of information, followed by four statements. For each of the four statements you must select one of the following answers from the drop-down box: Definitely True, Probably True, Insufficient Information, Probably False or Definitely False
Numerical Reasoning
For the Numerical Reasoning test, you will be presented with numerical information in the form of either a graph, table, or infographic, along with three related questions. Referring solely to the information provided to answer each question. You are permitted to use a calculator for this test.
Perceptions Situational Judgement
For the Perceptions Situational Judgement test you will be presented with an overall scenario, and several potential actions based on that scenario. For each action, you will need to rate the effectiveness of that action in addressing that scenario by selecting one of the following ratings from the drop-down box: Very Ineffective, Ineffective, Fairly Ineffective, Fairly Effective, Effective, Very Effective.
If you have previously successfully completed the written assessment or online aptitude tests, either as part of the On-call recruitment process or a previous Wholetime recruitment process, you will not be required to complete them again.
You must pass all three tests on your first attempt to progress to the next stage of the process.
Fitness and Swim Assessment stage:
If you are successful at the online aptitude test stage, you will be invited to attend the fitness and swim assessment. This will take approximately two hours in total to complete.
Fitness test:
The Chester treadmill walking test was designed specifically for fire and rescue services by a professor of occupational health and fitness at the Centre for Exercise and Nutrition Science at Chester University.
The object of the test is to measure the Aerobic Capacity (Vo2 Max) of candidates. Aerobic fitness is the ability to carry out activities in all aspects of your social and occupational life without causing undue fatigue. This is a 12-minute progressive treadmill walking test to identify individuals who are capable (or not) of reaching the required fitness standard of 42 Vo2 Max. The test consists of walking at a specified and constant brisk pace to climb gradually increasing gradients from 0 to 15 degrees incline.
You are required to wear suitable clothing and trainers to complete the test. A document to assist you in preparation for this test can be found here.
Swimming test:
All our Wholetime Firefighters based at our 24/7 stations are in-water trained to level 3 and are expected to perform in-water rescues. We therefore need new recruits to be able to swim and be confident in water to the levels we have set in the essential criteria.
The purpose of the swimming test is to assess if you can swim and:
- Jump/dive into deep water
- Swim 50 metres in less than 70 seconds
- Swim 100 metres continuously on front and/or back in deep water using a recognised swim e.g., front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly.
- Tread water for 30 seconds
- Surface dive to the floor of the pool
- Climb out unaided without ladder/steps and where the pool design permits.
Occupational ability assessment stage:
If you are successful at the fitness and swim assessment stage, you will be invited to attend the occupational assessments. The role of a Wholetime Firefighter can be physically demanding, and it is important to consider your physical fitness before taking part in the occupational assessment stage.
As part of the selection process, you will be required to undertake physical tests which aim to assess your level of fitness, strength, stamina, co-ordination and manual dexterity. The tests also look at your ability to work at heights and in darkened confined spaces as well as your level of confidence in simulated exercises. These tests are designed to reflect operational practice.
You will be provided with personal protective equipment to complete the tests.
A fitness information pack to assist you in preparation for these tests can be found here. The tests take approximately 2.5 hours in total to complete.
There are currently seven tests which are detailed below:
Enclosed space
This test is designed to assess confidence, agility and stamina. It will also identify any claustrophobic tendencies.
Wearing a breathing apparatus facemask in the dark, you will be required to negotiate a crawl way. This test is timed.
Ladder climb
This test assesses your confidence at height and the ability to follow instructions.
You will be asked to ascend/climb a 13.5m Service ladder to a point two thirds of the way up and lock your leg on the ladder. You will then be asked to lean backwards, arms outstretched and whilst looking over your shoulder identify a symbol being shown by the assessor at ground level. You will have the opportunity to practice at ground level before performing the exercise.
Casualty evacuation
This test is designed to assess upper and lower body strength and co-ordination.
This test requires you to drag a dummy (55kg) backwards around a 30m course with four cones. The dummy will have a carrying handle fixed to it. This test is timed.
Ladder lift
This test assesses your upper and lower body strength and co-ordination.
The test is to raise the bar of a ladder lift simulator to the required height (190cm) with 15kg of weight placed on the simulator cradle. This gives a total lift load of approximately 30kg. You will be given the opportunity to practice an initial lift of 5kg on the cradle.
Ladder Extension
This test is designed to assess upper and lower body strength and co-ordination.
The test requires you to pull on the extending line of a fixed simulator 9m ladder. You will need to extend the ladder until it reaches its limit where the locking mechanism will be engaged at the top. You will then lower the ladder, keeping control at all times, until the locking mechanism engages at the bottom.
Equipment carry
This test is designed to assess aerobic fitness, stamina, upper and lower body strength and co-ordination.
You will be required to:
- Run out 25 metre of hose reel from an appliance, then jog back 25 metres.
- Pick up and carry 2 coiled 70mm hoses for 100 metres.
- Carry 1 coiled 70mm hose at chest height for 25 metres, and then jog back 75 metres.
- Pick up and carry a 2.4 metre suction hose and basket strainer for 100 metres, then jog back 100 metres.
- Pick up and carry a simulated 'Light Portable Pump' for 100 metres (weighing approximately 25kgs)
For the above tests you will be given full instructions.
Equipment assembly
This test assesses manual dexterity.
For this test you will have a demonstration by one of the test assessors of how to assemble and then disassemble a portable pump. You will then be required to carry out the same function with the use of pictures to help you through the exercise. This test is timed.
Watch how to do the occupational ability tests
Final assessments
If you are successful at the occupational ability test stage, you will be invited to attend an assessment day. The results of the assessment exercises will be combined to identify successful candidates. The day will consist of the following exercises and take approximately four hours in total.
Role-based Interview
A panel interview will be carried out by two suitably trained and skilled personnel. The interviews will be a mixture of competency and traditional questions that are designed to assess your personal qualities, behaviours, skills and experience in relation to those required for both the role, and by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Please see the job description, person specification and personal qualities for guidance.
Presentation
Prior to the final assessment you will be sent candidate instructions for the creation and delivery of a presentation to a presentation panel. The instructions will include the topic(s), structure of the presentation and time limits.
Exercise 3
To be announced closer to final assessments.
Please note that the above assessments may be subject to change.
Important Information
Please note that Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service will be recruiting to a holding list. If successful in all the above, you will remain on the holding list. You may be required to recomplete parts of the process depending on the length of time you have been on the holding list. Once you have been offered a role with us you will be required to complete a medical with our Occupational Health Team.
Medical
The purpose of the medical is to assess the general level of health, including weight, blood pressure and lung function to allow the Service doctor to make an informed medical decision as to whether a candidate is fit to undertake firefighting duties, allowing for any reasonable adjustments that may be made in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. Candidates will also have a hearing, eyesight and urine test.
A report may also be required from a hospital where you have received treatment or an independent specialist if the Service doctor requires it. Your consent is required to access these records and in order for you to complete the selection process it is necessary that this consent is given as requested.
Eye test
Prior to attending this appointment, candidates should visit the opticians for an eyesight test. The visual entry standards for firefighters are as detailed below:
- The applicant MUST have a minimum uncorrected distance visual acuity of 6/18 in the better eye and 6/24 in the worse eye.
- Have a corrected visual acuity of at least 6/9 binocular with a minimum of 6/12 in the worse eye and read N12 at 30cm with both eyes open. Please note applicants can use glasses of an appropriate specification on the fire ground should they be needed to obtain this standard of vision.
- Have normal binocular visual field determined by confrontation techniques or formal testing methods.
- Individuals with either normal colour vision or slightly abnormal green colour vision are suitable for appointment with the fire service. The recommended test procedure uses the Ishihara test as the initial screen, with two additional tests if the applicant fails the screening, to determine the severity and type of colour vision deficiency. If necessary, we may ask you to complete some additional tasks as part of a role-based risk assessment, in order to fully determine the extent to which your colour vision deficiency would impact on your ability to undertake the duties of a firefighter. With this additional information, we will then make a decision on a case-by-case basis.