Current firefighter looking for career change please help

confirmer1980

Hi all,
I am currently a full time firefighter it am possibly thinking of a career change, this is for a number of reasons such as sleepless nights at work mean I am missing out on family time at home when I am off, the way we are constantly used/ignored by senior management, plus the current 5year pay freeze yet pension contributions are rocketing as are living costs.

I am currently trying to think of what other employment I could take my skills that I have learn as a firefighter to.

Any advice of suggestions would be great thanks.
Ian

rochja

Have you tried consulting sites like this?
http://www.which-career.co.uk/

stix62

Fire Risk Assessor? Fire Warden Trainer?

Poppy9

Sorry I have to ask "sleepless nights at work", if you work nights why would you expect to sleep or am I missing something.

OH was police officer so when he did night shifts he had to sleep in day as he would have been actively working for full 12 hours. On the plus side the shifts were 4 days on and 4 days off.

So you could join the police if you don't have a similar rota pattern as the 4 days off give good family time (well it's 3 really as OH usually slept most of first day as he'd have come off nights).

Other than that most jobs are day job and that has it's limitations for family life, depending on the age of children.

If you are young and want a new career have you thought of retraining and gaining some new qualificatons?

kazzah60

OP
my husband was a firefighter for 18 years until he suffered an off duty injury which eventually lead to an ill health retirement at the age of 38

He took some computer courses ( this was back in 1995) and got a job working on an advice line for people with a disabilty seeking solutions to computing problems

since then he has progressed and has worked in a variety of Charities as Community Engagement officers / Community Network type settings - his team working and local knowledge have all helped with these types of jobs- plus of course he is quite used to working in high pressure situations and not easily intimidated

he has progressed well and now has a role as a Programme manager within a large charity organisation which has a range of programmes such as re-training, volunteering opportunities, apprenticeships schemes.

He really enjoys working with the public, and the Third Sector ( charities) are generally a bit less "officious" and "stuffy" than businesses

you will have a range of skills that are easily transferable - take some advice, think about WHAT makes you happy about the job you currently do and try and apply that to your careers choices

My husband has always enjoyed feeling like he contributes something to community/people - and he just wouldn't get that buzz from a "corporate" administration job.

never under estimate the skills you have acquired furing your Firefighting career - they will hold you in good stead and MANY employers appreciate them.

Good luck

silkyuk9

Confirmer1980 wrote: »

Hi all,
I am currently a full time firefighter it am possibly thinking of a career change, this is for a number of reasons such as sleepless nights at work mean I am missing out on family time at home when I am off, the way we are constantly used/ignored by senior management, plus the current 5year pay freeze yet pension contributions are rocketing as are living costs.

I am currently trying to think of what other employment I could take my skills that I have learn as a firefighter to.

Any advice of suggestions would be great thanks.
Ian

What about NHS fire instructor, or RAF?

my son is desperate to get into fire service but no jobs for love nor money.

PlutoinCapricorn

Something to do with emergency medical services?

Some Aid Agencies have rapid response units for disasters such as earthquakes.

Johno100

Window cleaner?

What second jobs have your colleagues got, does that give you any ideas?

silkyuk9

not sure where you live but this might be useful

https://www.amris.com/serco/requirement_display.php?refSearch=&requirementid=40123&limit_from=&limit_to=257&countryId=&locationcode=all&work_sphere_id=all&dateRange=&type=&hours=

Cherry_Bomb

I guess if you want more family time working abroad is out of the question?

My OH was a firefighter in this country. Started as retained then moved in whole time. He now works abroad but with a long shift rotation. 4 months on a month off. Not all the rotations are so long. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have just recruited for onshore oil rig Firefighters with a rotation of a month on a month off.

It might not be what you're looking for but thought I'd mention it anyway. Plus the money is amazing. But I guess it comes at a price.

rochja

Armed forces are shrinking dramatically. Offshore oil work is desperately difficult to get into but often has 4 weeks on 4 weeks off. Cross channel ferries could use your skills and dont have many night sailings




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