Alternative career options for a Firefighter please?
Alternative career options for a Firefighter please?
Author
Discussion

Mark300zx

Original Poster:

1,447 posts

281 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
quotequote all
It looks like the current conditions of service are deteriorating so much, I will have to look at an alternative career, either full time or part time!

I know these are hard times, I was thinking of doing some form of training until the economy improves, the training and or career really should be flexible, as my shifts mean that doing a course on a regular day is difficult.

I would kindly appreciate suggestions/options for careers, training and selecting alternative careers?

Nobody You Know

8,422 posts

222 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
quotequote all
Mark300zx said:
It looks like the current conditions of service are deteriorating so much, I will have to look at an alternative career, either full time or part time!

I know these are hard times, I was thinking of doing some form of training until the economy improves, the training and or career really should be flexible, as my shifts mean that doing a course on a regular day is difficult.

I would kindly appreciate suggestions/options for careers, training and selecting alternative careers?
Hmmm well sir from your experience can I offer the following ideas.

Hose Experience - Gardener

Axe experience - Lumberjack

Ladder experience - Window cleaner


V8mate

45,899 posts

218 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
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Watering people's lawns? Filling fish ponds?

EDLT

15,421 posts

235 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
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Firestarter? Think of the economics behind it.

Mr Fenix

863 posts

234 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
quotequote all
Every fireman I know has a part time business, either a skilled trade: plumbing, electrical etc. Some are driving instructors, car sales or part time mechanics.

One of the better ones is roofing, business is always steady due to UK weather and once you get in with a few insurance companies preferred lists the work is never ending.

Its one of the reasons the public feel apathy towards firefighters: it may be a dangerous job (until HSE got involved) but its full time pay for part time hours.

I'd like to add that many of the firemen I know retired early or left the brigade due to the whole pensions fiasco and trainee wages farce.

deevlash

10,442 posts

266 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
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freelance cat rescuer?

EmmaP

11,758 posts

268 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
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Police

Plumbing

sparkythecat

8,097 posts

284 months

Wednesday 18th February 2009
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Mark300zx said:
It looks like the current conditions of service are deteriorating so much, I will have to look at an alternative career
What exactly is happening to fire fighters conditions of service?

HOGEPH

5,249 posts

215 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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Male strippogram?

deevlash

10,442 posts

266 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
quotequote all
sparkythecat said:
Mark300zx said:
It looks like the current conditions of service are deteriorating so much, I will have to look at an alternative career
What exactly is happening to fire fighters conditions of service?
they probably replaced the bourbons with pink wafers, they should probably strike for an additional 20k PA. It takes 4 years to learn how to work a truck with a hose on it dontcha know?

Mark300zx

Original Poster:

1,447 posts

281 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
quotequote all
Mr Fenix said:
Its one of the reasons the public feel apathy towards firefighters: it may be a dangerous job (until HSE got involved) but its full time pay for part time hours.

I'd like to add that many of the firemen I know retired early or left the brigade due to the whole pensions fiasco and trainee wages farce.
Fraid it is still dangerous FF deaths are rising, and it is full time hours, 42 hour week, when other people are at home in the evening with their families, shift workers aren't.

With regard to the pensions FF's pay a significant amount of their salaries towards it, cannot comment on retirments in the past (but Fire services paid for new stations with FFs contributions at the start), it is not like that now, not sure what the trainee wages farce is?

Really I am after careers alternatives, don't want to get embroiled in politics!

AlexKP

16,484 posts

273 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
quotequote all
Mark300zx said:
It looks like the current conditions of service are deteriorating so much, I will have to look at an alternative career, either full time or part time!

I know these are hard times, I was thinking of doing some form of training until the economy improves, the training and or career really should be flexible, as my shifts mean that doing a course on a regular day is difficult.

I would kindly appreciate suggestions/options for careers, training and selecting alternative careers?
Health and Safety consultant. One of the few recession proof careers.

sparkythecat

8,097 posts

284 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
quotequote all
In order for us to help we need to know a bit more.
What's p1sssing you off about your current job? Is it just the unsocial hours or do you need more money or is there more to it than that?
How old are you and what skills, qualifications and interests do you have?

Mark300zx

Original Poster:

1,447 posts

281 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
LOL good one

ShadownINja

79,982 posts

311 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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Tree "surgeon".

Defcon5

6,465 posts

220 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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Professional volleyball/table tennis player? wink

deevlash

10,442 posts

266 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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Defcon5 said:
Professional volleyball/table tennis player? wink
its called wif waf round these parts you commie tongue out

Wacky Racer

41,241 posts

276 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
quotequote all
Defcon5 said:
Professional volleyball/table tennis player? wink
Harsh......but fair (a bit)

Still, it's not their fault there's not a fire/emergency to go to every two minutes......

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

284 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
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Paramedic..

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 19th February 2009
quotequote all
Arsonist?

ETA: Too slow Sym, much too slow

Edited by Symbolica on Thursday 19th February 23:38