What if.....

[Blspirit911]

Ok guys, looks like I have made it to the last hoop for hiring!! Just the drug test and major background check left. I just basically want some advice should I get hired. What are some tips to help me through training. I have a three month probation period,and advice or info would greatly be appreciated...if I get this postition it is in a different State then where I currently reside. I know the area there because I grew up there...but plan on studying the map any chance I get.
:bounce:

[MrJim911]

Well congrats ahead of time on your new position!

As for advice I've said it before and I'll say it again. The training should be tough/rigorous. It only serves to make better dispatchers therefore safer officers/firefighters. 12 weeks is also our training program length. It seems to be long enough as far as getting all the required info into the head of the new hires so you should not have a problem with learning and applying what you've learned in that amount of time. And I don't remember if you have experience or not but if you do that will, of course, be a big help.

Just stay focused while in training. Absorb what you learn. Study the SOP of that agency. If you know the area then that's a huge burden you don't have to worry about. Are ride-a-longs required during training? That helps not only for geography but for getting to know the officers/firefighters. Practice using ther CAD system if it's different than any you have used before, that will help with the speed and accuracy of your typing. Ask questions!!! There are no stupid questions only bad answers!

Keep us updated!

[Blspirit911]

That advice is helpful. In answer to your question, I do not have any experience with this line of work other than answering drug/alcohol hot lines and volunteering 2yrs of my time with the local crisis line. I know emergency communications is a lot different but I would hope that "some" of the skills I learned there I can carry with me. As for ride-alongs, I have heard that this company transfers you to another city within the state for two weeks of training, and ride a longs as well...I am not sure about ride alongs locally. Thank you for the good wishes and the support. I will immerse myself in the training should I get hired! Another question, is three months a good time to get acquainted with the most common calls? I know that "anything" can be called in at "any" time so I am just curious.
:p

[MrJim911]

Each agency will do it differently, but at mine you wouldn't answer any 911 lines until at least the 6th or 7th week of training. The first 6 weeks are learning the SOP's you'll need to know to answer those 911 lines and know how to handle the calls. And all the other phone lines you would learn prior to the 911 lines. And radio is also focused on prior to that because you have to be able to dispatch the calls you are answering. So....to answer your question...yes and no. It will prepare you to "handle" the calls. But you probably won't get a large variety in that short amount of time. I've been doing this for 4 years and I still get calls that are "firsts" for me. :eek: