Employment Process for Firefighters

Equal Employment Opportunity

 The City of Sanford is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We pledge to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent, family medical history or genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, disability (physical or mental), age, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.

 

Application Consideration

The City of Sanford only accepts employment applications when specific openings for positions are available. The Human Resources Department reviews each application with care and attention to identify the candidates whose qualifications match the position requirements. The candidates are then contacted to confirm attendance at the physical agility test.

The City of Sanford reserves the right to re-advertise positions or to delay or cancel the filling of a position.
 
 If you need special assistance in the employment process, please let us know.

 

Application Tips

Applications must be completed online.
 
Applications and accompanying documents should be typed or printed legibly. Applications should be completed fully and provide sufficient description of prior work experience. Be sure to electronically sign your application.
 
Be sure to complete the "Position Applied For" section on the front of your application to assure correct consideration of your application.


Application Process

The following steps detail the process necessary to become eligible for hire:

Employment Application

The Online Employment Application is designed to assist the fire department in evaluating your qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Please read the job opportunities position description carefully to be sure your background meets the requirements of the position. A resume may not be submitted for a complete application but may be included to supplement the application.

To ensure consideration of your application, it must be received in the City of Sanford Human Resources Department no later than 5 p.m. on the closing date.

Physical Agility Testing

Candidates who successfully complete the online application and meet the advertised criteria by the closing date will receive an invitation to participate in our physical agility test.  This test is conducted at the Emergency Services Training Center (3000 Airport Road, Sanford NC 27332).  The test consists of the following stations:

                Simulated Equipment Carry

                Tire Pull

                Forcible Entry Simulation

                Confined Space Simulation

                Rescue Drag

                Ladder Raise

                Stair Climb

Successful completion of this course will be deemed a time less than 3 Minutes 45 Seconds (3:45).  

A video and description of the course is available here:  Physical Agility Test Video

Oral Interview

Upon successful completion of the physical agility test, candidates will be invited to participate in an oral interview.

Candidate Scoring / Eligibility List

Candidates successfully completing all components of the application process will be scored and placed onto an eligibility list.  Scoring will be tallied using the following methods:

Oral Interview – Candidates will be scored by each interview panel member, with scores being averaged.

Bonus Points – Candidates are eligible for bonus points added to their overall score using the following criteria:

Physical Agility:  Successful completion times are those 3 Minutes 45 Seconds (3:45) and below.  Those who complete the test in a time faster than the minimum will be credited bonus points in accordance with this scale:

3:16 – 3:30 – One (1) Point

2:46 – 3:15 – Two (2) Points

2:45 And Below – Three (3) Points

Military:  Those who are military veterans and are discharged under other than dishonorable conditions will receive an additional three (3) points added to their overall score (NOTE:  DD-214 Required)

After scoring, an eligibility list will be established by ranking candidates beginning with the highest overall score.  In the event of a tie, the candidate with the highest interview score will take precedence.  All candidates will receive notification of their ranking on the list.

Background Check

A background investigation will be conducted on the successful candidate which will be job-related and consistent with business necessity for the position, and may include an inquiry into an employee or applicant’s criminal and driving history; education; previous employment/job experience; knowledge, skills and abilities; credentials or licensure; character; physical fitness; and other qualifications as required for the position in the service of the City.
 
Unless required by local, state, and/or federal law, a record of conviction will not automatically exclude a candidate from employment consideration.
 
The minimum driving record standard to qualify for employment consideration for all job classifications requiring a valid North Carolina Driver's license is described in Driving Record Standard For Applicant (PDF). Departments may elect to enforce more stringent driving record requirements as in the case with the Police and Fire Departments.


Employment Eligibility Verification

As a condition of employment, individuals hired by the City of Sanford are required to present proof of identity and of their eligibility to work in the United States. The City of Sanford participates in the United States Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Please use the links below to view important information when applying to work with the City of Sanford:

 

Benefits Summary

The City offers an excellent comprehensive benefit package. Please use the link below to obtain a brief summary of our benefits program.

Firefighter Carrying a Training Dummy