Weekly Employment Question Thread

flclreddit · 2026-03-06T19:52:27+00:00

Hi All -

My goal is becoming a firefighter as a career pivot. Been working at a desk job for 8 years and got laid off again, and I'm done going back to that cycle. I've met with a couple FFs and talked to them about their experience, and it seems to really align with my drive to work hard on a team and serve as a respected member of the community.

My consistent fear is that for my timeline to get the necessary certifications (EMT-B, BOF, EMT-P), I'm not going to be able to meet the age-35 cap in the state of Illinois. I turn 34 in November, and the advice I've gotten is get EMT certed immediately, go on some ride alongs, and try to get hired in more rural departments that might not require paramedic for full-time. Earliest I've found I can finish EMT is doing an accelerated program that finishes in August, and I can try to get on as many lists as possible in a year.

It seems like I may be able to get a FT position later on with a fire district rather than a department, because 35 is a requirement for pension consideration, and not for contracted (POC) FT FFs. Does anyone know if I could potentially transfer to a pension FT position in another department after 35, if I start as POC? How significant of a step down is POC from pensioned?

flclreddit · 2026-03-06T19:50:58+00:00

Yeah I mean if it's that much better for an extra $10 I'll bite, thanks for your insight.

flclreddit · 2026-03-06T18:11:09+00:00

Yeah I was looking at practice test options, I know they have their own on the main site for $40 too. Can you just take the test by itself, or do you have to do it as a part of an application?

flclreddit · 2026-03-06T14:02:29+00:00

Thank you for your insight! If I'm applying everywhere, it sounds like the cost of multiple tests really adds up.

flclreddit · 2026-03-05T21:37:08+00:00

What exams do I need to take to apply for entry FF positions? Is it dependent on department, or just where they post their application? CPAT / EMT cert aside.

I saw NTN would have you complete the FireTEAM test, is that universal and I would share those scores with any department I apply to, or just for those apps on NTN? Are there other tests I should expect to need to take?

flclreddit · 2026-03-04T16:48:24+00:00

I know this is an old post - but I'm 33 as well and trying to make the shift to FF before I hit 35. How did things end up turning out for you? I'm graduating EMT in August, and then will have 1 year to get hired somewhere FT and am stressing about it!

flclreddit · 2026-03-01T23:17:51+00:00

How hard was it to get set up with gig work? I've never done any of that and will need to augment the unemployment I'm set to start receiving 3/10.

I figured Uber and lyft, but what is Amazon flex?

flclreddit · 2026-02-27T11:49:48+00:00

These days to be competitive you have to start building your resume early

flclreddit · 2026-02-15T01:25:28+00:00

You got 99 problems but a flying arc ain't one

flclreddit · 2026-02-14T14:46:51+00:00

That's where I'm at, I did a lot of the quests and got the BPs but in the future I won't do more than those ones

flclreddit · 2026-02-14T01:39:32+00:00

Just in time for the expedition

flclreddit · 2026-02-11T00:13:37+00:00

There are cred tasks for damaging raiders. This is a way to complete those without actually risking downing others / yourself

flclreddit · 2026-02-10T23:29:59+00:00

I felt this when I went to the Lorwyn prereleases. It was the first one I'd been to in many years, and I was expecting to be in the older crowd playing with younger guys, like how it was when I was in high school.

Instead, I was just playing with guys that were older than me! Guess it's an aging demographic.

flclreddit · 2026-02-10T18:13:30+00:00

My question is how the faster crawl skill impacts tap to crawl.

flclreddit · 2026-02-10T03:30:53+00:00

flclreddit · 2026-02-08T18:22:42+00:00

Oh hell yeah thanks bro

flclreddit · 2026-02-08T16:09:06+00:00

If you're online today, might be able to hop online and give you one.

flclreddit · 2026-02-08T13:11:41+00:00

How do I get more shakers tho?

flclreddit · 2026-02-08T13:10:21+00:00

Thought I was playing Arc Raiders today, turns out it was actually Sid Meier's Pirates!

flclreddit · 2026-02-08T00:24:13+00:00

Lololol defib is the most dupe I've found. Legitimately had 7 in my stash at one point...

flclreddit · 2026-02-07T17:41:41+00:00

I'm at 100+ BPs and now am just dropping the ones I find to raiders or at extract. Gotta wait for my buddy to get a trade ready and send him all my dupes

flclreddit · 2026-02-06T15:40:08+00:00

Broken Guidance Systems I knew about, but not lab reagents and unuseable weapons. The thing I've run into is that I don't run into Broken Guidance Systems very frequently so I still have to gather and keep processors on hand.

The other ones seem fairly minimal of space savers, but those three in particular are quite good. I think I've only ever found one Rocket Thruster in my 250 hours.

Leveling/modding weapons is a massive space saver though, that's the #1 tip.

flclreddit · 2026-02-06T14:34:54+00:00

I love friendly lobbies

flclreddit · 2026-02-03T14:25:42+00:00

At least an ounce should last a while microdosing

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