Interview Questions

Greensboro History Book Interview Questions/talking points

  • Full name, age, years of service, and rank at retirement?
  • A short look into your background
  • Are you from Greensboro or the nearby area?
  • Are you related to any present or former fire department members, if so, did that play a factor towards you joining the service?
  • Where were you in life at the time of joining the fire department?
  • What was the driving force that brought you to join the fire department?
  • What was the process?
  • Before being hired, did you ever think you would be a firefighter?
  • What was your starting salary?
  • How was training: how many were in your class, what were some of your highs and lows?
  • Do you remember anyone who was hired with you?
  • Were there any funny stories from your training days?
  • Did you feel as if you were doing the right thing, what was your overall feeling? Did you feel like you were doing something special?
  • Once online, where were you stationed, and how did you fit-in?
  • First station assignment.
  • First apparatus assignment.
  • Who was your first Captain?
  • Do you remember any of the other firefighters from that assignment?
  • Did you pick up any nicknames?
  • Any funny moments or good pranks that still makes you laugh?
  • Was the union active during your time, and if so, did you take part?
  • What was your take away from firehouse living?
  • Did your crew cook and eat together? If so, did you think it was an essential part of firehouse living?
  • What was your favorite dish to cook?
  • Today’s firefighters have private cubicle as living quarters versus the large dorm areas from the past. Do you see any advantages or disadvantages to this?
  • Years ago, firefighters spent a great deal of their downtime together conversing about their families, common interest, and previous emergency calls, what do you see firefighters doing today in their downtime?
  • In years past, firefighters and their families did a lot of things together with other firefighters and their families. Do you see that changing and why?
  • When a retired firefighter visits a fire station, why is it essential for the active-duty firefighters to take a little time out and talk with them?
  • Do you remember your first call?
  • Do you remember your first fire?
  • Did the department run medical calls when you were on, and if so, do you remember your first medical call?
  • For you, what were some of the most significant/significant incidents that you were on?
  • How did 9/11 affect you as a firefighter?
  • Can you think of any single emergency that changed the GFD’s training objectives?
  • Let them walk me through their life as a firefighter.
  • Who did you look up to during this time(mentor)?
  • What were some of the challenges that you faced during your career?
  • Did your job at GFD change during your career? If so, how?
  • Was it all worth it?
  • What was your most heartbreaking moment?
  • What was your proudest moment?
  • Was there any call that made you question yourself, or question if this job was right for you?
  • How did you cope with the death of victims?
  • How did you cope with the death of a member of the department (GFD, or any other service)?
  • *Did working the first time with a black firefighter impact you or your job, and if so, how? *
  • *Did working the first time with a female firefighter impact you or your job, and if so, how? 
  • *Did you experience any surprises or challenges while working in a mostly male environment? If so, would you be willing to share them? *
  • Would you do it all over again if you knew what you know now, and why?
  • What would you have done differently, if anything?
  • What do you consider the most significant change in the fire service?
  • Has the roles of firefighters changed through the years; how so?
  • Were you active in other local, regional, or state professional organizations?
  • Did you serve in the armed forces, if so, what branch and how long? If you want to talk about it. Were you ever deployed? 
  • How did your military service prepare you for your career in the fire service, if at all?
  • By what measures were a firefighter considered successful in your eyes?
  • What role did family and faith play in your life as a firefighter, if any?
  • Take ten seconds and think about that one person or persons that have made a difference in your life off the job. Please share with us
  • Did being forced to learn new technology play a part in your decision to retire?
  • How has your health been? Do you think the job has played a part in your health today?
  • What would you like for the GFD to remember about you?
  • If you were given a chance to speak to every upcoming firefighter, what would you say to them?
  • What else would you like to tell us about your life on or off duty?
  • What would you like your family to remember about you?
  • Is there anyone you would like to leave a special message to?
  • What do you miss most about the GFD?

     

    Greensboro History Book Interview Questions/talking points

  • Let them walk me through their life as a firefighter.
  • Who did you look up to during this time(mentor)?
  • What were some of the challenges that you faced during your career?
  • Did your job at GFD change during your career? If so, how?
  • Was it all worth it?
  • What was your most heartbreaking moment?
  • What was your proudest moment?
  • Was there any call that made you question yourself, or question if this job was right for you?
  • How did you cope with the death of victims?
  • How did you cope with the death of a member of the department (GFD, or any other service)?
  • *Did working the first time with a black firefighter impact you or your job, and if so, how? *
  • *Did working the first time with a female firefighter impact you or your job, and if so, how? *
  • *Did you experience any surprises or challenges while working in a mostly male environment? If so, would you be willing to share them? *
  • Would you do it all over again if you knew what you know now, and why?
  • What would you have done differently, if anything?
  • What do you consider the most significant change in the fire service?
  • Has the roles of firefighters changed through the years; how so?
  • Were you active in other local, regional, or state professional organizations?
  • Did you serve in the armed forces, if so, what branch and how long? If you want to talk about it. Were you ever deployed? 
  • How did your military service prepare you for your career in the fire service, if at all?
  • By what measures were a firefighter considered successful in your eyes?
  • What role did family and faith play in your life as a firefighter, if any?
  • Take ten seconds and think about that one person or persons that have made a difference in your life off the job. Please share with us
  • Did being forced to learn new technology play a part in your decision to retire?
  • How has your health been? Do you think the job has played a part in your health today?
  • What would you like for the GFD to remember about you?
  • If you were given a chance to speak to every upcoming firefighter, what would you say to them?
  • What else would you like to tell us about your life on or off duty?
  • What would you like your family to remember about you?
  • Is there anyone you would like to leave a special message to?
  • What do you miss most about the GFD?
  • Full name, age, years of service, and rank at retirement?
  • A short look into your background

  • Are you from Greensboro or the nearby area?
  • Are you related to any present or former fire department members, if so, did that play a factor towards you joining the service?
  • Where were you in life at the time of joining the fire department?
  • What was the driving force that brought you to join the fire department?
  • What was the process?
  • Before being hired, did you ever think you would be a firefighter?
  • What was your starting salary?
  • How was training: how many were in your class, what were some of your highs and lows?

  • Do you remember anyone who was hired with you?
  • Were there any funny stories from your training days?
  • Did you feel as if you were doing the right thing, what was your overall feeling? Did you feel like you were doing something special?
  • Once online, where were you stationed, and how did you fit-in?
  • First station assignment.

  • First apparatus assignment.

  • Who was your first Captain?

  • Do you remember any of the other firefighters from that assignment?

  • Did you pick up any nicknames?

  • Any funny moments or good pranks that still makes you laugh?

  • Was the union active during your time, and if so, did you take part?

  • Do you remember your first call?
  • Do you remember your first fire?
  • Did the department run medical calls when you were on, and if so, do you remember your first medical call?
  • For you, what were some of the most significant/significant incidents that you were on?
  • How did 9/11 affect you as a firefighter?
  • Can you think of any single emergency that changed the GFD’s training objectives?
  • What was your take away from firehouse living?
  • Did your crew cook and eat together? If so, did you think it was an essential part of firehouse living?

  • What was your favorite dish to cook?

  • Today’s firefighters have private cubicle as living quarters versus the large dorm areas from the past. Do you see any advantages or disadvantages to this?

  • Years ago, firefighters spent a great deal of their downtime together conversing about their families, common interest, and previous emergency calls, what do you see firefighters doing today in their downtime?

  • In years past, firefighters and their families did a lot of things together with other firefighters and their families. Do you see that changing and why?

  • When a retired firefighter visits a fire station, why is it essential for the active-duty firefighters to take a little time out and talk with them?