Standard Interview Guidelines & Topics
1. Personal Background & Joining the Service
- 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 in 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?
- What was the hiring process like? Before being hired, did you ever think you would be a firefighter?
- What was your starting salary?
2. Training Academy & Early Days
- How was training? How many were in your class, and what were some of your highs and lows?
- Do you remember anyone who was hired with you?
- Were there any funny stories or memorable moments 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?
3. Firehouse Living & Culture
- Once online, where were you stationed, and how did you fit in? What were your first station and apparatus assignments?
- Who was your first Captain? Do you remember any of the other firefighters from that assignment?
- Did you pick up any nicknames along the way? Any funny moments or good pranks that still make you laugh?
- Was the union active during your time, and if so, did you take part?
- What was your takeaway from firehouse living? Did your crew cook and eat together, and was that an essential part of the culture? What was your favorite dish to cook?
- Today's firefighters have private cubicles versus the large dorm areas from the past. Do you see advantages or disadvantages to this?
- In years past, firefighters spent downtime together conversing about families and emergency calls, or socialized together off-duty. How do you see that changing today?
- When a retired firefighter visits a fire station, why is it essential for active-duty members to take time out to talk with them?
4. Significant Calls & Operational Incidents
- Do you remember your first call? Do you remember your first working fire?
- Did the department run medical calls when you were on duty? Do you remember your first medical call?
- What were some of the most significant incidents or major calls you responded to?
- How did 9/11 affect you as a firefighter?
- Can you think of any single emergency incident that significantly changed GFD’s training objectives?
5. Career Reflection & Department Progression
- Who did you look up to during your career (mentors)?
- What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your career, and how did your job at GFD change over time?
- What was your proudest moment? What was your most heartbreaking moment?
- Was there any call that made you question yourself or if this job was right for you?
- How did you cope with the death of victims, or the loss of a department member?
- Did working for the first time with a Black firefighter or a female firefighter impact you or your job? How was it working in a mostly male environment?
- What do you consider the most significant overall change in the fire service over the years?
- Were you active in other local, regional, or state professional organizations?
- Did you serve in the armed forces (branch, duration, deployments)? How did military service prepare you for the fire service?
6. Legacy, Retirement & Closing Thoughts
- By what measures was a firefighter considered successful in your eyes?
- What role did family and faith play in your life as a firefighter?
- Who is one person (or persons) off the job that made a significant difference in your life?
- Did being forced to learn new technology play a part in your decision to retire?
- How has your health been, and do you think the job played a role in your health today?
- Would you do it all over again knowing what you know now? What would you have done differently?
- What would you like the GFD and your family to remember about you?
- If you were given a chance to speak to every upcoming firefighter, what would you say to them?
- Is there anyone you would like to leave a special message to?
- What do you miss most about the Greensboro Fire Department?