I want to move out west, I really do.....

but fuck it just is not easy to plan at this time.

what follows is a long and uninteresting description of my somewhat complicated situation. I kind of just want to get this in print, maybe that will help clarify things for me. You all can be an insightful bunch, so I figured I'd do it here.

Bail out now if you don't care.......and why would you?







Okay here goes.

I want to move to a mountain town.....any one really. I'd even go to New England if an opportunity presented itself. I currently live in the U.P. of Michigan, and I've lived in Indiana and Michigan all of my 25 years.

I am a fireman. I want to keep being a fireman. I am currently going through paramedic school, which is going nicely. I am also getting married on September 23rd of this year. Naturally, I would like to have a job secured before marriage. The problem is, I won't have my National Registry paramedic cert done till about the beginnig of September. So , the way I see it, I can't really be a good candidate for a firefighter/medic job should I apply to any of the hundreds of wetern fire departments that are currently hiring. Also, I can't really go out and test, interview, etc. at these departments right now because I am tied down to school. But I have to do that to get a job, obviously.

I don't want to relocate before a job is secured, because I love fire/ems and I don't want to get stuck doing something else.

To sum it up, I am pretty much stuck here until about two weeks before my wedding, which will not be adequate time to secure a job, seeing as I test on the fire department's schedule, not mine. If I take a job around here, I'm stuck here, at least for a while. And I'm not the type to just jump into moving to a new place without some security.

I'm looking at an app for Provo fire on my desk right now, and I'm not sure whether to fill it out and send it now, or just wait till things are clearer, I have my medic license, and all that shit.

That was long.

We make things complicated for ourselves. If you want something, find a way to make it work.
You sound pretty well qualified for ski patrol.

Shot in the dark here, but...

I'm willing to bet if you're already a fireman, and well in process towards medic Cert as a student in good standing and nearing completion, you probably CAN get out on the application and interview road. Just like in teaching and any number of other cert-based professions, almost usually generally employers can and will interview and even hire before the actual cert is in hand if they really like the potential employee. The fact that you're already a fireman is pretty huge, no?

My totally uninformed suggestion is to apply everywhere you might consider living, cast a wide net, scramble to find a way to make the interviews one way or another if you get them, and in interview, explain that you'll be available in Oct.

As I see it, the other obvious alternative is to focus on school, focus on your wedding, get a job there in the Yup, and apply in the next cycle. It means you'll be there for a year before you can get out, but I don't see a way around it, and it gives you the stability, certainty, and resume/certs that you need to get where you really want.

Sorry.

It's a toughie. Are firefighter hiring cycles only once a year? Spread throughout? Or what? Maybe hit up Natty for some thoughts, he's in the field. SherpaStyle as well, she's worked firecrews in the summers pretty consistently.

I dunno, other than that I got nothing. Best of luck! (and congrats on the wedding).

EDIT: good thinking there Leroy. How about stay in Houghton, work Patrol at the hill there for the season, then apply this time next year? You'll have a nice break between wedding and start of Patrolling, get settled with the spouse, then a shorter season of gainful employment which will make use of cert skills, etc, and position you pretty well for life in a western ski town even if not as a firefighter. Interview next Feb/March, season ends March/April, you move shortly thereafter, and presto.

Thanks Yoss and leeroy.

Hiring cycles (around here at least) are few and far between and usually require about a week's time on site for physical test, interviews with officers, written tests, etc. I assume that is how it is out west. I guess maybe I should just "cast a wide net" as you put it and see what I can work out from there. Maybe.

After re-reading my post, I'm thinking Leeroy may be right.

Pay attention to me son. I'm not talkin' just to hear my head roar.

Do it A S A P
If you wait a year.
You will be a year older, wondering why I didn't do this a year ago.

Good Luck Mang

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Originally Posted by leroy jenkins

You sound pretty well qualified for ski patrol.

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except that ski patrol is a half time volunteer job.:rolleyes2

Apply for the Provo job ASAP and conitnue your maggot firefighter networking steeze.

I'm in the same boat, age and all. I'm looking to do the same thing, but I have obligations to settle up on before I can go. I'd like to go right now, like, tonight, but I'd hurt people I have responsibilities to if I did that.. really sucks cuz I'll probably miss out on this season.

Like Fog horn said, the longer you wait, you'll wonder why you didn't get out there sooner. I originally thought of bailing out of my current life and heading out there LAST YEAR, and now I'm wondering why the hell I didn't set things in motion to do so LAST YEAR, so I could be there THIS YEAR. Money, people, property, they all come and go, time only goes.

If you can find any way to get out there sooner, I'd do it. That's all

One point that must be made. Don't get hung up on trying to "lead the safe course" in life. That's what I've been doing. I bought a house at 22 cuz I thought home ownership meant safety and stability, never taken any risks and now I've realized how boring my life is and will be if I don't do something. Sometimes "safe" isn't really so.

(Sorry to hijack your thread with my own desperate rant... :) :) )

Who ever told you that you couldn't do what you wanted in life?

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Originally Posted by bklyntrayc

Who ever told you that you couldn't do what you wanted in life?

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Your parents? Guidance counselor? Boss? That nagging selfdoubt inside? Do it.

If you can't make a mountain town straight off the bat, look at some place like Sacramento or Reno. You'll alot closer to real skiing than you were before.

Apply for jobs. Often opportunities will present themselves if you just make yourselfe available. If your future wife really understands you and loves you she'll understand your need to move out west and support that decision, which means that she will understand if you don't have a secure job early in your marriage. Even if you don't have a fireman's job, there's lots of other jobs you can take in the meantime until you find a better job. Take the risk. It will pay off in the end. Good luck! :)

Well, Provo would put you in Ut, but i've heard horror stories about the dept. there.

SLC tests every 2 years for firefighters, the next test is in april i think. If you want to test with them you need to go to the website and register asap. Good dept., you don't need medic to test but it would give you preference points. Be forewarned, it can get expensive testing out of state. SLC tests in three different stages. If you pass the written you have to come back for the interview, if you make it past the interview you have to come back for the physical.

My dept., Ogden city, will be testing again next fall, about the time you get out of medic school. Good dept, you'd get alot of experience as we are the busiest dept. in the state.

My advice...suck it up and move out here.

I guess with the scheduled hiring cycles that could make things tough, but from my experience that's what works. I can understand wanting out of the UP, I went to Tech and moved out to Utah shortly thereafter. I tried to look for jobs in the west when I was in school, but very few companies want to consider a new grad from out of state (large corporations excluded). I graduated in May and in July I packed up my car and moved. Yeah, it helped that I had a buddy from school already living here. Once I was here, it only took me 2-3 months to find a job in my field. It's been mentioned already, but what about joining a patrol out here for next winter? It would get you through to a summer hiring cycle and would keep you current/fresh with your medic skills.

Next question...what about your fiance? Will she be able to find work out here? Will she make enough money that she could support you for a short period of time? Will you make enough that she could take some time off sometime after you find a job? (You've got to reward her somehow if she supports you...right?)

I know there is a guy on here that lives just outside of San Fran and is a fireman, cant remember his board name. But he works a 48 hour shift per weel and rides at k-wood almost every other day. So i would say look for a job in a decent size city so you make fomr good $$$ and are within a relativly short drive of kickass mtn's. (ive drank some gin and didnt read all of the posts so this may have been covered, just thought I would put my 2 cents in)

A good friend of mine was 30 years old and considering applying to medical school, then he started thinking about how long a commitment it would be with residency and internship (about 8 years) and all of that and was inclined not to imply. A friend of ours told him: "You're going to be 8 years older in 8 years either way. You can either be 8 years older and a doctor or 8 years older and wish you were a doctor. If that's what you want to do, do it."

If going out West is something you feel like you need to do then do it. The longer you wait the more complicated it will be to accomplish. Especially if you are getting married.

You get one trip on this merry go round. How are you going to spend it?

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Originally Posted by flykdog

Well, Provo would put you in Ut, but i've heard horror stories about the dept. there.

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same here.

IMHO wildland is still the shizz. I think I saw an opening on the Logan Hotshots (could be wrong, too lazy to go to usajobs.gov and look).

Provo is wack. Utah county is wack.

BTW yoop, if you're in withdrawl and absolutely need to talk about pasties, deer season, swampers, ice fishing, and mud tires you can stop by my house. I haven't completely lost it yet. :)

I was 25 when I sacked up and moved from Charlotte to Boulder. I didn't know anyone when I got out here, but it was the best thing I"ve ever done. I just bought a house and don't plan on moving any time soon. DO IT.

This one puts you in Wyoming up by the Montana line:

Fire Tech

I know it might not be exactly what you are looking for, but it is a start...

Actually I'd be down for some wildland......thanks again for the input everyone.

Ogden sounds cool too flyk.....

What, uh, horror stories have you guys heard about Provo?

PM me if it would be more appropriate.

I'm not so sure being the "busiest" fire department is such a ringing endorsement, Flyk..... ;)

Let's hear some affirmation that you're going to do it, BigSug. IMHO, if you don't, you're planting the seeds for a serious midlife crisis.

Do it!

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Originally Posted by Core Shot

Apply for the Provo job ASAP and conitnue your maggot firefighter networking steeze.

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Let's see - move to heaven or stay in hell? No brainer. Okay, so I lived in Provo for a time and even being a moron...er, mormon I don't think I could ever go back - too many people, same flavor of ice cream - BUT, you'll get a lot more turns in and better ones at that living in Provo then you'll ever get in MI. Park City is building fire stations left and right. A buddy of mine is a fire chief or head honcho or somthing like that. Move to Heber/Midway, work in Provo, ski the Wasnatch and then get a job in Park City/Summit County within a couple of years. Case closed.

Yeah, let me clarify. The problems I was referring to were mostly within the dept. itself, nothing to do with Provo. And, yeah, I agree with powstash, apply to provo now and just continue to test for where you really want to be.

Park City fd just tested so I assume it will be a couple of years before they put together a new list.

totally honest:

I'd rather live in Marquette MI than in Provo.

seriously.

that's a shocker - :rolleyes:

Yeti, no worries though, I still have a soft spot for you

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Originally Posted by powstash

...you'll get a lot more turns in and better ones at that living in Provo then you'll ever get in MI...

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This is absolutely true...and working in Provo doesn't mean you have to live in Provo, does it?

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Originally Posted by YetiMan

I'd rather live in Marquette MI than in Provo.

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Yeah, but you fuckin' yoopers are a different breed ;) (Seriously, no love for Houghton?)

Move to Provo, but if you start rooting for the Cougars I will drive down there and kick your ass just for being stupid. :D

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Originally Posted by 72Twenty

Move to Provo, but if you start rooting for the Cougars I will drive down there and kick your ass just for being stupid. :D

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I will never root for anyone but Notre Dame. Ever.

I'm gonna do it. I'm just gonna go bananas and send in apps in Colorado, Washington, Utah, Montana and anywhere else that is testing anytime this year. After that, I'll get to the tests that I can, and see what happens. It's not really my style, but I can't come up with a better way.

But now I'm scared of Provo.