Five Reasons Why You Won’t Get the Job
A career in emergency medical services is both challenging and rewarding. With the U.S. Department of Labor forecasting the number of jobs for EMTs and paramedics to grow by 24% between 2014 and 2024, there will be significant career opportunities for both new and experienced practitioners.
Even though there will be a large number of openings, the best positions will go to those who can demonstrate a benefit to a potential employer. The following are five reasons why you won’t get the job you are seeking within the EMS field.
1. First Impressions
The first feeling a potential employer has when they meet you will often determine whether you will receive an employment offer. It is vital to make a positive first impression by dressing appropriately, being well groomed, and arriving to the interview early.
Look at it from the employer’s point of view: You will be a representative of the agency’s brand. If the agency operates in an environment with competition, they need their employees to always represent the organization in the best possible way. If an applicant isn’t well groomed for an interview, it’s likely they will not be consistently well groomed as an employee. Being late for an interview is an early indicator the employee may struggle to be on time for assigned shifts.
It’s important to dress appropriately for the position you are seeking. It can be difficult to judge ahead of time, but there are certain standard guidelines for both men and women. Wear a nice pair of trousers or chinos. Jeans do not convey a professional image. Wear shoes that match the color of your belt. Do not wear sneakers or sandals. Wear a tucked-in polo or button-down shirt. Lastly, do not wear a uniform from another EMS organization; you are applying for a job with this organization.
2. Knowledge About the Organization
Interviews are usually conducted by managers and well-respected staff members. These are people who typically have pride and a sense of ownership for the organization. Learning about the organization ahead of time demonstrates respect. It’s important to gather information from a credible source, such as the organization’s website. No reasonable interviewer would expect you to know everything about an agency you aren’t currently employed by, but knowing enough to demonstrate you spent effort conducting research is typically well received.
3. Attitude
An interview is an opportunity to put your best foot forward. If you say things that raise a red flag in the interviewer’s mind, you likely won’t progress forward in the process. You should answer questions honestly, even if they show you are not perfect.
That said, an interview is not a confessional. Speaking poorly of a past or current organization, manager, or co-worker reflects poorly on you, since the interviewer may wonder whether you will soon be speaking poorly about them. Always take the high road when explaining why you may be leaving a current employer.
Don’t focus on negative experiences with a past or current employer. An anecdote explaining how you effectively managed a conflict in the workplace can show emotional maturity and experience. Excessive accounts of conflict with others may make the interviewer consider you as the source of conflict within the workplace. A potential employee who seems like they may lower morale is not likely to be considered further.
4. Adding Value
EMS agencies are teams. Every team seeks to add members who can add value to what they are doing. Use your interview time to explain how you can add value to the organization.
A good way is to ask questions about the organization and its goals. When the interviewer explains what the agency hopes for in the future, you can highlight how your particular skills can assist the organization to achieve its goals.
There may be several applicants with similar clinical credentials, so you need to differentiate yourself with your other skills and abilities. Failing to convince an interviewer how you are going to benefit their organization will limit your competitiveness.
5. You Don’t Have What They Are Looking For
Just because you don’t get a job offer doesn’t mean you did something wrong. Sometimes you may just not be what they are looking for. There is still an opportunity to learn from the experience.
Reflect upon how you did during the interview and ways in which you can improve. Consider whether there is additional training and education you should pursue to be more competitive. Stay positive about the organization, because you may be applying there again in the future.
Stay Positive!
There are several reasons why you may not get the job you are applying for, but don’t become discouraged if you don’t receive an offer. Interviewing is a skill that requires practice. There is benefit to meeting interviewers within your field, even if they don’t currently have an opportunity for you. Stay positive and always leave open the potential for the future opportunities.
Reference
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-2017 Edition, EMTs and Paramedics. Accessed March 15, 2017 via https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-and-paramedics.htm
Sean J. Britton, MPA, NRP, is the Emergency Preparedness Planner for the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS). Sean is an active member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), where he currently serves as a Board Member and the Vice-Chair of the EMS Preparedness Committee. He was a co-author of NAEMT’s All Hazards Disaster Response (AHDR) Course, released in May 2017. Sean holds appointments as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Epidemiology & Community Health at New York Medical College and as a Research Associate at the Prehospital Care Research Forum at UCLA. Sean is a long-time resident of Broome County, New York, where he serves as a Deputy County EMS Coordinator, and is also a paramedic with Superior Ambulance Service in Broome County.
