Mike Pertz

Job Advice

After an injury ended his professional soccer career, Mike Pertz enrolled in an EMT class and soon became hooked on the fire service. Now, he’s a career firefighter and paramedic with the Avon Lake (Ohio) Fire Department. Pertz holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in communications, and founded FirefighterNow.com, a site that offers free help to those looking to become firefighters. Connect with Pertz on LinkedIn or via email.

LATEST ARTICLES

Fire Careers

The first 90 days: Why firefighters leave and how to keep them

Detailing three reasons career firefighters don’t stick around – and solutions to keep them on the team

January 20, 2020 02:26 PM

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Generational Differences

Managing ‘OK boomer’ at the fire station

A training-focused approach to putting generational conflicts aside – and learning from each other

November 08, 2019 10:44 AM

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Rookie

What to expect on Day 1 of your new job as a firefighter

Four tips for making it through the early transition into your probationary period as a firefighter

August 06, 2019 11:44 AM

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Fire Careers

Your first year as a probationary firefighter: 4 keys to success

Make a good impression and launch your firefighter career on the right foot with these tips for probationary firefighters

May 01, 2018 09:38 AM

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Education & Training

4 tips for a better firefighter exam score

A smart study plan and the discipline to stick to it will improve your firefighter written test score

April 18, 2017 04:11 PM

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Education & Training

4 strong ways to end a firefighter job interview

Here’s a look at what to avoid and what to do to ensure you leave the interview panel with a strong last impression

March 06, 2017 08:34 AM

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Fire Careers

Book excerpt: ‘Mastering the Firefighter Interview’

Repeat these three exercises as much as you need and as often as you can leading up to the interview

February 21, 2017 09:56 AM

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Hiring

Do fire departments hire people with a criminal record?

Not every slip up is fatal to your firefighting aspirations; a lot depends on what you do after the infraction

December 29, 2016 10:08 AM

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Fire Careers

4 types of questions you’ll get in a firefighter job interview

When you make it to the panel interview, how you answer these types of questions will influence their hiring decision

September 29, 2016 12:33 PM

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Firefighter Jobs

4 ways to bomb a firefighter candidate interview

Here’s a look at why even a great candidate can be cut after the interview and the steps to avoid these big mistakes

August 31, 2016 05:08 PM

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