Back in the beginning of November Jesse got an email from Salt Lake City Fire Department that they were looking to lateral hire 8 paramedics. He asked me what I thought and I told him that he should go for it and if it was meant to be the Lord would bless him and and us with it to work out.
Last year SLCFD did the same thing and Jesse actually applied but found out from the beginning that he didn't qualify. When he really did. But he accidentally filled out his dates wrong on his resume and they wouldn't allow him to continue on with the hiring process. He was totally bummed. Especially after a couple of guys from Ogden got hired. He was a little jelly. Over the next year he kept hearing from Patrick how awesome SLCFD was. Jesse was happy for him but also sad that he missed his chance.
So when this second chance came around he jumped on it.
The first step was to submit his resume... with accurate dates and qualifications.
Second Step was the written test. 27 medics showed up for this. 20 would be moving onto the next step. Jesse passed with 92% and was then ready to move onto the panel interview. After the interview he would be scored and then the combined score of the written test and interview score will then give him a rank. And they were looking to hire 8 medics. So ideally he would want to be in the top 8 to have a better chance at getting the Chief interview.
They gave him several weeks to prepare for the panel interview. During that time he practiced over and over again. Patrick works for SLCFD now, but he and Jesse used to work together in Ogden. They became really close. Patrick was hired on last year in the Lateral Hire that Jesse had applied for and didn't make it. So now we are here a year later, Patrick has been a great help to Jesse. He gave him a good idea on what kind of questions to prepare himself for. Things that they are looking for and how to "sell" himself in a dignified way.
During this prep time he was also filling out a novel of background check paperwork and go through a background check interview.
This was all going on too while he was planning the Ogden Firefighter Christmas Party. Kinda stressful for him. Not to mention that we both were going through a tough time a a couple. The previous year had been really tough on us and we weren't in a healthy and stable place with each other. Not like we normally are together. I think just the combination of the house remodel, trying to get a new job and the stresses of the old job and....juggling the boys, callings and emotions seemed to be alot all at once for us.
Anyway, after his panel interview he had to wait a couple of days to find out his rank. I remember him telling me after the interview that he didn't feel like he did that great. And he was worried that he would be ranked high enough to get an interview.
Well, guess what? Jesse found out that he ranked NUMBER TWO!!!!
When he forwarded me the email that he got I was at work and I couldn't contain my excitement about it. We both were at work so I called him as soon as I could to scream with so much excitement at him. He still couldn't believe that he ranked that high. There were 5 or 6 guys from Ogden that were also applying and he was the highest ranked the highest out of all of them. Gosh I was so proud. At the same time, I wasn't surprised.
He then had a week or two to prepare for the Chief interview. I remember him calling me after it was over and I asked him how it went and he said "I nailed it!". Hearing him say that was a first. Usually he's very reserved and not sure of how it really went. But then he always scores well. So when I hear him say that he did a great job I knew that he did a REALLY great job.
Right before Christmas is when he found out that he got the job officially.
But before he could officially start he is required to go through The SLC Recruit Academy. 15 weeks. Monday thru Thursday. 7am to 6pm. Kick your butt training and schooling. So yes he will be sleeping in the same bed as me for 105 straight nights....but he'll be put through a serious stressful time over the course of that 15 weeks. Military level kind of recruit camp.
So far we have 1 week down and it does seem that this is going to be a challenge.
I've committed to helping him in anyway that I can. He comes home from a long sweaty and stressful day and is expected to study for the next day. So when he comes home I will not expect anything from him except to study. I do remember 2 weeks before we started the academy they had a 2 hr orientation preparing the recruits and the spouses on what to expect. And they did say that it was going to be really hard on the spouse. And I can see how it could be and probably will be. I want to be the best I can be for him while he's going to be going through this. If it's packing his lunch every morning, or helping him study or even just keep the boys out of his hair. I want to be there for him. That's my goal throughout this. I want it to bring us together and not divide us.
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