What would you do in my position?

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brochocinco

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I've been looking for an EMT job and recently applied to this place called ER Ambulance in San Diego.

After reading a post on here and searching some info on them people have recommended not to work for them.

Anyway, they want me to do a 12 hour ride along, which is apart of the interview/hiring process. This company requires 2 12 hour unpaid ride alongs before they will consider hiring you, and if they do not like you or you don't perform to their standards, you're out of luck.

I'm not sure what I should do here. I really want to work as an EMT but i'm unsure about this company and would hate to waste all of that time. What would you do in my shoes?
 
It depends........I have not paid any attention to the criticisim since it does not concern me so I cannot say for sure. But it has been my experience that criticisim is often a matter of opinion.

I'd say give them a shot. It is only two 12s. If they are glaringly bad, cut them from your list.
 
Up to you. I don't get on anyones truck for free! Sorry, move along.
 
Surely they must be joking? Isn't that sort of evaluation what your field training time in for, in part?

Unless you absolutely, positively must soon be employed, I'd tell them to go scratch.

And I do get on a truck for free - but that's what I signed up to do. I wouldn't donate my services to a for-profit company in the hope they might, possibly give me a job.
 
This company is doing it backwards. After you do an interview and you are hired then you do a ride along with an employee who will explain to you how the company works. Such as procedures etc. Once that is done, you get paired with a partner. You do not do ride along before you get hired.

I understand what they are doing and why they are doing it but if they are in your vehicle they should get paid.
 
Actually, that's an interesting concept. An 'audition ride along' would give much more information about a potential applicant than a scenario alone would.
 
It's up to you, but EMT's are a dime a dozen right now, I'm surprised I found a job as quickly as I did (Just got hired today ^_^ ) and I'm taking a huge pay cut to work as an EMT.

If I were in your shoes, I would probably do the ride-alongs, even though they have it backwards. Another shot at a job could be very far away.
 
Thanks for the input so far everyone.

adamjh3 said:
It's up to you, but EMT's are a dime a dozen right now, I'm surprised I found a job as quickly as I did (Just got hired today ^_^ ) and I'm taking a huge pay cut to work as an EMT.

If I were in your shoes, I would probably do the ride-alongs, even though they have it backwards. Another shot at a job could be very far away.
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What company did you get on with?
 
Priority One.
 
Um, no. Are the expecting you to work as an EMT and do patient care, or just observe and help clean up their messes/do crap work? If you are expected to provide care, are you clinically authorized by the medical director?

No way in hell I'd do that. What happens if you get hurt on your ride out? The service isn't going to pay for your treatment/recovery.

Scenario and skills testing is one thing. Doing unpaid work is another. It might even be illegal.
 
AN unpaid ridealong could be your chance to check them out. However...

NO work unless paid and covered by insurance, workman's comp etc. If they want to observe your reactins to their clientele, fine, but if you sliopped and fell or pulled your back or there was an accident could could be arse-out as they say. Many enthusiastic people would jump at the chance, and it would give you the opportunity to be a fly on the wall and listen and observe.
 
Yeah but not vollie fopr a paid service.

unless they are adrenaline junkies.
 
mcdonl said:
So much for volunteering. I know physicians who are volunteer EMT's and medic's...
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Not to make this a volly/professional debate, but a lot of us here are not fans of volunteer services (me included). That's an attitude you'll see here a lot
 
jtpaintball70 said:
Not to make this a volly/professional debate, but a lot of us here are not fans of volunteer services (me included). That's an attitude you'll see here a lot
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Understood. I guess it is a matter of location and finances.
 
Fox800 said:
Um, no. Are the expecting you to work as an EMT and do patient care, or just observe and help clean up their messes/do crap work? If you are expected to provide care, are you clinically authorized by the medical director?

No way in hell I'd do that. What happens if you get hurt on your ride out? The service isn't going to pay for your treatment/recovery.

Scenario and skills testing is one thing. Doing unpaid work is another. It might even be illegal.
Click to expand...

If the company only does BLS, they are not required to have medical director.
 
looker said:
If the company only does BLS, they are not required to have medical director.
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If it were anywhere but CA that would be retarded... But CA's EMT-Bs can't really do anything invasive anyways.
 
jtpaintball70 said:
If it were anywhere but CA that would be retarded... But CA's EMT-Bs can't really do anything invasive anyways.
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It's all about money. Medical director makes between 90-120k. Unless you do ALS, CCT in California there is no point in spending the money for one :) Basically you need Medical director when you need to order drugs which you can't without one.
 
mcdonl said:
So much for volunteering. I know physicians who are volunteer EMT's and medic's...
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That's awesome. They are well-compensated from their jobs as physicians, can finance their own medical insurance/treatment, and have educational backgrounds FAR beyond any paramedic.
 
Are these "rides" an observer thing? Where you just watch, ask questions, and learn about/get a feel for the service? If so, that's one thing. I typically do an observer shift before I interview for a job, to make sure I want to work there.

If they're expecting you to work for free, that's unacceptable.
 
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