Employment in Arizona?

[mike011689]

Hi, not sure where this thread really belongs on this forum, but how is the employment for EMT's in arizona right now? Particularly in the mesa/gilbert area, but Arizona in general too i guess. I'm looking at getting into an EMT program at school and just wondered what the job outlook is like right now.

Thanks for any input.

 

[mike011689]

anyone? is this in the wrong section on this forum possibly?

 

[Sugi]

Im an EMT-b in Phoenix and I can say that there are pretty much no jobs anywhere. Your best bet (in my eyes) are to go through the new Zero to Hero paramedic coarse and Glendale CC. Great instructors, great resources, and whatever you do dont skip on the Drill Night at the end of every semester. They queue up a bunch of Firetrucks and Ambulances and you just run mock calls all night.

I just got my EMT-b, and I really havent been looking for a job really as an EMT, because Im a server admin. So going to school for another 2 years (the Zero to Hero coarse is about 2.5 years long, and gets you an Associate in EMS) really isnt a big deal to me.

Hopefully things work out. Just an FYI, an old class mate of mine got a job as an EMT at Gila River Casino (I think that casino), and another friend got a job as an ER Tech. And from what I hear, Buckeye FD is hiring if you have your Fire 1 and , but you need to have this for Buckeye because unlike phoenix, they dont have their own fire academy.

 

[Onceamedic]

EMT jobs are tough. We just went through the new hire process (we do it twice a year). 12 people started the process, got down to 6 - 8 that actually passed everything. 1 is working part time to fill in for regular EMTs, the rest are in a file in case we need someone.
We have approximately 30% of our full time EMTs currently in medic class. When they graduate, we will be running a lot of dual medic rigs.
Bottom line - unless you are a legacy (read nepotism) it may be very hard to get a job in this part of AZ.

 

[mike011689]

Wow that bad? Hm... Is that everyone, like private companies and hospitals and everything? How about up in flagstaff or close to there?

 

[Sugi]

I dont really know about flag or northern AZ.

Your best bet is to contact your old instructor (presumably he was a FF, if you took the class at a maricopa CC.) and see if they will let you do some ride alongs. Do these fairly regularly and they will tip you off as to when they are hiring. getting a job as a FF is tough becuase its sort of a boys club. But really, how can you blame them? If I had to spend 1/3rd of my life with you (atleast), then I'd want to make sure you were worth it