Jobless in Bay Area

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Alas

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Its been a year since I've been certified as an EMT and been sending applications to different ambulance companies in the Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland area) including- AMR, Pro-transport, Bayshore Ambulance, Norcal Ambulance, and Falcon Critical Care Transport, with little to no replies. I'm desperate for an EMT job. Does anybody have any suggestions for other companies in the bay area, volunteer opportunities or anything that might give me the upper edge when applying?

On a side note, I have no job experience, and i've done the Fema online classes -ics 100 and 700, volunteered once with the SF Paramedic Association and a volunteer for the SF's NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Team)

Desperate,
Alas T.
 
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Move

California is one of the hardest states in the country to get an EMT Basic job in.
 
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Alas said:
Unfortunately, this isn't an option for me.
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Then I'd pray you get very lucky or it's time for a career change
 
Hey Alas,
Again it's a volunteer gig but perhaps look at http://www.rockmed.org/ at least it gives you an opportunity for some experience to be built up, and concerts too boot!

Also does your situation allow you to become involved with a surrounding county sheriffs department search and rescue? I'm not 100% sure how busy they are but it's perhaps another avenue to build up some experience. The Bay Area Search and Rescue Council has links to information for various agencies. http://www.basarc.org/

Good luck!
 
Much help Stew! I'll definately look into Rockmed and hopefully get a volunteer position as an EMT there. As for SAR, I have to look more into that. Thank you!
 
Companies are hiring, you just have to hustle- go there and apply in person, follow up on your application every other week. Stay on top of it.

You're missing a bunch of companies that you can apply at too- St. Joes, Norcal, Silicon Valley, Royal to get you started.

Sounds like you might have to work on your presentation/resume/overall demeanor if you've been applying with no luck. Do you come off as mature, professional? Get someone who is a current working professional (can be any industry), whose opinion you trust, to give you a frank evaluation and honest feedback.

Good luck!
 
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Yes I am, and try to be as professional as I can as well as polite and mannered. Maybe I can send you my resume and cover letter for a quick skim beandip4all. I've mostely been emailing applications, and i should start doing it in person. Thanks for the advice!
 
EMS, I've learned, is a contact sport. In an age, where it seems ambulance companies are getting flooded with applications, and have the ability to hire anyone with a pulse and a ticket, if you can do anything to differentiate yourself from the sea of (similar looking) applications, you need to do so.

Simply emailing applications and resumes from your couch is a recipe for failure. If you don't have the self-control to get out of bed and search for a job, many companies won't even consider your application.
If you aren't hearing back from companies, go and visit them.

Show up at their headquarters in presentable garb (like you would wear to an interview, do a search on this forum for further info), and ask to speak to the HR person. Ask them what the next steps are in the process to be hired. Ask if you can interview *then and there*. You may not catch the HR person, so stop by again, in a week or two. Bring a list of good questions. Bring a resume or three, and a copy of the application you submitted earlier. Also don't forget a photocopy of all your certifications (including your Ambulance Drivers License). If you cannot meet with the HR person, or are waiting a little bit, talk to crews who may be sitting around. Ask them what they think of the company (**remembering that you are sitting in their headquarters**), how did they get hired. WHat kind of shifts do they work, etc.

If you cannot meet with anyone at one company, stop by another one. This is not nagging, but showing initiative, which is very important.

I have the quote "Decisions are made by those who show up" on my screen saver-- and it functions as a reminder me that the world is experienced through social interaction, through having the courage and conviction to stand up for what you believe in (or what you want). Show Up.
 
This is a much needed wake up call for me. Thank you emt.dan for that very inspiring post :D. Your post made a lot of sense to me, and I realize how much i have to change how I actively pursue this career. And thanks to everybody else who posted here. I'm probably gonna drive out tomorrow and start 'nagging' them, as emt.dan recommended ;)

Thanks Emtlife
Alas
 
Emt.dan. what you're suggesting is to time consuming. It's easier to be laying in bed and emailing/faxing my resume compare to me getting dressed and driving over to see the hr person. I love being couch potato :D
 
Oh and i forgot to ask, the "HR person" is who again?
 
Alas said:
Oh and i forgot to ask, the "HR person" is who again?
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Call the company you want to apply for and ask them that. They can tell you that way you can walk in knowing who to talk to.


And going places in person doesn't work when you're putting apps and emails in all over 5 states :P
 
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