Before you apply, take a few minutes to honestly assess whether this role fits your life circumstances and temperament.  This checklist will help you decide if this position is right for you.

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Schedule Reality

The operation runs 365 days a year.  You will work some holidays and miss some family events.  The shift pattern means roughly half the year off, but when you're on, the job take priority.

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Ask yourself: 

▢  Can I work 12-hour shifts, including days, nights, weekends and holidays?

▢ Have I built a life that can accommodate an unpredictable schedule?

▢ Am I prepared to miss some family events and holidays when scheduled?

▢ Can I arrive at least 10 minutes before each shift, ready to work?

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Emotional Demands

People calling 9-1-1 are often frightened, angry or in crisis.  Some will yell or panic.  You're their lifeline, not their target.

Ask yourself:

▢ Can I stay calm when someone is yelling, cursing or panicking at me?

▢ Can I follow protocol precisely even when emotions are running high?

▢ Can I avoid taking hostile behavior personally?

▢ Can I be empathetic while remaining procedural?

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Team Dynamic

This is a direct, high-accountability environment.  Most people in emergency communications have strong personalities and high standards.

Ask yourself:

▢ Do I prefer clear expectations and honest feedback over diplomatic ambiguity?

▢ Can I work effectively with strong personalities?

▢ Am I willing to step in and help teammates without being asked?

▢ Can I stay and cover a shift on short notice when a team member cannot make it?

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Work Environment

You will work with 6 screen, constant ambient sounds (alerts, check-ins), and noise levels that spike during major events.  The room is typically dark with individual lighting at each station.

Ask yourself:

▢ Can I multi-task across multiple screens while listening to what is happening around me?

▢ Can I sit or stand for extended periods (12-hour shifts)?

▢ Do I have reasonable hearing and vision for processing auditory information in a noisy envioronment?

▢ Can I type at least 35 words per minute with strong computer skills?

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Caregiving Considerations

If you have dependent care responsibilities, this schedule needs reliable backup arrangements.  The unpredictability makes it difficult without a strong support system.

Ask yourself:

▢ If I provide care for children or others, do I have reliable backup arrangements?

▢ Can my support system handle schedule unpredictability?

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Your Motivation

This role requires a deep sense of duty.  When someone calls 9-1-1, you are the reason help arrives.

Ask yourself:

▢ Do I genuinely want to help people in crisis?

▢ Do I understand and value what this job delivers to communities?

▢ Am I looking for meaningful work, not just a paycheck?

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How to Interpret Your Answers

If you checked most boxes:  This role may be a good fit for you.  Apply and let us learn more about you.

If you have several unchecked boxes:  Consider whether those areas are deal breakers or areas where you could adapt.  Be honest with yourself.

If you have many unchecked boxes:  This role may not be the right fit for your current circumstances.  That is okay.  There may be other roles in emergency services that better match your situation.

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Questions:  Contact Shannon Moor, Strategic Operations Manager.

moors@foothillsregional911.ca

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