New gig

[julietbravosierra]

Hello all,


Simply posting here to ask for a little bit of advice:


I just recently was hired at an area dispatch center that covers the police/fire/ems, as well as emergency management and public works for 3 towns. I am beyond excited and worked hard, prepared, and persisted for the job...and it paid off!


I meet with my FTO and do my first shift tonight. Any tips for getting the most out of my training? It's going to be very different, but a very welcome challenge to be on the other end of the mic!


Thanks

 

[Wigwam700]

Good luck, stay hydrated, have water to sip but don't gulp. You don't want to dry up on the air but you don't want to be going to the John ever 5 minutes either.

 

[RyanZ71]

don't sound like a computer when talking to callers or the officers. :nono:

 

[Steve0625]

Hello all,

Simply posting here to ask for a little bit of advice:


I just recently was hired at an area dispatch center that covers the police/fire/ems, as well as emergency management and public works for 3 towns. I am beyond excited and worked hard, prepared, and persisted for the job...and it paid off!


I meet with my FTO and do my first shift tonight. Any tips for getting the most out of my training? It's going to be very different, but a very welcome challenge to be on the other end of the mic!


Thanks

Your FTO is now the most important person in your working world. He or she has a great deal of information and experience to share with you. It is critical that you maintain a good rapport with your FTO even if you don't "click" 100%.


If you bring any Fire, EMS, or LE experience or knowledge with you, for now leave it at the door. Whatever you think you know about things may not be what your employer and your FTO wants you to know and subsequently do. The worst students I had in 27+ years of dispatch instructing were the ones that walked in the door thinking they already knew how to do the job. Let your FTO teach you from the ground up. Save your knowledge and experience for later when you can objectively relate it to what you have learned in your new job.


Good luck, you have a wonderful opportunity now.

 

[julietbravosierra]

Thanks for your kind words Steve. I do have EMS experience, but I have a completely open mind and fully plan on learning everything about the job from him with no preemptive notions. I'm not the kind of person who NEVER says "I know".


I feel blessed with this opportunity