Firefighter Recruitment

Commencement of Recruitment

• Friday, November 10, 2023

Deadline for Applications

• Monday, December 4 at noon

First interviews

• Wednesday, January 3 to Monday, January 9, 2024

Second interviews

• Thursday, January 11 to Thursday, January 18, 2024

Additional screening, testing and/or assessments

• January 22 to February 2, 2024

Conditional Offers of Employment

• Week of February 12, 2024

Confirmed Offers of Employment

• Once candidates have successfully met all conditions of employment, candidates will receive a confirmed offer of employment.

Employment start date

• Tuesday, March 12, 2024 (tentative)

All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the town

This is a guideline and is intended for reference purposes only. Only a select number of candidates will proceed through each stage of the recruitment process.

Applications will be accepted online starting Friday, November 10, 2023, through to Friday, December 4, 2023 at noon.  

• Applications must be submitted electronically through the town’s website. Applications will not be accepted in person, by email, by mail or fax. 
• Applications must include a resume and cover letter. Applicants will also be required to complete an online questionnaire as part of the application process.
• Do not include copies of your certificates with your application. Copies of certificates are not required at time of application; however they may be requested at any point in the recruitment process.

After applying online, you will receive an email confirmation that your resume and cover letter has been successfully received by the town. 

Remember to check your junk or spam folder if you do not see this confirmation email in your inbox. 

Please do not call the town to confirm that your application has been received.

If you have applied for a Probationary Firefighter job opportunity in previous campaigns, you will need to reapply. Each recruitment campaign is unique.

Do not include copies of your certificates with your application

Copies of certificates are not required at time of application; however they may be requested at any point in the recruitment process.

It is important that your certifications meet the following criteria:

Ontario Fire Administration Inc. (OFAI) Candidate Testing Service Certification

To be considered for this recruitment, the town requires all applicants to hold valid Ontario Fire Administration Inc. (OFAI) Candidate Testing Program Stage 1, 2 and 3 and swim test certificates.  

• You must possess valid Stage 1, 2 and 3 certificates at time of application. 
• Swim test certificates must be valid at time of offer. See Key Dates for exact date.

Expired or expiring certifications

All required certificates, including Standard First Aid, must be current at time of application and throughout the recruitment process. 

If it is determined that you did not have all the requirements at time of application you will be eliminated from the recruitment process.

Selection

The Selection Committee will review the applications and select candidates to move to the interview stage of the recruitment process. 

• Only those applicants selected to participate in the recruitment process will be contacted. 
• Selection will be based on required and preferred qualifications as well as the online questionnaire.

Firefighter recruitments attract a high volume of applicants and as a result the town is unable to provide individual feedback. 

Generally, the Town of Oakville's new fire fighter recruitment is initiated based on the need and subject to budget approval. Vacant positions are a result of attrition; therefore, it is not always known how many positions will become available from year to year and during a given recruitment period.

Interviews

The interview process consists of a formal interview with the Selection Committee – first interview. The number of candidates who will participate in the interview process will depend on the number of potential new recruits to be hired.

• Interviews will be conducted by a Selection Committee who will interview selected candidates based on qualifications.
• The town will consider such factors as, but is not limited to: work experience, education related to fire fighting and community volunteer service.

After the first interviews, a select number of candidates will be invited back for a second formal interview with the Selection Committee. 

• Additional testing or assessments may be conducted at the discretion of the Selection Committee.

Recruitment

Candidates recommended for a position of Probationary Firefighter will be contacted and presented with a conditional offer of employment. 

Candidates who are interviewed but not selected for hire will also be advised.

Wait lists

If it is determined that a Wait List or Hiring List will be created, those selected will be notified at the end of the recruitment process.

If you have received an offer, congratulations! 

At this stage of the recruitment the following conditions as outlined in your offer letter must be met in the required timeframe. 

Please note, a candidate may have their conditional offer of employment withdrawn if any of the conditions are not successfully met within the required time frames.

Reference checks

With the authorization of the candidate, a representative of the Town of Oakville will complete three reference checks with the candidate’s present and past employers regarding his or her work record. The candidate’s work reference checks will be used to assess the candidate’s suitability to a position of Firefighter.

Pre-employment medical

A candidate recommended for employment will also be required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination completed by a medical practitioner.

Immunization

Candidates recommended for employment are required to provide documented proof of vaccinations at the Conditional Job Offer stage. Acceptable forms of documentation are:

1. Yellow immunization cards (copy)
2. Test results indicating immunization
3. Letter from your doctor on letterhead indicating immunization

Please note that the date of immunization is important therefore ensure that dates are legible and included with documentation.

Education and other certificates

At the Conditional Offer of Employment stage candidates will be required to provide copies of all education and other certificates for verification. These include, but is not limited to degrees, diplomas, certifications, certifications and other training.

Police record check with vulnerable sector screening

A satisfactory police record check with vulnerable sector screening, at the candidate’s expense, is required to be submitted. 

Driver’s abstract

Candidates must have a valid and unrestricted Ontario Class DZ driver’s license. Candidates must have a driving record that demonstrates responsible and safe driving behaviour and those with six or more demerit points are ineligible for consideration. A driver’s abstract will be required at the Conditional Offer of Employment stage and must be dated within the last 30 days of that date.

A new employee hired within the Town of Oakville’s Fire Service will be required to serve a 12-month probationary period as per the Oakville Professional Firefighters Collective Agreement.

Performance appraisals are conducted at different intervals throughout the 12-month period. Once the employee has successfully completed the 12-month probationary period they will be confirmed as a fourth Class Firefighter.

Forming part of the probationary period, the new employee will be required to participate and successfully complete the Oakville Fire Service Recruit Program. The Recruit Training Program commences the first day of employment and is for a period of time established by the department.