How To Be A Paramedic

For anyone who is considering a career in the Ambulance Service as a Paramedic, there is a difficult and comprehensive selection process to tackle.

The majority of NHS Trusts will use a number of key stages such as an application form, written tests, driving assessment, literacy tests, an occupational health assessment and finally an interview. When completing the paramedic application form it is crucial that a candidate includes plenty of examples and experiences where they can meet the qualities that are required to perform the role in a professional and competent manner.

Many people fail this initial stage mostly due to a failure to follow the guidance notes that come part of the application form. Once someone has successfully completed the application form stage they will then be invited to attend an assessment centre. Candidates who want to prepare effectively for this stage should focus their efforts on numeracy tests, verbal reasoning tests, a comprehensive knowledge of the Highway Code and finally their literacy skills.

During the interview the panel will want to see further experiences of where the applicant can match the person specification for the job of a paramedic. Every UK based Ambulance Service has a set of 'Values'. It is essential that the applicant leans these values prior to the interview. It is also important that the candidate can provide evidence of where he or she has worked either in the local community or within a diverse workforce.

The community in which we live in is extremely diverse in nature, therefore, every person who works within the ambulance service must be capable of working with people from a wide range of backgrounds. During the interview the ambulance service will ask a candidate why they want to be a paramedic. The majority of people will generally respond with an answer that fails to meet the person specification for the job. In order to answer this question effectively a candidate should include reasons such as a desire to work in a diverse workforce, a desire to work within their community and a desire to work with a professional and highly trained team of people.

Finally, when preparing for the paramedic interview the applicant should carry out plenty of research relating to the NHS Trust that they are applying to join. Too many people apply for many different trusts all at the same time and this, as you can imagine, can be off putting for many ambulance services.