How Hard Is The Civil Service Exam Reddit Firefighter

Is it really as difficult as they say to get hired every bit a career guy?

A quick google search will find you lots of people talking on online forums virtually the difficulty and may I fifty-fifty say RARENESS of actually obtaining a job every bit a "career firefighter" which is quite disappointing and discouraging for some similar myself, these people are saying to have a chance of being hired, you lot basically need to exist a medic with previous years of feel on a burn dept, CDL cert, pre application physical test, etc. Others say it's entirely up to your luck, someone qualified may just never exist hired because its so competitive. The entire process seems very disruptive for someone whos younger like myself, Im 18 and finishing school in 2 months. My dad wants me to seek a military task, Ive been a volly for the last year getting knowledge on the burn service (learned a TON btw). If information technology isnt apparent, I dont have FF1. My dream job is to find a job in florida or some other southern country as a FF. Would my all-time step right now exist getting my EMT earlier annihilation else? I have a love for the burn down service, merely it'south discouraging seeing people fail their EMT classes, waste $1k+, and quit their goals. I dont want that to happen to me, I am also young and I demand to call back that I tin't expect to graduate highschool and go join the FDNY. Thousands of other people my age besides have that "dream job". Just looking for advice from those currently either career, or even vollys who would be able to share any advice/information they have learned. I feel pretty rushed that I am trying to figure out my future and whats best this quickly. My heart tells me I belong staying in the FD/PD field, my brain says perhaps I should become to the military machine officeholder route.