FDNY Reviews

Pros

Best job in the world! Solid team of people that show up everyday wanting to help others even if it means laying down their life for someone they don’t know. You don’t have coworkers on this job, you have family.

Cons

The flexible/irregular work schedule is a double edged sword. In one hand it offers the ability to spend a lot of time with family, but can also KEEP you from family (especially during busy understaffed summers - lots of forced overtime). This erratic schedule leads to terrible sleeping and eating habits which can have long lasting, negative health impacts in particular cardiovascular disease and other concerning health issues; such as hormonal imbalances, and mental health problems. The dangerous environments you will be exposed to on this job are KNOWN to cause cancer...., and it’s Firefighting which is inherently dangerous. There are 1001 things that can kill or maim you on this job, and you will encounter almost all of them.

Pros

24 hour shifts allow for a ton of flexibility. However working nights and weekends are part of the job and unavoidable. But I never missed a recital or little league game. 110-115k is consistent salary after 5 years and with a bit of overtime. Promotion tests come up every 4 years or so. You will work with (mostly) great people and everyday is an adventure. Fires, Medical calls, car accidents, elevator emergencies, construction accidents, and everything in between.

Cons

The job is dangerous. No matter how well you are trained (and there is a ton of training and drills) there will be times where you'll get hurt (or worse) doing this job. You are going to be put in situations that are very mentally and physically taxing (but rewarding). Think of carrying 90lbs of equipment while crawling down a 100' super heated hallway with smoke so thick you can't see anything in front of your face. And this is just at the beginning of the fire; before the real work begins. After 20 years or so, it takes a toll on your body so stay in shape as best as you can. You will see people at their worst and best. At any given day there is blood, guts, vomit and lives saved.

Pros

Believing you are making a difference, and every day being different

Cons

EMS makes it impossible to improve oneself. Alot of administration looks down on people using EMS as a stepping stone

Pros

The camaraderie and purpose at FDNY is a given. Coworkers have lost lives, and no one is unaware of this.

Cons

A lot of lassitude and some torpor in a lot of areas. But that's because it's a city job. Other positions are stressful. Depends on where you land.

Pros

Brotherhood, flexibility, pay, employee support

Cons

Dead friends, City has embraced woke nonsense rendering our career more dangerous than it already is.

Pros

-Coworkers -Ability to switch schedule

Cons

-Many supervisors are out to get you

Pros

Great benefits and pension, even if the salary isn’t as high as private industry.

Cons

Worst part of the job is the sometimes bad management. Not always.

Pros

Great job and awesome people to work with variety of shifts

Cons

Salary could be higher, working holidays.

Pros

Very busy , lots of trauma and mediacal emergencies

Cons

Commuting with traffic on already long days

Pros

Good work life balance, you can request time off whenever you want (it does need approval from your captain). Everyday is something new, something interesting. You’re part of a union. You have the ability to meet many people not so much with the public but with peers. We’re a team. This job is what you make of it

Cons

The salary would be the only downside. For some it’s fine but for most it’s not livable.