On August 15, 2020, staff from the Fire and Human Resources Departments hosted virtual mock interviews for participants in the 2020 Adult Fire Explorers Program. In this voluntary component of the Adult Fire Explorers Program, participants were provided the opportunity to experience and practice the oral interview step of the firefighter hiring process. Mock interviewers Deputy Chief Tyler Funk, Assistant HR Director Eric Reynolds, and HR Specialist Stacy Rachel provided individual feedback to each participant in addition to providing written general interview preparation tips and strategies for candidates to use as a reference as they prepare for future interviews.
The mock interviews were a new addition to this year’s Adult Fire Explorers Program and were held virtually to ensure the safety of presenters and attendees. The program is a partnership with the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission to increase the diversity of qualified applicants for the testing process for the 2021-2023 Entry-Level Firefighter Eligibility List.