# emergency services career advice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-services-career-advice/89543 "2001-10-25T14:26:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![audient](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@audient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audient)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-services-career-advice/89543/1 "2001-10-25T14:26:41Z")
it seems, from other threads that [some dopers around here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=78924) are experienced in emergency services. Seems a good time to ask my general query. Tell me about careers in emergency services. my situation: this would be my 2nd career. I’ve had it with the technical stuff. I want to use my hands, mind, wits, help people. I know the pay would be much less than in the geek industries. I know that basic EMTs are just basically a bit of 1st aid + transportation, and that I want to at least get myself up to paramedic level. - 1st question: do I go basic EMT & get some experience, or jump right into a 1 year paramedic course? Q2: looking real long term, what’s the career path beyond paramedic? Q3: (sorry opal, there really is a 3d question). What about burnout? how likely, how to see it coming & prevent it. Q4: what do I look for in a training program? I know I’m good with my hands, cool under pressure, healthy, can put people at ease. I feel confident that I can handle the job. I’d also like to have that assumption challenged & make sure I’m not missing anything. How hard is it to find a job in a northeastern US metropolitan area? (I figure with current events, it’s a growth industry. : ( ) much appreciate any picture of what I’d be getting myself into. ---
**Author:** ![audient](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@audient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audient)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-services-career-advice/89543/2 "2001-10-25T14:28:11Z")
sorry mods. the first thread I’ve started. meant to put it in IMHO. please move. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-services-career-advice/89543/3 "2001-10-25T22:40:27Z")
Off to IMHO.