If your under 25ish, or havnt got much in the way of life-expierience dont bother yet. Also, be prepared to move. Rural (i.e. Taunton) stations only tend to recruit transfers from urban/city areas. It only tends to be City districts who recruit newly trained firefighters. KEEP TRYING! The last time Bristol had a recruitmet campaign, 1200 applicants tried for only 14 vacancies. So do as best you can, get an application form, photocopy it and practice it 3 or 4 times before completing the real thing. And basic but important stuff, like writing in BLOCK CAPITALS IN BLACK INK as is always requested. it sounds silly, but when a form comes through in lower case writing, it goes in the bin. Blue ink, in the bin. But go for it, i know a couple fire fighters through my mum (whos a paramedic) and they LOVE their jobs. In these shakey economic times, getting a job in public services is a great way of securing a position, the pay isnt outstanding, but you get great pensions and fantastic holiday etc. once i finish college i plan work in outdoor persuits for a couple of years in south wales or scotland and then hope to apply as a fire fighter in around 2014 GOOD LUCK DUDE plus....EVERY WOMAN LOVES A FIREMAN!!!