‘We changed the entire dynamic’: Chief Mike Cunningham talks recruitment

Recruitment challenges continue to plague many fire departments, but there are simple ways to address the root issues head on – the key is knowing where to find the start button. Dr. Michael Cunningham, division chief for Cobb County (Georgia) Fire, helps members take those initial steps toward change. The chief also details how his department retooled their own hiring process. Plus, we dig into all of this:

• How a more transient workforce changes recruitment and retention efforts
• Inadvertent barriers that could discourage or prevent people from joining the fire service
• A disturbing story about AARs … in the shower
• Why a fear of DEI leads some to ignore the topic entirely
• How to set your own path and break down self-imposed barriers

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by MagneGrip. Eliminate diesel exhaust fumes from inside the fire station with a MagneGrip exhaust removal system. Learn more at MagneGrip.com.

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