America's volunteer fire service is facing a modern recruitment crisis

without a modern recruitment system.

For decades, volunteer departments sustained themselves through family tradition.

But that pipeline has thinned.

We're doing more than ever, with fewer people than ever.

Our communities don't see it. But inside firehouses, everyone feels it.

A company with a strong culture that's an active presence in the community is always the most effective way to recruit.

yard signs clustered, hiding a call for recruitment

But for many firehouses new members are hard to attract — yet the way we recruit has not changed much.

We put up yard signs, hold a community day, hope for new family members, send out appeal letters, we post.

There's nothing wrong with the intent.
But intent alone is not a strategy.

NextGen Brings to Firehouses the Next Generation of Recruitment.

Effective recruitment isn't a moment.
It's about momentum.

Communications spark conversation.

Conversation generates momentum.

Momentum shepherds candidates through the recruitment funnel.

We call that process a Recruitment Engine.

The Engine Has Three Components:

Creative communications + Tactical Programs

Capture Attention → Pique Curiosity

We bring a fresh approach to recruitment communications. Simply asking for volunteers rarely prompts action. You must grab attention, make a human connection.

Effective communications understand who you’re speaking to, because you don’t have one volunteer pool, you have multiple pools.

You might grab the attention of a 20-year-old by talking hydraulic tools and thermal imaging cameras:

To a 45-year old mom or dad, a conversation might start with a wink that says we get where you're at:

Executions by © NextGen Recruiting. Reproduction, adaptation, or use without license is prohibited.

Digital tracking tools

Measure Your Efforts

NextGen combines on-the-ground communications with digital tools that help measure effectiveness so your resources can be deployed where they’re most productive.

recruitment FUNNEL DISCIPLINE

Connect & Follow Through

12•24•6™ Momentum discipline integrates structured follow-through into your sales funnel, shepherding candidates from initial interest to membership.

It makes taking that first step as easy as possible and ensures no one falls through the cracks when they do.

How we work

Every firehouse has different resources—including the budget and people you can dedicate to recruitment.

NextGen can support 1, 2, or all 3 components of your Recruitment Engine. Wherever you are in your recruitment efforts, regardless of resources, we’re always available to talk.

Start a conversation

For over 30 years, Mark Simon Burk has worked as a writer and strategist in advertising — building brands and developing advertising campaigns for national and international companies.

During that time, he led recruitment and brand advertising for the United States Navy. Working with the Navy he learned a great deal about the strategy and discipline of recruiting.

Over the past four years, Mark has also trained and served as a volunteer firefighter in the Hudson Valley, NY. While he is still a newbie and still working to earn his place, he’s served long enough to have a love-hate relationship with his pager, and to know the pride of service.

NextGen was created to help volunteer fire organizations modernize the way they think about and execute their recruitment efforts.

NextGen Recruiting wasn’t created in a conference room.

NEXTGEN IS DEEPLY
COMMITTED TO EDUCATION

We speak at no charge at regional, state and national conventions on recruitment strategy and communications. If you believe we can add insight to your meeting, reach out to us.

The Volunteer Spirit Hasn’t Disappeared.

How You Spark That Spirit Has Changed.