America's volunteer fire service is facing a modern recruitment crisis
NextGen Brings to America's Volunteer Fire Service the Next Generation of Recruitment.
For decades, volunteer departments sustained themselves through family tradition.
If your father, mother or uncle was a volunteer, you probably were too.
But that pipeline has thinned. We're doing more than ever with fewer people than ever.
Our communities don't see it. In fact, too many have no idea how a piece of apparatus gets up their driveway.
But inside firehouses, we feel it. Training nights are thinner. The same names show up again and again.
The situation has changed, but the way we recruit has not.
We put up yard signs, hold community days, hope for new family members, send out appeal letters, we post. And yet, we still wonder "Where are the new folks?"
NextGen wasn't created in a conference room.
Our team is led by Mark Burk who brings to the task a unique set of experience and skills.
During his 35 years in advertising, he's developed campaigns and helped build brands for national and international companies. He is proud to have led strategic and advertising recruitment efforts for the United States Navy.
As a volunteer fire fighter in the Hudson Valley, New York, Mark knows firsthand the challenges we face.
From his on-the-ground experience doing recruitment for his own fire house, and his decades of communications expertise, the NextGen approach and Recruitment Engine was born:
The Engine Has Three Components:
GRAB ATTENTION +
SPARK CONVERSATION
Target-Relevant Communications + Tactics
We are competing for attention in a noisy world. Simply asking for volunteers is a passive communication that easily gets lost. You've got to grab eyeballs and start conversations!
One communications mistake firehouses make is thinking of volunteers as one big pool. The reality is, you have multiple pools and you speak with each one differently.
Here are two examples:
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.
MEASURE YOUR EFFORTS
Digital Tracking Tools
NextGen combines on-the-ground communications with digital tracking tools - distinct campaign and media QR codes, dedicated landing pages, and visitor journey-tracking - to help measure effectiveness so firehouse resources can be deployed where they're most productive.
CONNECT & FOLLOW-THROUGH
Candidate Funnel Discipline
24•48•6™ timeline discipline integrates structured follow-through into the recruitment sales funnel, shepherding candidates from initial interest to membership.
It makes taking that first step as easy as possible, helps move candidates past friction points where momentum is often lost, and ensures no one falls through the cracks along the way.
Who We Work With
NextGen provides strategic support and creative direction for regional, state and national volunteer fire associations, as well as for fire companies motivated to modernizing their recruitment efforts.
Wherever you are in your recruitment efforts, regardless of resources, we're always available to talk.
Let's start a conversation