Your name should be the biggest thing on the page. Period. Follow it immediately with your most critical certifications — before they even read your name, they're scanning for "Paramedic."

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• Full name in large, bold type (16–18pt)

• City, MA (no full address needed)

• Professional email — not gamertags

• Phone number (cell only)

• LinkedIn if updated in last 6 months

• Cert status: e.g., "NRP | Firefighter II | EMT"

3–4 lines. No fluff. This is your radio dispatch — clear, concise, and immediately actionable. Lead with your certification, years of experience, and one differentiator.

• State your NRP/EMT status in line 1

• Years of 911 pre-hospital experience

• Specialty or notable achievement

• One line showing culture fit ("committed to community service")

• No pronouns, no "I am a…"

This section can be your golden ticket or your immediate disqualifier. For the Westford posting, cert status is the first screen. Make it impossible to miss.

• NRP — National Registry Paramedic + exp. date

• MA EMT license number + expiration

• Firefighter I and/or II — issuing authority

• ACLS, BLS, PALS if applicable

• Hazmat ops, rope rescue, NIMS ICS 100/200/700

• CPR — AHA vs. Red Cross, note both

• Driver's license + class (CDL if applicable)

Reverse chronological. Lead with action verbs. Quantify everything you can — call volume, response times, unit size, team size. This is where "2 years of 911 experience" gets proven.

• Organization, city, state — not just station number

• Full-time vs. per diem vs. volunteer — be clear

• Call volume or avg. shifts per month if possible

• Protocols followed (MA Statewide → strong signal)

• Any preceptor, FTO, or leadership role noted

• Equipment and apparatus operated

Minimum requirement is a high school diploma or GED. But if you have a degree or completed paramedic school through an accredited program, show it. Expected completion dates are acceptable here.

• Paramedic program — institution, expected or actual completion date

• Fire academy — Massachusetts Firefighting Academy or equivalent

• EMT-Basic / Advanced coursework

• College degree if applicable (AAS in EMS, Fire Science)

• High school diploma or GED — just list it, no need to elaborate

Fire and EMS Departments want "team players" and "leaders." Your community involvement is direct evidence. Massachusetts municipalities especially value local roots and civic engagement.

• Volunteer fire or EMS service — list years

• Explorer program, cadet program

• Community CPR/first aid instruction

• Fire prevention or public education events

• Coaching, youth programs, town committees