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Reigniting the Future of the Volunteer Fire Service
America's 24,000
volunteer fire companies
are in crisis.
We're doing more than ever with fewer people than ever.
Most communities don't see it.
But inside firehouses, everyone feels it.
Crisis by the stats
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We're Facing A Modern Recruitment Crisis — Without A Modern Recruitment System.
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For decades, volunteer departments sustained themselves through family tradition. If your father, mother or uncle volunteered, chances were good you would too.
But that pipeline has thinned. Our departments are aging.
The best way to recruit is with a great culture that's an active presence in the community.
But many firehouses are in the process of rebuilding, so new members are harder to attract — yet the way we recruit has not changed much.
We put up yard signs, hold some community days, 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.
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Effective recruitment isn't a moment.
It's about momentum.
Communications spark conversation.
Conversation generates momentum.
Momentum shepherds candidates through the recruitment sales funnel.
We call that process a Recruitment Engine.
Here's what it looks like:
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In a recruitment engine everything
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The Engine Has Three Components:
In a recruitment engine everything
Creative communications + Tactical Programs
Captures Attention → Piques Curiosity
We create communications that don’t simply ask for volunteers; they grab attention, generate an emotional response, make a human connection.
They understand who you’re speaking to, because you don’t have one volunteer pool, you have multiple:
You might grab the attention of a 20-year-old guy by talking hydraulic tools and thermal imaging cameras.
To a 45-year old mom or dad, a communication that says we get where you’re at, starts a conversation with wink.
Executions by © NextGen Recruiting.
Reproduction, adaptation, or use without license is prohibited.
COMMITTED TO EDUCATION
We speak at no charge at regional, state and national conventions. NextGen is deeply committed to helping fire organizations around the country modernize the way they think about and execute their recruitment efforts. If you believe we can help add insight to your meeting, reach out to us.
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Digital tracking tools
Measure Your Efforts
NextGen combines on-the-ground communications with digital tools that help you measure effectiveness so resources can be deployed where they’re most productive.
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recruitment FUNNEL DISCIPLINE
Connects & Follows Through
Our 12•24•6™ process enables you to build follow-through discipline into your sales funnel, shepherding candidates through the process 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.
CLEAR ROADMAPS
NextGen provides clear roadmaps
for each program. We help
fire companies buildfollow-
through discipline into
their recruitment sales funnel,
and we consult to help
companies solve specific communications challenges.
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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 trained and served as a volunteer firefighter. While he's still a newbie, and still working to earn his place, he’s served long enough to have a love-hate relationship with his pager.
NextGen Recruiting wasn’t created in a conference room.
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NEXTGEN IS DEEPLY
COMMITTED TO EDUCATION
Our #1 mission is to help fire organizations around the country modernize the way they think about and execute their recruitment efforts.
We speak at no charge at regional, state and national conventions. If you believe we can help add insight to your meeting, reach out to us.
The Volunteer Spirit Hasn’t Disappeared.
How You Spark That Spirit Has Changed.
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Let's start a conversation
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