Giving Back to the Future: Creating Opportunity for the Next Generation of Emergency Managers and How Those Wanting to Break-in to the Field Can Take Advantage

Max Dunlap, Deputy Director of Emergency Management, City of Amarillo

The version of emergency management(EM) that we know today hails from the era of big band music and the close of a world war, where it was known by another name. The Office of Civil Defense was reborn after a short absence at the beginning of the Cold War as the American government saw a new need for national preparedness with the looming fear of nuclear fallout. The program rose to the occasion, with many Americans joining the cause, all with the goal of helping their fellow Americans prepare for the unthinkable on the home front. September 11, 2001 revamped and reshaped emergency management into what it has become today. Much like the Cold War, 9/11 brought preparedness to the forefront of American minds to rethink, reassess, and prepare for what could happen or what may happen again. With the growth of the emergency management field, students are discovering a passion for service, experiencing an ignition of flame within them, seeking degrees and training programs, all with the goal of trying to break into a field of service and preparedness. Most entry-level EM positions require 1-2 years of relevant experience, and in lieu of this requirement, what are emergency managers doing as an industry to help candidates gain the experience needed to foster development of the future generation of emergency mangers? In turn, what steps are students or applicants taking to ensure they differentiate themselves from an increasing pool of applicants?

"Emergency management agencies should be looking at creative ways to create opportunities for the next generation of EMs"

According to a recent survey, the emergency management field is projected to continue growing at a rate of 20 percent or more(Lucus-McEwen, 2011). Unlike before the Cold War, more than 180 emergency management programs are now in place in colleges and universities across the United States(Lucus-McEwen, 2011). To break-in to the emergency management field, a candidate needs to bring a healthy mix of experience, training, and education to the table. There is no shortage of individuals who are wanting to jump into the field of emergency management, but a degree and a limited amount training usually isn’t enough. Higher education programs may or may not require an internship which may be presented as experience by an applicant, but internships usually do not approach the 1-2-year requirement in length. Internships, however, are normally only available to students associated with a higher education program related to emergency management. The biggest limiting factor to obtaining an entry-level position in emergency management is experience.

There is a known generational knowledge gap between older EMCs and the newer generation of emergency managers. A panel at FEMA’s 18th Annual Emergency Management Higher Education Symposium concluded that the field of Emergency Management is at a turning point, with the opportunity to set the tone and chart the course for the next generation(Kirkland & Walsh, 2017).With higher education EM programs focusing on theory and history of disasters, how is practical knowledge gained? Even those applicants who obtain an entry-level position are gaining industry experience and knowledge through osmosis or direct exposure to a situation or event and not through structured training. EMsas an industry need to be better at fostering and imparting knowledge to the incoming generation of emergency managers.

One approach to offer prospective applicants is through developing mentorship programs. The Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC), through social media or higher education contacts, identifies individuals who are looking for experience and helps to guide them into areas that would be beneficial to the applicant’s career. EMCs might offer students or applicants the opportunity to review a response plan or assist in exercise development.

Another solution for our industry takes a little “outside-the-box” thinking by creating new entry-level positions within agencies. Positions should be designed specifically for individuals with minimal experience to come in and learn all aspects of emergency management to gain vital experience to progress into the field. Agencies or communities should look for public and/or private partnerships to fund entry-level positions with this idea in mind. One EM program in Amarillo, Texas has already implemented this solution.

As for students or entry-level applicants, what can they do and what actions can they take to differentiate themselves when applying for positions? Students should network with everyone in the industry they come into contact with. Networking in EM industry is vital. Applicants should speak to and network with guest speakers, local school districts, or setup a meeting over coffee with someone in the EM field. Every contact made with someone in the field could impact a career. Success in the industry is predicated on relationships and relationship building, so students need to be doing at every opportunity. Ask industry personnel at the local, state, and federal level about their background and work experience. Emergency management is prevalent in many areas and is incorporated into many disciplines, and while being well-rounded or a “jack-of-all-trades” is desirable, how an applicant might make themselves “stand out from the crowd” could be the difference in obtaining a position. Another point of advice is to research where one would like to work. What the area’s local hazards and how are they trending? How is the local agency currently addressing those trends and hazards? Seeking training and experience in those areas could make a difference. One example would be look at how agriculture or the energy sector correlates to emergency management. How does risk management and EM work together? Would training on chemical identification or transport give someone an advantage?

If one obtains an interview, background work can make all the difference in the interview process. Who is on the interview panel and what are their backgrounds? What is the governance structure of the agency and what are those people’s names? What is the history of that community and what are their most common hazards? What topics are currently trending in emergency management? How did the people in the agency get to where they are now? EM teams have strengths and weaknesses, so how does the applicant offer a strength that isn’t currently represented by the current team? Knowing the answers to these questions, and other ones like it, should give the applicant an advantage.

Emergency management agencies should be looking at creative ways to create opportunities for the next generation of EMs, and in turn, students and applicants should be doing everything they can to network, research, and make themselves standout in an increasingly competitive field.