FDNY Customer Service Representative Kamal Johnson is one of our many representatives here at Join FDNY. He is dedicated to helping future FDNY members stay up to date with important information, and to helping them navigate the application process. He is always ready to answer your questions or concerns.
“I help guide candidates through the FDNY application process, and I assist them by providing accurate information regarding the various programs that the Department offers, including the Candidate Physical Ability Training Program (CPAT) and the FDNY Mobile Academy, to name a few,” he said. “I want candidates to know that they can call my colleagues and I at 718-999-FDNY and we will answer their questions.”
As parents across our great city prepared to celebrate #BackToSchoolNYC, we joined Kamal as he helped his daughter, London-Marie, kick off her kindergarten year.
JF: Why did you want to be a part of the Join FDNY team?
KJ: I wanted to be a part of the Join FDNY team because we are one big family. I love working for the FDNY, and being hired here was one of the happiest days of my life. I work with a great team of people, and they make coming to work every day a joy.
JF: We have many candidates who are working parents. What tips can you share with them?
KJ: The best advice I can give for other working parents is to spend as much quality time with your children as you can. Enjoy these moments. We can do the best we can to provide, but in the end all they live for are those moments. Count every moment as a blessing because we can’t turn back time, it’s up for us to show up because our children grow up so fast. Even when my work day is tiring, I will always make time to show her that I am always here for her.
JF: How do you prepare your family for the back-to-school season?
KJ: We start off by having her go to sleep earlier. We talk about going back to school, having a new teacher, making new friends and learning a new curriculum. We read a lot to make sure she is on task for the upcoming year. Our bath time always includes music and toys.
JF: How do you balance work and home life?
KJ: Her mother will take her to and from school, and I help her with the home routines – homework and bath time. We read to her before she goes to bed. Then, on the weekends we will have lunch together or go to the park. When it comes to finding activities, she typically knows what she wants to do and we make a day out of whatever ideas she has. Her smile and her liveliness motivate me, pick me up, and brighten my days.
Prospective Candidates: Ready to take the next step? FDNY recruiters are here to help. Whether you have a question about applying for a job, taking an exam, eligibility requirements, exceptions or learning more about critical physical fitness and educational requirements, the Department’s specially trained unit can help you fulfill your goals. Call the FDNY Recruitment Unit at (718) 999-FDNY (3369) or email Recruitment@fdny.nyc.gov.
