Job seekers interested in working for the South Bend Fire Department no longer have to wait until they are 21 to apply.

SBFD lowered its recruiting age from 21 to 18 starting Sunday, Nov. 1 in an effort to hire more diverse employees, WNDU reported.

“A lot of times, when you have to wait until you’re 21, between the age of 18 and 21, a lot can go on in your life,” SBFD firefighter Jean Gomez told WNDU.

The hiring process for the department can take at least eight months or even be more than a year. Some applicants who apply now may not be hired until 2017.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, an active driver’s license and no felonies on their criminal record.

Read more about South Bend Fire Department’s decision to recruit younger job applicants in the full story from WNDU.