Fire Captain Bob, Is Age a Factor in Hiring?

I've coached several candidates over the age of 30. It’s not uncommon to see candidates in their late thirties or early forties hired, especially paramedics. I encourage candidates to focus on the personal life experience when answering questions in the oral board. No one else can tell your stories where your have been. Over age thirty candidates have life experiences younger candidate can’t match.

When any candidate answers a question and laces it with a story that demonstrates they have lived the experience, they separate themselves from the other "Clone" candidates.

I work shoulder to shoulder with candidates through the process until they get the badge. Nothing counts until you get the badge!

Here is a testimony I just received from one of my over 40 years old energizer bunny candidates that kept going and going and going when others would quit:

Is Age a Factor in Getting Hired?

Indiscribable Thanks Captian Bob:

I have arrived at the moment, that before September 15^th 2004 was only realized in my dreams, that was the day I received “the call” informing me that I had been chosen as one of the fourteen candidates to start the academy for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue!

I am very fit. I work out 5 days a week and have for years. I have my EMT-Intermediate Certification and a burning desire to become a firefighter since I was 10 years old. Some times life seems to get in the way of our dreams and plans, but I have learned only if you let it! Three years ago I decided to go for my dream career, I had done everything I knew I could do to physically be ready for this demanding job, but I was oblivious to the testing and hiring process. That is when I came across your web site, Captain Bob your materials were invaluable in helping me obtain my badge. I followed your advise to the letter throughout the process from testing to oral interviews and the psych. Your insight is right on the mark!

Rob helped me with private coaching, and low and behold I am poised to start my dream career! Thank you is not enough to express my heart felt gratitude for your help in getting me to this place in life. I look forward to meeting you in person some day to say “thanks”. Ted R. Las Vegas Nevada

Ted was number 3 on the list, an EMT and FORTY-SEVEN YEARS OLD! He also scored higher than his Son on the same list and got the job. Bravo!

Well after 19 years of trying and testing and reading and wanting I made it. At the ripe old (i mean young) age of 41 and a grandfather of 2, I was accepted on to the Colorado Springs Fire Dept as of August 3rd 1998.

I cannot begin to tell you how I feel after so many years of trying to reach my goal of being part of the CSFD. No other Dept would do (except as a stepping stone to the CSFD) it had to be here in my hometown and I made it.

I wanted to send a special thanks to you for helping me reach my goal by not only your tapes, books and videos but for the encouragement along the way.

You have helped this old man to be a very happy one and I appreciate that in you.

I have attached a poem that my wife wrote for me that fits me to the T and many others i'm sure and you are welcome to use it in your seminars if you wish.

Well I need to go for now. I will keep you posted on how it's all going in the academy.

At the young age of five this dream came to be The ride in the firetruck with dad was the key The excitement untold for this your searching mind

All the firemen there such a welcoming kind To a boy so young making dreams of heart His desires of soul of firemans part His struggle through years to fill those shoes

Again and again but only to lose At last comes the day now maturity set The call so long waited your dreams are now met "You've made it my boy" father's echo rings clear

To your dreams at last you've now come near This five year old heart in joyfull boast I'm a fireman now what I wanted the most

Hard work and persistance gave him his dreams At the end of the tunnel his light birghtly beams.

Hi, I am 49 and will be 50 in June. Last summer while working on the house of a fire fighter, I was intrigued to hear about his life as a fire fighter and asked him how I would go about taking the Physical Agility Test. He asked me why I would stop at the agility test and not go all the way to becoming a fire fighter. I gave it some thought, and decided to give it a shot. I took a test through the local vocational school and then started taking tests for specific departments. The first department that I tested for was the Tacoma fire department in Tacoma WA. I then tested for four other departments I moved up in the process for all of the departments to the oral boards. One of the departments that I tested for was a small, two-station department. I went before the board, but that was as far as I went. Fortunately, not getting the position proved to be in my best interest. While doing a ride along with The Kent WA fire department, I received a call for an oral board with the Tacoma fire Department. I thought that I had missed my chance to interview with this department, but apparently they didn't find the right people in their first set of interviews. To make a long story short, thanks to the information that I received from you, I did excellent on my oral boards and am now in my 7th day of the academy. There were 1400 applicants for 13 positions and I was the 5th one filled. It had to be the oral boards, because my test score for that test was only 85, so thanks again. Craig

Fire "Captain Bob" Smith has coached countless entry level and promotional candidates to get their badge. He is a retired 28-year Hayward, Ca. Captain, speaker/author of the audio/video program "Conquer the Job Interview," the book "Fire Up Your Communication Skills" ISBN 09657620-6-8 and a member of the prestigious National Speakers Association. You can book him as a speaker or get a copy of his books and tapes by calling toll free at 888-238-3959.