Attitude

Capt Bob,
I was recently fired from a recruit academy. I finished eleven
weeks of a twelve-week academy. The city called it "released from probation". Afterwards I was fairly well devastated. It has taken me a while but I still want this job. I plan to test for the city and other agencies as soon as possible. I don't know how to handle this topic in an interview.

It wasn't that I didn't perform well in class; I was always in the top ten percent at tests and was above average on the drill ground. They didn't exactly tell me why but I heard that it was attitude. That I didn't take criticism well.

But they let me go in favor of several recruits that did not perform as well as I did. That is what makes it so tough for me to swallow.

Anyway I bought your program and I really like it. But how
do you explain being hired by the biggest department only to be "released from probation" One week away from graduation?

Thanks, James

Reply:

James

Attitude is your rudder through life. Attitude is such a small thing that can make such a big difference.

Attitude is a real tough one. It will be difficult but not impossible to get hired by another department. I'm sure by now how it played in getting let go. The main thing is to not blame them. Take responsibility, what you have learned and be convincing that it will never ever happen again.

This is from our FREE "101 Inside Secrets How to Get a Badge" off our web site. Click here for more

http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm

You Got Fired from a Department

Let's get real here! One of the most difficult hurdles to get over is being fired by another department. It's easier if you're a medic.

There has been an alarming rate of new firefighters fired in their academy and during probation. The main reasons are new hires are showing up for their academy without being in good enough physical shape. No, just because you passed the physical agility doesn't mean you're physically ready for the academy.

You see the physical agility standards over the past few years have been lowered so almost anyone can pass. Fire departments have had little control over this circus. But they know once they get the candidates in the academy they will require them to meet a level of service that the job requires.

Others can't remember the manipulative skills for equipment and evolutions. Some seem to want to shoot their mouth off on how they were trained in another academy or department.

Many don't realize how important attitude plays in this job; especially in the academy and probation that follows.

Last, too many paramedic firefighters are carrying their position of they're in charge of patient care no matter what. Understand if you have crew members who have been going on EMS calls for over twenty years, we have had to learn something. If your officer tells you something, you had better get quickly focused and ask him or her what they're seeing that you don't. You could be 100% right and they will show you the door.

The main thing to remember is don't bring up getting fired in the oral board unless they do. Too many candidates want to bring it up on their own trying to justify their position and try to do repair work. Big error. You will only be opening a can of worms than can't be closed.

If it is brought up or covered in your background, take responsibility for what you think happened (you may never really find out why) what you learned, and how it has helped you move forward in your career.

How would you like to get ahead of the curve with the cutting edge interview skills to get that badge? Then you want to sign up to receive Fire "Captain Bob's" exclusive information rich FREE e-mail FireZine Newsletter by clicking here:

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Learn how entry level and promotional candidates are improving their interview scores up to 15 points and nailing that badge from the FREE "101 Inside Secrets to Get A Badge" by clicking here:

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"Captain Bob"

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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 books "Eat Stress For Breakfast" ISBN 09657620-3-3, "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.

E-mail: captbob@verio.com Web site: www.eatstress.com