FireZineApr06

Firefighters and Officers

Since 100% of your score in obtaining a firefighter badge is in the oral
board, what are you missing that's keeping you from gaining that badge?

Over 2,370 badges and counting have received their badges from this
program! Thousands more have been hired by using the free information
from our web site and having their questions answered by phone or
e-mail.

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Destiny is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice. It’s not
something that is given to you. It’s something you earn. –William
Jennings Bryan
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Please forward or recommend this FireZine to anyone you
know that wants to shorten the learning curve to get
that badge!

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In This Issue
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New feature: Who’s Testing

1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip

2. Entry Level Skills Tip

3. Robs Corner

4. Promotional Level Skills Tip
(Entry level should read this too)

5. New Badges

6. Humor

7. Resource Websites for Candidates

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Who’s Testing
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Austin Texas: the results for the written exam are posted here:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/fire/dow.../Exam032506.pdf

>From Austin firefighter TruckMonkey 42: The chief will decide how many
to interview. Looks like a good cutoff score would be 91%. Just a guess
though. Good luck to those who took the test. Oral board will be 100% of
your score. This is also when bonus points (military,bilingual, etc)
will be added, NOT to your written score.

You can keep up on the Austin testing process here:
http://www.eatstress.com/austin.htm

Chicago fire department is testing for the first time in more than 10
years. Hundreds of firefighters will be hired from this exam. The last
day to register is April 11, 2006. You can register on-line at the link
below:
http://webapps.cityofchicago.org/cfdaWeb/

Chicago written exam prep can be found at the link below.
http://www.fireprep.com/chicago_firefighter_examinatio.html

Oakland: Word on the street is Oakland will be testing again in the next
two months.

If you haven’t already taken advantage of our test drive e-mail series
program to give you a jump start on the oral board process you can check
it out here: http://www.eatstress.com/testdriveintro.htm

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1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip
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Tiger Woods was interviewed on 60 minutes. To watch segments of this
inspiration interview go to Yahoo.com: http://news.yahoo.com/60minutes

Preliminary Background Questionnaire

I just received the letter in the mail saying that I passed the written
National Fire Fighter Selection Inventory (NFSI) test but failed the
Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ). There has to be some mistake. I've
been clean all my life. Never had any credit, drinking, drugs, smoking
problems. In fact, I have never even touched drugs, alcohol, or smokes.
I'm extremely upset right now as I don't know what to do now. Could you
please write back as soon as possible at your convenience. Thanks. Jim

Reply: You would be surprised what percentages of candidates are being
disqualified from this process.

So you take a written or on-line Preliminary Background Questionnaire
(PBQ) that many agencies are starting to use and when you try to
continue it flashes PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION! or, There Could Be a
Delay in Your Background. What happened?

Well, you probably answered correctly or incorrectly yes to a question
that had a threshold that was an automatic disqualification. You still
might not be out of the woods on some of your answers. They could come
back to haunt you later in the process. Make sure you go back and
double-check your answers. The Preliminary Background Questionnaire is
designed to eliminate candidates early on in the hiring process before
they spend lots of time and money on those who they would tank later.

Threshold

So where’s the threshold? Did you answer yes to a question on drug use?
How many times? Answer yes to a question on how many times you had
drank more than the legal limit and drive? Driving or criminal record?
your credit?

You can find more on this PHQ process here:
http://www.eatstress.com/pbq1.htm

You can take an on-line PHQ for LA City here to see how you fair even if
you don’t want to continue on with their process:
https://personline.lacity.org/job_app/index.cfm

If you don’t already know LA City is testing monthly. That’s right,
monthly. If you want to get involved in taking this test check it out
here: http://www.eatstress.com/la_city_test.htm

Got the Call:
After three years of hard work, I received my conditional offer for
employment with a great fire department. Thanks to Capt. Bob and Capt.
Rob for your help. I have learned a lot from listening in this forum.
Good luck to those still in pursuit. Never give up hope. Sincerely,
Cary
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Check out http://www.eatstress.com and learn how entry-level and
promotional candidates are improving their interview scores up to 15
points and nailing that badge!

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Want Captain Bob to come speak to your group? See
http://www.eatstress.com/seminar.htm

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Ya got to love it!

Got a voice mail from Justin who had used our Gold Package program to
get a conditional job offer and he was creating sea monsters after not
hearing anything after his final psych and medical last week. He’d
heard I would get back to candidates quickly. Yep, that’s right.
Fifteen minutes later I was talking to Justin. Two of his buddies had
already received the call. He wanted to give his employer 2 weeks
notice.

First get real. You have 24 days before the academy is supposed to
begin. Yea, you’re right. It’s been my experience that these last
steps in the hiring process can get backed up.

OK, the psych. How long was your interview with the doc? Ten minutes.
Anything stump you? No. It’s my experience that interviews less than
30 minutes candidates pass.

Medical: Were you concerned about anything with you medical? Well, a
few years ago I injured my back with a compressed vertebrae playing
baseball. I was only off work for a couple of weeks. Like you
suggested I got evaluated and found fit for duty. I got a letter from
my doctor that I carried to the medical. When the situation came up I
produced the letter to extinguish the concern.

Understand if you didn’t pass your medical they wouldn’t schedule you
for an expensive psych evaluation. If you didn’t pass the psych or
medical you would have probably received a letter by now withdrawing the
conditional job offer. Any letter in the mail today? No. You’re more
than likely still in the process.

So, I know you want to call but it’s 3:30 on Wednesday. You don’t want
to call on Friday or Mondays; too hectic. So how about calling about
10:30 am Thursday after all three food groups, caffeine, sugar and fat
are on board functioning.

Yesterday, Friday just before I was going to publish this newsletter, I
called Justin to get an update. He could hardly control himself. He
had called on Thursday and was told indeed they were running behind with
getting in the reports for the medical and psych. They would get back
to him. Well, 10 minutes before I called Justin got the call! He
passed and was offered the job. Uniform fitting scheduled. The game
gets real now.

All those sea monsters instantly evaporated!

Welcome to the fire service Justin.

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2. Entry Level Skills Tip
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Fire Team Video Testing

Many agencies are being convinced to use the new type of video testing
because they can test large groups at once at a lower cost and eliminate
candidates with psychological video scenarios.

These psychological type tests are changing the fire service. Sure
there are some folks who have a lot of baggage and shouldn’t be hired.
But most of the red-hot’s, the backbone of the fire service, can’t make
it through the process. Surprisingly, the evaluations are based on the
performance of those already in the fire service.

CoCo Counties upcoming test will use the Fire Team Test. Keep in mind
that most of the agencies using this type of testing will also have an
oral board once the numbers have been cut down. If you haven’t already
taken advantage of our test drive e-mail series program to give you a
jump start on the oral board process you can check it out here:
http://www.eatstress.com/testdriveintro.htm

This from a candidate who paid to test drive the video testing:

I went to the website www.fireteamtest.com and paid my $14.00 to take
the practice test. The test takes 30 to 45 minutes so unplug your phone
and listen to the instructions VERY carefully, my phone rang while I was
watching the video and missed an important part. DON'T answer the
situational questions the way you think the "test writers" want you to,
answer thinking about the big picture and what is right for everyone,
being a kiss-up will not get you a 100% on this test. I know; I got
kinda toady on one question and got slammed. So much for my 100%

It seemed like for each question the four answers fell into these
categories:
Correct
Semi-Correct
Neutral
Wrong

Of course if you sit there and try to figure out which ones fall into
each category you will fall behind and start screwing up.

After talking to lots of candidates many felt if they were getting
stumped on a segment they turned to their feminine side to come up with
the answer.

Check it out at www.fireteamtest.com

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If someone asks you what you need to help you get a firefighter badge,
tell them you want our Gold Package with the companion “It’s Your Turn
in the Hot Seat” CD Series!!! Check it out here!:
http://www.eatstress.com/special_offer.htm

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While You’re here get a 10 day test drive of selected inside secrets how
to get a badge. Learn more here:
http://www.eatstress.com/testdriveintro.htm

Bottom line getting a badge is all presentation skills!

Check out http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm for the FREE 101 Inside
Secrets How to Get a Badge!

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Ask Captain Bob any questions

E-mail Mailto:captbob@eatstress.com

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The secret Formula to get a badge here:
http://www.eatstress.com/formula.htm
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3. Robs Corner
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Private Coaching

My wife does all of my scheduling for private coaching. She was
complaining to me yesterday about the unprepared. She received over 40
calls this week from people who’s tests are less than 5 days away. They
wanted to know if I could help? I have had this week booked up for a
month. The people that are your competition are preparing, are you?

I have found that the farther in advance a person has called to set up
an appointment, the better they do. The few last minute people I work
with are usually twice the work.

There is an oral board in your future if you turned in an application.
You just don’t know when. Would you show up at a written not prepared?
The agility? Well, if you know that 100% of your score to get hired is
in the oral board wouldn’t you want to be as prepared as you can be?

For more on entry level coaching visit
http://www.myfireinterview.com/private%20coaching.htm

Resign?????

Over the last few years, Capt Bob and myself have received a number of
calls from people that have resigned from departments for a variety of
reasons. Some were let go in an academy, just after an academy, for
medical reasons, or something coming up in background. Believe it or
not, some departments have people start the academy and then do the
background.

Here’s the deal. They will come to you and say,” There is a problem and
we will let you resign, if not we will fire you”. They give you the
impression that it won’t count against you. In some cases they tell you
that you can be in the next class. Be very careful if you are placed in
this position. Yes, they tell you that you can be fired for any reason
during probation, but that is not true. They cannot let you go for
medical reasons, some physical or learning problems, and reasons that
might be considered discrimination.

I had a guy get on with his dream department, and during the academy he
had a medical procedure done that had complications. They gave him the
option of resigning and he did. They told him he would be in the next
academy, but it was cancelled. It’s been years now and he is still
testing. Trust me, to a background investigator there is little
difference between being fired on probation and resigning. This guy
would have been protected under ADA and they tricked him into leaving.

Another guy failed the voice stress analyzer while in the academy, by a
department that hires then checks your background. The asked him to
resign, and he did. He could have gotten a second opinion and still
have been working there.

I know a lot of you that are testing get a lot of your advice from this
site. I know there are people that respect the opinion of Capt Bob,
others or myself. If you trust our opinion please call one of us if you
are placed in that position, before you do anything. I will tell you, I
know of at least 15 people that would still be working if they had
called Capt Bob before the did something instead of afterward. If you
think it is had to get the job, try getting it after you have left
another department. It can be done, but it would be very difficult.

Where ever you might be stuck in the hiring process from the written or
video testing, physical agility CPAT, oral interview, psych interview,
background, polygraph, or medical, you can find new powerful information
on Captain Rob’s new web site here: www.myfireinterview.com

CAPTAIN ROB (Thank you)
NRTC@SONIC.NET
http://www.myfireinerview.com

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4. Promotional Level Skills Tip
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Presentations

Question: For presentations: since I won't know what will be asked
before going in, how do I bring in pamphlets for every situation? Do I
just bring in "make believe pamphlets" and simply state that "this is a
pamphlet on smoke detectors," etc.? Also, any nuggets on the various
types of presentations? Like, the difference between a training type
presentation or just presenting a product or an evolution? Or should I
just stick with the formula?

Keep it simple. You won't usually know what the presentation is going
to be until you arrive. You will have up to 30 mins. or so to prepare.
If you are given a flip chart you can put you major points on the chart
with the magic marker. You can put you notes lightly in the margin
using a pencil. You can see the notes. The panel can’t.

This simple formula from the book “Inspire Any Audience,” by Tony Jeary
can help you through the process:

1. Introduction
2. Three major points (and examples to support major points)
3. Questions & Answers
4. Summary
5. Closing

The “Nugget” here is to use K.I.S.S. (keep it simple sweetie). Most
candidates complicate the presentation. They try to intellectualize the
process. They waste time and put the audience in the sleepy zone by
trying to give a blue print, when all that is needed is a sketch. The
I.Q. of an audience drops when a presentation is given. Stick to the
formula . . . Nothing more . . . Nothing less.

If you can make a simple outline out and make enough copies for the
panel should work. Few of the other candidates will think to do this.
It will change the dimension of the presentation. Remember the goal.
The member should be able to complete the task by the end of the
presentation. Have a panel member get up and perform the task.

Success:

This is just a note from my current Captain Oral Interview. I was up
against 17 other candidates in Raleigh, N.C. I took your advise of
setting yourself apart and I did just that along with some nuggets.
Out of a hundred possible points I scored 93. This made me rank third
and this was an accomplishment considering, I started out 10th from the
written. I just want to say,"I'm on my way to getting my badge".

Thanks,
Kevin Coppage
Lt. Raleigh Fire Dept.

For more on our promotional program visit
http://www.eatstress.com/promo.htm

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5. New Badges
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First Time Out!

Capt. Bob -
I do not usually tell others that this was my FIRST written test that I
took because I know that so many people are taking test after test after
test. But I also know that this process can sometimes be shortened if
they seek the help of experts like yourself!

I wanted to let you know how you've helped me in acquiring an INCREDIBLE
job! Long story short - I finished college, got a job using my degree,
but was miserable in my line of work. Through various avenues I started
getting involved in, and learning about the fire service. I loved what
I was learning, so I took a written test with thousands of my closest
friends. :) I passed the written and knew I had better find out about
how to perform well on the oral interview. I ordered your video and cd
and I wore the batteries out on a tape recorder, going over question
after question out loud for several months. You were right, the tape
recorder revealed so much of what I needed to work on in my interviewing
skills. I passed the oral, biddle, academy, and probation. I am now
LOVING my job - and that crosses over into every area of my life - my
marriage, my friends, my church... I know that my story is the
exception, and for that I am VERY thankful. So I say THANK YOU for your
wisdom and knowledge! I believe it was an integral part of helping me
get the badge.
Sincerely, Jake

Captain Bob:

I would just like to thank you for all the advice that you have given
me over the past year. I read your comments all the time and have
purchased your gold package.

I wanted you to be one of the first people to find out that I got my
conditional offer of employment today for an awesome
Department! This test was about the 7th one I took, and it was my
first oral board. I guess I nailed it! I took in all of your advice
and it definitely paid off. Hopefully everything goes ok for my psych
and medical. Academy starts in May! I will be moving to VA from
Ohio. I am not a paramedic nor do I have FF1, FF2. I went in to the
board with enthusiasm and motivation and that is what paid off. It
really comes down to how you present yourself and selling yourself to
the board!

Thanks again Captain Bob, I couldn't have done it without your help.
Doug

Hi Cap, So I finally got a conditional job offer, went through the
background, medical exam, and psych. Thank-you for all the great
information you have provided me. I bought your gold package and
attended one of your hot seat seminars, these two things really
helped me get to were I am right now. THANK-YOU. Zach

Make that 2368 badges. I had never heard of you until it came time to
test
with my dream Fire Dept. I talked to one of the Engineers in regards to
testing and Oral boards and he recommended you. Next thing I know, the
B.C.was talking about you and giving me some of your tapes......and then
another Engineer.....and another. Long story short....... I got the job!
Thank You!

I don't know if you remember me or not Capt Bob but we had some good
discussions last year. I just wanted to let you know that tomorrow night
I will have my badge pinned on me by my lovely wife during my recruit
academy Graduation. Again that you for the advice that you gave and the
encouragement as well. I am so excited to begin this new career. I know
I have much to learn and a lot of trust to earn but I have made it this
far I have no intention of blowing it.
Again, Thank you and God Bless.

More badges here: http://eatstress.com/testbest.htm

To see how candidates have improved their position in gaining a badge
visit
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage152.htm

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Check out the current "Bonus Nugget" oral board tip
http://www.eatstress.com/bonusnugget.htm

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6. Humor

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Remember --- they vote...!

Some guy bought a new fridge for his house. To get rid of his old
fridge, he put it in his front yard and hung a sign on it saying: "Free
to good home. You want it, you take it". For three days the fridge sat
there without even one person looking twice at it. He eventually
decided that people were too mistrustful of this deal. It looked to
good to be true, so he changed the sign to read: "Fridge for sale, $50".
The next day someone stole it.
Caution! . . . . . . . . . . . . These people vote!

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While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which
direction was North because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking
him up every morning. She asked, "Does the sun rise in the North?" When
my brother explained that the sun rises in the East, (and has for some
time), she shook her head and said, "Oh, I don't keep up with that
stuff". . . . . . .
She ALSO votes!

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I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day I
got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was
open. I told him, "The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" Wanting to
end the call quickly, I said, "Uh, Pacific" . . . . . . . ."

He ALSO votes!

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My colleague and I were eating lunch in our cafeteria when we overheard
one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she had
gotten on her weekend drive to the shore. She drove down in a
convertible, but "didn't think she'd get sunburned because the car was
moving. . . . . . . ."
She ALSO votes!

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My sister keeps a lifesaving tool in her car. It's designed to cut
through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk . .

My sister ALSO votes!
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My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that cases were
discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The
cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount . . . .
.
He ALSO votes!

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I was hanging out with a friend when we saw a woman with a nose ring
attached to an earring by a chain. My friend said, "Won't the chain rip
out every time she turns her head?" I explained that a person's nose and
ear remain the same distance apart no matter which way the head is
turned. . . . . . .
. . . My friend ALSO votes!

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I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area, so I went to the
lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed
up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained
professional and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, "has your
plane arrived yet?".
. . . . . . . . SHE ALSO votes!
=========

While working at a Pizza Parlor I observed a man ordering a small pizza
to go. He appeared to be alone. The cook asked him if he would like it
cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before
responding, "Just cut it into 4 pieces. I don't think I'm hungry enough
to eat 6 . . . . . . . . ."
Yep, he votes too.
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NOW you know who elects the politicians

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7. Resource Websites for Candidates:
http://www.eatstress.com/hotlinks.htm

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For Back Issues of Fire-Zine
http://www.eatstress.com/firezinearchive.htm
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To subscribe or leave
http://www.eatstress.com/firezine_signup.htm
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==> SHARE YOUR TIP or STORY. Send it to captbob@eatstress.com

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Nothing counts til you have the badge . . . Absolutely Nothing!
==========================================
Code 3 Publishing. Fire Captain Bob Smith, Speaker, Author, Publisher
Information Products on How to Get a Badge.
Web site: http://www.eatstress.com Over 300 pages of helpful
information.
Phone: 888-238-3959 local 925-846-3959 Fax: 925-846-9650
E-mail Mailto:captbob@eatstress.com

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