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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?
April 2007
Estimated reading time 2-5 minutes for any segment!
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In This Issue
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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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1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip
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Humor
Dear Captain Bob, My name is
Brandon and I am interviewing for a Fire position in Alaska. I made it into the
top 5. I have never been to an oral board, however, I normally confident in
front of crowds or people. My question is, what would be a good ice breaker to
make the board laugh and comfortable with me. I know be my self, however, I
feel like a joke or something creative to bring the nerves down might help? In
addition, would a poem at the end when they ask, "Do you have anything to add,"
be O.K.? For, example, a poem about my experience thus far through the process
of getting interviewed and and my heart about fire fighting etc. etc. Or maybe
better advice, thanks.
Using Humor in an Interview.
Unless you’re a humorous person, don’t plan on laying something funny on the
panel. I’ve seen people that weren’t funny to begin with try to include humor in
a presentation. It bombed. How would you feel in that situation if the room went
dead silent and everyone just stared at you? What if this humor was your opening
statement?
This happened to Ted. He said
it threw off his timing and confidence and he really never recovered. If
something funny happens naturally during your interview or presentation, that’s
a gift. Don’t plan on it happening.
Brandon: "Do you have anything to add," be O.K.? For, example, a poem about my
experience thus far through the process of getting interviewed and and my heart
about fire fighting etc. etc.
CB: Please don't.
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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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2. Entry Level Skills Tip
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Psychological Exams
From Don McNea Fire School
In today’s testing formats, many questions on
psychological exams are designed to determine if you have the personality
characteristics of a successful firefighter. Below, we have outlined some
important thoughts to keep in your mind when taking these types of examinations.
1. Are you the type of person who believes that teamwork is of the utmost
importance?
2. Are you the type of person that goes above and beyond in your preparation for
whatever you do? Do you go the extra mile? Do you give the extra effort?
3. Are you the type of person that believes that people are honest in nature or
are you always on guard that someone has an ulterior motive and is not sincere
in their desires?
4. Are you the type of person that gets along with most of the people that you
meet? Are you friendly, outgoing? These are traits that are important as a
firefighter dealing with the public.
5. Do you enjoy working with people as a group or do you prefer working by
yourself? This is very important – you must emphasize in any firefighter exam
that you take that you are the type of person that likes to work with a team.
6. Are you the type of person that can concentrate when you are working on a
task or are you easily distracted? Many times on the fireground you will deal
with people coming up to you, interrupting you, asking you questions. Are you
the type of person that can concentrate on the task at hand with all those
interruptions?
7. Are you the type of person who has empathy for others and can sympathize with
someone else’s troubles?
8. Are you the type of person that is phony in nature? When working or dealing
with others from another culture, do you shift your mannerisms to match that
culture or do you stay true to yourself?
9. Are you the type of person that feels that work is important or would you
just take a day off and go golfing, bowling, or just out to have fun with your
friends? Do you feel that work comes first?
10. Are you the type of person that has patience and understanding?
11. Are you the type of person that has a tendency to often come to work tardy?
Are you the type of person that believes that timelines and deadlines aren’t
important?
12. Knowing that firefighting is a very physically demanding job, are you up to
the challenge? Are you physically fit and will you continue to work out?
13. Are you the type of person that believes that rules in a fire department
should be followed? The fire department is a paramilitary organization. Do you
skirt the rules or feel that rules can be broken if it suits your particular
needs?
14. Are you the type of person that is always trying to improve themselves –
whether it is taking classes, going to seminars, reading books?
15. Are you the type of person that enjoys gossip or do you keep gossip to
yourself? In a firehouse, you are in a 24-hour atmosphere with others and people
can get caught up in the gossip. Even if you know a rumor that is true about
another firefighter, would you share that information with others?
16. Are you the type of person that others feel is interesting and enjoyable to
talk to? Do you have communication problems with others?
17. Are you the type of person that has biases against other groups and feel
that they aren’t deserving of firefighter jobs or promotions?
18. Are you the type of person who looks down on others when they are going
through hard times?
More information on psychological exam testing can be found here:
http://www.eatstress.com/psych.htm
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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
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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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Scenarios
Usually the situational
questions in an interview have one of your co-workers being the one who
committed the violation. I really have never heard of a panel asking what you
would do if you saw someone from the public take something. Obviously if you saw
a civilian take something you would tell a store employee.
If you are talking about a co-worker, then that is a very typical scenario
question. In most interviews they will ask you a legal question. These have
nothing to do with “helping people”; they have to do with following rules. They
are legal questions.
You could separate situational questions in an interview into two categories,
getting along with others, and legal questions. With a getting along question
you want to go to any great length to solve the problem without involving a
superior officer.
The legal questions are also pretty easy, because they always get reported. If
you are told that someone has lied, cheated, stolen, been drinking or doing drug
on the job, it must always end up with the captain or supervisor being informed.
The path you take to get there is were the points are.
I would always start off a response to a legal question with a statement like,
“I am the new guy here and wouldn’t ever want to falsely accuse anyone of
anything, but if this person truly has been: laying, cheating, stealing,
drinking or doing drugs, I could never ignore it. Because if he is doing now he
has probably done it before, and if I found out something bad happened because
of this or another incident, I would be just as guilty as him if I knew and
didn’t do anything to solve the problem”. I would just walk up to him and say,
“Is that yours?” or if you don’t want to sound too accusing, “I was going to get
a soda can I pay for what you have there”.
In these questions the person always has committed the offence, you just have to
get the facts and handle the problem. They are never going to ask you a question
where the correct answer is to do nothing. Simply answer the question without
making a soap opera, be clear and to the point, and know where you are going
before you start. Any legal issue will end with you and the other employee
standing in front of the captain, or just you if he refuses to go.
Some other things you could mention in a response about these legal issues are:
1. The employee assistance program for a person with a drug or alcohol problem.
2. The violation of the public trust.
3. The damage this could do to the reputation of the department and every
employee that works here, if it got into the press.
Hope this helps.
Both big and small departments
are both hard and easy, if that helps. If you want to be a firefighter, you have
to get good at taking tests. That means being able to pass the pass/fail written
tests, or get a very high score on those that are weighted into your score. You
need to be able to do well in the agility tests. But most importantly you need
to get good at taking the oral interviews.
Most tests have the oral interview as the most important part, or in a lot of
cases, what your total score is based on. With that being common knowledge, most
people will spend hours on studying for a written test, and months if not years
getting in shape for an agility, and little or no time preparing for the oral.
By preparing for your oral interviews, getting as much practice as you can, by
doing mock interviews and taking every test you can, you could choose between
the big and small departments.
You are correct that the testing is more “fair” with the bigger departments.
Usually the human resources department, not the department itself, runs the
tests. I know, to make it fair for everyone, raters are not supposed to smile in
the interviews that are going on right now in one big city department on the
west coast. In the case of a bigger department it really is what you say in your
interview that gets you the job, not what you have done and who you know. I got
an Email last week from a guy I worked with who was 23 and had no F/F1 or EMT
and has been hired by Las Vegas. I know he beat out people with more education
and experience; he went into his interview and said all of the right stuff.
I have also worked with people testing for small towns that have gone in and
taken the job away from people that were the “chosen” ones. What I have seen
happen in the smaller departments is the will tell a few people that they are
“in”. These people will not prepare for the test as well as they should because,
“the chief said I am the guy”. Then someone, who no one has heard of, comes in
and is very well prepared. They go into their interview after having spent the
time to learn about the department and can talk about themselves in a calm,
comfortable manner, and they get the job. The chief is put in the position where
someone did so much better in the interview; he has to hire him or her.
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
For more on entry level coaching visit
http://www.myfireinterview.com/private%20coaching.htm
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4. Promotional Level Skills Tip
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Tactical
Too many candidates get sucked
into the check off list for their tactical every time.
A recent candidate called after
he received our promotional program asking where the check off list for the
tactical was? I told him we don’t include it because they’re too many variables
with each agencies check off list. Some departments have 50 boxes on their
check off list and agencies like Salt Lake City have 96.
Candidates try to plan their
entire exercise on getting those boxes checked off. In the process they lose
control of the fire and their score gets hammered.
After talking about this problem
during a recent coaching session, the candidate still got sucked in to the check
off list by making all kinds of assignments to incoming units for exposure,
staging, etc. before he had assigned a Ric team or checked with fire attack on a
report of conditions. By the time he came up for air after trying to get boxes
checked off on the rating sheet and asked for a report on conditions from fire
attack, the fire had spread to adjoining apartment units and to the floor
above. Not pretty.
What’s your best tactic for
rescue or knocking down the fire? An aggressive attack on the fire! Go fight
the fire with your resources. In the process you will get the necessary boxes
checked off on the rating sheet, could put out the fire and get a top score.
New Captain in town: I am very
pleased to say that I will be receiving my bugles on March 22nd.
Thank you very much for your time and dedication to each of us pursuing the
badge.
Mike Riach
Wait! While you're here Captain Bob wants to give
you a 10 day FREE test drive of selected inside
secrets how to get a promotional badge. Learn more here:
http://www.eatstress.com/promointro.htm
For more on our promotional
program visit
http://www.eatstress.com/promo.htm
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5. New Badges
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It really hit me yesterday while I was getting sized up for my station uniform.
Hey Capt. Bob, I just wanted to
thank you for all the advice and guidance you have given me during my pursuit of
achieving my dreams. I was just offered the job last week for an awesome
department in the Bay Area. I am very excited because I'm able to move back to
the bay area where my family and friends live. It's been a rough road trying to
get this job. I tested in San Diego County, Orange County, Sacramento County,
Fresno County and the Bay Area. I slept in my car, at Motel 6 and frequently ate
at Denny's. I am very relieved that I finally got the job offer. It really hit
me yesterday while I was getting sized up for my station uniform. I looked in
the mirror and was totally blown away that I can finally be called a
probationary Firefighter/Paramedic. Thanks again for all the advice and I will
be sure to refer your program to whoever is serious about getting this job.
Respectfully, Frank N.
Capt. Bob; Only until I
obtained your program did I figure out how all the pieces of the puzzle of an
oral board fit together. Once I realized how to separate the scenario questions
with the simple formula and put my signature stories together to make the
difference did I get my job offer. Of all places the offer came from my dream
department. I don’t have to move and we are celebrating the birth of our first
child. Sincerely, Tony
Capt. Although I’ve been a
firefighter for awhile in Alberta I tried twice to get on my dream department.
The third time was a charm after getting your program. I tested in Edminton
with 300 guys, made the cut at 100 and placed number 27 on the list. Got the
job offer and I’m going back to my home town! Sean
Last year I purchased your
CD/DVD Conquer the Interview set. After reading through your material
and watching the video I ended up scoring 100% on the following interview. I,
as of many others, am proof that your strategies really do work!!! Jon
Thanks for the help captain bob. I just got your program about
a month ago, and i just landed a seasonal job with CDF today. I also have a
chief’s interview for a city department later this week. Your 'nuggets' really
do work. Thanks a lot!! Jon
Captain
Bob, I want to thank you for all your help in getting me the job of my dreams. I
used to think that that was being a firefighter in North Carolina. I found out
that it wasn't for me. With your techniques and my story I was offered two
positions as a police officer in my first time going through the process. Both
departments are awesome and have great reputations. I couldn't go wrong.
I am now
in the academy for the Arvada Police Department in the Metro Denver area in
Colorado.
Thank you
for your help and support. Everything was worth it and helped me in the process
of finding out that this is the career for me.
Sincerely, Recruit Tim
Capt Bob,
I ordered
your DVD/CDs recently and listened/watched them for about a week. I had
interviewed with one department and never heard anything after the interview
prior to ordering your system. This time I interviewed with my dream
department, and didn't hear anything for about a week.
Friday I
got the call and said I had made it. They asked if I could do my physical as
soon as possible, orientation in 2 weeks and start date of 5 days after my
orientation. I also learned we are expecting another baby girl. Christmas has
come early!
I was
shocked during my interview. One guy was observing the interviews and stood up
at the end and said he wasn't on the board, but would like me to work with his
team to re-vamp their dispatch center and to setup a new CAD system and
automatic vehicle locators.
He said
he had a Doctorate in mechanical engineering and would be honored if I would
join his team in addition to my regular firefighting duties. The Chief smiled
and I knew I had the badge at that point.
I have an
extensive computer and electrical engineering background along with a year of
experience building police cars. This coupled with FF1, FF2,EMT,Hazmat,
Advanced Vehicle Extrication, Driver/Op, and having served as an officer in a
volunteer dept for the last four years, pushed me over the edge.
I want to
thank you for the information passed on thru the cd's, dvd and ebook. It has
changed my career and put it back on the right track! Once again, thanks!
Tracy,
FF/EMT
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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1. Two antennas met on a roof,
fell in love and got married. The
ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.
2. A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you,
but don't start anything."
3. Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted.
4. A dyslexic man walks into a bra.
5. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says:
"A beer please, and one for the road."
6. Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this
taste funny to you?"
7. "Doc, I can't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home!'" "That
sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome." "Is it common?" Well, "It's Not
Unusual."
8. Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to
Dolly, "I was artificially inseminated this morning." "I don't believe
you, "says Dolly. "It's true, no bull!" exclaims Daisy.
9. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to
look at either.
10. Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
11. I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day, but I couldn't
find any.
12. A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted,
"Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!" The doctor replied, "I know
you can't - I've cut off your arms!"
13. I went to a seafood disco last week...and pulled a mussel.
14. What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.
15. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and
says "Dam!"
16. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in
the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't
have your kayak and heat it too.
17. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing
in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about
an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But
why?"
they asked, as they moved off. "Because", he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts
boasting in an open foyer."
18. A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes
to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family
in Spain; they name him "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of
himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband
that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're
twins! If you've
seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal!"
19. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which
produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very
little, which made him rather frail, and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad
breath. This made him a super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
20. And finally, there was the person who sent twenty different puns to
her friends, with the hope that at least ten of the puns would make
them laugh. No pun in ten did.
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7. Resource Websites for Candidates:
http://www.eatstress.com/hotlinks.htm
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Nothing counts til you have the badge . . . Absolutely Nothing!
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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
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