Since 100% of your
score in obtaining a firefighter job is in the oral board, what are you missing
that's keeping you from gaining that badge?
If you are on AOL or having trouble reading this newsletter, click here:
http://www.eatstress.com/FireZineDec02.htm
FIREZINE
Cutting edge interview skills to get that badge from Fire
Captain Bob.
More than 2,068 candidates have received their badge from
this program!
December 3, 2002. Copyright Code 3 Publishing 2002
captbob@eatstress.com web site: www.eatstress.com 888-238-3959
For Subscribe/Unsubscribe procedures, scroll to end.
==========================================
No one ever lost credibility by
being interesting.
==========================================
==========================================
Nothing counts til you have the badge . . . Absolutely Nothing!
=========================================
Please forward or recommend
this FIRE-ZINE to anyone you
know that wants to shorten the learning curve to get
that badge!
If you are receiving this issue as a forward, and would
like to get your own free subscription, click here to visit
http://www.eatstress.com/firezine_signup.htm
To remove yourself from this
list see bottom of this email.
PRIVACY STATEMENT: We will not distribute your address
to anyone. Period.
==========================================
IN THIS
ISSUE
==========================================
1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip
2. Entry Level Skills Tip
3. Promotional Level Skills Tip
(Entry level should read this too)
4. Robs Corner
5. New Badges
6. Humor
7. Resource Websites for Candidates
==========================================
1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip
==========================================
Every Saturday there is a farmer's market in our town. Many booths sell strawberries. There is one strawberry booth though that has a long line until they sell out. If you asked anyone in the line that is a half block long, they would tell you that these strawberries are the best. People stand in line for up to 20 minutes. What makes these strawberries better?
Well, it is know that once strawberries are picked, they will not get any sweeter. So this farmer only picks his berries at the peak of their sweetness. One or two days later these berries would go to mush. But, this farmer knows he can pick his berries at their peak and have them sold the next morning. He also piles on extra berries as he bags up your purchase. This is his competitive advantage.
What are your uniqueness and competitive advantage in getting a badge? Something that is going to make you stand out among the other (strawberry booths) candidates? Is it your special uniqueness to take a program from inception to completion? Your long trail of customer service? Team concept? Strengths? The burning desire to continue when others' would quit?
Your special uniqueness doesn't have to be firefighter related. As a matter of fact, those candidates that can weave their personal life experience into their oral board answers run right by the other "Clone" candidates.
The point here is start writing down your special unique qualities that will give you that competitive advantage on your oral board game day that will inspire the board to say we want to hire this person. It can happen just that fast when you know what it is for you.
==========================================
Learn how entry level and promotional candidates are improving their interview
scores up to 15 points and nailing that badge!
Click here:
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage2.htm
==========================================
===========================================
2. Entry
Level Skills Tip ===========================================
Captain Bob
My father is a thirty-year veteran of the Oakland fire department. My grand father was a twenty-six year veteran of the Oakland police department. Would it be a good idea to incorporate that information into an answer on the oral exam? Thanks Rod
Reply:
It's tricky. It's a balancing act. It could hurt you. Too many candidates club the oral board over the head with a dad or other relative who is or has been a firefighter.
With my Son Rob we used it this way: I've wanted to be a firefighter most of my life because members of my family have been firefighters. He never said who. If they wanted to know they would ask. They only asked once. That department hired him.
We approved the way another candidate used his signature story:
When I was 10 years old, my father took me to work with him as a captain on the Boston Fire Department. That afternoon we got a call. We rolled out with a lot of other rigs to an apartment fire. I saw my dad get off the rig, direct people for rescue and extinguish the fire. I knew right then that I would not be satisfied until I achieved my badge. Steve
Reply:
Who else could tell Steve’s story? No one. He was there. After we worked on this story in private coaching, Steve was able to recreate the excitement, emotion, enthusiasm, and color of the actual event. You were on the rig with Steve; you saw the flames and the hairs on the back of your neck start standing up. Does this make a difference in an oral board? Please say yes. You see, firefighters love firefighter stories. We do. If you can tell the oral board a signature story from your life experience that relates to the answer, it can catapult you past the “Clone” candidates.
==========================================
Bottom line getting a badge is all presentation skills!
Click here for the FREE 101 Inside Secrets How to Get
a Badge!
http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm
==========================================
==========================================
To ask Captain Bob any question just click here:
E-mail Mailto:captbob@eatstress.com
==========================================
==========================================
3.
Promotional Level Skills Tip
==========================================
Prepared?
This is a great time for promotional opportunities. Up to forty percent of the
positions in the fire service are promotable. It is the quickest way for you to
improve the economic situation for you and your family for the rest of your
career and far into the retirement years. We are at the natural
20-year cycle for retirement and positions are being filled, and administrations
are changing. Add to this 3% @ age fifty. Even those who said they wouldn’t
leave with 3% often change their minds when they crunch the numbers. And, you
can never know what will take place in a promotional examination. Candidates
who don’t prepare, won’t show up at the written test to fail and be embarrassed.
I know a test where 25 people signed up for a captain’s test. Only nine showed
up for the written. The six who made the list were promoted within a year. You
never know.
Being ready only makes sense. Once recent candidate placed in the top 10 on a
large department list. Fifteen were called in for a second interview. After
they passed him twice for other candidates, he was told that they had more
acting time, fire officer training classes and degrees and certificates. They
aren’t going to give you the job just because you’re such a great guy or
gal. Sure it takes time and commitment to move along in career
development. Most departments pay you an educational incentive.
After I got off rookie probation, I targeted how many would retire by the time I
was able to take the first test. Twenty-seven engineers and captains were going
to retire when I was able to test during my sixth year. By then, I was the
second member of the department to receive an AA degree and had practiced for
the tests before the job announcements. The engineers test was first. I had a
job in 30 days after the test. Three months later, I had a captains badge and
was in the position for 22 years. I tested and acted as BC, but did not care
for the position.
The ball is in your court. You can do hard time. You can do easy time. The
choice is yours.
“We have forty million reasons for failure but not a single excuse – Rudyard
Kipling
For more on our
promotional program click here:
http://www.eatstress.com/promo.htm
==========================================
4.
Robs Corner
==========================================
Life
is Timing:
I got a
call yesterday from a guy sitting in his hotel room in Las Vegas. I had talked
to him a few months ago, and given him the questions to prepare for a one-on-one
coaching session. He tells me he just passed the physical agility and that they
sprung the oral on him for the next day, could I help. NO! I know the
paperwork sent out for the test said that was how the testing was going to be.
Physical one day. Oral the next. There is an oral in your future, start
getting ready. There is no getting
ready too early, just to late when it comes to preparation.
About
half the calls I get are from people that are within one week of their
interview. Not only does this mean they won’t have time to memorize the Oscar
winning script that we come up with, but it means I have to find some place in
my schedule to fit them in. My wife has told me the only way I can continue to
do coaching is if we set dates and time at the beginning of each month, and
that’s it. Or I don’t get any! I love you guys, and I love coaching, but I ain’t
given up the nookie for any of you.
Stan
works at the Rave warehouse, he’s the guy that sends out the tapes and books. He
is constantly amazed at how many next day shipments he sends out. How can you
expect a guy to check out his safety gear in the morning, if he doesn’t think to
prepare for the biggest test of his life, until the week of? I don’t know what
to tell him.
In the
month of December, I have eight days that I can do coaching, and that doesn’t
mean all day. I have fifteen slots left. So shop early.
Have a
Merry Christmas, and a hired New Year. Good Luck, Firefighter Rob
FIREFIGHTER ROB
NRTC@SONIC.NET
http://www.eatstress.com
Rob is Captain Bob's Son. He works for Contra Costa fire department. He does all the entry level coaching by phone nationwide. You can contact him direct with your questions or set up a coaching appointment @ 707-869-1330. or e-mail me @ nrtc@sonic.net
For more on entry level coaching click here:
http://www.eatstress.com/private%20coaching.htm
You can read more of Rob’s
wisdom by clicking here:
http://www.eatstress.com/robs_corner.htm
==========================================
Just 21 more shopping days until Christmas.
If anyone asks you
what you want, send them to the products section of our web site:
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage6.htm
==========================================
==========================================
5.
New Badges
==========================================
Entry Level:
Captain Bob,
Just wanted to take a few minuets out of my busy pro-bee day to let you
know that I finally nailed that badge!!!
After nearly 5 years of trying, I finally succeeded.
Just wanted to say that your Video/Audio tape package gave me the
information I needed to “deliver the golden nuggets”.
I purchased the package after making many chiefs orals, but had no
success after that. It only took 3 oral interviews after using your program to
finally “get that badge”. So I am very proud and happy to say that I am in my
second month of probation!!
Thanks again for having such an awesome program, which I would recommend to anybody looking to be successful in their quest to become Firefighters. Murry
Dear Capt Bob,
I would like to start by saying thank you. I have used your study guide
audio/video program for interviews and psych, you have critiqued my resume, and
I have asked you questions about the process I was in with LAFD. Well, I would
like to let you know I start the Academy with LAFD on 11/25. I will be Class
02-4 at Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Academy (drill tower 89). It has been a
long process.
I have been testing for 3-4 years. I have FF1, AS Fire Science, Paramedic, experience and I was tired of getting rejected.
Well, I am anxious for the tower to start it will be a tough 19 weeks, but what I have gone through, I know I can do it. If you are in LA around the first week of April, you have my personal invitation to my graduation. It will be April 4th. Captain Bob thanks again, for everything, you have helped me in many ways. Keep doing what you’re doing. You make dreams come true. Thanks Stan
Promotional:
Thanks for your help, I found
out Friday that I passed the 3rd phase of the captains' test. I got a 94.67 on
my oral, and a 94.67 on the simulator. That put me #6 on the list. There are 6
captain retirements for sure by Jan. 2003. You gave me some valuable tips, and a
confidence boost. I was able to go to my oral and be myself and sell
myself. thanks again, keep up the good work; Eileen
Click here to see how candidates have improved their
position in gaining a badge:
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage152.htm
==========================================
Check out the current "Bonus Nugget" oral board tip on our
web site by clicking here:
http://www.eatstress.com/bonusnugget.htm
==========================================
Hot off the Press! Captain Bobs new book, Eat Stress For
Breakfast. Click here to check it out:
www.eatstress.com/stressfire.htm
==========================================
The Formula
==========================================
Here's what we know after 30-years of experience.
Candidates
who get our Audio/Video Entry Level or Promotional Program,
use the work booklet, practice with the all-important TAPE RECORDER, and come
back for a private coaching session, catapult themselves into the Olympic
camp. That's where you get a shot at that badge you have
been
looking for.
One on one coaching sessions
are where you get dialed into making your best presentation. It can make the
difference between being down on a list and being in the top 10 going for the
chief's oral. Candidates armed with this information are the one's who are
smoking past you in the oral, grab the badge and leave you as the bride's maid
again. We know because we get the calls when they get their badge! You can
contact my Son Rob direct to set up a coaching session @ 707-869-1330.
Robs e-mail is nrct@sonic.net
Click here to learn more
about private coaching
http://www.eatstress.com/private%20coaching.htm
You start by ordering our
Entry Level Audio/Video or Promotional Program from the products section of our
web site below or by calling our distributor Rayve @ 800-852-4890. This program
will keep you motivated! The program comes with a no questions asked full refund
if you're not satisfied. You're at no risk except you might get a badge.
Consider also getting our new book "Eat Stress For Breakfast" to help you
along your journey.
"Nothing counts 'til you have
the badge . . . Nothing! And, there is no feeling like proudly
wearing the badge."
Check out the specials on
our products for entry level and promotional testing:
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage6.htm
==========================================
6.
Humor
==========================================
"KNOW YOUR STATE MOTTO"
Alabama: Hell Yes, We Have
Electricity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alaska: 11,623 Eskimos Can't Be Wrong!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arizona: But It's A Dry Heat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arkansas: Literacy Ain't Everything
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
California: By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Colorado: If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connecticut: Like Massachusetts, Only The Kennedy's Don't Own It Yet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Delaware: We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Florida: Ask Us About Our Grandkids
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Georgia: We Put The "Fun" In Fundamentalist Extremism
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hawaii: Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru (Death To Mainland Scum,
LeaveYour Money)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Idaho: More Than Just Potatoes ... Well Okay, We're Not, But The Potatoes Sure
Are Real Good
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Illinois: Please Don't Pronounce the "S"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Indiana: 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Iowa: We Do Amazing Things With Corn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kansas: First Of The Rectangle States
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kentucky: Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Louisiana: We're Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maine: We're Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maryland: If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Massachusetts: Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's (For Most Tax Brackets)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michigan: First Line Of Defense From The Canadians
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Minnesota: 10,000 Lakes... And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mississippi: Come And Feel Better About Your Own State
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Missouri: Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Montana: Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber, Right-wing Crazies, and Very Little
Else
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nebraska: Ask About Our State Motto Contest
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nevada: Hookers and Poker!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Hampshire: Go Away And Leave Us Alone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Jersey: You Want A ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right Here!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New Mexico: Lizards Make Excellent pets
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New York: You Have The Right To Remain Silent, You Have The Right To an Attorney
.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
North Carolina: Tobacco Is A Vegetable
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
North Dakota: We Really Are One Of The 50 States!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ohio: At Least We're Not Michigan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oklahoma: Like The Play, Only No Singing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oregon: Spotted Owl... It's What's For Dinner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pennsylvania: Cook With Coal
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rhode Island: We're Not REALLY An Island
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
South Carolina: Remember The Civil War? We Didn't Actually Surrender
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
South Dakota: Closer Than North Dakota
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tennessee: The Educashun State
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Texas: Si' Hablo Ing'les (Yes, I Speak English)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Utah: Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vermont: Yep
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Virginia: Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Washington: Help! We're Overrun By Nerds And Slackers!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Washington, D.C.: Wanna Be Mayor?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
West Virginia: One Big Happy Family... Really!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wisconsin: Come Cut The Cheese
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wyoming: Where Men Are Men ..... and the sheep are scared!
==========================================
7. Resource Websites for Candidates
==========================================
Perfect Firefighter
Candidate. Job listing and a
complete resource web site with a community bulletin board.
Don McNea Fire School, Inc. is the #1 Firefighter
Preparatory Entrance School in the Country.
They have the inside information how to tackle those psychological and
personality questions on the written.
Learn how entry level and promotional candidates are
improving their interview scores up to 15 points and nailing that badge!
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage2.htm
FREE 101 Inside Secrets How to Get a Badge!
http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm
Check out the specials on
our products for entry level and promotional testing:
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage6.htm
FIREHIRE, Entry-level
firefighter examination process:
Firenuggets.com "The
Internet magazine dedicated to keeping firefighters safe"
http://www.firenuggets.com
Fireforhire:
firefighter employment job
listings
B-Pad Assessment Devices.
If you're an agency looking for a new dimension to evaluate candidates,
or a candidate wanting information on how you can orientate your skills for this
evaluation check out their web site:
=============================================
FREE ARTICLES FOR YOUR PUBLICATIONS
=============================================
I have many articles available for reprint in your
publication, newsletter, etc. You may use
articles written by me that you see in Fire-Zine or
go to our web site @ http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm
All you have to do is print the article in its entirety along
with the by line, the credits, and complete contact
information found at the bottom of the web site page. I would
appreciate a tear sheet or electronic copy too. Thanks
=============================================
For Back Issues of Fire-Zine
http://www.eatstress.com/firezinearchive.htm
=============================================
=============================================
THE SMALL PRINT
YOU ARE RECEIVING this free newsletter on how to get a
badge
because you are on Fire Captain Bobs
opt-in Fire-Zine mailing list.
PLEASE RECOMMEND THIS NEWSLETTER to anyone you
know that is interested in shortening the learning curve to get a badge.
Just click on "Forward" in
your email program.
TO SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE, go to
http://www.eatstress.com/firezine_signup.htm
PRIVACY STATEMENT: We will not distribute your email
address to anyone. Period.
TIME TO SHARE. Please send your
ideas, questions, your success stories and when you
nail that badge to captbob@eatstress.com
==========================================
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.
5565 Black Ave. Pleasanton 94566 (near San Francisco)
Phone: 888-238-3959 local 925-846-3959 Fax: 925-846-9650
E-mail
Mailto:captbob@eatstress.com