Becoming A Firefighter
or Officer-----The Complete Guide to Your Badge!
Fire "Captain Bob"
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Becoming A Firefighter
or Officer-----The Complete Guide to Your Badge! Fire "Captain Bob"
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Get an Immediate Edge and Bonus when you sign up for our Free Newsletter here FREE 101 Inside Secrets How to Get A Badge Store/Shop Got A Question? Call or e-mail us here LA City Fire Now Testing Monthly Here! Los Angeles County Fire Testing FREE 101 Inside Secrets How to Get A Badge There is a wealth of information in past issues of our newsletter here FREE 10 day test drive of inside secrets. Learn more here Five Nuggets for successful Oral boards 30 sample oral board questions Check out how candidates have improved their position in gaining a badge. What changed? Rob’s corner: Wisdom and insight Links to other firefighter web sites Coyright 1998 - 2008
"Getting the job of your dreams is like winning the lottery!"
"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge. Nothing!"
Anything less and you're still the bridesmaid.
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Firefighters Estimated reading time 2-5 minutes for any segment! December 1, 2006 Leave FireZine easily here:
========================================== Learn from the mistakes of others; you won't live long enough to make them all yourself. DennisTheMenace ========================================== For Back Issues of FireZine
http://www.eatstress.com/firezinearchive.htm 1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip Dilemma I received an e-mail from a candidate asking if they should use in their orals that they were a breast cancer survivor. Another asked is they should include they had ADD learning disabilities as part of answering their strength and weaknesses question. I understand why they want to include these but understand you’re looking for a seamless not surprises interview. You only have to create doubt in one raters mind that you might have problems with the demands of completing the academy, and performing the job once you hit the floor. That doubt could lower your score to be considered to go forward in the hiring process. Please read this preview story. Don’t miss the second part: Part One: Ken asked to introduce me at a Promotional Seminar a few years ago. Needless to say I was overwhelmed with emotion. This is part of that introduction. Imagine an early morning in the bay area. It’s raining heavily as I wait inside the convention center for my 8:00 test time. There are only a few individuals who arrived as early as I had and we were just sitting around the entrance. A gentleman walks up to me and nonchalantly hands me a flyer for products and coaching that is being offered for the interview process. I briefly look it over and say to myself, “I’ve seen these time and time again before. I will just set it aside and look at it later.” I was already working as a full time firefighter and still testing for a few selected departments to keep my options open. I went through the whole process but ended up bombing the chief’s interview. I was a little set back as I thought to myself: “I have already been hired and been so close on other lists. How could I literally bomb the chief’s interview? I knew that over the next few months there was going to be a few more departments testing that would be very important to me, so I found the flyer that gentlemen had given me that early rainy morning. I remember calling him and leaving my pager number. He returned my call in the next few hours. I had never had private coaching. Maybe I should take his advice and get in a session. I could do the session by phone or drive up and get a private coaching session in person. I took out my charge card and bought a plane ticked. Over the next day I was introduced to someone who would tap into inner resources I never knew I had. He allowed me to realize that all the needed answers and keys to unlock any door were already in my back pocket. I just needed instruction on how to access them. I came out number #1 on the next four firefighter exams I took and got three job offers. That was the beginning of my relationship with Captain Bob. I would remain a friend from that day forward. Not for his coaching abilities, but for his true character and integrity. Five years later he would help me again to place in the top group for my Captains badge. I have the opportunity to reach out to approximately 100 new fire recruits every year. They are always inquiring on how to get the job. I tell them the same story and encourage them to see Captain Bob. The serious ones do and I can honestly say that everyone that has heeded my advice has been hired in the short months after their coaching session. Ken Harrison Part Two: I GOT A JOB! Thank you very much for sending me your gold package. I was just given an official job offer. I cannot believe it happened so fast without an academy, paramedic license, reserve or volunteer fire experience. I am 22 this was the third department I applied to and my first department to make it to interviews/ backgrounds/ psych and medical. I could not have done it without this package. I initially prepared with note cards and clone answers. I was turned on to your program the day before my interview. I immediately bought a recorder and listened to the cd’s on the 8 hour drive to my oral board. When I got to the hotel, I threw away my note cards, developed new answers and focused on the questions from your program. When I got into the oral board I was surprised when, on two different occasions, the board members told me “good answer” and “I think you hit everything we were looking for.” I kept the recorder with me for the next few weeks and practiced for my chief’s interview. I start in less than two weeks and I couldn’t be happier. When people ask me how I got the offer without any experience or academy I tell them to go to your website and buy your package and a recorder. Thanks again, I don’t think I could have done it without your help. Sincerely, Brett The connection? Brett is Ken’s nephew. An early Christmas present.
========================================== Captain Bob, First off, I want to thank you for all your great contributions in the firehouse forums. I am in the hiring process for large mid west department, and have a quick question about the medical screening. In the past I have had premature atrial contractions that show up every so often. I have talked to my primary medical doctor about this and he said that it is not an issue, and saw no need for me to see a cardiologist. According to him, and the research I have done, this rhythm can be caused by caffeine, stress, or lack of sleep. I am just afraid that if I get to the medical screening this "issue" might show up and disqualify me. Is there anything that you suggest I do to minimize the chances of being disqualified? Thank you, Jon Pre-Existing Problems If you have a pre-existing medical problem or a serious issue in your background, do yourself a favor and find out early if it will interfere with getting a firefighter job. All too often I receive calls asking “What do I do now?” These candidates have spent time and money gaining education, experience and put their lives on hold trying to get this job, and they have a pre-existing medical problem or traceable background problem that would keep them badge less. Situations like not just one but two DUI’s. Knee surgery with scars. Back surgery that would show in an X-ray (yes, they are going to X-ray you back) and/or be part of your records with your doctor and insurance company. Take the poison early. If you have the slightest concern for a medical problem, have the leading expert in this field of medicine (no, not just your family doctor) evaluate your condition. If they feel you’re fit for duty, have them give you a letter. If the situation comes up during your medical, then and only then, produce the letter. The goal is not being DQ’d during the medical and having to fight the doctors later to get back in. One of our candidates knew he had a potential problem with his heart that would show up on an EKG. He went to the heart specialist that was a household name in the LA area who gave him a letter that found him fit for duty. Sure enough the EKG revealed the concern, the letter was produced and this candidate works for LA City. When my Son Rob was taking his medical, the blood work turned up some questionable numbers. We obtained an appointment with the leading blood specialist in the San Francisco area. He determined that the numbers were caused by a recent flu episode. He wrote a letter that cleared up the issue and Rob went on to get his badge. You don’t want to be like a candidate who called about a pre-existing medical problem with his back. They called him Friday for a medical on Tuesday. Monday was a holiday. He had kept his head in the sand in denial when he knew the medical call was the next step. He didn’t have many options prior to his medical. The time to find out is now; before you’re going for all the marbles.
========================================== http://www.eatstress.com/testdriveintro.htm Bottom line getting a badge is
all presentation skills! The days of us hiring the 19-20
year olds seem to be gone. While there may be a few now and again, if you look
at the average recruit academy these days you will see late 20’s, 30’s and even
some in their 40’s.
CAPTAIN ROB (Thank you) Promotional Written Test The written test can account for 30% to 50% of the total weight of the test. Getting a solid written score can give you a strong position going into the assessment center. Many of the suggested books for the promotion written test have study guides available. Many of the questions on the test will be word for word right out of those study guides. I took a written test for Captain. The top score was 135. I got a score of 112. I thought I failed. I was in second place. The guy in number one slot was a book smart person. We caught up with him in the rest of the assessment center because he didn’t have good presentation skills. He ended up third. You can check on available study guides at the Alabama Fire College Book Store here: http://www.alabamafirecollege.org/davispubs.htm
Wait! While you're here Captain Bob wants to
e-mail you a 10 day F-R-E-E test drive of
selected inside secrets how to get a promotional badge. Learn more here:
http://www.eatstress.com/promointro.htm Just wanted to take a minute to say thank you. I ordered your materials earlier this year as I was testing around the Northern Virginia area for the first time. I was actively working to becoming physically fit for the CPAT, I was taking practice tests for the written exams, and I was totally stumped on how to practice for the oral interviews. Passing the first two I figured I had better "train" for the interviews and your materials helped me nail the both the initial interview and the Chief's interview for the municipality that was my first choice. I knew I could speak clearly and present myself but I was having a hard time deciding what to emphasize and how much to say and your materials helped me feel confident about my answers and kept them on target so I didn't brain dump on the first question. Thanks again for putting together an effective tool that works. I graduated from the academy last week and and proud to say I earned a badge and my dream job. Thanks again, Wells PS. the tape recorder worked wonders! Thanks Captain: I used your coarse to a tee. I got on three short lists and got hired in my home town of 90,000 in Wisconsin. I beat out 300 other canidates. I TURNED FORTEY ONE WHILE I WAS IN RECRUIT SCHOOL. Thanks Captain Bob, John Dear Captain Bob, I ordered the Gold e-book with Hot Seat CD's package. About the CD's, I get chills every time I listen to them. They are absolutely incredible. What other CD's do you have that are not included in that package? All the Best, Mark Dear Captain Bob, I GOT A JOB! Thank you very much for sending me your gold package. I was just given an official job offer. I cannot believe it happened so fast without an academy, paramedic license, reserve or volunteer fire experience. I am 22 this was the third department I applied to and my first department to make it to interviews/ backgrounds/ psych and medical. I could not have done it without this package. I initially prepared with note cards and clone answers. I was turned on to your program the day before my interview. I immediately bought a recorder and listened to the cd’s on the 8 hour drive to my oral board. When I got to the hotel, I threw away my note cards, developed new answers and focused on the questions from your program. When I got into the oral board I was surprised when, on two different occasions, the board members told me “good answer” and “I think you hit everything we were looking for.” I kept the recorder with me for the next few weeks and practiced for my chief’s interview. I start in less than two weeks and I couldn’t be happier. When people ask me how I got the offer without any experience or academy I tell them to go to your website and buy your package and a recorder. Thanks again, I don’t think I could have done it without your help. Sincerely, Brett More badges here: http://eatstress.com/testbest.htm To see
how candidates have improved their position in gaining a badge ==========================================
========================================== Time once again to review the winners of the Annual "Stella Awards." The Stella Awards are named after 81 year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued McDonald's (in NM). That case inspired the Stella Awards for the most frivolous, ridiculous, successful lawsuits in the United States . Here are this year's winners: 7th Place: Kathleen Robertson of Austin , Texas , was awarded $80,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside of a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving little toddler was Ms. Robertson's son. ******************************************************** 6 th Place : 19-year-old Carl Truman of Los Angeles won $74,000 and medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord.Mr. Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps. ********************************************************** 5th Place : Terrence Dickson of Bristol , Pennsylvania , was leaving a house he had just finished robbing by way of the garage. He was not able to get the garage door to go up since the automatic door opener was malfunctioning. He couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the house and garage locked when he pulled it shut. The family was on vacation, and Mr. Dickson found himself locked in the garage for eight days. He subsisted on a case of Pepsi he found, and a large bag of dry dog food. He sued the homeowner's insurance claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The jury agreed to the tune of $500,000. In my opinion this is so outrageous that it should have been 2nd Place !
************************************************************* 4th Place:
Jerry Williams of Little Rock , Arkansas , was awarded $14,500 and medical expenses after being bitten on the buttocks by his next door neighbor's beagle. The beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. The award was less than originally sought, because the jury felt the dog might have been just a little provoked at the time, by Mr. Williams who had climbed over the fence into the yard and was shooting it repeatedly with a pellet gun.
3rd Place : A Philadelphia restaurant was ordered to pay Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, $113,500 after she slipped on a soft drink and broke her coccyx (tailbone). The beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument.
2nd Place : Kara Walton of Claymont , Delaware , successfully sued the owner of a Night club in a neighboring city when she fell from the bathroom window to the floor and knocked out her two front teeth. This occurred while Ms.Walton was trying to sneak through the window in the ladies room to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge. She was awarded $12,000 and dental expenses.
******************************************************** 1st Place :
This year's runaway winner was Mrs. Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma City ,Oklahoma . Mrs. Grazinski purchased a brand new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home, (from an OU football game), having driven onto the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the drivers seat to go into the back & make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the RV left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Mrs.Grazinski sued Winnebago for not advising her in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually do this. The jury awarded her $1,750,000 plus anew motor home. The company actually changed their manuals on the basis of this suit, just in case there were any other complete morons around.
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Remember, absolutely nothing counts 'til you have the badge. Nothing! Get a Bonus when you sign up for our Free Newsletter here Although our products are sold separately, I would suggest you order Gold Package Program and our companion "It's Your Turn in the Hot Seat" CD series here: Special offer program
This program is also available on an easy payment plan
"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!" Ask "Captain Bob" Any Question
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