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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?
Estimated reading time 2-5 minutes for any segment!
January 3, 2007
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In This Issue
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-
Quick Presentation Skills Tip
-
Entry Level Skills Tip
-
Robs Corner
-
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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First this:
I made it!!!!!!
I received the FINAL phone call today around 2pm. I start the fire academy on
Jan 2nd!!!!
Today:
HERE
WE GO!!
I'll be reporting to the Fire Training Center in about an hour to begin 13 weeks
of intense training. My boots are polished, uniforms are ready, lunch is packed
(thanks to my wife) and I must say I'm feeling nervous and excited at the
moment. I pinch myself every so often just to make sure this is really happening
and not just a dream. I've prepared (in one way or another) and waited for this
opportunity my entire life.....WOW!...this is REALLY happening!!
Well, I'll keep you posted as the academy progresses. Sean
Can
you feel the enthusiasm? There’s a badge out there for you too. You just
haven’t seen it yet.
ENTHUSIASM
and PREPARATION
These are
savvy words from Captain Sprink you should take to heart in considering your
pursuit of a badge:
Our
department recently completed the extensive selection process for new recruits.
Our process began with over 1400 candidates applying for 5 positions. I spent a
great deal of time talking with the interview proctors that were involved at all
stages of the process. It is very clear that there are two things that
candidates who advanced through each stage had in common: ENTHUSIASM and
PREPARATION.
I was shocked to hear of the great number of candidates who had a complete lack
of preparation. Your preparation should begin before a test is even announced.
You MUST be spending time every week preparing for written tests. There are
dozens of written test preparation manuals on the market. They all have practice
tests in them. Make an investment in your future, buy some of these manuals and
take the practice tests over and over. Refine your test taking skills, your
competition is!
None should ever go to an interview (of any kind, fire dept or corporate) and
not be able to answer such a basic question as "what do you know about our
organization?" I am a firm believer in the tremendous value of a station visit
before an interview. I do understand that some people may have circumstances
which do not allow them time to visit a station. But there are a vast amount of
other resources that may be used to learn the fundamentals about an
organization. City and Department Websites, Chamber of Commerce, CPF, CSFA, and
Firehouse Magazine just to name a few. There were many, many candidates who knew
little or nothing about the organization. Going to an interview and not being
able to field such a basic question as what one knows about the organization is
unacceptable. You must do your research, your competition is!
I have posted on this board before about the major importance of enthusiasm. You
are asking to join one of the greatest careers in the world, you should be
excited about it! Captain Bob has said that as much as 85% of communication is
non-verbal. Substantial research has demonstrated this in many university
studies. This means that what you say actually only communicates 15% of your
message! The way to sell your message is through enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is
contagious, if you are excited about the opportunity in front of you the panel
members get excited too. Remember they were once in your shoes and your
enthusiasm triggers memories of their own excitement about starting out in the
fire service. As a new recruit, you will be asked to do lots of mundane, routine
things. If you are excited about doing them it just plain makes you likeable. We
have a current recruit who is just about to complete his 18 month probation. He
is always the last to sit and eat at dinner and the first in the sink to wash
dishes-- and is just as excited to clean toilets as he is to go out and train.
Needless to say he is highly regarded throughout the organization.
The secret to getting this enthusiasm out despite being nervous during the
interview is practice. You MUST put yourself in front of people and have them
throw questions at you. Difficult? Of course! But it is only through this type
of practice that you will be able to field different types of questions and
learn how to get out the important information YOU want to say regardless of how
the questions are asked. You MUST spend time in practice interviews, your
competition is!
Congratulations to the 5 who made it and good luck in the academy.
respectfully, Captain Sprink
"stay teachable"
Reply: I'm
constantly baffled by how many candidates are not prepared for the hiring
process. Too many candidates after several attempts and not getting a job offer
think and feel that just around the corner on the next interview they have what
it will take to be selected to go forward in the hiring process. If they do
nothing to prepare nothing will change.
You're right about enthusiasm. Stanford University did a study that showed 85%
of getting a job has to do with your enthusiasm. If you will light yourself on
fire with enthusiasm the panel will stand up, applaud and watch your butt burn!
If you are testing and your results letter doesn’t have a score in the hiring
range you have to start asking yourself why. The problem is too many candidates
don’t have their stuff in place before they walk into the room. Often it’s a
huge error that tanks their score. For some they’re closer than they realize and
only a few adjustments could make the difference.
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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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How are My Answers?
I've
been putting in many days and hours preparing for this interview coming up, I
have a decent shot at the job. Anyway let me know how you think my answers are.
We actually got a paper of some of the questions the oral board may ask. Of
course I won't memorize these answers but just wanted to see where I could
improve on. These are the 3 questions I am spending a lot of time on. Let me
know if these are good, or a clone answer.
1. Why do you want to be a Firefighter with this city?
I want to be a Firefighter with this city because of the excellent customer
service this Fire Department provides both in medical and fire. I like the team
oriented and family atmosphere that is within the stations. I always like to be
learning and training on anything fire and medical related and I know this
department has the best training available and offers the best opportunity to
learn the job.
2. How have you prepared for this position?
I began preparing for this position almost two years ago, but I have been around
the fire service most of my life due to family. I started by taking a
Firefighter 1 and 2 course. I gained certification and then continued to pursue
my Associate's degree in Fire Science. I became a volunteer Firefighter and
respond to calls several days a week. I spend my days and nights and weekends
studying anything Fire related and am constantly training to learn as much as I
can.
3. What made you decide you wanted to be a Firefighter?
I have grown up around the Fire Service most of my life in a big city. I have a
lot of family members that are Firefighters and I have always been interested in
it. I would spend many days at the fire station when I was younger watching how
they train and then I knew I wanted to do it. I didn't officially decide I
wanted to be a Firefighter until I watched several emergencies in my area and
how Firefighters and EMT's operate.
Those are a few, they gave us a list of some "possible" situational questions
but those would be the standard questions about me.
Reply:
Have you practiced these answers with a hand held recorder?
Your answers sound clonish. I know this might surprise you but too many
candidates are using all the above same answers. How are you going to separate
yourself from the rest of those candidates who are using the same answers? Your
score and career will be affected if you don’t, because you’re competing with
candidates who have learned how to make a presentation to capture a badge.
It’s not that you can’t use clone answers. You can. But first you need to
deliver a signature story about you. Not a clone answer of anyone else. I
haven’t met a candidate yet that couldn’t come up with signature stories.
Signature stories demonstrate experience. They also tell that you not only know
the answer to a question, you’ve lived it.
Most firefighters love firefighter stories. If you open up with a signature
story, you instantly separate yourself from the other clone candidates. Stories
show the oral board who you really are. You capture the board and take them on a
journey with a story they have never heard. Isn’t this making sense?
The toughest thing for a candidate to do in an oral is being themselves on
purpose. When you are yourself, you become conversational because you are on
your own turf. This alone can lower the stress and butterflies. Everyone has
butterflies. The trick is to get them to all fly in the same formation.
Relatives: Mentioning you have relatives in the fire service is 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. The
panel can interpret this as asking for more points.
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.
1. Why do you want to be a Firefighter with this city?
Reply: What is a department giving you if you get their badge? One word in the
last sentence of your answer is your key.
2. How have you prepared for this position?
I began preparing for this position almost two years ago.
Reply: Really? Only two years ago. Most candidates don’t rewind the video tape
of their life back far enough to take advantage of great information on their
life and character. Have you had previous jobs? Well, what did you learn? How to
be responsible, work hard, customer service, team work? Did you play sports in
school? If so, what did you learn? How to work as a team, strengths and
weaknesses of the team members, staying physically fit, commitment? Did you
letter in sports? Team Captain? Do these things have any parallel to the fire
service? You bet! Now, you have the beginning for a story.
Stories are more than facts. If you can create the excitement, emotion and magic
of the actual event, you will capture the interest and a top score on that
question. A big part of getting this job is convincing the oral board that you
can do the job before you get it. Stories are convincing and can demonstrate
your experience. Even if they’re not fire related.
3. What made you decide you wanted to be a Firefighter?
Reply: There was a point in your pursuit during a class, ride along or a life
experience where your mind went click; that’s it. This is what I want to do in
life. My life is not going to be the same until I get that badge.
When did this happen? That’s your story that your can marry off with you other
information.
After a written test I asked a group of six candidates why they wanted to be
firefighters. They were amazed that what they thought was unique was only a
“Clone” of everyone in the group. After I worked with one in the group with his
signature story of why he wanted to be a firefighter, the rest of the group used
the formula to put together their own too.
I have yet to find a candidate who doesn’t have signature stories. The problem
is they don’t know how to use them. You might not know yours today. But, after
reading this, you will have some aha’s in the next few days.
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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
==========================================
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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Keep it Clean
A
background investigation is done differently from department to department. The
local Sheriff’s, or PD, a private investigator, or a firefighter on light duty
could do it.
One of the first things they do is to Google the person. You would be amazed
what you can find that way. I talked to a guy recently that said he was asked in
his background packet to list all web sites he contributed to, as well as all
screen names he had used. Unless you are planning on lying they will find it
all. Understand that lying on an application or background questioner is grounds
for dismissal, even 20 years down the road.
As far as medical marijuana goes they may accept that, or may not. But if the
ask if you have EVER used it, you may not be able to explain.
We’ve all
heard the stories of people looking for jobs in the fire service, and something
they considered a minor problem in their past has kept them out. Lets make sure
not to add to that list.
Nothing
will get you kicked out of the background check faster than a D.U.I or a
domestic violence charge. Both usually involve drugs or alcohol. Don’t be
stupid. If you are going to be drinking have a designated driver, get a cab,
stay in a motel, hell sleep under a bridge, but don’t risk throwing all of the
time, education, and dreams you had for so long away over a lapse in judgment.
If you’ve
been in a bad relationship, and you don’t get along with that person, make it
easy on everyone and just stay the hell away from him or her. It is so easy for
things to get out of hand and then the police arrive. Later you have to explain
it to a background investigator.
“But I’m
the best firefighter in the world, if they could just see how good I am they’d
take me for sure”. I’ll tell you right now it ain’t so. Don’t bet on it. If a
department has 100 people to pick from, they don’t need to take a chance on
someone that has blown it in the past. So don’t blow it. If by chance you end up
in one of these situations you need to do everything you can do to minimize the
damage. I’m not talking about doing a “Bill Clinton”, but anything you have to
do to make it right.
I know one
guy who told his girlfriend he wanted to break up, and she thought they were
going to get married. In the scuffle that ensued she had a scratch on her face
when the police arrived. Someone was going to jail and it wasn’t the bride to
be. He was being charged with domestic violence, and was in the hiring process
for a department. He had to make up, get her to say it wasn’t his fault she was
scratched, and then keep her happy so she doesn’t change her mind.
With all
of the preparation we all must go through to get this job, keep in mind to
protect your record. Do every thing you can to not have to be explaining things
to a background investigator. Prepare before you go out to have a good time,
make all of the necessary arrangements before you’ve been drinking, while your
head is clear. If you get into any sticky situations that look like they might
go bad, there is one solution that’s never failed me RUN LIKE HELL, AND DON’T
LOOK BACK.
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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Oral Resume
I was wondering if you had any advice for
presenting an oral resume for a Lieutenant promotional assessment center? I
have received a lot of advice from "experts", but there is no consistency in
what I am hearing. In general, do I need to focus on my experience, education
and awards; or should I focus on my accomplishments and goals as they relate to
the position?
Thank you in advance for you input. – Gary
Reply: Yes, everyone seems to
become an expert once they get promoted.
First establish your resume.
Make sure to include any acting time. Use this sample format here:
http://www.eatstress.com/resume.htm
An oral resume is really the
answer to the question what have you done to prepare for the position. It's your
resume verbally. Start out with your education (keep it in chronological order),
and then experience, any volunteer work you have done in your life and any
projects you can attach your name to. Make it sound exciting.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Practice with a tape recorder to get your timing, inflection, take out pause
fillers like an, um etc, until it comes out of your mouth the way you want the
panel to hear it.
This is all about presentation
skills! Try not to stand behind a lectern. Be out in front with the panel.
Remember this. Nothing can
replace the power of your words! Nothing! Keep it simple. Too many candidates
will try to pull something off, get delayed and get time called on them just as
they were getting to their best stuff.
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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I made it!!!!!!
I received the FINAL phone call today around 2pm. I start the fire academy on
Jan 2nd!!!!
Sean
Hello, Captain Bob! I
just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for your input with a situation I
had this past year. I know you talk to a lot of people, so I don't know if you
will remember me. Earlier this year, 6 weeks into my academy when I was
released after being told I was unsuccessful in their background process, which
included the CVSA (where I think I failed). I had entered the academy,
receiving a paycheck, under a conditional offer of employment, pending a
successful background. This was a completely unexpected setback that I took
very hard, given the number of years that I had spent there as a volunteer, and
I sent you a whole string of e-mails in the Spring. I just wanted you to know
that I received my badge on December 7 from a great Fire District (who I have
been trying to get hired by for almost 5 years) and just finished my first
rotation yesterday morning as a firefighter/paramedic. The background process
(which included the CVSA and psych) went great. I completed our academy as Most
Outstanding Recruit. I couldn't be happier with my employment here. Thank you
for your thoughts and words of encouragement. I tell everyone I can about you.
Ryan
Not sure if you remember me but
my name is Jake Young and when we last spoke I was going on my oral boards. That
was about 8 months ago. I just received a call from them today offering me a
job. I start on the 15th of January and I couldn’t have done it
without your support and help.
Your website is the number one
out there of people trying to get into the Fire Service by far. Not only do you
have out standing information but you actually reply back to people in such a
short time frame it’s almost scary! A little joke.
Once again I got the Badge and I
will keep you posted. Thanks so much,
Jake
P.S. The only bad part is that I
have to suck this job up for another month.
Captain Bob - Wanted to drop you
a line and let you know how much your site has helped me in my pursuit of a fire
career. Although I have never talked to you or your son, or purchased your
materials, I have kept up with your website over the years, and have gleaned so
much useful and helpful information from it. I recently was hired on as a
probationary firefighter with a department in WA. Your interview tips (the tape
recorder and video camera especially) were instrumental in my preparation and
eventual success. It has been a long four years, but I feel that all the time,
money, and hours of studying were definitely worth it. Keep up the great
work!! Thanks – Jeff
Capt. Bob-Just
thought I'd let you know... I received my acceptance letter yesterday to the
Reserve Deputy Academy. We begin training Jan. 22!
I am thrilled about the
opportunity, and I honestly don't think that I could have done well in the oral
board without the help of your E-Book! It taught me all of the essentials,
introducing ways to set myself apart from the "robot" applicants. For the first
time in my life, I felt prepared going into a job interview. I'll
recommend your book and help to anyone looking for assistance.
Thank you again for the
great backing, leading me to a job I've been waiting quite a while for! This
will be a great way for me to gain experience while going to school for Criminal
Justice, and should help me when I am looking for a position as a full time
deputy or officer.
My Utmost Appreciation,
Reserve Deputy Jason Stillwater, MN
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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WISDOM - FROM THE MILITARY MANUAL
"A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect
it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit." - Army's
magazine of preventive maintenance.
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"Aim towards the Enemy." - Instruction printed on US Rocket Launcher
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"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend. - U.S. Marine Corps
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"Cluster bombing from B-52s are very, very accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to
always hit the ground." - USAF Ammo Troop
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"If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal
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"It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed." -
U.S. Air Force Manual
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"Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered
automatic weapons." - General Macarthur
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"Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo." - Infantry Journal
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"You, you, and you ... Panic. The rest of you, come with me." - U.S. Marine Corp
Gunnery Sgt.
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"Tracers work both ways." - U.S. Army Ordnance
- -----------------------------------------------------
"Five second fuses only last three seconds." - Infantry Journal
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"Don't ever be the first, don't ever be the last, and don't ever volunteer to do
anything." - U.S. Navy Swabbie
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"Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid." - David Hackworth
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"If your attack is going too well, you're walking into an ambush." - Infantry
Journal
- --------------------------------------------------------
"No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection." - Joe Gay
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"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once."
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"Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do." - Unknown Marine
Recruit
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"Don't draw fire; it irritates the people around you." - Your Buddies
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"If you see a bomb technician running, follow him." - USAF Ammo Troop
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"Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death, I Shall Fear No Evil. For I am at
80,000 Feet and Climbing." - At the entrance to the old SR-71 operating base
Kadena, Japan
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"You've never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3." - Paul F. Crickmore
(test pilot)
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"The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire."
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"Blue water Navy truism: There are more planes in the ocean than submarines in
the sky." - From an old carrier sailor
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"If the wings are traveling faster than the fuselage, it's probably a helicopter
-- and therefore, unsafe."
-------------------------------------------------------
"When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane you always have enough power
left to get you to the scene of the crash."
-------------------------------------------------------
"Without ammunition, the USAF would be just another expensive flying club."
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"What is the similarity between air traffic controllers and pilots? If a pilot
screws up, the pilot dies; If ATC screws up, .... The pilot dies."
-------------------------------------------------------
"Never trade luck for skill."
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The three most common expressions (or famous last words) in aviation are: "Why
is it doing that?", "Where are we?" And "Oh S...!"
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"Progress in airline flying: now a flight attendant can get a pilot pregnant."
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"Airspeed, altitude and brains. Two are always needed to successfully complete
the flight."
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"A smooth landing is mostly luck; two in a row is all luck; three in a row is
prevarication."
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"I remember when sex was safe and flying was dangerous."
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"Mankind has a perfect record in aviation; we never left one up there!"
-------------------------------------------------------
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on
the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
--------------------------------------------------------
"The Piper Cub is the safest airplane in the world; it can just barely kill
you." - Attributed to Max Stanley (Northrop test pilot)
-------------------------------------------------------
"There is no reason to fly through a thunderstorm in peacetime." - Sign over
squadron ops desk at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1970
---------------------------------------------------------
"If something hasn't broken on your helicopter, it's about to."
---------------------------------------------------------
"You know that your landing gear is up and locked when it takes full power to
taxi to the terminal."
--------------------------------------------------------------
As the test pilot climbs out of the experimental aircraft, having torn off the
wings and tail in the crash landing, the crash truck arrives, the rescuer sees a
bloodied pilot and asks "What happened?".
The pilot's reply: "I don't know, I just got here myself!" - Attributed to Ray
Crandell (Lockheed test pilot)
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7. Resource Websites for Candidates:
http://www.eatstress.com/hotlinks.htm
==========================================
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http://www.eatstress.com/firezinearchive.htm
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==> SHARE YOUR TIP
or STORY. Send it 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.
Phone: 888-238-3959 local 925-846-3959 Fax: 925-846-9650
E-mail
Mailto:captbob@eatstress.comRemember, absolutely nothing counts 'til you have the
badge. Nothing!
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