Becoming A Firefighter or Officer-----The Complete Guide to Your Badge!

Fire "Captain Bob"

"Getting the

job of your

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Nothing!"

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Firefighters

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!

November 1, 2006

Over 2,428 badges and counting have received their badges from this program!  Thousands more have been hired by using the free information from our web site and having their questions answered by phone or e-mail.

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             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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First this: Captain Bob is coming to Sandusky Ohio for a Promotional Seminar on December 2, 2006.  All the details here: http://www.eatstress.com/sandusky.htm

The city I am going for is Canton.  A lot of People, I mean everyone that I have talked to that has been through this oral say it’s like none other.   There are three guys in there and their goal is to make you look like an idiot. Everything you say they question?  They make you second-guess; one guy says they make you sound like you have no idea what you are talking about.

Reply: Don't psych yourself out!  This is an older style of oral board not often used anymore.  It’s called branching off. Solution: Deliver your answer and stick to it.  If nothing more be the broken record and repeat what you already said.  More here:  http://www.eatstress.com/newpage16.htm 

One guy looks at the clock and back at you and back at the clock the whole interview.  He wants you to think you are wasting his time.  The guy in the middle shuffles your resume, app, certs, and all the paperwork, they have on you, he just sits there and shuffles this through.  One guy said he had one of the guy’s nod off and act like he was sleeping.  Its like game to them, they say that the ask only one question that is like the 30 you have given me and that is what do you know about the city of canton.

Reply: That's why you fill out and use your script.  You can get a script here: http://www.eatstress.com/workboolette.htm

Other things they have you do is they give you 30 cards with all kinds of emergencies on them, and you are pretend a 911 dispatcher.  You have to prioritize them in serious to lease serious.  Oh yeah they give 3 min and if you are not done in 3 min you fail.

Reply: You must have your priorities in place not matter what they say and do why you're doing this exercise.

Another thing they give you is 9 qualities of a ff.  And you have to tell them what order they should go in from the most important to the least important!   Integrity professionalism accuracy speed etc....

Yea, yea.

Everyone says this is by far the hardest oral they have every seen. I know guys that did so bad they were asked to just leave and they were finished.  Now how do you prepare for that?

Reply: Please.  They just weren't as prepared as you will be.

Also, I am 22 i have had a suspended drivers license 3 years ago for a speeding ticket it was only suspense for 2 days.  How do i explain that, I listened to your explanation about drag racing and jail time?  Should I go that route?  I have no pts on my record with no accidents, dui, or nothing serious but that suspension at 19 might hurt me.  I’m nervous as hell!! I don’t know what to do.

Reply: Don't bring it up unless they do.  If they do give the simple explanation you gave here.  It was a stupid kid thing. What you learned and why it will never happed again. Then be the broken record.

I work on a paid on call dept with 2 previous buddies getting f/t jobs at Canton that worked at my paid on call city so I know its possible.

Reply: Yes, you can do this too.

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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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CAPT Bob, I am taking the fire fighter entrance exam in January for the Seattle Fire Department and have been reading study guides and talking with fire fighters for a few months now.  I believe I am a strong candidate, I have a BS degree (I read your website about degrees and how they don't count for much) and I was in the military and qualify for veteran's preference.

The one area that I am concerned is, I do not have an EMT certification.  The reason that I do not have an EMT certification is because I simply can not afford to take the classes.  My wife is a full time student and I have a 1 year old daughter.  I can't spend a month's rent on taking classes at the local community college.

On the website for the Seattle Fire Dept., they mention that if you do not have your EMT certificate the department will provide you with training once you have been selected.  Do you feel that the selection committee will see that I don't have my EMT and pass me over, even though the department provides training? Thank you, Frank

You wrote: On the website for the Seattle Fire Dept., they mention that if you do not have your EMT certificate the department will provide you with training once you have been selected. 

Reply; Don't bank on this especially if you're not a minority or have a hardship.  No, your situation is not a hardship.

Do you feel that the selection committee will see that I don't have my EMT and pass me over, even though the department provides training?

Reply: Yes not having your EMT will be a factor because those that do will have a much shorter academy.

There are accelerated EMT programs out there that can certify you in a few weeks or less.

Here’s a double WOW!

A very excited candidate called with a great story recently on a Friday.  At age 23 Steve decided he really wanted to be a firefighter.  He had no education or experience.  Where to start?  A couple of firefighters told him to be able to test at many agencies he need to first become an EMT.

While taking his EMT one of the instructors told him about our Gold Package Program http://www.eatstress.com/goldpackage.htm Steve got the program and two months later he had got his EMT cert and signed up for his first test.  He made it through the written, agility and was invited to his first oral board.  Two weeks later he was invited back to his first chiefs oral.  Next thing called that he’s an alternate for those being considered for the next academy.  One of those going for his medical was DQ’d because of lung capacity.

On Monday, Steve gets a call asking if he can complete his psych and medical that week?  Oh, yea, he can.  On that Friday when Steve called me he just got off the phone from HR asking him if he could start the academy the next Monday.  WOW!  His wife got a job offer the same day in the same city.  Double WOW!

Shhhh.  Don’t tell Steve it’s not possible to get hired with just an EMT.  He’s busy in the academy working hard towards badge pinning graduation day. 

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

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While You’re here get a 10 day test drive of selected inside secrets how to get a badge. Learn more here:

http://www.eatstress.com/testdriveintro.htm

Bottom line getting a badge is all presentation skills!

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

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Ask Captain Bob any questions

E-mail Mailto:captbob@eatstress.com

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

Dear Capt. Bob & Rob:

In 2002, you and your son helped me get my dream job with a large fire dept. in SoCal.  Unfortunately, I ran into some trouble with the law, and had to resign. Still using what I learned from private coaching, I got a job offer from a small town fire dept. In which I accepted.

Last year, the EMT agency denied my application to recertify. After talking to you and taking your advice, I appeal their decision and they decided to accept my application with no conditions.

Once again, Sir I need your help. Again, using what I learned from private coaching, I just received a job offer for not one but two large fire dept's. My problem is I don't know which fire dept. to choose. I just wanted to share this story with you and you son.  

Thank you, Dave

Well of course congratulations are in order.  I’m very happy to see things work out for the best.  It is a rare thing indeed to get a second chance, I’m sure you will make the most of it.

As funny as it sounds, a lot of the calls I get from people I have coached are similar.  They have gotten multiple job offers and they never in their wildest dreams imagined such a problem.  There is a lot of thought that should go into a decision this huge.  It’s probably the most important decision, other than getting married, that you will ever make, and according to statistics your job could last longer.

Pay, benefits and retirement are things that you should consider.  You should also look at the culture of the department, their attitude toward training, safety, and your ability to specialize and promote.  

Total compensatory salary is something that you can use to compare departments.  That means the amount of pay you end up with after all is said and done.  You can have one that pays $5,000 and they pay all of your retirement and medical costs, the $5,000 is your pay before taxes.  Another department may pay you $7,500, but then take out all of your benefits leaving you with $5,000.  The difference comes into play when you get raises and retire.  A 5% raise is bigger if you are paid the hirer amount, and if you retire at say 85% of you salary you would definitely want it based on the hirer amount.

Talking to the last people hired and the people getting ready to retire from those departments could help you in making your decision.  Also, if you are married it is of the utmost importance that your significant other is going to be happy there.  You don’t want to be to far from family, friends or shopping.  If momma ain’t happy nobody is happy.

 I’m sure there will be hundreds of people who read this and wish they had your problems.  No matter what path you choose I’m sure you will have a long and rewarding career.

Saying to only test for the departments that you want to work for is like saying only to date people you want to marry. How could you know? I am so glad I didn’t get hired at the department I had picked.

I didn’t even know the name of the department I work for now when I decided to become a firefighter.

Back in 1985 I was in the fire academy at Chabot College located at the San Leandro training tower. Everyone thinks that they went to the best academy in the word and had the best instructors. They are wrong, because I did.

Mike Litvinchuck ran the academy and he had a place on the board in the front of the classroom were the upcoming tests were listed. I came into class one day and no one was there. He looked at me and asked what I was doing there. I told him I was there for class. I will never forget his response, he said, “Did you sign up for this class to get a piece of paper to hang on your wall, or did you want to be a fireman?” Of course I said fireman, and he told me to get into my car and maybe I could make it in time to put in an app for the one day they were being accepted. He said if you are taking classes to be a firefighter, or working while you test don’t lose sight of the fact that is you highest priority, and nothing should get in the way of taking every test you can. As he put it, “It has been a long time since people were hired as they walked down the street, you have to go through the process, and the more you do the better you do.

I made it, took the test and came out 1251 out of 2000. I cannot understand how anyone did worse than I did, I sucked. Most people do in their first few interviews. I took every test I could and two years later that same department hired me. If I had picked that department and only tested for it, I would have done better the next time I’m sure, I might have been 900 out of 2000. Every test I took I did better and got to the chief’s interview in every test I took after a year.

A wise man once told me, “God has a plan for your life, he just doesn’t share it with you”, and “ God always answer prays, just sometimes the answer is no”. If I had tested only for the few departments I was interested in I would have been hired. But probably a year or two later, and knowing what I do about those departments now, I never would have been as happy as I am now.

 
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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Captain Bob is coming to Sandusky Ohio for a Promotional Seminar on December 2, 2006.  All the details here: http://www.eatstress.com/sandusky.htm

“SHOWTIME!”

One of the major objectives in the promotional process to convince the interview board that you can do the job before you get it!  Through your signature stories you can demonstrate your qualification experiences.  Your stories demonstrate you not only know the answer to the question, you have already lived it!  Few things carry more weight than saying, "It has been my experience," followed by your story. 

Don’t hold back here because it’s “SHOWTIME!”  You are auditioning for the part to be an engineer, inspector or officer.  Just like a part in a play, you have to have your lines down for the part.  This is your only shot.  It’s the bright lights of Broadway.  It’s “SHOWTIME!”  The curtain is going up.  Put on your top hat, grab your cane and step it out. Hit it!

How long do you think you have after you walk into the room of an interview or presentation to hook the board into listening to you . . . 32 seconds!  This is called the halo effect.  You walk in with a halo.  It’s up to you if you keep it.  In those few seconds, the board is checking what you wear, eye contact, voice, choice of words, body language and presentation. 

If you want to keep the halo and their attention you have to come out swinging.  A signature story as part of your first answers can accomplish this balancing act.

This even works on an engineer’s test.  Although the engineer’s test is mostly technical information, adding stories delivers bonus points.  Fred was asked on the practical portion of an engineer’s test what he would do if he experienced hot brakes.  After giving the technical textbook answer, he told an actual story how he experienced the problem last summer while fighting a wildland fire.

Phil is the technical advisor for his department.  The toughest part of Phil’s engineer’s test was his oral panel.  Even with acting time on two lists he just couldn’t get fired up during the interview, until he started using his signature stories.  Remember seeing the news story on national television of a retarded child that climbed up an electrical tower?  Phil was the technical guy who knew how to get him down.  So, when Phil was asked a technical question on his test, he followed it with BAM, BAM, BAM with that great story.  Hey Phil, that’s a nice badge you’re wearing.

No matter what position you are testing for, your signature stories will help you pull ahead of the other “clone” answer candidates.

 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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Capt. Bob, I just wanted to say thanks for your help.  I ordered your gold program a couple of months ago and it made a big difference in my interviewing techniques.  I have been testing for about 3 years and have been working as a volunteer firefighter for about a year and a half.  After I listened to your program I realized all of the mistakes that I had been making.  Answers that I thought had been solid were really some of the worst I could have been giving.  I just had my first interview after I had prepared with your program and guess what? I GOT THE JOB!!!!  Placed in the top 5 when they were hiring about 20.  Needless to say I am very excited and can't thank you enough for putting together this program.  It was well worth every penny to be living the dream!

 Thanks again, Rob

Captain Bob This is a letter that you've received so many times from people that you have never met. My story is not that different. I don't know if you truly know how your program, and your son's help have changed so many lives. This job has been my dream for five years and counting, and it's finally come true. I got the call from my new Chief yesterday, offering me a badge, I happily accepted, and I start November 1, 2006. I would never in a million years have accomplished this on my own, and I have no problem admitting that. A simple Thank You does not feel like enough, but know that with your help, my family's life has changed forever. I wish you and your family the very best.

Sincerely, David & Sandy 

 Hi Bob and Rob, Thanks for your help after 4 1/2 years of test and preparing I getting my badge!!!!! I received my conditional offer Friday. Thanks LB

 I had been trying to get into the police department for 2 years prior to finding Capt Bob.  I am not sure If I was 100% committed at first but after I got the help from Capt Bob I was.  I bought the manual and studied it during my free time.  It showed me what I was doing wrong.  The manual helped a great deal and the coaching from Capt Rob was what really put everything together.  The oral board really is the place to shine in the testing process.  I know I did well, I could see form the officers interviewing me that my answers were good and not what they were use to hearing.  The next phase took a little longer....about 5 months for background and who knows what else they were doing.  Then I took the medical and psych exams.  Finally, I got the call and I start the academy in 2 weeks.  I can’t thank Capt Bob and Capt Rob enough for all the help and information they provided.  Because of their help I am now on my way to my dream job!!

Thanks again, Chris badge # 2,427

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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THE WAY CHILDREN SEE THINGS

 NUDITY
I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when
a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark
naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from
the back seat, "Mom! That lady isn't wearing a seat belt!
 
HONESTY
My son Zachary, 4, came screaming out of the bathroom to tell me he'd
dropped his toothbrush in the toilet. So I fished it out and threw it in
the garbage. Zachary stood there thinking for a moment, then ran to my
bathroom and came out with my toothbrush. He held it up and said with a
charming little smile, "We better throw this one out too then, 'cause it
fell in the toilet a few days ago.
 
OPINIONS
On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a Note
from his mother. The note read, "The opinions expressed by this child
are not necessarily those of his parents."
 
KETCHUP
A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup to come out of the jar.
During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter
to answer the phone. "It's the minister, Mommy," the child said to her
mother.  Then she added, "Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you
right now.  She's hitting the bottle."
 
MORE NUDITY
A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's
locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with
ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in
amazement and then asked, "What's the matter haven't you ever seen a
little boy before?"
 
ELDERLY
While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly
shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds.
The various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and
wheelchairs, unfailingly intrigued her. One day I found her staring at a
pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the
inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, "The
tooth fairy will never believe this!"
 
DRESS-UP
A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw
her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, "Daddy, you shouldn't wear that
suit." "And why not, darling?" "You know that it always gives you a
headache the next morning."
 
DEATH
While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister
heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt.
Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin.
Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small
box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal
of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate
prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought
his Father always said: "Glory be unto the Faaaather, and unto the Sonnn
.. and into the hole he gooooes."
 
SCHOOL
A little girl had just finished her first week of school. "I'm just
wasting my time," she said to her mother. "I can't read, I can't write
and they won't let me talk!"
 
BIBLE
A little boy opened the big family bible. He was fascinated as he
fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the
Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old
leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mama, look what I
found", the boy called out." What have you got there, dear?" With
astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's
underwear!"

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

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Remember, absolutely nothing counts 'til you have the badge. Nothing!

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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!"

Fire "Captain Bob" Author, Becoming A Firefighter
http://eatstress.com/goldpackage.htm

www.eatstress.com

888-238-3959

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