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 If you are on AOL or having trouble reading this newsletter, go here: http://www.eatstress.com/FireZineSept04.htm NOTE TO AOL MEMBERS. With AOL 9.0, you have to permit mail or this newsletter will be placed in your bulk sender or unknown sender list. Please add captbob@eatstress.com to your "people I know" list so that you will be sure to receive every issue of this newsletter.
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captbob@eatstress.com
You saw on the Olympics the gold, silver and bronze metals were won sometimes by just hundreds of points. It’s the same in your oral boards. Your scores come back in hundreds of points i.e. 82.23, 87.22, 91.77, etc. The goal is to build a few hundreds of points on this question, a few hundreds on another question, again and again using your “Nugget” answers pulling away from those “Clone” candidates.
Salvo drops This is from my friend and associate Tom Dominguez: Answering the question longer than a two minute response can be considered a salvo drop. A salvo drop is where an air tanker drops the whole load of retardant or water on a fire all at once instead of spreading it out. All retardant compartment doors are opened at the same time. This is done when all the retardant is needed all at once. Do you need to "salvo drop" the interview panel on every interview question? One exception is the answer to the question, “What Have you Done to Prepare for the Position?” You don’t want to hold anything back here. Dump the whole load. Tom is right about Salvo
drops. I’ve had candidates where the instant we would finish a question they
would immediately start like a parrot on this salvo drop, never coming up for
air, or giving the raters an opportunity to interact. Often it was word for
word, without being personalized to the candidate, out of one of the many books
out there with suggested oral board answers. Valuable points are lost here. On scenarios, you’re trying to get the panel members to banter back and forth with you. Creating the banter back and forth gets the raters involved and a chance to deliver a nugget answer. This is one way how candidates are blowing past the competition in the oral boards. Raking up those scores for the silver badge. This just in from a candidate who was using Salvo Drops: Captain Bob -
There I was, fresh out of the military with my wife and 2 children and only prospective fire jobs - nothing by any means was for certain. Although I thought I had given it enough time by starting the search a year before my end of service date, the California budget crunch and the super competitive hiring process were proving formidable enemies to our meeting our objective - a secure, well-paying fire career at a department with a good reputation.
I had no fire experience whatsoever and mostly military paramedic experience, and although I did have NREMT-P and CAEMT-P certification, I barely had any civilian time on a box. Times were tight.
My heartbreak had come 6 months earlier - My first testing process was for an extremely well-paying department - I thought I had it nailed - the department was my hometown growing up, and I foolishly believed that just because I was a combat veteran of an elite unit that they would hand the job over to me. Well, I had no interview experience. When I finished the interview, I thought it went pretty well, until I received the rejection letter X-mas Eve 5 months before the end of my service. Good X-Mas? No. At that point, once I finished the stages of dealing with grief, I decided that I needed to utilize all available resources and overwhelm the enemy with superior firepower. The enemy? Let us be honest: other candidates, of course, but most of all, the seemingly intangible guerilla agent of the firefighting application process: The Interview!
Instead of my AC-130 Gunship and Cobra Helicopters, I called on Capt. Bob to provide me with the tools of the trade that I needed to overwhelm the interview panel. I quickly found out that most applicants' biggest enemy is themself and their refusal to train for the interview as one trains for the physical or written. Why? Training for the interview is a pain and uncomfortable. You have to look in the mirror and face your weaknesses instead of just bolstering your strengths by practicing what you already excel at. How many candidates do you think have the internal fortitude to do that? Some, but luckily for you and I, not many.
I trained with Capt. Bob using his recommended techniques. I walked into the interview panel with interview Standard Operating Procedures and Immediate Action Drills at the ready. I felt confident. I went to the Chief's interview. I received the conditional offer. I took the psych, background, and medical. I received the unconditional offer. I consulted with Captain Bob every step of the way, which goes to show he is with you every step of the way. I start the academy in 1 week for an incredible department with unlimited opportunities. Even though I will still be probationary for a little while, my blood pressure has probably dropped 20 systolic.
The interview will make or break you. DO NOT LEAVE IT TO CHANCE. EXPLOIT ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND USE OVERWHELMING PREPARATORY POWER TO CONQUER THE INTERVIEW PANEL IN ONE AND ONLY ONE DECISIVE ENGAGEMENT. THE UNITED STATES DID NOT BECOME THE WORLD'S ONLY SUPERPOWER BY REFUSING TO FACE ITS WEAKNESSES, AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU. Remember, if it is easier not to do it in the short term, it's probably the right thing to do.
Thank you Captain Bob for providing crucial guidance at an extremely intense
time in my life. If you are serious about attaining your goal, there is no
excuse for not using this resource. Sincerely, Mark
========================================== Candidates have been told that you always have to ask a question if you're given the opportunity at the end of an interview or you will lose points. In a regular or corporate interview that might be true. Not true in a fire oral! You never, ever, ever, have a question. We don't expect you to have any questions. I had a guy one day ask, "Since I live so far away, can I start at second step pay to help pay for my gas?" If that question is asked (here's the "Nugget") you can pause as if your gathering your thoughts and then say, "No, I think we covered everything." We had another candidate say, "You have probably heard about the charges against me for stealing over at the college?" No, we haven't, why don't you tell us about it. Here was another candidate who have done an outstanding job in his oral and he had to bring this up. His score dropped like a wounded seagull. This is not the time to bring up anything like this. You never bring up a negative item unless the panel does. They probably won't. If they do, have a simple, short (I said simple and short) answer to the situation. I served 5 days in Santa Rita Prison for drag racing in my youth. Yes, I put it on my application, because if you don't and they find out, you're gone. In my oral board, I was asked about this. I told the panel, "Since that incident, I had been in the army, married, have children, had been on my job for 9 years and the situation hasn't occurred again. I was a stupid kid then. It's hard to believe this really had happened.” One of the captains asked, "Mr. Smith are you trying to get go around this problem and ignore it?" Here's the "Nugget" answer; I said, "No. If I was trying to do that I would have never put it done on the application." He was done with that question. When I got my results for that test, the number placement wasn't on the notice. When I called, personnel told me, "Well, Mr. Smith, you're number one. Not only are you number one, you're five full points ahead of number two!" It was having a reasonable explanation prepared in advance that becomes your "Nugget" answers that makes the difference. That question and the "Nugget" answer probably helped, not hurt me. It catapulted me past the other candidates at light speed, and did indeed get me my badge! ========================================== Take a free test drive of sample chapters from
the new book Becoming a There is a guy that comes to our department to
sell turnouts. He also sells and fits uniforms for a lot of departments in the
S.F. bay area. He has a 100% success rate over 25 years at predicting if
someone will make it through training. This is just from the 10 or 15 minutes
he spends with these people doing fittings. CAPTAIN
ROB (Thank you)
Captain Bob. In June I went thru an assessment center for the position of Assistant Chief of Sheridan Fire District in Sheridan, OR.
In the panel interview, there was a Fire Chief from a neighboring department who had this habit of looking at me rather questioningly as I answered the question he posed, then after I finished the answer, he would just keep looking at me, staring actually, with a puzzled or bemused look and some strokes of a finger along his jaw, as though he was contemplating a follow up question. I remembered your advice that if you've said what you came to say, shut up, don't dig yourself a hole by trying to add to your answer. I just met his gaze and waited. Towards the end, when he would do this staring routine, the other panelists would ask him if he was done yet, could they ask their next question. It actually got a bit comical. Afterwards I was informed by an inside source that during the debriefing he told the other panelists "I would stare at him, and he wouldn't blink !", and that he was a strong advocate for me in their discussions, saying that he felt that my answers were from the heart, not just something that I thought they wanted to hear. I"m glad I remembered your advice and stuck to my script !
I finished #1 on the list, was offered the position, and started there July 1st.
I used your nugget concept, too. I have an amusing story about how I got into the fire service, more or less by accident, in 1979. It fits well in answering questions about why I am in the fire service, or questions about motivations. It really beats the heck out of the old stock line about saving lives and serving the public.
Anyway, I want to say "Thank You" for your program. My new department has a student sleeper program, we have 6 fire science students who live in our dorm and attend the local community college. Naturally they are taking every test that they hear about. I have shared tidbits from your program with them, and told them that besides their degrees and that suit from Men's Wearhouse, your program is one of the best investments they can make in their career.
Regards, Terry Ney Assistant Chief Sheridan Fire District
Captain Bob, Thank you a thousand times over! I finally got the call on July 21 and I start recruit school on Sept. 7. I know that I owe it all to your program. With it, I didn't give any clone answers and I ended up No.2 on the hiring list. That's more proof that your program really works. I know I was giving clone answers until I got your product. With it, I saw my mistakes and corrected them and nailed my interview. Thank you again. Michael C.
Captain Bob,
I wanted to write you this letter in regards to your interview "Nuggets" I recently had both my interviews with a large career county fire department, and voila, last week I recieved a phone call from the chief of the department, offering me a position in an upcoming academy class.
Your nuggets were a god send. Thank you so much, they made a believer out of me, and should be observed by ever candidate who has an upcoming interview, or is planning on making the move to a career department. J. Hedrick As far as eatstress.com, I think it's a great site and the free email newsletter is excellent. I've followed it for years and just promoted thanks to many things I have learned from reading Captain Bob's views. More badges here: http://www.eatstress.com/badgesnew.htm
========================================== ========================================== ========================================== The following was taken from actual employee evaluations:
1. Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom
and shows signs of starting to dig.
2. His men would follow him anywhere, but only out of morbid
curiosity.
3. I would not allow this man to breed.
4. This associate is really not so much of a has-been, but more
of a definitely won't be.
5. Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a
rat in a trap.
6. When he opens his mouth, it seems that this is only to change
whichever foot was previously in there.
7. He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle.
8. This man has delusions of adequacy.
9. He sets low personal standards and the consistently fails to
achieve them.
10. This employee should go far -- the sooner he starts, the
better.
11. This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
12. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
13. Got into the gene pool while the lifeguard wasn't looking.
14. A room temperature I.Q.
15. Got a full six-pack, but is missing the plastic thingy that
holds it together.
16. A gross ignoramus -- 144 times worse than an ordinary
ignoramus.
17. A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on.
18. A prime candidate for natural deselection.
19. Bright as Alaska in December.
20. One-celled organisms outscore him in I.Q. tests.
21. Donated his brain to science before he was quite finished
using it.
22. Fell out of his family tree.
23. The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the trains
isn't coming.
24. This man has two brains; one is lost and the other is out
looking for it.
25. He's so dense, light bends around him.
26. If brains were taxed, he would get a rebate.
27. Any dumber and he would have to be watered twice a week.
28. If you gave him a penny for his thoughts, you would get
change back.
29. If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the ocean.
30. It's hard to believe that he beat out 1,000,000 other sperm.
31. One neuron short of a synapse.
32. Some drink from the fountain of knowledge, he gargled.
33. Was left on the Tilt-A-Whirl a bit too long as a baby.
34. Not the brightest bulb in the chandelier.
Chaos,Panic, Disorder, my job here is done.
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