A big part of getting this job is scoring high enough to be considered. One of the secrets is to get focused with a simple formula. Many think it is the accumulation of a degree in fire technology, the firefighter 1 academy and experience. This can help but we have found that nothing works better than the your personal life experience, presented in a way that demonstrates you can do the job before you get it. That you not only know the answers to oral board questions, you have already lived them.
Here is a perfect example of becoming focused using simple tools to uncomplicate the process. When the scores came out from the Denver test, I had this elated voice mail message from this candidate, "Captain Bob I love you man". diversmith@aol.com is going to gain his badge. The only question is when:
Author: L. Smith (diversmith@aol.com)
Subject: Oral Boards
Haven't you heard of Captain Bob by now? I can't recommend him enough. The proof is in the end result. I have been testing for just under a year and 1/2. I had a few orals before I heard of him. No results to write home about and there was no way in hell I was going to get hired from the positions I was in on the lists.
One of my fire tech instructors (who used Capt. Bob to get hired & then for his Captains exam) urged me to see Capt. Bob so I did. First was LA City...scored a 100. No big deal, or so I thought.
Then El Segundo scrapped the results of the first orals they gave that I came out #105 on. Second time around I went from #105 to #39. Then I ended up #13 for Imperial County.
Then came Stockton and I ended up #15 with a 98.08 on the oral. Then the results from Denver showed up and they said #29 with a 98.5714 on the oral.
I don't think all of this is luck. And I'm not lucky enough to be getting veteran's points added on to my score. I could be ending up in the top 1-10 if that were the case. AND this is with no experience, no fire academy and no fire science degree. I'm just an EMT-B with many, many, many life experiences (I'm a little older!!!).
Captain Bob showed me how to be prepared for ANY question they throw at you. Now I don't waste any time worrying about trying to find out "what kind of questions might be on the oral coming up"!!! Situationals are a piece of cake now. I feel very relaxed and in control.
The man speaks the truth and he is always there for follow-up assistance. If you feel you can make it without his help, by all means give it a shot.
I want to be hired in less than the average time it takes so I decided to shorten the learning curve. It's happening before my eyes! Take this for what it is...just trying to help. He will show you how to be a real person in the orals, not just another clone.
Reply:
This candidate has learned the skills to place him in the hiring position in LA City, Denver, Stockton and a few more in the process. I would be surprised if he got two offers at once.
Because, Absolutely nothing counts 'til you have the badge. Nothing!