Why “Nothing counts ‘til you have the
badge . . . Nothing!”
Certainly there are other things in life that
are far more important than a badge. Family, health, friends and happiness.
The reason I use this slogan is because I often
hear candidates who don’t have a badge us these excuses. I have education,
experience, training, been a volunteer, bunked, and have a burning desire to get this job.
Got degrees, certificates, have every merit badge you could think of, yada, yada, yada.
None of this is going to matter if you don’t get a badge. You will still be the
bridesmaid.
Take
this simple test to check how you’re doing getting a badge.
Are you subscribed to a service that notifies
you when a department is testing? Check out firecareers.com and Firehouse.com
l Are you taking every test you can?
l Are you passing the written?
l Are you passing the physical
ability?
l Are you preparing for your oral
interviews (100% of the score)?
l Are you passing the oral?
l Are you getting conditional job
offers?
l Are you passing the psychological
interview?
l Are you passing the medical?
l Are you passing the background?
If you can’t answer yes to all these
questions, you will never see a badge! Wherever you answer no, you cannot go onto the next
step to gain a badge. Where are you stuck? Check out the appropriate sections of this book
where you are stuck to gain the information to get on with getting that badge.
I get calls from candidates all the time
telling me about all their wonderful credentials. They have been testing 3, 5 or 7 years,
have been number 30 on this list, 22 on that list, volunteer firefighter, AA in Fire
Technology, some medics and every certificate and merit badge you could imagine. I have to
stop them before they get into warp speed with all their stuff. I do this with one simple
statement: Do you have a badge? They go off again with more of their great stuff. I bring
them back with: But, you do not have a badge? You are the bridesmaid. Never the bride.
Many write e-mails like this: I know I have
what it takes to make it as a full-timer.
My reply: Yeah, they all say that. You know
that. But you have to convince the oral board panel that you really do. That’s where
we come in.
You would not be calling if there wasn’t a
problem? Right? Finally they answer, right. If you cannot be humble and ask for help, how
can you convince them on the oral board you can be humble enough after you get hired? Once
we are both on the same page, we can start working on where are you are stuck and find a
solution that will you that elusive badge.
I receive e-mails like this one:
I am discouraged. I was in a recent psych/background process with a large department and a friend of mine got his conditional offer today and I did not. I am a new medic with six months experience, I have an AA, 14 units shy of a bachelors in management, I was in the Marine Corps, I am 34 years old and I felt like my interview with the psychologist went well and I am unaware of any major background problems. What gives? My friend is 22, no college and brand new medic himself. I just don’t understand . . . — Steve
A candidate like this called us last year.
Skeptical, he went ahead and got our Entry Level Program and did the private coaching. He
called yesterday that he had been offered the job of his dreams. He told me when he took
the oral for this department there was a battalion chief on his panel that kept his head
down writing most of the time.
When he gave his Nugget signature story answer to one
question, the batt chief looked up, put his pen down and focused on his personalized
answer (a real good sign). He said he knew then he had the job. Dan went to his psych
armed with our special report on how to pass. He said it wasn’t difficult avoiding
the land mines during his psych because he knew where they were (this was probably the
problem area with the discouraged candidate above). Dan got his badge. He had rushed out
after the ultimate call to take flowers to his bride to be. He started the academy two
weeks later.
The above is from the book Becoming a Firefighter---The Complete Guide to Your Badge! www.eatstress.com