NuggetJan06

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The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The
brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go
forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heart aches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone
around you is crying.

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Wait! Captain Bob wants to give you a 10 day test drive of selected inside secrets how to get a badge. Learn more here:

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

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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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Quick Tip

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Disturbing News from a Large Fire Agency:

Eight did not pass our last academy, but it was not for education reasons but manipulative poor skills.

Oddly enough though, one of the strong underlying factors in the past academy was lack of physical fitness and the proper attitude. We have been collecting fitness data for the past three academies and it appears that our in service incumbents (even the 30-40 age range) are more fit than the entry level.

It truly begs the question then, "what is the validity of these ability/agility exams?" Are the times too liberal? I don't know but we are looking into it. Los Angeles County has the same issue and is also looking at it. We figure we lost eight employees and about 250k dollars in the last academy alone.

Reply: Just because you passed the physical agility doesn’t mean you are ready for the fire academy or you will be a good firefighter. Whether you agree or not, the physical agility has been watered down to be politically correct. If in shape candidates are passing the CPAT in the 8-minute range when other candidates are struggling at the wire to make the passing time of 10:20 there could be some problems ahead. Departments know this.

So, the training division is going to put you through the wringer to make sure you can do the job before you go on line. If you can’t keep up they will wash you out. You have to maintain good physical conditioning during your probation and through out your career. It can be hare getting this job. It can become difficult keeping it!

It’s not uncommon for some agencies to have “scouts” to watch for those at their CPAT who are struggling at the finish line where a photo finish was needed and those who breeze through. It’s not uncommon during an agility to see candidates run out of steam, air and ability. Some fall, get injured and require medical attention. Not pretty. The agility is certainly another part of the interview process. It would be hard pressed for an agency to turn someone down who had a passing time in this “pass/fail” event but you don’t always know what’s going on behind the scenes.

"More suicides have been committed by a knife and a fork than any other weapon"

Showing up at the academy is not the time to start getting ready. You need to be in shape and hit the ground running. It’s tough enough getting a job. Keeping it can be a challenge. If you are let go by one department, it is going to be difficult if not impossible to get another department to take a chance on you.

More proven secrets on the CPAT or other agility here: http://eatstress.com/agility2.htm

It’s not just the physical part. You have to pass every segment of the academy including the final test to demonstrate you can function in the field. It’s not uncommon to have a group of candidates let go in the final two weeks of the academy because they can’t master ladder throws, repel or operate the equipment. More than one candidate has been let go because they couldn’t start the chain saw, operate the jaws or struggled on the drill ground in the final test.

It starts with instructors from the academy taking you aside and pointing out the problems you are having. If you don’t improve, they will meet you again with other members of the training staff and document the meeting. The writing is on the wall if things don’t improve.

Example: A candidate is given an order to get a Philips screwdriver from the toolbox. After several minutes at the toolbox, he admits he doesn’t know what a Philips screwdriver is. Hard to believe. Oh, I forgot, they have dropped the mechanical aptitude from the written and added in psych questions. Result: Lack of mechanical ability cost this candidate a badge.

Success Story:

After 5 years of trying, Rick started testing with his big city dream department 19 months ago with 4500 other candidates. Things finally made it to the chiefs oral. He had all his ducks in a row. He heard after his oral that one of the panel members said if all the candidates today could be like Rick, we’re going to have a great day. The job offer came conditional on the medical and psych.

The results for the final psych test were due out the following Monday and calls would be made. Monday came and went. Just hold tight and don’t panic. When he finally called he found out the HR gal had gone on a weeks vacation and the envelope was sitting on her desk. Several days passed after her return. Nothing. Everything imaginable went through Rick’s head. Rick and his wife experienced every symptom of stress.

Out of the blue on the Thursday before Christmas the phone rings. He got the call! All fears disappeared followed by screams and shouting. Rick was number one by a bunch of points.

Rick is five foot two inches and weighs 118 pounds! He blew through the CPAT leaving the staff shaking their heads.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

More Oral Board tools here: http://eatstress.com/newpage6.htm

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Bottom line getting a badge is all presentation skills!

Click here for the 101 Inside Secrets How to Get a Badge!

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

If someone asks you what you need to help you get a firefighter badge,
send them to the ultimate source here!:
http://www.eatstress.com/goldpackage.htm

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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.

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