Getting Passed Over?
Captain Bob,
I was one month from being hired for a notable fire
department in Washington when I received a letter stating the I was NOT recommended for
hire. I had taken the medical, psych, and turned in the background packet. I had been
interviewed by the background investigator, with the opportunity to answer any questions
about my background. I had even been fitted for turnouts! I received the letter and have
been struggling to find out why. Let me give you a little background with me and this
department.
I worked on their city ambulance, in the fire station
for over two years with NO disciplinary actions for misconduct. I work for them as an
administration Reserve Firefighter, after I had already passed my Chief's interview. The
Captain calling all my references was one of my Station Captains while I was on the
ambulance. So when I was failed out you can imagine my shock. No one could give me any
answers. H.R. told me to call the two-division chief's in charge of the hiring process. I
called, left 3 messages with no response. I called the Captain that I had worked with and
all he could say was that he could not say, on or off the record. Finally I called and
left a message with THE Chief of the department. His representative called back and said
that it was not my psych, nor my medical, and that something or a combination of things is
why I was not recommended for hire. He said he could be specific. I want to know what
recourse I have in finding out what it was that failed me. I don't want to keep running
into the same wall with future departments. What do you recommend I do? The background was
not that extensive. Just employment, friends/coworkers, old roommates, driving record
(totally clean), nothing major. Any direction you could send me in the better. Thank you
Kevin
Reply:
I’m sorry. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to reverse what has taken place when you are in background or on probation. What ever the reason or reasons (you may really never find out) you did not meet the standards or culture of the department. Having the opportunity to be around a department, on an ambulance or a volunteer, where they can get to know you does not always work in your favor. I know some great volunteers who are still grasping onto the dream that they will still be hired. But they have stayed too long at the fair and don’t have a prayer of seeing a badge. They would have been better off testing as an unknown walk on. It’s tough being a profit in your own town.
You can become too familiar with the department and the personnel and unknowingly overstep the bounds. If you have not already established a natural bridge to be accepted some firefighters, without you knowing it, will react by tanking you. Yep, just like a bunch of old ladies. You will never know what happened.
“No good deed goes unpunished.”
New rookies can often make fatal errors in trying to be accepted or try to impress their fellow firefighters. They forget they are snotty nose rookies. You need to keep your mouth shut, be cordial, friendly and humble. You have no time or opinion until you earn it. You can't force it. That will come with a lot of calls and a few fires.
As Captain Paul Lepore so accurately put it:
Even if he or she is
successful in the academy setting their true colors will come out during the probationary
period. The firefighters in the station have a unique way of weeding out those that may
not belong.
My best advice is to take a
step back, lick your wounds, take responsibility for what happened, regroup and try
testing for other departments. If you have
been let go in probation or fired by a department, it will be difficult but not impossible
to find a better fit; especially if you are a medic.
More:
Understand that the best way to get hired is to place yourself in a position where they can't go around you. If you have the attitude that the system is against you, that you are being passed over because of minority and women being hired, you are psyching yourself out.
If you have this attitude in your mind and your heart, it will be difficult to get hired. Because this will show in the oral board. It will show when your start to squirm during your answers on cultural diversity. Especially if there is a woman on your oral board panel. I've seen guys with great credentials get tanked here. Women have that sixth sense that can smell out a phony.
Haven't you noticed this in your relationships?
You can continue to piss and moan and focus on other reasons why you think you don't have the badge. In reality there is only one person keeping you from getting the badge . . . Believe it or not . . . It's you!
Stop looking in a magnifying glass at others' and start looking in the mirror at yourself.
"If you're bent on revenge . . . You had better dig two graves."
Because, "Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"
"Captain Bob"
Ask "Captain Bob" Any Question
Fire "Captain Bob" Smith has coached countless entry level and promotional candidates to get their badge. He is a retired 28-year Hayward, Ca. Captain, speaker/author of the audio/video program "Conquer the Job Interview," the book "Fire Up Your Communication Skills" ISBN 09657620-6-8 and a member of the prestigious National Speakers Association. You can book him as a speaker or get a copy of his books and tapes by calling toll free at 888-238-3959.
E-mail: captbob@verio.com Web site: http://www.eatstress.com