Becoming A Firefighter or Officer-----The Complete Guide to Your Badge!

Fire "Captain Bob"

"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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Pre-Existing Problems

If you have a pre-existing medical problem or a serious issue in your background, do yourself a favor and find out early if it will interfere with getting a firefighter job.

All to often I receive calls asking "What do I do now?" These
candidates have spent time and money gaining education,
experience and put their life's on hold trying to get this job; when they have an pre-existing medical problem or traceable background problem that would keep them badge less.

Situations like not just one but two DUI's. Knee surgery with scars. Back surgery that would show in an X-ray (yes, they are going to X-ray you back) and/or be part of your records with your doctor and insurance company.

Take the poison early. If you have the slightest concern for a
medical problem, have the leading expert in this field of medicine (no, not your family doctor) evaluate your condition. If they feel you're fit for duty, have them give you a letter.

If you have a DUI, an arrest or other black mark on your record, see if it can be expunged (Sealed). For other potential problems in your background, have a brief reasonable explanation of the situation.

You don't want to be like a candidate who called last week who had a pre-existing medical problem. They called him Friday for a medical Tuesday. Monday was a holiday. He had kept his head in the sand in denial when he knew the medical call was the next step. He didn't have many options prior to his medical.

The time to find out is now; before you're going for all the marbles.


Author: futureff
Subject: re: expungement

Capt. Bob is right. I had a DUI, had it expunged and am
going through backgrounds right now. My background
packets states list all convictions, however, do not include
convictions which have been expunged. So it pays to do the
leg work and clean up your history. Good luck to you all.
P.S. When records are expunged, they are not sealed. The
only way one can have his/her conviction(s) sealed is if the
conviction(s) happened when that person was under the age
of 18 when the conviction occurred. Even when the
conviction is expunged, you still have to disclose the
conviction; however, you need not disclose it if the
application/form/packet specifically states expunged
convictions need not be listed. Trust me, I have done a lot of
research on this issue.

Absolutely nothing counts 'til you have the badge. Nothing!

"Captain Bob"

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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