Becoming A
Firefighter or Officer-----The Complete
Guide to Your Badge! Fire "Captain Bob"
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Getting Down to the Short StrokesI get a sinking feeling and my heart goes out to those who call and say, what can I do now after they get eliminated once they get a conditional job offer. My question is why didn’t you call me before you went on to the next step? Often the answer is well things were going so good I didn’t think I needed any help. One of those calls came from Scott asking if he had failed the poly would another department be able to find out about it? Why do you ask? Well, I got this call last week if I could come in the next day for the poly. Sure I could. Then things didn’t go so well. Like what? Well, I copped to some things that did not have to and shouldn’t have (Often, it can be what you say before or after you’re hooked up to the poly that can take you out). I asked him why he didn’t call me when he found out he was going in the next day? Well, things happened so fast, I didn’t have time. I told him, you have enough time to call me now. Just because you got a job offer doesn’t mean you will get the badge! There are a lot of land mines that you need to prepare for when you get down to the short strokes after getting a conditional job offer. The badge is there. There is only one person that’s going to keep you from getting it. It’s you! Take it one step at a time. It’s more difficult to try and fight your way back in than being prepared before you take the next step for the psych interview, background, polygraph, and medical to gain a badge. Bill had a job offer from the same department as Scott above. He called expecting an offer concerned about an investigation on a previous job that could cause him problems. We talked it out. Bottom line, he had a letter from the police department that he had been cleared after the investigation. He still had to put it down on the background investigation. That was landmine hurdle number one. Bill called concerned as he left his poly. Even though he had been cleared the poly showed a strong reaction in this area. I asked him if he had brought the file on this situation with him? He forgot, but could get it faxed in 15 minutes. He went back in to show the poly investigator once he had the file. The investigator told him his file had gone on to HR. I asked Bill if he knew who his contact was in HR? Yea. He tried to call her. No answer. Do you know where she is? Not really. But I think it’s in the same building where I took the poly because it’s the same phone prefix number. I could hear a voice in the background. I asked Bill if he had brought his wife Janice. Yes, Janice drove up with me. OK, take the file and your wife in and find your contact. I heard Janice in the background say, “I’m not dressed right. I’m wearing a sweat shirt.” No worry. Just get in there. Thirty-minutes later Bill called. They had gone into HR and asked for his contact. When Kathy came to the counter, she already knew what had happened. Bill presented the file. Then like magic it was like old home week between the HR contact Kathy and his wife Janice. He couldn’t believe it. I told him that’s why I wanted Janice to go in with you. You know how it is. Your wife or friend goes to the ladies room. Time passes. When she comes out all the ladies who were in the bathroom are now friends. Kathy told him, “We’ll get back to you.” At 4:00 p.m., Bill called. Kathy called to invite him to the psych the next morning. I replied, “Yes, yes yes! You dodged a bullet.” He said, I still don’t know if I passed the poly. Bill, they wouldn’t be sending you on to the psych if you hadn’t passed the poly! Be prepared though that this incident where you had been investigated will be on the front burner. Practice your answer with a tape recorder until it comes out sounding right. If the psychologist wants to expand the questioning on this issue, just be the broken record repeating your original answer. Friday, 2:00 p.m. Bill called saying you were right, that issue was brought up. When I gave my reply to the incident the second time, the psychologist had a long pause and then moved on to the next question. I asked Bill how long the interview was with the psychologist? Fifteen minutes. Anything other big issues stump you? No. Well, Bill, it’s my experience with an interview that short you passed. Welcome to the fire service. Friday, 4:30 p.m. The phone rings. It’s Bill. Hey, I’ve just been invited to an orientation with my wife next week. What does that mean? It means you better start packing and looking for a place to live. Enjoy your weekend. This is just one story. Four more candidates who went through our program, were also helped through this departments hiring maze were at the orientation will Bill. I had placed some that were further along in this process with those who were behind them to give them a little more heads up on what to expect. Each with a different story, but they all made it. They were all EMT’s that were hired to be paramedic interns. They’re all in medic school now. I love what I do. “Nothing counts ‘til you have the badge . . . Nothing!” Fire "Captain Bob" Ask "Captain Bob" Any Question
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