stories

As with any other promotional process it is usually agency specific. Not all departments give seniority points.  The test could involve a written, practical and oral.

Although the engineer’s test is mostly technical information, adding stories delivers bonus points.  Fred was asked on the practical portion of an engineer’s test what he would do if he experienced hot brakes.  After giving the technical textbook answer, he told an actual story how he experienced the problem last summer while fighting a wildland fire.

Steve was going for his third engineer’s test. Even though he had the knowledge and acting-time experience, he hadn’t made high enough scores on the previous lists to get the badge. When asked questions, he would just give the standard technical answers. Everything changed when he started caboosing signature stories as part of his answers.

Steve was a firefighter in Arizona. He had also been a firefighter in Detroit. You’ve heard of Devil’s Night during Halloween? Steve had worked many Devils’ Night attacking a fire, picking up and moving to another fire. I asked him if he had ever used these stories in his answers during testing. He said, "No." I marvel why candidates have these great "Nugget" treasure stories that no one has ever heard. These stories can demonstrate their experience and they don’t use them.

During his next engineers test, Steve was asked if he were fighting a fire and was given an order to pick up and move, how would he do it? He told the panel how he would do it technically and then took the panel to Detroit Devil’s Night recreating the magic, excitement, and the color of the actual events when he had to pick up and move all night. Steve couldn’t believe the difference in his testing score. Again, firefighter’s love firefighter stories. He was confident and conversational because he was on his own turf. His signature stories. His own experiences. Oh, by the way, Steve got the badge this time!

George was asked the same question about picking up and moving on his engineer’s test.  After his technical answer, he told the story of exactly how he used the skill as an acting engineer at a commercial fire just a few months ago.  His engine was originally spotted in a safe area to supply water for the fire attack.  As the fire expanded in the 2:00 A.M. fire. There was a danger of collapse that could involve his rig.  He took the panel on the engine with him with enthusiasm and the excitement of the moment (that most firefighters relate to), alerted the incident commander to notify the crew he was supplying to pull out.  He shut down, picked up and respotted his engine to a safer location, hooked up and had water flowing gin record textbook time.  George can puff his chest out now wearing his badge!

Phil is the technical advisor for his department.  The toughest part of Phil’s engineer’s test was his oral panel.  Even with acting time on two lists he just couldn’t get fired up during the interview, until he started using his signature stories.  Remember seeing the news story on national television of a retarded child that climbed up an electrical tower?   Phil was the technical guy who knew how to get him down.  So. When Phil was asked a technical question on his test, he followed it with BAM, BAM, BAM with that great story.  Yep Phil got his badge too.

So no matter what position you are testing for, your signature stories will help you pull ahead of the other “clone,” answer candidates.

"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"

Fire "Captain Bob"

www.eatstress.com

888-238-3959

Ask "Captain Bob" Any Question

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