Becoming A
Firefighter or Officer-----The Complete
Guide to Your Badge! Fire "Captain Bob"
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HomeThink Twice Before youVolunteer InformationHello Captain Bob, I'm preparing for an interview. They are hiring 3 and I am currently third on the list. They are interviewing the top 12. The only thing I am worried about now, besides the interview, is a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct that I received in April of 1997 during a spring break trip. It occurred at a hotel party and several people were charged. I was asked about this in another interview. Actually they asked if I had anything to tell them about that they could find out if they checked. So I volunteered the information. How much will this count against me? Do you think they will even know about it? I had to do a finger print card at the police station. Thank You, Dave Dave: When you start volunteering information is when the wheels start coming off the wagon. This is something you don't bring up in an interview, even when they ask you, "If you had anything to tell them about that they could find out if they checked." This is something you cover with the background investigation. Your situation is not a big deal. It's how you explain the situation that makes difference. Yes, if you were charged, there is probably a record of it somewhere. We had a candidate who knew this question was going to be asked in his chiefs interview. He wanted to mention that he had not been hired by another department because there were some "questionable" results about continual drug use on a polygraph test. We advised him not to bring it up. It never came up in the background. There was no polygraph test for this department. He was hired. The defense rests. Absolutely 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
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