cantgethired

Yep, that’s right.  This super qualified candidate couldn’t get hired.  Why?  He couldn’t pass the oral high enough to get called back.

The cornerstone of what we do is to convince candidates to lace their oral board answers with personal life experiences.  This alone will separate you from the other candidates.  Because no one can tell your story.  No one.

I coached this Navy Seal.  Like many candidates he was stuck in the process.  He had a lot of clone garbage.  At one point he held up one of those books with all the oral board answers and said, "Should I still use the answers out of this book?" I told him, "Not if he wanted to get hired." On one of his answers I stopped him.  OK, now tell me a personal story that can relate to this answer?  The story he starts with we throw out.  The second story too.  No, no, not the clone stuff.  Tell me your personalized story that no one else can tell.  The light went on.

He regrouped.  Then he started telling the story of being in Afghanistan.  He took me on the journey with him.  The hairs on my arms and neck stood up.  It was exciting, emotional. He relived it. I said, oh, my god.  That’s it.  Mark said, you mean I can use that?  Please do.  It delivers the point in answering this oral board question.  It will convince the panel you not only know the answer, you have lived it!

At the end of the coaching session he had a new killer presentation.  All his own stuff.  Not a clone of everyone else.  We didn't give him anything he didn't already have.  He was just shown where it was.

I told him if you’re not hired on your next interview you will be picked up soon by someone else.  His next interview was the following week.  I told Rick they’re going to be pissing all over themselves now trying to hired you before someone else does.

On Tuesday at 4:30 pm the phone rings. It’s Mark. You were right. I got the call.

What got him hired?  Not packing on more certs. He already had what it took. He just needed the necessary oral board skills.

This from Mark the Navy Seal:

Captain Bob -

Well finally here it is: my story of how your services aided me in securing a career with an awesome fire department. Have patience, as I may begin by rambling, but once the ideas start flowing hopefully it will turn out well.

There I was, fresh out of the military with my wife and 2 children and only prospective fire jobs - nothing by any means was for certain. Although I thought I had given it enough time by starting the search a year before my end of service date, the California budget crunch and the super competitive hiring process were proving formidable enemies to our meeting our objective - a secure, well-paying fire career at a department with a good reputation.

I had no fire experience whatsoever and mostly military paramedic experience, and although I did have NREMT-P and CAEMT-P certification, I barely had any civilian time on a box. Times were tight.

My heartbreak had come 6 months earlier - My first testing process was for an extremely well-paying department - I thought I had it nailed - the department was my hometown growing up, and I foolishly believed that just because I was a combat veteran of an elite unit that they would hand the job over to me. Well, I had no interview experience. When I finished the interview, I thought it went pretty well, until I received the rejection letter X-mas Eve 5 months before the end of my service. Good X-Mas? No. At that point, once I finished the stages of dealing with grief, I decided that I needed to utilize all available resources and overwhelm the enemy with superior firepower. The enemy? Let us be honest: other candidates, of course, but most of all, the seemingly intangible guerilla agent of the firefighting application process: The Interview!

Instead of my AC-130 Gunship and Cobra Helicopters, I called on Capt. Bob to provide me with the tools of the trade that I needed to overwhelm the interview panel. I quickly found out that most applicants' biggest enemy is them self and their refusal to train for the interview as one trains for the physical or written. Why? Training for the interview is a pain and uncomfortable. You have to look in the mirror and face your weaknesses instead of just bolstering your strengths by practicing what you already excel at. How many candidates do you think have the internal fortitude to do that? Some, but luckily for you and I, not many.

I trained with Capt. Bob using his recommended techniques. I walked into the interview panel with interview Standard Operating Procedures and Immediate Action Drills at the ready. I felt confident. I went to the Chief's interview. I received the conditional offer. I took the psych, background, and medical. I received the unconditional offer. I consulted with Captain Bob every step of the way, which goes to show he is with you every step of the way. I start the academy in 1 week for an incredible department with unlimited opportunities. Even though I will still be probationary for a little while, my blood pressure has probably dropped 20 systolic.

The interview will make or break you. DO NOT LEAVE IT TO CHANCE. EXPLOIT ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND USE OVERWHELMING PREPARATORY POWER TO CONQUER THE INTERVIEW PANEL IN ONE AND ONLY ONE DECISIVE ENGAGEMENT. THE UNITED STATES DID NOT BECOME THE WORLD'S ONLY SUPERPOWER BY REFUSING TO FACE ITS WEAKNESSES, AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU. Remember, if it is easier not to do it in the short term, it's probably the right thing to do.

Thank you Captain Bob for providing crucial guidance at an extremely intense time in my life. If you are serious about attaining your goal, there is no excuse for not using this resource.

Sincerely, Mark

This was an exciting, emotional day. We had five candidates notify us that they got the call or received their badges. The most in any one day. Two from Alaska, 3 from California. One was a 20 year-old EMT. This is one:

Dear Captain Bob -
You'll never guess what I did last Friday night!! I graduated from the Sacramento Metro Fire academy and got pinned with my badge!! Never have I worked so hard for a little piece of metal (my badge) . . . and I know you'll believe me when I say that little piece of metal means more to me than anything else I have!!

I just wanted to thank you again for all the help - your Oral Board cd and video, the booklet on the Psych test, the emails you sent (as well as the newsletter) made all the difference in the world!! I felt prepared every step of the way . . . well, at least a step ahead of the other candidates! Out of 1,400 original applicants, 23 of us graduated this last Friday. And at least 2 other recruits who graduated were products of YOUR training!!! What a great service you provided!!

After I get my fill of being a "snot-nosed rookie" (in about 10 years or so) I'll definitely look you up and buy everything you have on promoting up! But that's a long time from now, so until then take care and thanks again!!!!!! Tony

Ya got to love it!

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

Fire "Captain Bob"
Author, book Becoming A Firefighter--The Complete Guide to Your Badge! http://www.eatstress.com/goldpackage.htm

www.eatstress.com

888-238-3959

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