FIREZINE
Cutting edge interview skills to get that badge from Fire
Captain Bob.
More than 1,997 candidates have received their badge from
this program!
December 8, 2001. Copyright Code 3 Publishing 2001
captbob@verio.com web site: www.eatstress.com 888-238-3959
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No one ever lost credibility by
being interesting.
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Nothing counts til you have the badge . . . Absolutely Nothing!
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IN THIS
ISSUE
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1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip
2. Entry Level Skills Tip
3. Promotional Level Skills Tip
(Entry level should read this too)
4. New Badges
5.. Humor
6. Resource Websites for Candidates
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1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip
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Volunteering Information
A psychologist who interviews a candidate that is open, honest, forthcoming, has common since, and answers all questions probably considers them as O.K.. But, many candidates want this job so bad that they will do almost anything to get it. I have been told what candidates have said during their interviews. I have asked, how did you get these people to say that? The answer was, we just asked them and they volunteered the information. Before you volunteer information, think before you speak. Present your ideas clearly. Do not ramble or chat. Be articulate. This is how you’re going to be in the field. Believe it or not this is part of the job interview. You are making an impression of who you are going to be as a firefighter. Make sure you dress up and don’t slouch. Be prepared to audition for the part of being a firefighter. Know your strong points. Be prepared to demonstrate you are a team player.
One of our candidates was going to a chiefs oral. He knew one of the questions was going to be, "Is there anything we should know about?" He wanted to say something about being eliminated from hiring by another department, because his polygraph was questionable about previous marijuana use. My question was, what do you think your chances are of being considered by this department it you said that? Not good was the reply.
My advice was this was not the time to bring something like that up. If anytime, it would be in the background check. Do not create a trail that might not be found. He did not bring it up. It never came up with the background investigator. A polygraph was not given. I saw him receive his badge. This candidate was hired again by the department he really wanted to work for even after taking another polygraph. I witnessed that badge pinning too. The defense rests!
The following is from a candidate from our program:
Hi Capt. Bob. I just wanted to let you know that I purchased your video some time back prior to testing for a Colorado Fire Department. I started the fire academy in August. I was one of 14 people out of 541 who tested. I think a lot of what helped me was the tapes I got from you. I have tested all over the country during the past 5 years and always came close but never got the call. I went in to the interview with a lot more confidence than in the past, and it worked! Well. Thanks again. Steve
Captain Bob's reply:
Half of the 14 candidates in that hiring were our candidates. How did they do it without all sounding like clones? We taught them to use their personal life experience!
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Learn how entry level and promotional candidates are improving their interview
scores up to 15 points and nailing that badge!
Click here:
www.eatstress.com/newpage2.htm
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2.
Entry Level Skills Tip
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Ride Alongs:
Ride alongs can help you or destroy you. Candidates want the opportunity to do ride alongs as a way of showing interest, gain information for their oral, and can say in their oral they had been to the stations. Often they do not know the culture and etiquette.
We had a candidate in one day for a ride along. He had an opinion on every topic that was brought up, including sports and the current movies. When it came time for lunch, he was the first one on his feet to fill his plate. His mother would have died if she had seen it.
Let me be blunt here. Dummy Up. You don't have enough time to have an opinion. In this situation you have to be humble, have your questions already written down and realize you are a snotty nose rookie. Too many candidates come in wanting the badge so bad they act like they already have time and want to impress the guys with all of their knowledge. BIG ERROR.
Be prepared to ask the size of the department, personnel, engines, number of calls, break down of EMS to regular calls, budget, 5-year plan etc. But also ask what the captain thinks they are looking for in a candidate and anything unique about the department the other candidates might not know. Let him puff his chest out. Be a good listener.
Because, this information will spread like wild fire and destroy you with those who will be making the decisions. Too many candidates tank themselves here and they never know what happened. This applies even if you are already a firefighter applying for another department.
Do not take the bait. Even if you have a friend in the station. If the guys want to joke around and play games, do not do it. You are not part of their family yet. You have not time.
Some departments do not allow ride alongs during test time. If you are lucky enough to do a ride along, show up on time with a desert. Home made is best. If it is ice cream, make sure it is the round stuff; not the square stuff. We had so much square stuff during one of test we had a contest in the back yard to see who could throw the square stuff the furthest.
After giving this information at a college fire program a candidate shows up at my station the next day. He did not make an appointment, have desert, or have any questions ready. McFly?
One candidate told me in another class that he had made an appointment and had to wait a half hour when he got there. Poor baby. Understand this is our home. We spend more time at the firehouse than with our own family. So here you come waltzing into our home with not knowing what to do.
If you are fortunate to get a ride along stay for lunch if offered. Offer to pay your share and do the dishes. Leave before dinner and never spend the night. You might interfere with the kick back time during and after dinner.
Should you go to as many or all the stations in a department? Please spare us this part. Do not turn yourself inside out trying to cover all of the stations hoping the word will get back that you did. It will make you look anal and compulsive, which you probably are if you are doing this. This will raise its ugly head in the psychological test if you get that far. One or two stations are fine. If you try to do them all only increases the chances of saying or doing the wrong thing or catching a shift of malcontents that will bad mouth you.
If you are bent on doing a ride along, first make an appointment. During test time things get crazy. Be patient. Act like you would if you were the new rookie in the station.
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Bottom line getting a badge is all presentation skills!
Click here for the FREE 101 Inside Secrets How to Get
a Badge!
http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm
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3.
Promotional Level Skills Tip
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Your Strengths:
Authors Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton write in their book Now, Discover
Your Strengths, New York Press, discovering and using personal strengths has
many merits. The challenge is to
reframe our thinking about performance from deficiencies to strengths.
A
common problem I see with candidates preparing their presentation for an
interview is they don’t focus on their real strengths.
They attempt to represent themselves as what they think the board would
want instead of their real strengths of leadership, training, haz mat, confined
space rescue, etc. Paul was going
for a captain’s position in a large city.
He faxed me his proposed script for his presentation.
Buried in the third page was his true strength . . . Training!
Paul had a long history training in his department, sheriff’s department,
and county swift water rescue. Once
training was moved to his opening and main theme, he was operating from his
strength.
This was Pauls first Captains test.
He tested with 500 other candidates.
He was fighting seniority credits and experience.
All he was hoping to do was get on the list and get some acting time.
In
his second interview, a panel member from training asked him what part training
would play as an officer. Paul
asked to use the white board to demonstrate.
It was show time! It was
Pauls true love and strength. He
was in his element up at the board asking more questions and demonstrating he
was an experienced trainer.
The training chief beamed. Pauls
confidence exploded. How could they not consider him for the position?
He blew the doors off his oral board panel.
He
didn't just make the list. He ended
up number six out of five hundred his first time out.
Thanks Paul for the announcement on your promotion.
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4.
New Badges
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Just a
quick note to thank Capt. Bob and his son Rob for the awesome tools and coaching
that they provide. I just got word today that I got hired at an awesome
department in my home state! I've only been applying for a fire job for six
months and have only tested for one joint recruitment and have very few certs.
But I ordered Capt Bobs audio/video combo pack on preparing for the interview, I
practiced religiously with a tape recorder, I asked Capt Bob a thousand
questions on his toll free number, and I did coaching with Rob the week before
my interview. The end result of all this preparation is that I nailed the
interview and got my badge! I start December 3rd. When I was talking with one of
the other recruits, I asked him what he thought was the main thing that helped
him get the job. He asked me, Have you ever heard of Capt. Bob?! Out of only 5
hires, that makes two of us for sure that followed Capt. Bobs advice and got the
badge!! If you are serious about getting a fire job, Take a look at his website,
www.eatstress.com and call him at his
toll free number that is listed on his site. The information that is provided is
awesome, and it will help you get hired. I'm living proof.
Thanks Capt. Bob!!! Sean
Now I know what you mean when you say....
Nothing counts until you have the badge!
Hi CPT Bob,
After three and a half years of trying to wing it, I finally ordered your tapes (about a year ago). Then last June I finely got the call and I started July 1st of this year. This is a little over due, but I just wanted to say thanks for the info. I talked to the guys on the board after I was hired and was told the "Nuggets" helped a lot.
Thanks again! Tom
I am just letting you know that I got the call
today, I am going
to be a firefighter in Alberta, Canada. Your
audio/video package gave me the tools I need to pass my chiefs
oral and I thank-you for your input to my email queries. I start
training January 7 and I as so excited! This is trully what I
have always wanted and I thank you for everything!
To anyone who is thinking about ordering Captain Bobs stuff, you
have to get it, it will change your score, your life and give you
the career you have always wanted!
Thanks again Captain Bob! Tim
Reply
Tim:
Bravo on getting your badge! Thank you for letting us know. You are badge number 1,955 in our program. You have proved again this program works. The proof is in the badge!
Fire "Captain Bob" www.eatstress.com
Capt-
Thanks for all your help! I just found out I am # 1 with Tukwila, Wa!
I am so stoked! Thanks again Capt!
Thank You, Brian
Click here to see how candidates have improved their
position in gaining a badge:
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage152.htm
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Check out the current "Bonus Nugget" oral board tip on our
web site by clicking here:
http://www.eatstress.com/bonusnugget.htm
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Hot off the Press! Captain Bobs new book, Eat Stress For
Breakfast. Click here to check it out:
www.eatstress.com/stressfire.htm
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The Formula
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Here's what we know after 30-years of experience. Candidates
who get our Audio/Video Entry Level or Promotional Program, use the work
booklet,
practice with the all-important TAPE RECORDER, and come back for
a private coaching session, catapult
themselves into the Olympic
camp. That's where you get a shot at that badge you have been
looking for.
One on one
coaching sessions are where you get dialed into making your best presentation.
It can make the difference between being down on a list and being in the top 10
going for the chief's oral. Candidates armed with this information are the one's
who are smoking past you in the oral, grab the badge and leave you as the
bride's maid again. We know because we get the calls when they get their badge!
Click here to check out private coaching
http://www.eatstress.com/private%20coaching.htm
You start by ordering our Entry Level Audio/Video or Promotional
Program from the products section of our web site below or by calling our
distributor Rayve @ 800-852-4890. This program will keep you motivated! The
program comes with a no questions asked full refund if you're not satisfied.
You're at no risk except you might get a badge. Consider also getting our new book "Eat Stress For Breakfast"
to help you along your journey.
"Nothing counts
'til you have the badge . . . Nothing! And, there is no feeling like
proudly wearing the badge."
Check out the
specials on our products for entry level and promotional testing:
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage6.htm
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5.
Did you know
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The average human eats eight spiders in their lifetime at night.
A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
A snail can sleep for three years.
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
The Chinese invented sauerkraut.
Albert Einstein never learned how to drive a car.
Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy.
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.
Howdy Doody had 48 freckles.
The longest time a person has been in a coma is 37 years.
The monkey wrench was invented by Charles Moncke.
There are approx. 550 hairs in the eyebrow.
If you pass gas for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create
the energy of an atomic bomb.
The ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated. (don't ask)
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6. Resource Websites for Candidates
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Perfect Firefighter
Candidate. Job listing and a
complete resource web site with a community bulletin board.
Don McNea Fire School, Inc. is the #1 Firefighter
Preparatory Entrance School in the Country.
They have the inside information how to tackle those psychological and
personality questions on the written.
Learn how entry level and promotional candidates are
improving their interview scores up to 15 points and nailing that badge!
www.eatstress.com/newpage2.htm
FREE 101 Inside Secrets How to Get a Badge!
http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm
Check out the
specials on our products for entry level and promotional testing:
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage6.htm
Firenuggets.com "The Internet magazine dedicated to keeping firefighters safe" www.firenuggets.com
B-Pad Assessment
Devices. If you're an agency
looking for a new dimension to evaluate candidates, or a candidate wanting
information on how you can orientate your skills for this evaluation check out
their web site:
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FREE ARTICLES FOR YOUR PUBLICATIONS
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I have many articles available for reprint in your
publication, newsletter, etc. You may use
articles written by me that you see in Fire-Zine or
go to our web site @ http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm
All you have to do is print the article in its entirety along
with the by line, the credits, and complete contact
information found at the bottom of the web site page. I would
appreciate a tear sheet or electronic copy too. Thanks
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Nothing counts til you have the badge . . . Absolutely Nothing!
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Code 3 Publishing. Fire Captain Bob
Smith, Speaker, Author, Publisher
Information Products on How to Get a Badge.
Web site: http://www.eatstress.com Over 300 pages of helpful information.
5565 Black Ave. Pleasanton 94566 (near
San Francisco)
Phone: 888-238-3959 local 925-846-3959 Fax: 925-846-9650
E-mail
Mailto:captbob@verio.com