FIREZINE
Cutting edge interview skills to get that badge from Fire
Captain Bob.
More than 2,040 candidates have received their badge from
this program!
July 2002. Copyright Code 3 Publishing 2002
captbob@eatstress.com web site: www.eatstress.com 888-238-3959
For Subscribe/Unsubscribe procedures, scroll to end.
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No one ever lost credibility by
being interesting.
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Captain Bob's Next Seminar:
Saturday July 27, 2002 Time: 8:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Location:
Contra Costa Fire Training Center Station 10
2955 Treat Blvd. (at Oak Park) Concord, Ca 94518
Limited Seating!
Click here for all the details.
http://www.eatstress.com/seminar.htm
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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. Robs Corner
5. New Badges
6. Humor
7. Resource Websites for Candidates
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1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip
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So, you're going to an oral board next week. Your buddy is taking his oral at the same department 3 days before you. He's going to give you the questions. You've got it dialed. You're going to nail it! As your oral board starts, something isn't right. The questions aren't the same. The panel has picked up you might know some of the questions and they start switching gears on you. Your presentation is in cement. You start to panic. You're not nailing it. Your timing is off, they catch you flat footed on some questions, your mouth is dry, your voice goes monotone, you're forgetting your best stuff. You start to freeze up like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz. You're blowing the chance of a life time. This is exactly what happened to several candidates in a large city oral. What happened?
This could be a double edge sword. Oral board panels are becoming more savvy. We know after the first day some candidates share answers with their friends, even when they sign a statement they will keep the questions confidential until after the test. If we sense you're too quick to answer, or pick up your body language that you might already know the answers, the panel will switch gears. Often, we can see the "oh, no" expression on the candidates face when we start switching gears to different questions.
I discourage candidates sharing questions on oral boards because it causes them to focus on just those questions and get their answers in cement. If you continue to practice the broad base of questions and your signature stories, you can't be caught flat footed or fooled.
Even when candidates call me after their oral to discuss their answers, when the orals are still going on, I never-ever-tell other candidates the questions who are going to the same oral. First it's not ethical and my credibility would go right out the window. It could also set them up to have the panel switch gears on them.
Stick to the stuff that we know works in the orals. This can be the result:
Subject: Hired!
Thank you Capt. Bob. I just rec'd my official letter of Fire Dept as a firefighter/paramedic! Good Luck to all and be safe. Tim
Reply: "Captain Bob"
I knew Tim was in the hiring process. He called and told me he got our program recently and after five years or trying, it immediately turned him around and he nailed his next interview. He got his badge. Let's get one for you. It can happen quicker than you think. Ask Tim.
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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:
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage2.htm
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2. Entry
Level Skills Tip ===========================================
Is my answer too long?
Capt. Bob Sir,
I Just completed my oral interview with a big dept. on the 17th. I feel that everything went great. It seems that they asked questions that I specifically studied for. Although I do have to say that I was still very nervous. I had practiced with a tape recorder as you had advised and my script came out great.
I do have one question for you though. I was asked the question of, "What do you know about the City of ------- and their fire dept?" I responded with the type of city they are, the location, major freeways, target hazards, square mileage everything imaginable that someone would need to know about the fire dept. and the city.
As I was giving my answer he looked up at me and gave a look like he did not even want to hear anything more that I had to say. This concerned me. Should I continue with my answer or somehow try and cut it a little short.
Reply:
You give your answer as planned. Although you can't tell what the board is thinking, if the panel looks puzzled ask them if they want more. They will tell if they have heard enough and you can be onto the next question.
The best way to handle this type of question about the city and department is to use the shot gun effect. Give them a smattering of areas like square miles, population, type of city government, number of stations, engines, trucks, number of personnel and target hazards.
What would you think if you were on an oral panel and the candidate gave you a sample smattering answer? Right, you would think he had done their homework.
You don't want to go endless here. Just a sample smattering. I had a candidate one day tell us so much he got down to the grid water system the city used. Definitely overkill. Another candidate during coaching had a good answer for city information. In the next two weeks before his oral he piled more information onto his answer. He ended up making a long answer endless, finally telling them the number of convention hotel rooms that were available. He committed suicide in his efforts to over impress the panel. Oh, yea, this is the guy we want to put in a station that would drive EVERYONE NUTS!
This mindless, endless, rambling not only hurts your score, it robs valuable time that you could be using to let the panel know the important stuff that could improve your chances to make the final cut. Because as you know:
Absolutely nothing counts 'til you have the badge. Nothing!
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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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To ask Captain Bob any question just click here:
E-mail Mailto:captbob@eatstress.com
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3.
Promotional Level Skills Tip
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Peer counseling:
The goal in peer counseling is to get an agreement.
Often they will use an actor.
Sometimes the scenario is set up where you will not get one no matter
what you do. In that case you must
set another time to get together before the time expires or you have failed.
Be aware of the time. If you
see that you will not be able to gain an agreement, use the remaining time to
schedule another appointment to resolve the issues. This from Gary:
Capt. Bob
Today I had my assessment center for the position of Fire Captain that you helped me prepare for. Here is the peer counseling they gave me:
It was basically a veteran firefighter, eager for retirement
that has lost interest in the job and is lax in his duties. He also uses
inappropriate language. I addressed both of these issues, tried to keep
coming back to the central issue but it seemed to be one of those situations
where they would not let me reach an agreement. My problem was saying I
would follow up but time expired before I pulled out the day timer. I
tried to slip it in as I was shaking his hand to leave I said I was going to
follow up on this issue next week. Gary.
Reply:
We covered the possibility that they would not let you get an
agreement and try to set it up to come back later. Let's hope they let you
slip it in.
Our Promotional Program covers peer counseling and everything you need to prepare for in the assessment center.
For more on our
promotional program click here:
http://www.eatstress.com/promo.htm
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4.
Robs Corner
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We’ve
all heard the stories of people looking for jobs in the fire service, and some
thing they considered a minor problem in their past has kept them out of the
fire service. Lets make sure not to add our selves to that list.
Nothing
will get you kicked out of the background check faster than a D.U.I or a
domestic violence charge. Both usually involve drugs or alcohol. Don’t be
stupid. If you are going to be drinking have a designated driver, get a cab,
stay in a motel, hell sleep under a bridge, but don’t risk throwing all of the
time, education, and dreams you had for so long away over a lapse in judgment.
If
you’ve been in a bad relationship, and you don’t get along with that person,
make it easy on everyone and just stay the hell away from them. It is so easy
for things to get out of hand and then the police are there, and latter on
you’re having to explain it to a background investigator.
“But I’m
the best firefighter in the world, if they could just see how good I am they’d
take me for sure”. I’ll tell you right now it ain’t so. Robert Downey Jr. is
probably one of the better actors out there. Do you expect to see him on another
T.V. show any time soon? Don’t bet on it. If a dept. has 100 people to pick
from, they don’t need to take a chance on someone that has blown it in the past,
so don’t blow it. If by chance you end up in one of these situations you need to
do every thing you can to minimize the damage. I’m not talking about doing a
“Bill Clinton”, but anything you have to do to make it right. I know of one guy
who told his girlfriend he wanted to break up, and she had thought they were
going to get married. In the scuffle that in sued she got a scratch on her and
then the police arrived. He was being charged with domestic violence, and was in
the hiring process for a dept. He had to make up with her, get her to say it
wasn’t his fault she was scratched, and then keep her happy so she doesn’t
change her mind.
With all
of the preparation we all must go through to get this job, keep in mind to
protect your record. Do every thing you can to not have to be explaining things
to a background investigator. Prepare before you go out to have a good time,
make all of the necessary arrangements before you’ve been drinking, while your
head is clear. If you get into any sticky situations that look like they might
go bad, there is one solution that’s never failed me RUN LIKE HELL, AND DON’T
LOOK BACK.
Good Luck
FIREFIGHTER ROB
NRTC@SONIC.NET
http://www.eatstress.com
Rob will be at our seminar on July 27, 2002
Rob is Captain Bob's Son. He works for Contra Costa fire department. He does all the entry level coaching by phone nationwide. You can contact him direct with your questions or set up a coaching appointment @ 707-869-1330. or e-mail me @ nrtc@sonic.net
You can read more of Rob’s
wisdom by clicking here:
http://www.eatstress.com/robs_corner.htm
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5.
New Badges
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Rob,
Hi Rob. I wanted to email you and thank you for all of your help with attaining a career in the fire service. For the past 10 months I have been reading testimonials from people off of www.eatstress.com who had become firefighters and wondered what those people were feeling. I used those same testimonials as motivation and fuel to keep going and keep trying. I now know what those people were feeling and it's indescribable. I am one month into the Academy and absolutely loving it. I know that I have just begun the journey and that the Academy and my probationary period is going to be challenging, but then again nothing worth while in life ever is. I could not have done it without you and your fathers help and guidance. Thank you again. Andy
I ordered the Entry level
video and cassette tape package from you in early
spring to help me prepare for an interview with the Dept. I've been a
volunteer with for a little over two years. It worked! I felt confident
going into the interview, which made it easy to be myself and answer the
questions to the best of my ability. I've been trying to get hired for
almost ten years at Fire Dept.s in and around my home state. About two years ago
I decided to give it one last real try. Your program helped me over the edge!
Thanks, Tim
Hey Captain Bob it's Ken
again. Well I got the call on Wednesday
and offered a position to become a firefighter. I still can't believe
I actually got hired. I read your psych report before my interview and it
definitely helped. I just wanted to tell you the good news. I have
decided to go with this offer instead of waiting for the other offer to be
presented. I did a lot of thinking about it and talked it over
with my family and girlfriend and we all think it's the best way to go. I
can't wait to get started! Well I just wanted to share the good news with
you. Take Care! Ken
Click here to see how candidates have improved their
position in gaining a badge:
http://www.eatstress.com/newpage152.htm
Here’s one:
Dear Captain Bob,
I am writing to express my deep appreciation for all the help, encouragement, support and motivation you have given my husband. He has corresponded with you by phone and e-mail on several occasions. I have noticed such a dramatic change in my husband's attitude regarding testing. I have never seen him work so hard to achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a Fire Fighter. He has taken advantage of the advice you've given, via e-mail, phone, website and tape and it has increased his confidence greatly. He is really working hard this year, dissecting every question, putting a lot of thought into each and every question, using his tape recorder and using all the advice he can get from you. He does not have the badge yet but I personally feel that it's going to be his turn soon thanks to you. I am really thrilled and grateful that he found your website. Most of all I am really grateful that you have generously spent your time helping him, by responding to his emails and answering his phone calls. You don't see many people these days giving of their time to help others achieve their dreams.
My husband plans on taking advantage of your coaching. I
hope we can then meet you in person. When my husband gets on the job I
will make sure to tell everyone that he did it with the help of you.
Thank you so very much! Thank you, thank you!
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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! You can
contact my Son Rob direct to set up a coaching session @ 707-869-1330.
Robs e-mail is nrct@sonic.net
Click here to learn more
about 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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6.
Humor
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Darwin Awards It's that time again . . . . . They are finally out. The Darwin Awards: the annual honor given to the person who did the gene pool the biggest service by killing themselves in the most extraordinarily stupid way. Last year's winner was the fellow who was killed by a Coke machine which toppled over on top of him as he was attempting to tip a free soda out of it. And this year's nominees are: Semifinalist #1 A young Canadian man, searching for a way of getting drunk cheaply, because he had no money with which to buy alcohol, mixed gasoline with milk. Not surprisingly, this concoction made him ill, and he vomited into the fireplace in his house. This resulting explosion and fire burned his House down, killing both him and his sister. Semifinalist #2 Three Brazilian men were flying in a light aircraft at low altitude when another plane approached. It appears that they decided to moon the occupants of the other plane, but lost control of their own aircraft and crashed.
They were all found dead in the wreckage with their pants around their ankles. Semifinalist #3 A 22-year-old Reston, VA, man was found dead after he tried to use octopus straps to bungee jump off a 70-foot railroad trestle.
Fairfax County police said Eric Barcia, a fast-food worker, taped a bunch of these straps together, wrapped an end around one foot, anchored the other end to the trestle at Lake Accotink Park, jumped and hit the pavement. Warren Carmichael, a police spokesman, said investigators think Barcia was alone because his car was found nearby. "The length of the cord that he had assembled was greater than the distance between the trestle and the ground," Carmichael said. Police say the apparent cause of death was "major trauma." Semifinalist #4 A man in Alabama died from rattlesnake bites. It seems that he and a friend were playing a game of catch, using the rattlesnake as a ball. The friend, no doubt a future Darwin Awards candidate-was hospitalized. Semifinalist #5 Employees in a medium-sized warehouse in west Texas noticed the smell of a gas leak. Sensibly, management evacuated the building extinguishing all potential sources of ignition; lights, power, etc. After the building had been evacuated, two technicians from the gas company were dispatched. Upon entering the building, they found they had difficulty navigating in the dark. To their frustration, none of the lights worked.
Witnesses later described the sight of one of the technicians reaching into his pocket and retrieving an object that resembled a cigarette lighter. Upon operation of the lighter-like object, the gas in the warehouse exploded, sending pieces of it up to three miles away. Nothing was found of the technicians, but the lighter was virtually untouched by the explosion. The technician Suspected of causing the blast had never been thought of as 'bright' by his peers. AND THE WINNER IS..... The Arizona Highway Patrol came upon a pile of smoldering metal embedded into the side of a cliff rising above the road at the apex of a curve.
The wreckage resembled the site of an airplane crash, but it was a car. The type car was unidentifiable at the scene. The lab finally figured out what it was and what had happened. It seems that a guy had somehow gotten hold of a JATO unit (Jet Assisted Take Off) actually a solid fuel rocket that is used to give heavy military transport planes an extra "push" for taking off from short airfields). He had driven his Chevy Impala out into the desert and found a long, straight stretch of road. Then he attached the JATO unit to his car, jumped in, got up some speed and fired off the JATO!
The facts, as best as could be determined, are that the operator of the 1967 Impala hit the JATO ignition at a distance of approximately 3.0 miles from the crash site. This was established by the prominent scorched and melted asphalt at that location. The JATO, if operating properly, would have reached maximum thrust within 5 seconds, causing the Chevy to reach speeds well in excess of 350 mph and continuing at full power for an additional 20-25 seconds. The driver, and soon to be pilot, most likely would have experienced G-forces usually reserved for dog fighting F-14 jocks under full afterburners, causing him to become insignificant for the remainder of the event.
However, the automobile remained on the straight highway for about 2.5 miles (15-20 seconds) before the driver applied the brakes and completely melted them blowing the tires and leaving thick rubber marks on the road surface, then becoming airborne for an additional 1.4 miles and impacting the face of the cliff at a height of 125 feet leaving a blackened crater 3 feet deep in the rock.
Most of the driver's remains were not recoverable; however, small fragments of bone, teeth and hair were extracted from the crater and fingernail and bone shards were removed from a piece of debris believed to be a portion of the steering wheel. Epilogue: It has been calculated that this moron nearly reached Mach I, attaining a ground speed of approximately 420 mph.
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7. 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!
http://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" http://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
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