FIREZINE
Cutting edge interview skills to get that badge from Fire
Captain Bob.
More than 1,993 candidates have received their badge from
this program!
November 10, 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
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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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Prepared?
One of the guys I work out at the gym with has a son who has been trying to get a fire job. His dad got Dave my audio/video program. He has all the usual credentials. Firefighter 1, almost a BA, 3 seasons with CDF yada, yada, yada.
He has been testing for 5 years. His dad asked me to give him a coaching session just prior to his oral for his dream department. Dave told me he had been practicing with a tape recorder. During the coaching session, Dave expressed his burning desire, passion, my life won't be complete until I get a badge compassionate longing, agonizing story.
One problem. Even after testing for 5 years, he wasn't reading for any oral board. His answers were garbage. This should be no surprise, because most of the candidates who contact us are not ready either. Coaching usually takes about an hour. We ended at 2 hours. His closing was a dog and pony (I wish this candidate would just end and get out of the room) pathetic mess.
I asked
Dave how he expected to get a badge when he hadn't spent the time to be ready
for an oral. He said (a big clue
here), he thought he was. This is
what most candidates think. Does
this sound like you? This is also
true for promotional candidates.
SFFD Captain Bill Long was a rater on a recent promotional board.
He said you knew which candidates were really prepared.
Those prepared candidates caused you to straighten up in you chair.
The important point to realize is it doesn't take much to improve your situation and separate yourself from the clone candidates. Dave had a couple of days to review his coaching tape and redial his approach.
He called
me the day after his interview. He
sounded like he didn't step on any land mines, wasn't stumped and was able to
put it together to make a real good presentation.
We shall see what happens.
Update: There was a message on my recorder. A guy was yelling, Captain Bob, you are the man. It was Dave. He had just received the call that he was going to the chiefs oral. His first in the five years he had been testing.
Not only was he going to the chiefs oral.
He was number . . . 2! They
were interviewing 30 candidates for 10 jobs.
How do you like those odds?
Check out the Entry Level Skills below for more on the chiefs oral and Dave.
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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 ===========================================
Dave
and the (Giant Bean Stalk) Chiefs Oral:
Many candidates start to panic when they are notified that they are going to a chiefs. They think they have to reinvent themselves. Reinvent the wheel. Dave was no exception. When I asked him his game plan, he started on this rant about five things he was adding that would make him different. I said WHOOAA! Do not do this. Understand what got you there. You are only going to the chiefs oral because of the great stuff you already used in the first oral. You are riding the winning pony. Don not switch ponies. You are coming around the club house turn, you shoot out from the back of the pack, go to the whip, you are on the winning pony, you are friends and family are on their feet in the stands cheering you on and you ride her home for the badge.
When I talked to Dave a second time, he said after talking to several firefighters and friends he was again going to try a different approach. When I asked why, he said because they said you needed to do this and that.
Too many candidates switch ponies because they said. I've never been able to find out who THEY are. If you do not continue to use the good stuff that got you this far, you could drop out of the race. This is a new arena. Candidates who are going to the chiefs interview, start talking to their friends. They convince that they need to do something more. By the time of the interview, they are a wreck with analysis paralysis. It's not them going into the interview. A clone of someone else. The badges are often given to other candidates. I was able to convince Dave to knock it off.
The chiefs interview is
open to any types of questioning. They are really trying to find out more about you.
How you're going to be as a firefighter for the next 25+ years.
Do you fit their culture? We
like to hire candidates that are themselves on purpose in the interview. Someone
who has a personality and conversational.
Are you that person in an interview?
Dave called me the day after his chiefs oral. He said it was not what he expected. After all the preparation, it was anticlimactic. They just want to know him better. A couple of questions like: What is one word people would say about you; and what have you done in the last month to prepare for this job?
Stan was going to our departments chiefs oral. He made an appointment to come by our station. While there, he asked what more he could do to make it over the top. I told him he was riding the winning pony and not to switch during the home stretch. Three months later I was down at the training center where they were training new recruits. I saw a familiar face. I said, "Stan is that you?" He said, "Yes, I rode that winning pony all the way in!"
Saddle up and ride to glory. We will be eager to find out how Dave ended up.
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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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Fire Problem (Continued)
Last time we covered having a plan before going to tactics:
Once given the fire
problem, focus all
your energies on developing a plan. Without a plan, you are out of
control. What is your plan on this fire problem? By just taking a
few
more moments, you would have a plan. When confronted, candidates that
went immediately to tactics would regroup and say, my plan is to
confine and put out the bedroom fire. O.K., but if you
did not say it, you did not have a plan. You would get dinged.
Size up, plan, then
tactics.
With your plan, start ordering resources to accomplish water supply, rescue, ventilation, confinement, exposure, utilities, extinguishment and overhaul.
As soon as possible assign your crew to another company placing yourself in a command position. A candidate told me during private coaching that he would give his portable radio to his crew and take command. He looked puzzled when I asked him how he was going to take command without communications.
Always have a piece of paper to sketch out the scene. On the upper right of the paper list the resources you order. On the upper left where you assign those resources. If you write everything down you will never lose track of the resources ordered, in route, staging, or assignments given. It helps keep the hot seat cooler.
Always order more resources then you think you need. It is better to have them staged then to be caught short. The extra manpower can be assigned for the rit team, relief or overhaul. Or, you can send them home.
When ordering resources do not request particular engines or truck companies. Order by giving greater alarms or, Give me five engines and two trucks, relying on dispatch to fulfill the requests. In your initial resource order call for police units for traffic control, air supply unit, utility company and an ambulance. If you do this right out of the gate, you won’t forget to do it.
Record the resource identifier on your sheet of paper as the units go in service. You can give the responding units an assignment en route, or request the units contact you on radio when they’re two minutes out. This will give you a heads up for a possible assignment or placement in staging.
Although you can set the pace for the fire problem, keep it moving. In a coaching session a candidate told me on his last promotional fire problem he would order resources or give a command. Then he would wait several minutes between his next move. He was so wrapped up in the exercise he was doing it in real time. Imagine how the panel responded to a real time simulation.
Immediately order more resources as you assign incoming units or the fire problem gets larger. Start identifying company officers to place in command of divisions and groups. Once established, assign incoming resources to divisions, fire attack, roof ventilation group, rescue, overhaul, etc.
The goal here is to delegate and spin off responsibility for these tasks where the officer in command of the task keeps you updated with a report on conditions and needed resources. If radio traffic becomes a problem, or a second incident occurs, have groups or divisions switch to alternate radio frequencies. Or, use runners to communicate. You must communicate whether testing or in actual situations. Good communicators are good leaders.
Keep a running order of what is going on and where your resources are. At any time, you could be asked for a report on conditions, where a particular unit is, or turn over the incident to a senior officer.
Even if this is a fire
simulation, you are auditioning for the part of a leader and an officer.
In a simulation, there could be several people there playing the part of
a dispatcher, other company officers and resources available or arriving on the
scene. In a real fire, the incident
commander will often do a face to face with his sector or division officers.
Even though you are in a simulation, play out your part!
Request a face to face with a division officer. No matter how corny you
think it might be, get on your feet, walk over and do a face to face.
Communicate! This is
SHOWTIME! Prove to them that
you can really do the JOB!
How many other candidates will take the risk to make the fire problem that real?
This might be the one area where you can separate you and the other
candidates from the badge.
At the end of the exercise be prepared to answer:
1. What did you see?
2. What was your plan?
3. What would you do differently?
For more on our
promotional program click here:
http://www.eatstress.com/promo.htm
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4.
New Badges
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I would like to
thank you for the great service that you offer. I have been a full time
firefighter for a little over a year but with budget problems and threats to
lose my position because of it I decided to try for a more stable position.
I ordered your tapes and book on conquering the physc exam and got a job offer
on my first try! Your web page and email accessibility was also priceless.
The only downfall of your program was that friends in my department who have
been testing for months up and down California are all upset with me because I
received a job offer after one try. I guess I can live with that though.
Thanks again, Casey
Capt bob. I finally
did it. Vegas called Wednesday afternoon for an academy invite Tuesday Oct 2nd
at 7: 00 am. It took eleven tests
to get to today. The first 4 were without your program. I did not get anywhere.
I got this offer because I nailed the Vegas oral. No doubt about it! if I can
ever do anything for you, let me know. i will spread the
www.eatstress.com word.
Jim
Capt. Bob, Well, I want to start off by saying that with
your help, I am finally a firefighter!!!!!!!!! I am in the academy that
started last Monday. Kyle
Capt. Bob,
I used your tapes and video to help me get the Badge, well it worked I got the
Badge at a department in Northern California.
Al
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.
Humor
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The Five Questions Most Feared By Men:
1. What are you thinking about?
2. Do you love me?
3. Do I look fat?
4. Do you think she is prettier than me?
5. What would you do if I died?
hat makes these questions so difficult is that
every one is guaranteed to explode into a major
argument if the man answers incorrectly (i.e.,
tells
the truth). Therefore, as a public service, each
question is analyzed below, along with possible responses.
______________________________________________
Question # 1: What are you thinking about? The
proper answer to this, of course, is: "I'm sorry if I've been pensive, dear.
I was just reflecting on what a warm, wonderful, thoughtful, caring,
intelligent woman you are, and how lucky I am to have met You."
This response obviously bears no resemblance to
the true answer, which most
likely is one of the following:
a. Baseball.
b. Football.
c. How fat you are.
d. How much prettier she is than you.
e. How I would spend the insurance money if you
died.
Perhaps the best response to this question was
offered by Al Bundy, who once told Peg,
"If I wanted you to know what I was thinking,
I would be talking to you."
___________________________________________
Question # 2: Do you love me?
The proper response is: "YES!" or, if you feel a
more detailed answer is in order, "Yes, dear."
Inappropriate responses include:
a. Oh Yeah, loads.
b. Would it make you feel better if I said yes?
c. That depends on what you mean by love.
d. Does it matter?
e. Who, me?
______________________________________________
Question # 3: Do I look fat?
The correct answer is an emphatic: "Of course
not!" Among the incorrect answers
are:
a. Compared to what?
b. I wouldn't call you fat, but you're not exactly
thin.
c. A little extra weight looks good on you.
d. I've seen fatter.
e. Could you repeat the question? I was just
thinking about how I would spend the insurance
money if you died.
______________________________________________
Question # 4: Do you think she's prettier than me?
Once again, the proper
response is an emphatic: "Of course not!"
Incorrect responses include:
a. Yes, but you have a better personality.
b. Not prettier, but definitely thinner.
c. Not as pretty as you when you were her age.
d. Define pretty.
e. Could you repeat the question? I was just
thinking about how I would spend the insurance
money if you died.
______________________________________________
Question # 5: What would you do if I died? A
definite no-win question.
The real answer, of course, is "Buy a Corvette and
a boat."
No matter how you answer this, be prepared for at
east an hour of follow-up questions, usually along the these
lines:
WOMAN: Would you get
married again?
MAN: Definitely not!
WOMAN: Why not? Don't you like being married?
MAN: Of course I do.
WOMAN: Then why wouldn't you remarry?
MAN: Okay, I'd get married again.
WOMAN: (with a hurtful look on her face) You
would?
MAN: (groans audibly)
WOMAN: Would you sleep with her in our bed?
MAN: Where else would we sleep?
WOMAN: Would you put away my pictures, and replace
them with pictures of her?
MAN: That would seem like the proper thing to do.
WOMAN: And would you let her use my golf clubs?
MAN: She can't use them; she's left-handed.
WOMAN: - - - silence - - -
MAN: uh-oh
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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
FIREHIRE® Inc. entry-level firefighter examination
process
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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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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